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Sefton Coast Forum 2009The 10th Annual Sefton Coast Partnership Forum took place on Saturday 27th June 2009 at Southport Theatre and Convention Centre (formerly known as Southport's Floral Hall and Theatre Complex). This year the Forum focussed on the Landscape Partnership Scheme. Politicians, officers, organisations, groups and individuals who are interested and care about the Sefton Coast and who are keen to learn more about the Landscape Partnership Scheme came along to the all day event. Over 150 people attended.
The Forum was chaired by Mr Ted Jackson, of the Sefton Coast Partnership and introduced by the Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Alf Doran, who also presented the Volunteer Award.
The first part of the morning was taken up with presentations. Dave McAleavy Head of Coast and Countryside Service at Sefton Council gave a brief introduction to the Sefton Coast Landscape Partnership Scheme and its Projects. There then followed a showing of a short DVD film, which was commissioned by the LPS Project Manager Will Moody. The film describes in some detail the aims and purpose of the projects and was filmed entirely on the Sefton Coast. The final presentation from Graham Barrow, Voluntary Chair of the Kerridge Ridge and Ingersely Vale Countryside and Heritage Project, gave a brief overview of this project and shared his experiences. After a refreshment break delegates took part in a selection of three workshops. Understanding the History of the Coast, Shaping the Coast and Experiencing the Coast. Networking and a chance to visit the exhibition stands and displays took place during an extended lunch break following which those delegates who had chosen to visit the project sites were taken off by coaches to the various locations along the coast as far as Marshside to the north and Little Crosby to the south of the borough. Those remaining stayed and were given a presentation by David Brazendale from University of Liverpool, Lifelong Learning Department.
The event closed at 4.30pm. A copy of the Proceedings will be available shortly.
Volunteer Awards
Looking after the coast is a genuine exercise in sustainability. It requires real partnership, because the wind and sea, plants and animals don't care about ownerships or administrative boundaries. While we do need to be aware of the broader context, the important basic day-to day work of caring for this amazing resource must go on. All partners deserve credit on progress that has been made. Tribute should also be made to the enormous amount of work provided by volunteers. The Board of the Sefton Coast Partnership have agreed to acknowledge this contribution through a volunteer award scheme. At this year's forum the Board again recognised two volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution over many years. The Mayor of Sefton Cllr Alf Doran presented the awards. First to receive his award was Mr Ralph Gregson MBE. Ralph is a volunteer member of the Sefton Coast Partnership Board and Working Group since the partnership was established in its current format. He is also the Chair of the Tourism and Communications Task Group and has made a considerable contribution to the work of the Sefton Coast Partnership over the years. Ralph is also Chair of the Birkdale Civic Society and has worked tirelessly to promote the importance of the coast. Ralph and the Birkdale Civic Society played a key role in the development of the Queens Jubilee Nature Trail and unknown to many is a volunteer on this site. Ralph also represents the Sefton Coast Partnership on the Sefton Borough Partnership, this and all of the above is unpaid and carried out in his own time. The second award was presented to Les Baxter. Les' voluntary contribution to Sefton's Natural Coast is wide ranging. He mainly works as a regular volunteer for Natural England, helping with practical tasks, but also assists with guided walks, events and monitoring work. He also has several other invaluable volunteer roles elsewhere on the coast; he has carried out weekly Squirrel Pox monitoring at Ravenmeols LNR on behalf of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. He is Footpaths Secretary for South Sefton, a voluntary advisory role to the Sefton Rights of Way team involving footpath checks, compliance and complaints work. At short notice Les regularly offers additional time to help with practical tasks. He attended a cattle-handling course with the Ainsdale NNR staff so that he could assist with a new grazing programme following the introduction of five Shetland Cattle to the Reserve - this was especially good of Les as he has a fear of cattle. However with these extra duties we have gradually helped him to overcome this fear! Les checks the welfare of the cattle every fortnight! He volunteered as part of the 2008 Dune Helleborine Survey on the NNR, the largest survey of its kind on the coast, again through Merseyside Biobank.
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