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Looking for the
truly tree... mendous on Merseyside!
EXPERTS are looking to find the best woodlands
- large or small - in a region which includes Merseyside for the
first time to act as local beacons of good practice.
At stake are £1000 top prizes and
£500 second prizes in each of 5 different categories. Also being
sought are the most inspirational projects involving nurseries,
schools or other educational organisations which increase young
people's understanding and appreciation of the environmental, social
and economic potential of trees, woodlands and forests and of the
link between trees and everyday wood products. The Royal Forestry
Society (RFS) Excellence in Forestry Awards rotate around the
country. For 2013 the RFS has linked up with Forestry Commission
England to offer an urban forestry category for the first time,
alongside four other woodland awards, each recognising good practice
– Multipurpose (Duke of Cornwall Award), Community, Silviculture and
Small Woodlands (up to 20ha). Full details are available by
following the awards links on their website:-
woodlands.co.uk.
RFS North Western Division Chairman Stuart Palmer said:-
"Woodlands and trees play a vital role in all aspects of our lives;
from helping to combat climate change and providing timber, to
enhancing our environment and leisure activities. By shining the
spotlight on the very best a region has to offer, we are able to
share best practice amongst other woodland owners and managers at a
time when the threat of pests and diseases to our woodlands is very
real."
Keith Jones, Forestry Commission Area Director for the North West
and West Midlands, said:- "There are some outstanding
woodlands which deserve wider recognition. Trees and woods are vital
in shaping a more sustainable future and in particular we have seen
some really innovative schemes in our towns and cities, home to 80%
of England's population. Urban trees help cool and clean the air,
create attractive settings for business and investment, improve the
quality of life for people and provide places to exercise. We are
delighted to support these awards which recognise achievement and
also point the way forward."
Woodland owners and managers (private and public), community groups,
local authorities, housing developers, planners and farmers, schools
and others throughout an area stretching from Worcestershire through
the west and north west to Cumbria invited to take part.
Entries must be received by 4 March 2013, and judging will be held
in May and June 2013. The woodland awards will be presented at an
event during July 2013. Further details and entry forms are
available by following the RFS Excellence in Forestry 2013 links
at:-
rfs.org.uk or contact
Competition Co-ordinator Trefor Thompson via
email or call him on:- 01824 704230.
Sponsors include:- FC England, John Clegg & Co (Multipurpose (Duke
of Cornwall) Award), Tubex (Silviculture) and
woodlands.co.uk (Small
Woodlands); Wood-Mizer UK (Small Woodlands); PEFC UK Ltd and ECL
Howard Watson Smith LLP (Schools).
SIGN UP FOR GREAT MANCHESTER RUN
AND HELP TO SAVE LIVES
ENTRIES for Britain's
biggest 10K running event, the Bupa Great Manchester Run, are now
open and disability charity, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, is
able to offer guaranteed places in the race in return for
participants raising sponsorship to help fund research into muscle
wasting conditions. Participants will receive a charity
branded running vest to show their support for the charity on race
day along with a finisher's medal and goody bag.
Volunteer Fundraising Manager for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign,
Charles Horton said:- "We are urging local people to raise
sponsorship by taking part in the Great Manchester Run and help
people affected by muscle wasting conditions. We have guaranteed
places which we are offering with a low minimum sponsorship level so
if you would like to take part please get in touch now before all of
these places are snapped up."
The Great Manchester Run is over a 10km course, televised by the
BBC, and attracts elite athletes, fun runners and a host of
celebrities. To apply for a guaranteed place to support the Muscular
Dystrophy Campaign and help fight muscle disease, please email Liz
Rigg on
email or call the Regional
office of the charity on:- 01244 536551.
Over 8000 children and adults in the North West are directly
affected by muscle disease, a condition which causes muscles to
progressively waste and weaken. Muscle disease is life-limiting and
there are no cures. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is the leading
UK charity focusing on muscle-wasting disease. It has pioneered the
search for treatments and cures for more than 50 years, and is
dedicated to improving the lives of all children and adults affected
by muscle disease. We fund world-class research to
find effective treatments and cures; provide practical information,
advice and emotional support for individuals, their families and
carers; campaign to raise awareness and bring about change; award
grants towards the cost of specialist equipment; and provide
specialist education and development for health professionals.
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Liverpool Santa
Dash invites teams to join the festive fun in bid to break Guinness
World Record
THE Liverpool Santa Dash is
is all about fun; its an amazing experience to share with family,
friends and work colleagues and even more special this year as we
attempt to bring the Guinness World Record home to Liverpool. It's a
5K santa dash through the streets of Liverpool, but not so much a
race; more of a big gathering! This year we are supporting some
amazing charities that help people in the local area; you can find
out more about the event
runliverpool.org.uk.
Run Liverpool last year held their largest Santa Dash, but this year
they are inviting local businesses and organisations to sign up in
teams for the chance to break a guinness world record. Over 6500
have already signed up! Olympic medalist Beth Tweddle will
officially start this years race and we hope Liverpool will be
winners once more.
The Dash was launched at the Marathon finish line with ITV Text
Santa by Kym Marsh joined by Wendy Simon, Steve Rotheram MP and
local Boxer Natasha Jonas and has since attracted the support of
many celebrities who will take part including Liz McCarron and
Natasha Hamilton among others to include Craig Phillips, football
legend Alan Kennedy and Champion Heavyweight boxer David Price who
took part last year. Ricky Tomlinson is supporting this years
Guinness World Record challenge.
This years charities are Age Uk, Anthony Nolan, Carers UK, Marie
Curie Cancer Care, Together for Short Lives and Whizz-kidz. Those
who enter the Dash will be encouraged to focus their fundraising
efforts for Text Santa where 100% of fundraising will go to these 6
charities.
Director of Liverpool Downtown in Business Frank McKenna is urging
local businesses to join those who have already signed up to join
the festive fun including Renshaw and ACC Arena among many others.
It is hoped that with businesses and organisations in the City
backing the dash, Liverpool has a chance of claiming the Guinness
World Records title for largest Santa gathering as well as claiming
back the world Santa challenge from Las Vegas.
To smash the Guinness World record we need as many people as
possible getting involved; so we've some amazing prizes to help
encourage you and your colleagues and friends.
Run as a corporate team! If you can get a team of 6
to 8 together from your company, you'll be entered into our prize
draw to win a money can't buy tour of the famous Coronation Street
cobbles. You and your colleagues will be shown behind the scenes and
learn about some of the best-kept secrets that make fantastic
television. Each team member will need to visit:-
runliverpoolsantadash.co.uk.
But to enter the competition simply
email them with your company name and the list of
your colleague's names. After the event, teams who have completed
the dash will be automatically entered into the draw. Terms and
Conditions on:-
runliverpool.org.uk.
Represent your School, Colleague or University! We are
looking for colleague and University teams to come out and show
their support for the Dash! If you can get a team of 6 to 8 together
from your educational institute, you'll be entered into the prize
draw for a visit to coronation street.
Each team member will need to online. But to enter the competition
simply
email with your educational
institute name and the list of your team mates. After the event,
teams who have completed the dash will be automatically entered into
the draw. Terms and Conditions on our
website.
People can also enter by dashing
along to Rapid on 3rd Floor where they can collect their suit and
race pack.
So come on Liverpool and the North West - lets show the UK and the
rest of the world that we are winners as well as supporting some
great charities this Christmas!
Residents set
for a warmer winter thanks to heating improvements
RESIDENTS are now prepared
for the colder months due to major improvements to their homes in
Southport. Jephson Homes Housing Association North has installed new
heating systems at a number of new homes in the area. Flats have
been fitted with new electric heaters, providing instant heat, while
houses in the area now boast new central heating. The houses will
also be receiving gas via new gas lines that are currently being
laid and the necessary road works have started.
One of the tenants to benefit from the changes is Robert Casserly,
from Janes Brook Road, who said:- "These new electric heaters
are very practical and quick to boot up. The heaters that were
replaced were so old fashioned, waiting for the old timers to kick
in and heat up. Now the heat is instant and easier to control. Not
only are they practical – they are much easier on the eye too. I am
just waiting on the manual so I can set the heating to automatic,
but all in all, a good job done."
Jolene Craig, housing services officer at Jephson North, said of the
improvements:- "The comfort of our tenants is a priority for
us so when the gas and heating needs investment and we are in a
position to do so, we will do it. The cost of gas and electric has
risen across the country in recent years and we want to reassure our
tenants we are here to help tackle fuel poverty. The heating systems
were purposely fitted in time for the winter months." |
