Wildflower Centre stars at Tate Modern

A PHOTOGRAPH from the National Wildflower Centre, Merseyside is to be displayed in a forthcoming Millennium Commission exhibition - Out of Time - which will run from 1 to 19 December at Tate Modern. One of only 40 of the Commission's 200 projects chosen to be featured, the striking image of a wildflower meadow in Kirby will join the likes of Monet's Water - Lilies exhibited at Tate Modern, which usually only displays internationally renowned artists.

The exhibition has been created to celebrate and communicate the diverse range of schemes and projects which have been achieved with National Lottery funding, and to coincide with the run-up to the Millennium Commission's 10th anniversary. The Out of Time exhibition will feature some of the most stunning photographs of its key projects along with creative photography and artwork by a number of Millennium Award winners.

Mike O'Connor CBE, Director of the Millennium Commission said:- "Not enough people know where their lottery money has gone. Many people will only associate the Millennium Commission with projects like the Dome and the Eden Project in Cornwall. But there are a huge amount of other important schemes which we have supported with lottery money. 

Many of these schemes are on people's doorsteps - we estimate that on average everyone lives only 30 miles from a Millennium Commission project. We are extremely grateful to Tate Modern, which is itself a Millennium Commission funded project, for giving us the opportunity to show people where their lottery money has gone."

The National Wildflower Centre on the outskirts of Liverpool is the brainchild of the environmental charity, Landlife, which promotes creative conservation - the art of making new places for wildlife to flourish and for people to enjoy. In the wildflower exhibition and demonstration areas visitors are shown how to choose the right wildflowers to make new habitats in their won area. 

For 25 years Landlife has been developing new habitats using common species of wildflowers, turning once-derelict sites into havens for wildlife and helping to preserve disappearing flowers that could have important medicinal and therapeutic properties.

The innovatively designed Out of Time exhibition, which features inflatable display walls, will be the last to be held in the space at Tate Modern's North Entrance. The Commission has just awarded a further £1.4 million lottery grant for improvements to this entrance and the level 4 concourses which will provide better facilities for visitors and an additional space for contemporary art. The Out of Time exhibition will travel to other Millennium Commission funded venues in the New Year.

CHEMICAL businesses in the North West are being offered the opportunity to exhibit on the 'England's North West' regional stand at ChemSpec Europe 2004 at The Rai, Amsterdam. The event takes place over two days; 23 to 24 June 2004. The cost is £1000, which includes many extras, at less than half of the usual for a mere shell space.

Business Link Cheshire and Warrington is seeking ten relevant companies promoting UK products or services, who would like to develop their international trading with Europe, to take full advantage of the proposition. By sharing the stand, participation in the event becomes reasonably priced enabling more companies to get involved. 

In addition to the physical stand space, any company involved will receive a wide range of further advantages. The extra package includes design and print of a stand panel and 250 company literature folders, listing in the official show catalogue, use of the designated meeting lounge and inclusion in pre-show email shots. 

Business Link Cheshire and Warrington is supporting the event together with the North West Chemical Initiative and UK Trade and Investment, which is the main sponsor.

Any interested companies are invited to contact Tricia Francis at Business Link Cheshire and Warrington on 01925 715 200 before Christmas, or log onto www.blinkcw.co.uk. 

AS NEW figures reveal 200 excess winter deaths among the over 60s in the Liverpool area last winter, vital winter warmth advice is being provided across the region as part of a wide-reaching campaign.

The Beat the Winter Blues campaign, organised by Staywarm from Powergen - a unique fixed cost electricity and gas scheme solely for the over 60s - will be visiting community groups across Liverpool and surrounding areas over the next few months.

Teaming up with charity Friends of the Elderly and the NHS, Staywarm's regional advisers will also be distributing leaflets with vital information and helplines on keeping warm and well in winter.

"It is totally unacceptable that many people, aged over 60, in Liverpool cannot afford to heat their homes adequately and face the cold spell in fear of their winter fuel bill," said Staywarm's local advisor Tony Gardner. "These latest figures show that there is a real increase in mortality in the winter and the over 60s are one of the groups most at risk. We want to ensure that as many people as possible know that there is help available."

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