Knowsley Online

New for Easter: Birds of Prey Experience

Plus 25% off ticket price when booked online*

Calling all adventurers! This Easter weekend, families can get set to soar with the kings of the sky at the new Birds of Prey experience at Knowsley Safari Park.

This beak to face experience includes vulture feeding, flying displays, bird handling and even the chance to see a baby bird hatch. Anything could happen as they swoop and dive just inches above visitors.

Also new to see this Easter on the Safari Drive are Bronze, Silver and Gold, the lion cubs are named to support Britain in their sporting achievements. Don’t be deceived by these cuddly cubs - each one weighs a whopping 35-40kg already.

As part of their continuing commitment to conservation, this Easter weekend Knowsley will be hosting an arts and crafts event to help visitors learn more about the animals of South East Asia; home of the tiger, Asian elephant, orang-utan, and mysterious creatures like the Saola.

Creative cakes make money for charity

Pupils and staff from Westvale Primary in Kirkby baked up beautiful cakes to raise money for Sport Relief.

They created everything from football pitches to princess castles in a cake baking competition for the charity appeal.

Many of the pupils and staff also completed a one mile walk around the school field as part of the campaign.

A series of walks, runs and other events around the country have helped raise more than £52 million for Sport Relief which helps disadvantaged people in Britain and abroad.

“The children thorough enjoyed the day, said Diane Spiers, a teaching assistant at Westvale Primary School.

“Their cake designs were so imaginative and we had a great day. It really brought everyone together.”

Pic caption: Some Westvale pupils with their prize winning cakes.

Sun shines on charity run

The sun shone on big hearted runners of all ages, sprinting for the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Knowsley.

Around 200 people turned out at Stadt Moers Park in Whiston to raise money for Sport Relief 2012

There were three events – a mile-long fun run and a three and six mile race for experienced runners.

They were organised by Knowsley Council, the Friends of Stadt Moers, Merseyside Harriers and local volunteers.  

The races were started by Mike Dooling, one of the people who will be carrying the Olympic Torch through Knowsley on June 1.

 “This was a great event and we were delighted so many people took part,” said David Coulson, Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services.

 “People were running to raise money for Sport Relief and there was a great atmosphere.”

Sport Relief is a national campaign to raise money for disadvantaged people in Britain and abroad.

More than one million men, women and children took part in Sport relief events and so far, more than £52 million has been raised. 

Pictured :- Mike Dooling, one of Knowsley’s Olympic Torch Bearers, with Victoria Lavender, Knowsley Junior Cross Country Champion from St Joseph’s primary in Huyton at the Sport Relief event.

First residents move into new £6.3m development

The first residents have moved into a new £6.3m housing development in Knowsley.

Claire Scott and her 13-month-old son Adam have received the keys to their new home in Tiverton Close, Huyton.

The development, one of KHT’s biggest ever housing investments, now offers 49 new homes, where previously there were run down flats.  £2.3m of the funding for the scheme was received from the Homes and Communities Agency’s National Affordable Homes Programme (NAHP).

Claire, 25, had previously been renting a two bedroom flat in the private sector, but thanks to KHT has now moved to a more spacious, modern home for her and her son.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted with our new home. There will be much more space for Adam to run around as he grows up.”

Here comes the bride

If you’re a bride-to-be looking for inspiration for your big day, then come along to Knowsley’s Civic Suite.

Knowsley’s popular Bridal Fayre will be returning to Huyton Suite in Civic Way, Huyton on Tuesday 3 April, 2012.

Admission to the fayre is free and doors will open at 6pm till 9pm.

Our dedicated consultants will be on hand to offer help and advice to anyone looking to book the Civic Suite as the venue for their big day. 

There are also special offers for brides and grooms-to-be who want to book and confirm their date before the end of April 2012. (A deposit is required to confirm and secure the booking).

There will be exhibitors providing services that can cover almost every aspect of your big day. From bridal gown specialists to table decorators and hen night pampering packages to sound and lighting experts.

For brides-to-be there will be a catwalk showcasing some of the beautiful gowns on offer at great prices.

Exhibitors include: Paris Bridal, Champagne Occasion, Ashley Formal Menswear, The Spa at Knowsley Leisure & Culture Park, Lamont Cars, Kick PA, Tamzan Angela and Suite Treats. 

For information on attending or exhibiting at the Knowsley Civic Suite’s Bridal Fayre, please call 0151 443 3761.

Sign up to take part in the Knowsley Active Challenge!

 

Runners in the Knowsley Active Challenge event at Knowsley Hall.

There’s still a few weeks left to enter this year’s Active Challenge at Knowsley Hall.

It’s on May 23 and includes a 3 and 8 kilometre walk, a 2 kilometre run for younger children and a 5 kilometre run or walk for adults.

All are free to enter, apart from the 5 kilometre event for adults, which costs £7 per person.

All of the activities are wheelchair and pushchair friendly, apart from the 8 kilometre walk, which is suitable for keen walkers only.

The 2k run is for children in years 3 to 11 at school.

Anybody can take part, regardless of their ability and they can enter as a team from their place of work, as a family or on their own.

The challenge is an annual event but it’s being held in the evening for the first time this year and there’ll be free entertainment.

It’s organised by Knowsley Council and NHS Knowsley and the closing date for entries is May 16.

To find out more or get an entry form, call Peter Green on 443 2120 or email peter.green@knowsley.gov.uk

You can also download an entry form by going to http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/things-to-see-and-do/sport/active-challenge---2012.aspx

 Runners in the Knowsley Active Challenge event at Knowsley Hall.

Exciting plans to revitalise the historic town of Prescot are being developed.

Knowsley Council and its partners are preparing joint bids to secure national funding which will help to breathe new life into the town and its historic buildings.

The partnership is compiling bids for a range of funding to support regeneration in the area.

The Portas Pilot is the first of the bids to be submitted at the end of March 2012. The £1 million fund has been developed by the government following a report on Britain's high streets by Mary Portas ‘Queen of Shops’.

The council is hoping Prescot will be one of 12 towns to be granted a portion of the funding to support a series of initiatives set out by the local businesses and community. The proposals include bringing local tourist attraction, Knowsley Safari Park, to life in Prescot Town Centre in a temporary ‘pop-up’ shop.  Other ideas will see empty units brought back into use bringing a new and different offer into the town.

The second of the bids to be submitted in May is for Heritage Lottery Funding of £1.89 million which will support plans for the conservation area. Part of the proposals are to improve the town centre’s appearance, emphasising Prescot’s rich heritage as well as giving local people the opportunity for training in traditional construction and restoration techniques.  

Easter Fun at Prescot Producers Market

The popular producers market is once again returning to the historic heart of Prescot on Easter weekend (Saturday 7 April).

As well as the market’s usual quality local produce, there will be Easter activities for everyone to get involved with.

Children can enjoy free face painting and walkabout entertainers will bring Eccleston Street to life with fun and amusing activities.

Little ones will also have the chance to meet the Easter bunny.

The market is open from 9am until 2pm every first Saturday of the month.

If you are a local business and want to get involved in the market you can call 0151 443 5592 for more information.

Halewood's Tae Kwon-Do's trophy haul

Halewood Tae Kwon-Do's were successfull at the 2012 English Championships, held at Telford International Centre on 18th March. This was the first national tournament of the year for the club, which made a massive impact – winning 23 trophies & medals overall – 4 gold, 5 silver and 14 bronze.

9-year-old Lauren Butler was the star of the show, winning 1st place in two separate events. She took gold in blue belt individual sparring and later joined forces with Faye Clifton (9) and Maira Malik (13), where the girls bagged another gold medal each in tag team sparring. Maira also earned a second medal, taking bronze in blue belt individual sparring.

Our yellow belt boys’ tag team earned bronze medals for Callum Edwards (7), Owen Halligan (9) and Philip Zhu (7) – a great result for Owen and Philip particularly, as it was their first experience of tournament sparring. Callum added to this success with a second bronze medal in individual sparring.

Our black belt boys fought hard to achieve their own medals success, with Josh Calland (13) winning bronze in individual sparring and Luke Buckley (12) taking silver in tag team sparring. Luke’s sister Melodie Buckley (8) and team mate Reece Crosby (13) were also successful in their tag team divisions, both winning bronze medals. Yellow belt cadet Nicole Murphy (17) took two bronze medals in the patterns and individual sparring events.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee Queen Elizabeth II, Halewood Town Council are to mark the occasion by providing a free commemorative mug and presentation box to every pupil attending a Halewood Primary School.

To help celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Councillor Norman Hogg, Leader of the Town Council said, “Halewood Town Council are proud to help our young people of Halewood remember this landmark for Her Majesty the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee Year”.