At the start of July we received confirmation that WEN has been accredited with the matrix Standard after an assessment that took place at the end of June. The matrix Standard is an international quality standard for organisations that deliver information, advice and/or guidance.

The accreditation is a recognition of the excellent standard of our courses and community projects and the high proportion of learners who progress into further learning, employment or volunteering.

Thank you to the staff and volunteers who make it all possible!

WEN has been awarded with the matrix Standard accreditation

We took the Eco Art to Heswall Primary School twice in July. The first occasion was for the Science In The Sunshine event on 6th July, where scientific and environmental organisations provided fun, ‘hands on’ educational activities for children, adults and local community members.

Eco Art on display at Science In The Sunshine. Photo: Alison Bailey Smith

We then attended the opening of the school’s new butterfly and vegetable gardens on 14th July. ‘Pepper’s Patch’ is dedicated to former deputy head, Mrs Cathy Pepper.

The Eco Art flower sculptures visited Heswall Primary School for the opening of Pepper’s Patch. Photo: Heswall Primary School

The giant flower sculptures can be booked for a school, event, park or community group via our website:

https://wirralenvironmentalnetwork.org.uk/eco-art-in-the-park

You can book a visit from the Eco Art for a school, park, event or community group.

The last two of our series of gardening workshops took place at Holy Apostles and Martyrs Parish Church on 13th and 27th July. Volunteers from the church, St James Garden, Bee Wirral and Callister Garden came together to tidy up and to build some raised beds. It’s been great to collaborate in our community gardens, share advice and help each other out.

Making raised beds at the gardening workshop at Holy Apostles and Martyrs Parish church garden

Opportunities for all ages to learn and grow in the garden

The Eco Art made another public appearance on 20th July when the Bishop of Birkenhead, Julie Conalty, visited the Green Hub at St James Garden. We co-hosted the community event with the St James Centre to show Bishop Julie everything that has been achieved so far at the garden and what is possible on formerly derelict land. Our friends from Bee Wirral and Faiths4Change came along too and swapped stories, advice, dough balls and cake!

The Bishop of Birkenhead’s visit to St James Garden

Everyone is welcome at the St James Community Garden

Now schools have finished for the summer holidays, we would like to remind parents that our centre at Falkland Road is a collection point for school uniform on behalf of Wirral FUSS and FUPS, who offer great quality, free, preloved school uniforms to anyone. In the 10 years since the service was established, 50,000 items of clothing have been given to 12,750 families, saving over 26 tonnes of landfill waste.

Simply drop off school uniform that is still in good condition at Falkland Road and we will pass it on.

To request items, please apply online before 19th August or go to one of the hubs to see the fabulous quality for yourself. There is no means testing or questions about financial background.

Drop off uniform at Falkland Road so that it can be worn again

The weekly gardening workshops at the Bee Wirral Elemental Project allotment continue. Jobs for the group this month included laying wood chippings on the ground, managing the long grass and, importantly in the very hot and dry weather, keeping the plants watered. They also started building a wood shed to store their planters and other wood-crafted items.

Spreading wood chippings on the ground at the Bee Wirral Elemental Project

Building a wood shed at the Bee Wirral allotment

We were also at the Bee Wirral allotment on 25th July to hold a pond dipping event for the Bee Wirral Early Years group. The children learnt how to identify the pond life they found. They also enjoyed a bug safari around the pond, discovering butterflies and other insects.

Pond dipping with Bee Wirral Early Years group

Identifying the pond life