Wirral History and Heritage Fair 2019

This year the Fair was held on the 9th March, as usual from 10 until 4pm. Our Friends group set up at Birkenhead Town Hall, in order to raise the Public's awareness of where we are and what we are all about. This is an annual event and we always attend, hoping to inform the general public and to recruit new members and volunteers. Perhaps you have been to this event and seen our stand.

Chairperson Annette Capper

                                                                       




Here are some pictures, if you didn't visit us there on the day. Our Chairperson Annette ready to greet the public.
                                                                                                                                                                   

Our Shed Appeal

The set up of the stand.

The shed appeal is to try and bring in funds to reinstate the old gardeners' shed, which needs a new roof, guttering so we can collect rainwater to use when planting in the long border, electricity so that we can make hot drinks for volunteers and hold more events in the Arno Rose Garden and water for a toilet and hand washing facilities.  This shed would also provide somewhere to store a wheelbarrow and some old tools. At present we have to bring containers of water and all tools each time we work in the Rose Garden.  We hope this shed will enable us to offer more social events within the garden too, such as strawberry cream teas in the Summer.

Spring Litter Pick 2019

On Saturday 6th April the Friends met at the bottom of Duck Pond Lane at 10am.  Gloves, green sacks and litter pickers were collected and then we set off to collect as much rubbish as we could find.  The first ever litter pick we carried out brought in about 40 sacks. We have noticed a significant drop in the amount left on the Oxton Fields, however, the Quarry area still seems to be a problem.

Usually this Spring litter pick is less than in September when everyone has been spending more time on the fields over the Summer months. Youths tend to gather by the old sundial and Quarry where we still collect a large number of drink cans and bottles, generally thrown into the undergrowth which is far more difficult to reach. Sadly we feel that in those cases, extra litter bins would make little if no difference!
By carrying out these regular litter picks , we can also keep an eye on the furthest ends of the Fields. Fly tipping is quite common, so we can then notify the Council to remove larger items of rubbish.  Here in the photo you can see just how much rubbish we removed in two hours.

Spring Plant Sale 2019

On Saturday 30th March 2019 we held our first ever Spring Plant sale.  We had posted on Facebook to advertise it and also put posters and bunting on each of our three notice boards. A large number of people saw the post and also shared it on Twitter.




Although overcast, we were lucky with the weather as it stayed dry for the morning.  We decided to set up our stall at the bottom of Duck Pond Lane as the footfall there would be greater with folks going about their shopping on Woodchurch Road. The stall started selling at 10am, many people had already gathered to see what was on offer. 

Due to the time of year, we could only sell plants which were in full growth. Just some of the plants on offer were Ajuga, Comfrey, Mint, Nepeta, Pulmonaria, Hemerocallis, Sisyrinchium, Lychnis and Leucanthemum, as well as a selection of shrubs. We also had a few houseplants on offer. Other later flowering plants will be on sale in May when we run the plant stall for the Secret Gardens of Oxton event

As the following day was Mother's Day, Linda, our Membership Secretary, had also prepared mugs with "Mum" on filled with chocolates then gift wrapped as well as cups in saucers planted up with pansies.
The turnout of the public to support us was wonderful and we also had John Booth on hand to see if he could recruit new members.
By 12 noon we had sold most of the plants and also recruited 2 new members.  We were delighted by how smoothly it had all gone and totted up the takings.  The plant sale had made an amazing £218 in just two hours. The proceeds will be used to purchase more plants for the long border, increasing the variety of perennials. These, in turn, will be divided and for sale in the future.  Many of the people who bought plants were keen for us to make this Spring Plant Sale an annual event.