Mersey Basin Campaign Blog

Hatching around the patch

Stephen Hatton (Ribble Catchment Conservation Trust) has telephoned with good news today. The tanks in all the schools are working well and the eggs are hatching. When the fry are a little bigger and are swimming up to the top of the tank he will send some photographs. So far we are on course to release the trout just after Easter. ><((((º>`·. . · `·. .· `·. . ><((((º> `·. . · `·. .· `·. . ><((((º>`·. .· `·. .· `·. . ><((((º>`·. .· `·. .· `·. . ><((((º>`·. .· `·. .· `·. . ><((((º>`

More Mersey video goodness

This time, a quick timelapse film of Crosby Beach - nice view of the radar tower.....

Doing a clean up? Watch out for daleks!

Spotted an interesting snippet in the Metro newspaper this morning - it seems a volunteer was taking part in a clean up at his local pond down in Hampshire, when he unearthed the head of a dalek from amongst the usual litter. According to the Metro, Marc Oakland saw something round and dark coming to the surface of the pond, which turned out to be the head of one of Doctor Who's archenemies, the daleks. It seems they'd filmed in the area, and this particular exterminator had been left behind. So next time you're out in your waders, just think, a piece of TV history could be just under the next shopping trolley.

The Mersey Basin Campaign offers lots of opportunities to get involved in clean-ups on the Northwest's waters. We can't promise space-rubbish, but if you'd like to take part, contact your nearest Action Partnership, or email our Community Support Coordinator, Bev Mitchell

CLICK HERE TO SEE A PIC OF MARC AND HIS DALEK

Museum of Liverpool: Made in China

 

The new Museum of Liverpool needs help! They are currently researching their opening exhibition for their fantastic new riverside museum, which is due to open in 2010. Entitled 'China, Shanghai and Liverpool', it will be the main attraction of the Global City gallery, and will get to grips with Liverpool's long trading relationship with China.

Part of the exhibition will be made up of items that have become part of Liverpool's homes thanks to two hundred years of connection between the cities. That's where you come in. Turn out your cupboards, clear the mantlepiece, and find NML any interesting items that were made in China.

Bring your items to an open day on Weds 4th March, 2-4pm at the Weston Discovery Centre, World Museum, Liverpool.  Museum staff will be on hand to examine your things, and yours could even become part of the exhibition. For more info CLICK HERE or email Assistant Curator VICTORIA NEWBERRY ON 0151 478 4067.

Good luck!

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)

More fish to blog about

Welcome to 2009 and Year 3 of the Trout in the Classroom programme in the Ribble Catchment.  The schools who took part in the last two years are joining in again and the Ribble Catchment Conservation Trust are delighted to take two more schools on board.  Pendle Juniors (Clitheroe) and Derby Road Juniors (Longridge) bring the total number to six schools who will be rearing trout in their classrooms this year.

Thanks to the Environment Agency once more for their funding towards the new tanks and to Ribble Valley Borough Council for matching the funding.

Good luck to all the schools - we hope you enjoy this project.

May all your wishes be fishes, may all your fishes come true!

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Barrow's got the Art Gene

 

This fantastic light installation at Barrow-in-Furness is part of Art Gene's project "It's not as rough as it used to be", in conjunction with the Ultimate Holding Company. Each of the events / installations was located at one of Barrow's coastal 'hidden gems', and aimed to get people to discuss their potential for regeneration.

MORE INFO ON ART GENE'S WORK IN BARROW

Next up on Art Gene's agenda in Barrow are two events on Feb 26th - an afternoon symposium (2-5pm) looking at "Changing perception of what artists can do", and a private view of the new "Welcome to Paradise" exhibition.

If you're in the area check out Art Gene, Bath Street, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 5TY.

BDP Manchester video

 

We were delighted to discover that our neighbours across Piccadilly Basin, BDP architects, have been shortlisted for the prestigious Green Building award. Their studio, which we often gaze longingly at across the canal, is Manchester's first naturally ventilated office building to achieve an "excellent" BREEAM rating. It is one of only three buildings to have been shortlisted in the Green Building category at this year's MIPIM.

Members of MBC staff were lucky enough to take a tour of the building last month, and find out about some of its eco-credentials. For example, it has a natural ventilation system that means it doesn't need any heating / air-conditioning (not much call for air-conditioning in Manchester, though, we have to admit). It also features low-emission lighting, and a rainwater-harvesting system that flushes the toilets.

The living brown roof - another Mancunian first - is specially designed to encourage the rare Black Redstart bird.

See what you think - here's a quick video we made whilst wandering round the building:

New sculpture commission for Marbury Country Park, Northwich

Action Weaver Valley & Cheshire County Council have secured funding from INEOS Chlor & have embarked on a new project with sculptor Roger Day. Roger is working with community groups to design some stunning new seating for the park. He will be using locally sourced timber which will be carved on site (weather permitting!). One key element of the design is to ensure that the seats are suitable for use by disabled visitors. Marbury Country Park has over 3 miles of easy access paths, disabled parking & toilets. Roger is looking forward to having valued input from visitors with a range of disabilities. Watch this space for forthcoming designs.

Examples of Roger's work

          

hearmanchester.com nominated for Design Week awards

 

The Rochdale Canal's latest landmarks have been nominated for a prestigious design award. The distinctive yellow bollards, which sprang up along the towpath from Canal Street to Dukes Lock during the summer, have been shortlisted in the Wayfinding and Environmental Graphics category of the Design Week Awards. They were designed by our friends at 257 - well done on the nomination! Each bollard is linked to an audio portrait from hearmanchester.com. Follow the links, and join punk journalist John Robb as he discovers the secret life of Manchester's city centre waterways. Go on, it's much more than just a shortcut from the New Union to Dukes 92....