BBC SPORTS CHIEF JOINS CULTURE BOARD

BBC DIRECTOR of Sport Peter Salmon has been appointed to the board of the Liverpool Culture Company. 

He has strong links with the north west, having been born and brought up in the region. 

During the 1990's he was Director of Programmes for regional television company Granada. 

In his current role, he is overseeing BBC plans to make Manchester the largest broadcasting production centre outside of London.

Since he was appointed to his current post in 2000, the BBC has scored numerous successes with its sporting coverage - including the Athens Olympics, which drew 11 million viewers and attracted 10 million digital interactive users.

Peter Salmon said:- "It's a very exciting time for broadcasting and the culture sector in the North West of England. 

The BBC, along with the independent sector, can be at the forefront of some dramatic and important changes. The Liverpool Capital of Culture Board can help spearhead them. I look forward very much to joining the team."

Professor Drummond Bone, Chairman of the Capital of Culture board and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said:- "Peter has a huge wealth of experience gathered throughout a distinguished career with the best broadcasting organisations in the country.

I am delighted that he has agreed to join the board and help us drive forward our Capital of Culture programme." 

The Capital of Culture board includes distinguished names such as Tate Gallery boss Nicholas Serota, Classic FM Managing Director Roger Lewis and Sir Neil Cossons - Chairman of English Heritage. 

Council leader Mike Storey, Deputy Chairman of the Capital of Culture board, added:- "We have just over 1,000 days to go before we become European Capital of Culture, and the expertise of the board will be vital in providing the dynamic leadership needed to ensure the programme is an outstanding success." 

Barclays Bank Joins Liverpool Green Up Campaign

ONE of Britain’s biggest banks, Barclays Bank Plc has just become the latest major sponsor of the Green Machine campaign. The inttiative is a unique initiative launched by the Community Foundation for Merseyside to bring together industry and local communities in a bid to address the region's pressing environmental issues. Barclays as announced backing worth more than £16,000 for a pioneering campaign to Greenup Merseyside

The bank’s funding will help further raise the profile of the campaign that has so far attracted financial backing from Unilever, CPUK, Hemby Trust and HD Wills Charitable Trust. The Barclays cash has been earmarked to fund awareness raising literature and a special awards night during which local communities groups and businesses will be recognised for their commitment to local environmental issues

“At Barclays we are committed to supporting local communities and we are delighted to support this innovative drive to improve Merseyside’s public face. There are real environmental challenges in and around the region that require a co-ordinated response which this campaign by the Community Foundation for Merseyside will be able to deliver.” said Barclays Community Affairs Manager ­ Rachel Herbinson. 

Rachel added:- “Issues such a fly-tipping, derelict land and buildings, and environmental neglect can so easily undermine the all the progress that is being made to improve Merseyside¹s landscape and its economy. That¹s one of the reasons why this initiative is so welcome and I hope that our involvement will encourage more businesses to step in with their backing.”

The Green Machine’s official launch will take place at the Palm House in Sefton Park on 21 April 2005.

Emma Leaman, Community Foundation for Merseyside¹s Director of Fundraising and Development said:- “We¹re delighted to secure this valuable backing from one of Britain¹s best known banks. We hope that with their support, and the support of other industry-leaders in Merseyside, we can really make a difference.”

During the next 3 years, The Green Machine initiative, with the help of local businesses, will help fund various projects across Merseyside designed to improve the environment within local communities.

St Helens TREEmendous achievement!!!

THE Mersey Forest partnership is celebrating St Helens’ vision to become the town in the forest, following the planting of the borough’s 2 millionth tree, on the site of a former colliery. The landmark event, which took place on Friday March 18 at Sutton Manor, near Jubits Lane was organised through the borough’s forestry partnership of The Mersey Forest, Groundwork St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton & Liverpool, the Forestry Commission and St Helens Council.

The green transformation has seen tree cover in the borough rise from just 4% to 12%, during the past 13 years, to shoot above the regional and national averages. 

Local school children and residents helped the partnership mark this historic occasion with David Watts, MP for St Helens North and Cllr Marie Rimmer, Leader of St Helens Council by planting a ceremonial Ginkgo biloba tree, which is found in coal-based environments.

The equivalent of more than 420 trees have been planted in the borough each day since The Mersey Forest, the largest community forest in England, was established.

Following more than 560ha of new planting and the creation of 127km of fresh footpaths in just over 10 years, The Mersey Forest partnership has achieved a 300 per cent increase in St Helens’ woodland cover. 

“This milestone event is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the local community groups and individuals to help make their town the greenest”, highlighted Cllr Andy Bowden, Vice Chair of The Mersey Forest steering group.

“This project touches the lives of everyone, not least through the economic benefits of woodlands in making the town a more attractive place to work, visit and live. So much has been achieved in a short space of time and shows that we are well on the way to making St Helens the North West’s premier woodland site.”

The transformation of St Helens’ underused land to attractive recreational green open spaces meets one of the targets set by the Government’s City Growth St Helens regeneration strategy, to bring new economic and environmental benefits to the town.

Research just published by CABE shows that properties adjacent to green spaces have as much as a five per cent premium over identical properties in the same area. 

David Watts, MP for St Helens North, said:- “The planting of two million trees is not only a signal that the landscape of St Helens is changing, it is also a vote of confidence in our future, which will bring long-term benefits to the community for years to come”.

The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament – Tickets Going Fast! 

THIS years Liverpool International Tennis Tournament was officially launched on March 7 in Liverpool, the launch received significant local and national media interest with the announcement of Martina Navratilova and Pat Cash who will be headlining the tournament this year. The announcements have had a massive impact on ticket sales for the event to be held in June between the 8-12, at Calderstones Park.

Ticket sales are up 100% on sales this time last year, as tournament organisers, Northern Vision, made a conscious decision to dramatically cut ticket prices for the 2005 tournament, which seems to be paying off. The decision to reduce ticket prices was made to encourage people to attend the event and make the event more accessible to the general public, as all too often these type of events are tailored towards the city’s corporate population.

The centre court stadium’s capacity is 3000 seats per day and with turnover of ticket sales each day will soon be sold out, Anders Borg (Tournament Director) comments:- “We urge people to book sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment. General admission tickets start from £10, concessions from £5 and family tickets are also available, the tournament is a great summer’s day out for all the family”. 

Martina Navratilova will be playing at the tournament on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 June, which are 2 days where ticket prices are at their lowest.

For corporate hospitality tickets please call:- 0151 227 5940

For general admission tickets please call:- Ticketmaster on...  0870 1690 107

You can also book online at:- www.liverpooltennis.co.uk