Recognition for New Ferry Butterfly Park and its Volunteers

New Ferry Butterfly Park won the Liverpool Echo Environment Award in the Community Impact category (see blog post on May 3rd).

Three representatives (Hilary Ash, Linda Higginbottom and Ian Jones) attended the Mayor’s Parlour on 5th May for tea and cakes, along with the other award winners from Wirral, to be congratulated by the current mayor, Councillor Tony Smith.

The first week in May was also National Volunteers Week and a celebratory event was held at the Town Hall by Community Action Wirral. A certificate was awarded to all the volunteers who run New Ferry Butterfly Park as recognition that they make a difference to Wirral.

Volunteer Conference

11th August

A thank you event for Cheshire Wildlife Trust volunteers. A nice mixture of talks, workshops and networking opportunities.

The volunteer forum will be at Bickley Hall Farm.

The day will involve a catch up with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust staff and an opportunity to hear about up and coming projects. It will also provide you with some time to take part in an interactive activity, whether that be a walk around the reserve, getting stuck into some gardening or creating a craft item.

To register your interest for any of these, please email volunteering@cheshirewt.org.uk

Woad You Believe It!

Have you heard of woad, the blue dye with which the Romans said the Picts painted themselves?

Since the invention of chemical dyes it has ceased to be a crop plant and become a rarity in Britain. To our surprise it turned up in Eastham Rake railway station car park a few weeks ago, and has now formed its distinctive seeds, like little paddles. It is growing round the bases of two lamp-posts. The ground round the lamp-posts and some of the car park edges have been sown with a wild flower mix (well done Merseyrail). Ox-eye daisy, bacon-and-eggs and red clover are flowering and being much enjoyed by the local bumble bees.

Hilary Ash