Mersey Basin Campaign Blog

Environment 09 - T minus eight days!

Well, it's all go in the office ahead of our uber-conference, Environment 09. The event is taking place at the ACC Liverpool, on the banks of the River Mersey one week tomorrow. In fact, ACC Liverpool was one of the first things I saw this morning on the breakfast news, as they're hosting the TUC this week.

I visited the venue last week, before the TUC security was put in place, and scouted out the space we're planning to use for the exhibition stands - we've got exhibitors ranging from Peel Energy and the NWDA to Liverpool Year of the Environment and On Your Bike. They'll be housed in one of the huge halls (and they are huge) on the first floor, while our own Mersey: The river that changed the world display will be on a mezzanine with a great view out across the river.

I also had a sneaky glimpse into the conference room itself, which also features a fantastic river view. It's all getting pretty exciting now.

The afternoon of the conference features a ferry trip along the Mersey - not to mention the opportunity to be ferried TO the Pier Head on a Merseytravel rickshaw! To get you in the mood for the trip. We might have to post up a little something to get you in the mood for the ferry trip tomorrow...

Okay, conference packs need to go to the printer this afternoon, back soon!

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

First Mersey Pirate Muster a swashbuckling success!

 

Ahoy there! It has come to the attention of our eagle-eyed bloggers that some frankly lawless behaviour and quite blatant swashbuckling took place at Liverpool's Albert Dock this weekend. Members of the public were seen sporting eyepatches and the skull and crossbones was flying proudly from a number of craft. 

And what's more, far from cowering in terror from the piratical invasion, staff at the Dock's shops, restaurants and museums seemed to be joining in, dressing up in full pirate regalia, and providing essential pirate supplies to the masses.

This reporter is appalled to note that the citizens of Liverpool looked on and cheered as dastardly pirates like Frenchy Hawkins, Greybeard and Calico Jack of the vessel 'Vilma' took on the sailors of the tallship Zebu in a fight to the death (well, almost).

It would seem that this, the first Mersey Pirate Muster was to celebrate Liverpool's pirate past, and it's waterfront present. Town dispatcher, the Liverpool Echo takes up the story........ 

Oooh, early preparations for Environment 09!

Just been looking at the design for the Environment 09 packs! Makes it all seem real. They're very smart, anyway :-)

ENVIRONMENT 09 is go!

 

Plans for our 2009 mega-conference, Environment 09 are now well underway, and you can help to shape the agenda by submitting a question for the panel. Click on 'comments' below, and leave your question as a comment. We will even print your question off for you if you'd like, so that you can ask it in person on 22nd September.

ENVIRONMENT 09 takes place on 22nd September 2009 at the Arena & Conference Centre, Liverpool.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE