This month, our two volunteer groups continued to make improvements for wildlife in the gardens. At the Green Hub at St James Community Garden, Raya made a hibernation station for frogs – a hole dug into the ground and filled with layers of stones and logs. They are arranged in a way where there are lots of spaces for the frogs to get into so that they can overwinter. Two tubes are laid in the ground as entrances. These types of hibernation station can also help newts and reptiles in places where they have them.

Inside the frog hibernation station

The entrance to the hibernation station once it was covered up

Raya also demonstrated how to make wild flower seed bombs – an enjoyable way to grow wildflowers that will provide food for pollinators.

Raya showing how to make seed bombs

Wild flower seed bombs and free wild flower seeds

The sunshine has encouraged growth in the garden, including some strawberries which are ready for picking! Keeping on top of the watering has been time consuming during such a dry spell – the rain at the end of the month was welcomed by the plants.

Lush flower growth in the wilder areas of the Green Hub

Strawberries – ripe and ready!

Over at Falkland Road, the Wildlife at WEN group have finished off the hedgehog house started last month, giving it a green roof. They also made a mini pond in a container. A washing-up bowl, large plant pot, or disused sink can all be repurposed as ponds. See these instructions from Cheshire Wildlife Trust if you would like to create a mini pond in your own garden. We gave away free wild flower seeds to residents of Falkland Road too!

The finished hedgehog house, complete with green roof

What a wonderful Spring Fair we had on 10th May! There were lots of visitors of all ages enjoying everything that was on offer and we raised a record total for WEN through sales and donations. Thank you to the volunteers and stall holders who made the day happen. Fabulous team work! Thanks also to everyone who came along, joined in the fun and helped to support our environmental projects on the Wirral. See more photos on our Facebook page.

Fun on the children’s activity trail, which ended in a request to write a letter to the future.

Plant sale at the Spring Fair

Cakes galore!

All handmade by the WEN Crafters

Gardening and energy advice, and a chance to chat and enjoy the sunshine

We had a lovely morning on the ‘Nature Takes Over’ walk on 13th May, held as part of the Wirral Walking Festival. Carol led a tour of the former landfill sites of Cross Lane and Bidston Moss, showing how nature has reclaimed these areas. As well as all the flowers and trees, we were delighted to see several brimstone butterflies too!

Looking at the different species of plants growing by the path near the start of the walk at Cross Lane

The lake on Bidston Moss

On 14th and 15th May we invited Wirral teachers to the WEN garden to pick up vegetable plants and wild flowers to be planted at their schools. 60 schools were represented in total so we are hopeful that there will be lots of children across Wirral enthused about gardening and plenty of food for pollinators as the flowers bloom.

Thanks from St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Noctorum

We were at Cool Heswall on 17th May with our stall selling plants and crafts. There’s always a lovely atmosphere at this event which encourages local climate action, with lots of stalls to visit, people to chat to, musical entertainment and refreshments. Congratulations to the Joint Environment Rotary Group for organising the day!

Plants for sale at Cool Heswall

Crafters’ handmade items on display

This month’s activities show just how much volunteers are an essential part of WEN. Whether making crafts, growing plants, baking cakes, helping in our community gardens, looking after the sales on stalls, or talking to people at events and sharing information about sustainable living… we couldn’t do it without our volunteers. A massive thank you to all!

Next month, we’ll be taking part in the Great Big Green Week, the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature.

On Tuesday 10th, Thursday 12th and Friday 13th June, drop in at WEN HQ at the Environment Centre on Falkland Road…

• Tour our community garden
• Learn about sustainable solutions
• Buy plants and crafts
• Join in with a garden or craft session, or take part in a Clothes Swap (see poster below for details of activities each day)*
• Collect litter pickers and do a 10 minute beach/park/street clean
• Enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake!

*To book on the herb bed or woodwork sessions, please email wen@la21.net

Our nature groups will meet on Thursdays 5th and 19th June at St James Community Garden and on Fridays 6th and 20th June at Falkland Road. Come along to give nature a helping hand or just pop in for a chat and a cup of tea and pick up some tips on how to look after garden wildlife.

Tasks for the first sessions of the month will include sorting out the compost bins and weeding at St James Community Garden and wildflower seed sowing and transplanting at Falkland Road.