Mersey Basin Campaign Blog

Environment 09 - Michael Heseltine & the Mersey Basin Campaign

We're really starting to get into gear for Environment 09 now - the event is fully booked, our special issue of SourceNW magazine is about to go to print, and plans are well underway for the conference exhibition. So, I thought it was time to start getting in the mood for some of the stellar speakers who are lined up to entertain and inform our delegates. We're really lucky that Lord Heseltine, whose brainchild the Campaign was in the first place, is coming up to speak at Environment 09. I met him in 2007 when I interviewed him about his experiences on Merseyside in the 1980s, and the genesis of the Mersey Basin Campaign.

Use the player below to listen to his interview, and find out how he was instrumental in the clean up of the River Mersey...

Environment 09 - fully booked!

Hooray, we're delighted to announce that Environment 09 is now FULLY BOOKED! Hope you managed to secure a place either at the conference, or on the afternoon cruise. Those lucky tykes who did will be treated to a stellar line up, in a fantastic location on Liverpool's waterfront. Our colleagues Katie and Walter have recently been over to visit ACC Liverpool, and we've been busy planning where coffee and lunch will take place, where we'll be able to display our friends' and partners' stands in the exhibition space, and of course, where our own Mersey: The river that changed the world display will fit. I think it's going to be an early start to get everything in place before our lovely delegates arrive, but at least we'll be able to enjoy the sights of the Mersey while we work.

Environment 09 line-up is confirmed...

Ooooh, this is just like Glastonbury, isn't it?

As we hurtle ever closer to 22nd September, the truly stellar line up of speakers for our final conference, Environment 09, has been confirmed, which is very exciting indeed. Here are the runners and riders...

HILARY BENN, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (live via video-link from London) I've always wanted to say 'live by satellite'!

PROFESSOR SIR DAVID KING, DIRECTOR, THE SMITH SCHOOL FOR ENTERPRISE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

LORD HESELTINE, FORMER ENVIRONMENT MINISTER

BISHOP JAMES JONES OF LIVERPOOL

JIM HANCOCK, BBC (MC-ing the event)

There'll also be an exhibition area, featuring a chance to see our beautiful Mersey: The river that changed the world photographic travelogue once more, AND an optional afternoon cruise on the Mersey with our friends from Mersey Ferries. And it's ALL FREE! What are you still waiting for? Click here to visit the booking page

The Islands of Britain have nothing on the islands of Barrow....

 

Have you been watching Martin Clunes exploring the islands of Britain in his TV series recently? Fancy a spot of island-hopping yourself, right here in the northwest? Well, why not join the Morecambe Bay Partnership for a walk to Piel Island on Sunday 31st May? The event is taking place in partnership with Streetsafe, and will include a beach clean on Piel. The pub and barbecue on the island will be open for business, and if you're lucky, you could meet the King of Piel, Steve Chattaway. For more details, or to sign up, CLICK HERE...

If that whets your appetite, you can also get another fix of island life on Sunday 4th July, with a Leven Estuary walk to Chapel Island. A £10 deposit in advance is requested for this walk - for more details CLICK HERE 

In the meantime, here's a gallery of photos we took on a recent expedition to Piel ourselves....have you got better pics? Let us know, send us a link!

Mersey Basin Campaign on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours

Yesterday's edition of the BBC Radio 4 show 'You and Yours' featured a report on the Campaign and the 25-year clean up of the River Mersey. Taking part were our Chair, Peter Batey, Peter Jones of the EA, Lord Heseltine, and Tom Workman and Barney Easdown, who were both part of our Mersey People project last year.

CLICK HERE TO 'LISTEN AGAIN' TO THE FEATURE

CLICK HERE TO HEAR MORE FROM TOM, BARNEY AND LORD HESELTINE IN 'MERSEY PEOPLE'

Here's Barney in his element (photograph by Colin McPherson)

RIBBLE FORUM 08: Q&A

 

This year's Ribble Forum is taking place on Thursday 20th November at the Harris Conference Centre, Garstang Road, Preston. The event will look at a range of projects and developments throughout the Ribble catchment, including:

• The breach of the sea defences at Hesketh Outmarsh 
• The River Douglas Crossing design competition
• United Utilities improvements to river water quality

Throughout the morning there will be opportunities to ask questions of the speakers, and that's where you come in. You can submit your question in advance by leaving a comment below (click on 'Comments'), and we'll provide you with a copy on the day. Of course, if the forum raises a new question for you, you're welcome to ask a fresh question then as well......

Don't forget to leave your name and organisation, so that we know who's asking what!

If you haven't done so already, you can book to attend the forum by CLICKING HERE.

Tony Juniper on climate change

Following on from his appearance at last week's Voluntary Sector Forum in central Manchester, have a listen to this exclusive audio, as the Campaign's Matthew Sutcliffe talks to Tony Juniper, outgoing UK director of Friends of the Earth, about the impact of climate change and the benefits of a low-carbon lifestyle.....

Hear from our winners...

This year's Unilever Dragonfly Award winners were honoured last Thursday at the Mersey Basin Campaign's Voluntary Sector Forum in Manchester. The group, individual, young peoples' and overall winners were presented with recycled glass trophies recognising their outstanding volunteering achievements. The judges also decided to award the Margaret Fletcher award this year. Click here to visit the Dragonfly homepage and read more about the winners. You can also listen to interviews with individual winner Virginia Hunt, Margaret Fletcher award winners St Luke's Church, Crosby, and young peoples' winners Hollingworth Lake Junior Helpers.

Calling all green heroes...

Entries are now being sought for the Northwest Business Environment Awards 2008. Do you know any green heroes who might be in with a chance? Galloping climate change, Batman, there's no time to lose!

Campaign hits the headlines

The Mersey Basin Campaign hit the headlines today with a feature in the Liverpool Daily Post. For those not lucky enough to reside in the soon-to-be Capital of Culture, here's a link so that you can read the story online....