Welcome to “Sunday Snippets” a weekly feature from birkenhead.news. It is a round-up of important local news stories from the last seven days. Click or tap on each story to read the full article.
Enjoy a bird-watching walk along the Dee to mark World Wetlands Day
A fascinating wildlife walk along the banks of the River Dee is the first of many events planned this year to mark the 50th anniversary of Wirral Country Park.
The 2.5 mile walk on Saturday 4 February will allow participants to see some of the many birds that winter on the shore between Heswall and Thurstaston.
Wirral Council Ranger Matt Thomas said, “The Dee is one of the most important wetlands in Europe for wintering birds, a haven for waders and wildfowl, and this walk is a real opportunity to celebrate them. Hopefully we will see pintail, redshank, knot, black-tailed godwits and oystercatchers.”
Wirral man meets RNLI rescuers for the first time during police awards ceremony
RNLI volunteers from New Brighton and an RNLI lifeguard have been awarded a Merseyside Police Chief Constable’s commendation. The award is in recognition of their actions during a tragic incident in 2020.
New Brighton RNLI lifeboat was launched at the upper limits of its capability in treacherous conditions following reports of two people and a dog in trouble.
An RNLI lifeguard was pounded by waves as he navigated rocks to offer assistance and helm of the New Brighton inshore lifeboat had to carefully manoeuvre the lifeboat to avoid injuring the casualty in the water or capsizing themselves.
Bebington artist’s first exhibition set to mark International Women’s Day
“Exhibit” is the latest collaboration between photographer and curator Laura McCann and Liverpool Arts Bar.
The original aim of the project was to exhibit one artist a month at the venue but response to the initiative was so positive, the new plan is to hold a range of events across the year, promoting as many creatives as possible.
Before any open calls went out, Laura who is organising the arts events discovered Wirral-based graphic artist Katie Pinch on Instagram.
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Photo ID required to vote at May elections
The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at the following elections:
- Local elections
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
- UK parliamentary by-elections
- Recall petitions
This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. From October 2023 it will also apply to UK General elections.
Kane Hemmings becomes official ambassador of Martin Gallier Project
The Martin Gallier Project, based in New Ferry, have welcomed Tranmere Rovers captain Kane Hemmings to their thriving team as an official ambassador for the Charity.
The Martin Gallier Project, which is fiercely dedicated to preventing suicides, breaking down stigmas and supporting families in the North West, has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2018. The revolutionary, one-of-a-kind project has completed over 21,028 life-saving suicide interventions.
Hemmings said on joining the charity, “Breaking down the stigma of suicide is something I have a real passion for. To empower and embrace each other to speak on thoughts and emotions is something we can all lay a hand too and improve.”
More than a thousand new trees to be planted in Wirral
Thanks to the support of volunteers and local residents, new homes have been provided to 1,242 trees.
The free ‘plug trees’ (small seedling-sized trees) were available for residents to collect from special hubs at Dibbinsdale, Royden Park, and Central Park to plant in their gardens.
Residents who claimed a tree will be able to look after and watch either a Crab Apple, Scots Pine, Wild Cherry, Holly, Guelder Rose, or Whitebeam tree grow.
Wirral Met apprentice wins prestigious regional award
Niall Williams, an engineering apprentice with Wirral Met, was presented with an Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) award for positive impact at a ceremony held on Tuesday 23 January.
Niall is currently studying a Level 3 Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Engineering Manufacture – Fabrication and Welding with employer Met Arc Limited in Liverpool.
Met Arc Limited specialises in design, fabrication and fitting of metal ventilation ducting. Throughout the COVID pandemic, the company had contracts with a number of hospitals including Durham, Alder Hey, the new Liverpool Royal, Arrow Park and Clatterbridge.
Blind and partially sighted charity in Wirral awarded £78k
A charity supporting blind and partially sighted people in Wirral has been awarded more than £78,000 by the Steve Morgan Foundation after expanding their services.
The Wirral Society of the Blind and Partially Sighted (WSBPS) support around 300 people every month who are living with sight loss through practical, social and emotional support.
The group was originally set up by a small group of visually impaired people who identified a gap in the local service but has witnessed a surge in demand over the last 12 months.
First new Merseyrail train now in service
The new 777 class trains have launched on the Merseyrail Liverpool to Kirkby line, but what changes can passengers expect to see?
Originally due to launch in 2020, the project was hampered by multiple delays but the trains are finally ready to start replacing the older fleet which has been in service since the late 1970s.
Despite the delays, the trains couldn’t look more up-to-date. Arriving at the station, their headlights form a letter ‘M’ while the destination is displayed in familiar orange LEDs.
Cerebral palsy charity expands after £90k award
A charity which supports children and young people with cerebral palsy has expanded its services after being awarded £90,000 by the Steve Morgan Foundation.
The grant will help cover the salaries of two key members of staff at Stick ‘n’ Step over a three-year period.
Stick ‘n’ Step provides free weekly conductive education sessions from centres in Wallasey and Runcorn to children and young people with cerebral palsy up to the age of 25.
Wirral MP pledges support to 1950s-born women affected by State Pension age rise
Margaret Greenwood MP has backed calls for compensation for women born in the 1950s who were affected by government failures to communicate with them about the rise in their State Pension age from 60 to 66.
The MP for Wirral West was among a group of Labour MPs who met with Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) and WASPI2018 campaigners in parliament to hear their calls for a one-off compensation payment for those women affected.
The issue is thought to affect over 3.6 million women born in the 1950s.
Tranmere beat league leaders at Prenton Park
Tranmere benefited from an own goal by Leyton Orient at Prenton Park yesterday, giving them a well-deserved win over the league leaders.
The own goal by Omar Beckles gifted Rovers their first win in four games. It was also a third away defeat on the trot for Leyton Orient.
Tranmere’s new striker signing from Bristol Rovers, Harvey Saunders, assisted a Kieron Morris attempt on goal before 10 minutes were on the clock. Saunders also drew a couple of free kicks from the visitors. His performance throughout will be a source of hope for Rovers’ fans.
Wirral Police weekly news round-up
This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of police activity in and around Wirral during the previous seven days.
What’s On? Guide
Visit our “What’s On?” guide for Wirral and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks.
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