Welcome to “Sunday Snippets” a weekly feature from birkenhead.news. It is a round-up of our most popular good news stories from the last seven days. Click on each story to read the full article.
Residents invited to participate in Birkenhead Park’s 175th anniversary celebrations
Next year will be the 175th anniversary of the opening of Birkenhead Park and this will be commemorated with a year of events and activities. The team at Birkenhead Park want to celebrate not only the Park’s history, but also what it represents for our communities today.
For 175 years, Birkenhead Park has been the ‘People’s Garden’ and so the park team want to put the participation of people at the centre of the celebrations! They are inviting local schools, sport clubs, organisations, and community groups to take part by organising an event or activity as part of the overall programme.
Whether you would like to organise a sports event, a concert, a picnic, or an activity for children, the park team would love to hear from you. It doesn’t matter if it’s large or small, they will do their best to assist in any way they can to support the event/activity’s promotion, and add it to our yearly calendar.
Wirral autism charity’s virtual summer fair returns for second year
Wirral charity Autism Together is refusing to let the pandemic get in the way of its annual summer fair, and is taking the fun online for the second year running.
Last year, when COVID-19 hit, the Bromborough based charity moved its popular and traditional Summer Fun Day from a village hall onto the internet.
The event proved extremely popular and raised even more funds than usual, so the charity – which runs services for over 400 autistic adults, while offering support for young children and families too – is making the event ‘virtual’ once more.
Liverpool City Region is asking people to help shape plans to be net zero carbon by 2040
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is asking people across the city region to help shape its plan to become net zero carbon by 2040.
The Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, was the first to declare a climate emergency in 2019, and has set an ambitious target for net zero carbon by 2040 – a decade ahead of the national 2050 deadline.
From generating wind power in Liverpool Bay, to investing in state-of-the-art trains and hydrogen buses for a London-style integrated transport system, from creating a 600km walking and cycling network, to fitting energy-saving measures in thousands of houses, work is already under way to reach the target.
Free kid’s summer holiday activities across Wirral
The Holiday Activity Fund for the summer holiday period is being coordinated by Edsential, the education sector provider, on behalf of Cheshire West & Chester Council, Wirral Council, and Halton Borough Council.
Families across the boroughs, including Wirral, will be able to enjoy free nutritious food and engaging activities at a wide range of exciting holiday clubs over the summer.
New challenge to get Wirral families cooking together this summer
Wirral families are being encouraged to roll up their sleeves and get involved in a summer challenge that aims to bring households together to learn new cooking skills.
The Great Family Cook-Off will provide an enjoyable and engaging activity to do over the long summer break and offers those taking part the chance to learn some new life skills.
As well as learning about food hygiene, preparation and nutrition, the project will encourage participants to consider meal planning, storage, and how to make their food budget go further.
Tap or click to like birkenhead.news on Facebook
Tap or click to follow birkenhead.news on Twitter Model Mersey ferry boat makes maiden voyage
On a hot and sunny Sunday morning at New Brighton Model Boating Lake, Clint Nicholls proudly launched his replica scale model of the Overchurch ferry boat that he had spent 9 months making.
The sea trials went well and the Overchurch majestically made its maiden voyage from one side of the lake to the other. And then, clearly enjoying himself, with the remote control in his hands, Clint guided the boat around the lake for a few laps. And then a few more, just for good luck!
birkenhead.news splashed on the sunscreen and spoke to Clint about his model making hobby on the morning of the launch, Sunday 18 July. “I started doing modelling when I was 10 years old because my brother used to do it. He built aircraft and I was forever watching them crash and get smashed when he flew them!”, he explained.
Peel L&P Director visits Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters during epic cycle ride round British coast
Peel L&P’s Executive Director of Development, James Whittaker, has embarked on a 5,700km challenge to cycle the entire coast of Britain in 31 days, all to raise vital funds for WaterAid.
James set off from St Andrews in Scotland on 30 June to give vulnerable communities across the globe access to clean water.
On Monday (19 July), having cycled for 18 days, the route took James through Wirral and Liverpool before heading off to Levens in the Lake District.
Eastham cat named finalist in Most Caring Cat award
A cat from Eastham, who spends his days comforting mourners at a burial site has been named as a finalist in Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards 2021.
Paddy beat hundreds of other entries to take his place as one of three contenders in the Most Caring Cat category, celebrating cats that have a positive impact on people’s health or wellbeing.
The 10-year-old puss was selected as a finalist in recognition of the comforting presence he provides at the Co-op Funeralcare’s Mayfields Remembrance Park in Eastham.
New Ferry and Liscard benefit from Town Centres Commission initiatives
At its meeting on Friday 23 July, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be asked to welcome the publication of a raft of initiatives proposed by the Town Centres Commission, as part of wider plans to breathe fresh life into town centres.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram set up the commission – the first of its kind in the country – to investigate how to ensure a prosperous and sustainable long-term future for 17 town centres across the Liverpool City Region.
Its work has complemented the Mayor’s £6 million Town Centre Fund, which has helped to support local councils to develop exciting new ideas for regeneration.
Hoylake Beach information site launched
Ahead of an important, independent scientific study taking place at Hoylake beach next month, Wirral Council has launched an online information portal for people to access details about what is happening and why.
The site – https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/hoylake-beach-information 
– sets out the timeline for the work that is being done on a new Beach Management Plan for Hoylake, which includes a comprehensive, independent ecology and geomorphology study of the beach beginning in August, ahead of a public consultation towards the end of 2021.
The site also gives access to a wide range of background documents and details and aims to answer questions that people might have at this stage of the process.
Appeal to save Hoylake animal sanctuary
A Wirral animal sanctuary has made a desperate appeal for donations to avoid it having to close down after its owner’s business was financially hit by Covid.
Whitegate Animal Sanctuary in Hoylake is home to around 150 creatures, most of whom have been rescued from the meat or dairy industry.
Laura Whelan started taking in animals on a four-acre farm in Brimstage nearly three years ago and was funding the costs for them from her doggy daycare business. But when she lost most of her income “overnight” because of the pandemic, she was forced to relocate to cheaper premises in Hoylake in December last year.
Significant investment into Moreton based Typhoo Tea
Zetland Capital, a London based Private Equity firm earlier this week announced a significant investment into Typhoo Tea Ltd that has been manufactured at Moreton since 1978.
This investment gives Zetland Capital a majority shareholding in the company, one of the nation’s favourite tea brands. Current shareholder, Abercross, has also expanded its shareholding.
Professional Wallasey golfer backs WUTH charity golf event at Carden Park
Wallasey PGA golfer John Singleton is challenging golfers to put their skills to the test by joining this year’s WUTH Charity Golf Event to raise funds to help Arrowe Park Hospital’s Neonatal Unit and its ‘Tiny Stars’ fundraising appeal.
The event takes place at Carden Park on 15 September and will raise funds for the unit, which cares for very poorly premature babies.
Residents vote for singer Charlie Landsborough to be immortalised in a new mural in North Birkenhead
One of North Birkenhead’s most famous sons, country music legend Charlie Landsborough, is to be immortalised in a new mural in the town, created by famed Liverpool “Wings” artist, Paul Curtis.
The singer, who grew up in North End, received almost half of the votes (46%) from local residents, who were asked to choose one of three local heroes that they wanted to see featured in a new piece of artwork at North Birkenhead Train Station. He beat Everton FC, Tranmere FC and England great Dixie Dean and the town’s first female mayor Lady Mary Ann Mercer to the post.
The competition, which was launched by Cradle to Career, a long-term initiative that aims to transform the lives of children and young people in North Birkenhead, is a celebration of the passion, talent and creativity that has come from the North End over the years.
Labour hold Liscard in by election
Labour’s Daisy Kenny has won the Liscard by election with a total of 1137 votes giving a majority of 555 and a vote share of 54%. The second-placed candidate is The Conservative’s Jane Owens with 582 votes and a 27% share.
Wirral woman warns of coastal dangers ahead of weekend of hot weather
Coastguards across the UK have issued a stark warning to take care at the coast or risk tragic consequences.
The warning comes as many are expected to travel to the coast for beach holidays and days out in the UK across the remaining summer months.
In the past ten days, Her Majesty’s Coastguard recorded that nine people* have sadly died while visiting the beach or coast. Each death represents a widescale tragedy for the families and friends of those who have died. Others have faced life-changing injuries.
Trust gives £1million to help sick children in Merseyside
This week the 64 Trust celebrated its donation of £1 million to Claire House Children’s Hospice to help the charity reach more severely and terminally ill children in Merseyside.
The donation will be spent on developing facilities at the charity’s site in West Derby, Liverpool and providing vital support across both hospice sites in the Wirral and Liverpool for children and families who have been pushed to their limits during the pandemic.
“Covid has had a massive impact on the Merseyside families who come to Claire House. The 64 Trust’s generous donation gives us security to know we can continue to provide our current services and reach out to more families, who right now are struggling without the help they desperately need. We can also take the next step in developing facilities at our Liverpool site, and ultimately move one step closer in our ambition to one day build a second hospice,” said David Pastor, CEO at Claire House.
Cycle & skate track planned for Wallasey park
A fantastic new free facility for cyclists, skateboarders and scooter users of all ages is being planned for Central Park in Wallasey – and local people are being urged to get involved and have their say to decide the final design.
Pump tracks are an increasingly popular way to encourage children and young people to exercise and build bike handling skills in a safe environment, away from traffic. They are fun to ride and develop fitness, skills and co-ordination.
The design is a continuous circuit of banked turns and features that don’t require pedalling and can be used in different ways to suit all ages and abilities, from complete beginners through to experienced riders looking for a challenge.
FUTURE YARD PRESENTS …The Leftbank Soundtrack
An animated music walk is being created in Birkenhead, featuring newly commissioned compositions from some of the town’s iconic musical talent, including Andy McCluskey from OMD, Louisa Roach of She Drew the Gun, Matthew Barnes of Forest Swords, musician and composer Andrew PM Hunt, musician and producer Nigel Blackwell from Half Man Half Biscuit and singer and songwriter Bill Ryder-Jones.
Produced by Future Yard, The Leftbank Soundtrack is designed as a sonic walking tour through the streets of Birkenhead, uncovering its tales of past glories, future stories and the culture that has created the town.
The animated music walk is the result of a collaboration between music and place. Each of the artists has been twinned with a location in the town’s centre. The piece of music they have created is inspired by that place’s sounds, history, people and heritage.
More community libraries set to reopen
More of Wirral’s libraries are set to reopen next week.
To give residents more access to books – and in time for the popular summer reading challenge again this year – Bromborough, Eastham, Greasby and Rock Ferry libraries will be open for readers to browse the bookshelves in a COVID-safe way from Wednesday 28th July.
All four sites have been closed to library users since March 2020, although Eastham and Greasby operated as testing centres to support the COVID-19 response.
Wirral’s litter pickers and tidy uppers a community asset
Wirral Council is saying thank you and paying tribute to the many volunteers – working alone or as part of organised groups – who help keep the borough clean and tidy on a regular basis.
The council, of course, has overall responsibility for public waste bins and street cleansing and these services are carried out on their behalf by a combination of in-house staff and contractors.
But keeping on top of the volume of waste and litter that is left behind, particularly in areas that attract lots of visitors, is an increasingly difficult task for a service with limited resources.
Wirral is beautiful, so let’s keep it that way
A Prenton man’s post about litter on social media elicited a huge response from Wirral residents.
Andy Bennett who lives in Prenton visited the Wirral coast at Leasowe and was amazed at the amount of litter and rubbish left by previous visitors.
He said, “A plea…if you’re heading off to the beach today (it’s an awesome day for it, hot out there already) do everyone a favour and pop your rubbish in the bin or take it home with you.
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