Friends of Birkenhead Park
       That which is good should be preserved

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PARK NEWS

POETRY IN BIRKENHEAD PARK  2010

The Birkenhead Park Poets for 2010 are Tom McCormack (Acorn), Freddie Neale (Sapling) and James Dillon (Oak). The awards were presented by local poet, Roger Cliffe-Thompson, on 20th March at Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre. The winners also received book prizes; one kindly donated by Hazel Collinge, and vouchers for Cappuccino’s, the coffee shop in Birkenhead Park, donated by Dave Dooley. The theme of the competition was ‘The World in Birkenhead Park’ and all the poems had been displayed in Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre. The competition is an annual event and poetry writing workshops were held through the year. Poems were read at the ceremony.  Portland Primary School will also receive a free poetry workshop from Roger in recognition of their contribution to the competition. Thanks are due to Roger for his support and encouragement.

The winning poems in each category are available by selecting from the categories  below:  

Acorn Sapling Oak

Oak winners

THE PENGUIN HAS ARRIVED  See her here

Penguins in Birkenhead Park!  Well, no actually there is only one and she is a wildflower penguin by artist Sarah Jane Richards. Why not pop along and pay her a visit. T learn more about the Go Penguins visit their website by clicking here.

GREEN FLAG AWARD WINNERS.

In July 2009 the Park was awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award. To find out more about the award please visit the Green Flag award website.

ACTIVE DRAMA COMPANY.

The Active Drama Company runs an exciting Education Programme in the Park, with something for groups of all ages.

The Amazing Mr Park is an interactive play that takes young people around Birkenhead Park. It uses amazing and funny characters to introduce children to some of the important people in the history and development of the Park.

Picnic in the Park is for younger children and is a leisurely walk around the Park meeting  characters from all works of life.

Plays in the Park offers custom designed workshops for all ages looking at the use of site specific theatre, research and writing, and educational drama.

PROJECT WITH CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK : "SCHOLARS"

Applications have been made for a Project with Central Park New York. Professor Lee, of the Friends of Birkenhead Park, has been investigating a project which could provide a link with Central Park New York who have schemes to create "Scholars" with specific interests in their Park and might visit us if we had a similar scheme. The project would provide several thousands of pounds if successful. The Friends of Birkenhead Park would need to contribute £500 to show their support.

The New York Project will be working alongside a group of young people creating a piece of original theatre about Birkenhead Park linking with a group in Central Park, New York.

For more information contact the Active Drama Office, at the Grand Entrance, on 0151 652 0100

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

Education Officer: Hugh Waring   Community Outreach Project: Sally Dobbing

The above posts have been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and are employed by Liverpool University based in the Park.  Further information can be found on the About page.

VOLUNTEERING.

Ian Lea, Volunteering Co-ordinator for the Friends of Birkenhead Park, has reported that the monthly Saturday morning volunteer sessions have contributed significantly to clearing up the Park. Additionally. on behalf of the Rangers Adam King has launched weekly Wednesday volunteering sessions with ambitious goals. A third strand of volunteering has been supported by the angling community, who have been working on clearing of the lakes.
We have learned that people are actually coming into the Park on their own initiative to help clear it up. We encourage this feeling that the Park belongs to all of us, and we can all help! It's Our Park! and we can help look after it.

LOOKING AFTER THE  LAKES

The Lakes are baliffed by the Association of Wirral Angling Clubs. If you are interested in helping to look after the Lakes please come along to one of the Park's work party days. The next will be on 3 October 2009, followed by 31 October 2009 and 28 November 2009.

HEALTHY BIRD-FEEDING.

"Healthy bird-feeding" seeds and duck food are available for sale in the Pavilion reception for people going to the Lakes. PLEASE  do NOT feed bread to any of the ducks or birds because it is nutritionally bad for them and encourages vermin.