On the 1st and 2nd November, the finale of Wirral’s year as Borough of Culture was held in New Brighton. Walk The Plank brought the legend of Monty the Mersey Monster to the marine lake and Thingumajig Theatre’s Ghost Caribou roamed the prom. We were invited to have a stall in one of the shelters on the prom and had a lovely Saturday evening watching the entertainment. It was a privilege to chat with visitors at our stall and be a part of the wonderful event.

Monty the Mersey Monster in New Brighton Marine Lake

A ghost caribou entertaining the crowds

The WEN stall at the Borough of Culture finale

We held a Sustainable Fashion workshop on 5th November at The Quirky Community Hub in Hoylake. It was great to chat textile reuse with old and new volunteers while we made plans for the Clothes Swap Cafe later in the month.

Talking and planning at the sustainable fashion workshop

On 6th November, the ‘Discover the Past, Present and Future of Gardening’ class visited Wallasey Tree Planting Group at Magill’s Nursery. After hearing about the group and the Wirral Tree Wardens, they toured the nursery and took some tree whips home to plant. In return, Carol gave some advice on root pruning Black Walnut whips (the trees, not the soft-centred chocolates!).

The Discover Gardening group also had an outing to Flaybrick Memorial Gardens to learn about the design features of the site and see some of the important trees. The new term for all gardening courses begins in January. See below for details of the courses on offer.

The gardening class with their tree whips ready to take home. Photo: Wallasey Tree Planting Group

Guelder Rose has beautiful autumn foliage. Photo: Wallasey Tree Planting Group

On 8th November, Carol taught a composting workshop, showing different methods of composting, including using a rotating compost bin, a hot composting bin and bokashi composting. The workshop was very well received, and one person even managed to leave with a new composting bin given to them by another of the attendees on the day.

Lovely feedback from the people who attended the composting workshop

It’s always fabulous to spend time at the St James Centre and at the Green Hub at St James Garden in Birkenhead North. There’s a great selection of books, clothes and toys on the ‘Help Yourself Shelf’, the Clothes Swap Rail and the Toy Swap Shelf in the library at the St James Centre.

Books to go on the Help Yourself Shelf at the St James Centre

The St James Centre Clothes Swap rail

In the Green Hub garden, you’ll find traditional hedging, opportunities to Grow Your Own and a community green space to enjoy. We’re really grateful to Steve and Pete from Wirral Countryside Volunteers for laying the hedge this month and sharing their expertise. A hedge laying training session and nature based crafts are planned at the Green Hub before Christmas.

A freshly laid hedge at St James Community Garden

On 12th November, we visited the excellent Wirral FUSS shop in Birkenhead with school uniforms that had been dropped off at the collection point at WEN. Save cash, and save the planet with new-to-you uniforms, free for everyone. Brilliant blazers, perfect pullovers, smart shirts, terrific trousers, splendid sports kit, cosy coats… you get the drift!

School shirts available free of charge at the Wirral Fuss shop in Birkenhead

Lots of cosy coats at Wirral FUSS

Tony with the new display board he made for WEN

A bird box made by one of the WEN Reclaimers group members

Carol led another workshop on 15th November – this time in willow weaving. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon and appreciated Carol’s help in making the wonderful wreaths that were produced. This was the first of two sessions to make a Christmas wreath or heart-shaped decoration from willow and added festive greenery, with the next workshop on 2nd December. This is now fully booked, although there will be another willow weaving workshop in the New Year to make plant support structures for the garden. Our Facebook page or email newsletter are the best places to find out about announcements of workshops.

The wreaths made on the willow weaving workshop

One of the finished wreaths

The Quirky Community Hub Clothes Swap Cafe took place on 16th November. Huge thanks to everyone who helped or visited. There may have been some tired people afterwards but what a success!

There were 39 bags of clothes donated and 32 visitors logged (although we think there may have been more). Many people were coming to The Quirky for the first time and there are plans for more clothes swap events at the venue. We even had two mentions on BBC Radio Merseyside!

The Quirky will be keeping a rail of jumpers and coats for swaps or pay what you feel. Sports kit that wasn’t taken is going to Kit Link. Most importantly, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Smiles all around as people had a bit of a clear out or found a new-to-them outfit.

We held our AGM and social evening on 20th November. We said goodbye and many thanks to Perle who is stepping down from her role as a Trustee of WEN. Her long-standing support has been invaluable. Congratulations to Cecilia and Claire who are now elected as new Trustees!

After the formal business was over, it was time for talks from some of our members. We heard a case study on home energy reduction from Sandra Hogben, a Wirral Climate Champion. Raya Summerfield, WEN’s new Biodiversity Officer, spoke about two Wirral-based green streets projects that will be launched next year and Barbara Gleave gave us an update on Wirral Repair Cafe. Joy Clancy told us about how to take local eco action and the work of Liverpool and Wirral Friends of the Earth, and we had an entertaining musical interlude from Dave Peddie of The New Brighteners on guitar!

The talks were followed by homemade soup and cake and a chance to have a chat. Thanks to Carol for the soup and to Claire for the cake. Both were delicious.

Dave Peddie of The New Brighteners with his ‘Bin It!’ song. Watch the video here.

Joy from Liverpool Friends of the Earth (centre) with some of the WEN team

On 21st November, Naomi attended the launch event for Kit Link, a scheme to offer Wirral residents the opportunity to recycle and reuse new and used sports equipment and clothing.

The aim of Kit Link is to increase access to sports and physical activity by adults and children across Wirral by removing the barrier of the cost of clothing and equipment. It will also increase the lifespan of the donated goods and reduce carbon emissions and waste.

For lists of items that are and aren’t accepted for donation, see the Active Wirral website.

There will be collection points set up around the Wirral. If you have items to donate or are in need of sports kit, please email Kirsten, the Kit Link Coordinator, for further information – kirstenhicks@wirral.gov.uk

Attendees of the Kit Link launch, including Naomi (furthest right)

Some donated sports clothing and equipment

It was the WEN Pre-Christmas Fair on 23rd November and a chance to get into the festive spirit with food, plants, crafts, present ideas and sustainable shopping and gift wrapping help. Take a look at photos of the stalls on our Facebook page. Thank you so much to all the volunteers, stallholders and visitors for making it such an enjoyable day and helping raise funds for WEN. Feedback from attendees has been great and we’ve already got stall bookings for our Spring Fair on 10th May!

Raya, WEN’s new Biodiversity Officer, ready to greet visitors to the Pre-Christmas Fair

WEN Trustee, Anne looking festive at the Fairtrade stall

On 30th November, we returned to Indigo in Rock Ferry for another Clothes Swap. We had 47 bags of clothes donated and 45-50 people visiting (it’s really hard to keep count when it gets busy!). Our favourite comments from people taking part were “love the sense of community” and “a really kind vibe”. Three bags of winter clothing will be taken to Heart4Refugees and one bag of sports kit will go to Kit Link. Again, thank you to all the volunteers who worked so hard and thanks to Indigo for hosting and letting us be a part of this event. Indigo will be holding another Clothes Swap in the spring.

All set up ready for the Clothes Swapping to begin at Indigo

A small amount of the clothing available at the Indigo Clothes Swap

Our next Clothes Swap Cafe is at WEN on Friday 6th December. We’re giving it a festive theme this time. Bring winter clothing and accessories, Christmas jumpers and party outfits that you no longer wear. Then, see if you can find some clothes you like that will keep you cosy in the colder months and stylish through the festive season.

The list of gardening courses beginning in January 2025