News Item

Cast boost for Bootle Green Dream Project

* Please note – The article below was released prior to South Sefton Development Trust changing its name to Regenerus

A Bootle project that is teaching local people traditional skills including growing their own food and beekeeping is the latest organisation to receive funding from a south Sefton environmental grant scheme.

The Green Dream  Project has been given £500 from South Sefton Development Trust’s Ace Fund to develop the scope of its activities at its base at the St Mary’s Complex on Waverley Street.

The Ace Fund provides a similar amount each month to a project in South Sefton Development Trust’s core operating area of Bootle, Litherland, Seaforth and Netherton, but the Ace Fund is also open to informal groups of local residents joining forces to work on a one-off ‘green’ project.

Applications from established community and voluntary organisations are welcome, the fund guidelines have been left deliberately broad to encourage as many groups to apply as possible by completing a simple online form.

The Green Dream  Project’s aim is to help volunteers learn about the importance of their local environment and to promote the concept of urban sustainable living.

Their site will eventually include two beehives, a polytunnel, raised beds, wildflower meadows, an eco-built bird hide, a mini orchard, ten mini ponds and an outdoor learning space for forest school activities.

The project already has around 200 registered volunteers of all ages who are involved in beekeeping, sowing, planting, digging, harvesting and looking after the plants and ponds.

The Ace Fund grant will enable the project to buy crop seed, plants, pond plants and a new beehive as part of preparations for winter and the start of the new growing season in spring next year.

Volunteer Co-ordinator, Andrea Ku from the project said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this Ace Fund grant which will be a big help over the coming months.

“It is a tribute to the work of our volunteers who have put so much time and effort into making our site a green haven in the heart of Bootle.”

South Sefton Development Trust Chief Executive Cate Murphy and Ace Fund Co-ordinator Eve Money recently visited the project to see some young volunteers trying their hand at beekeeping.

Mrs Money commented: “We’re very pleased to be able to support this project which is doing some excellent work in helping its volunteers to get closer to nature and teaching them useful new skills at the same time.”

“  For more information about the Ace Fund and an application form visit www.ssdtrust.co.uk.