Author: Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Thank you to everyone who came along to our volunteer sessions in February.  
 
We had a fantastic response to our appeal for help with clearing the pond in Beach Lawn over the weekend of 5th February. More than 20 people attended each day, and we made great progress with clearing the edge of the pond, the edge around the small island and a major amount of the overgrown reeds and bullrushes.  A few of us went back again last weekend to expose the edge of the large island, and we’ve also started some work on clearing the channel leading into the pond.  We would also like to thank the Community Payback Team who ferried the debris up to an enormous pile by the gate to await collection by the Council.  
 
Work on the pond will now stop until next winter, to allow the newts some peace and quiet!

We had 12 people at our Litter Pick in Beach Lawn, when we also cleared up some of the pond debris and did some edging, and at our two gardening sessions we continued to work in Crescent Garden on the edges on the bottom path under the trees.  

Our litter pick this month takes place on Saturday 12th March in Potter’s Barn, meeting at 10.30am.  Our gardening/litter picking sessions will take place on Tuesday 8th March at 9.30am and Wednesday 23rd March at 1.00pm, meeting at our lock-up next to the cafe.

Hope to see you soon at one of our events,

Best wishes,

Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Hi Everyone,
 
We had a really good start to the year with 11 volunteers at our first gardening session of 2022.  We continued to work on cutting back the grass overgrowing the path edges in Crescent Garden and discovered that the pathway in one of the empty alcoves was at least 18 inches wider than it was before we started!
 
We had 5 volunteers at our Wednesday afternoon session, when we continued to work on the edges, litter picked and cleared the drain covers in Crescent Garden.
 
Sadly, the very wet and windy weather defeated us for our scheduled litter pick in Adelaide Garden.  We had hoped to use the occasion to make a presentation to David Jackson and Caroline Guerin, but instead, a couple of us visited them at home to present David with two iron men statues, and Caroline with flowers. 

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Our routine Litter Pick/Gardening sessions this month will take place on Saturday 12th February in Beach Lawn between 10.30am and 11.30am, and on Tuesday 8th February at 9.30am and Wednesday 23rd February at 1.00pm meeting outside our lock up next to the Waterloo Sunset Cafe. 
 
Our BIG PROJECT this month is a weekend of joint sessions with Green Sefton on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th February at 1.30pm both days, to work on clearing out the pond in Beach Lawn.  We have advertised the event in the local press, on social media and by leaflets through doors – and are hoping to get as many volunteers as possible – many hands make light work etc.!  
 
We know from past experience that it is heavy work, and we have some new tools that we hope will make it easier to cut through the thick mat of roots from the bullrushes, but would ask anyone coming along to bring any of their own tools that they think will help (mattocks/mutts/root buster spades etc)  – and of course gloves, wellington boots or waders.  

Looking forward to seeing you at one of our events, 

Best wishes,  
 
Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Happy New Year to all our volunteers and Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens.
 
I’ve just totted up the figures, and we spent a massive 185 hours litter picking and 127 hours gardening in 2021 – not bad considering we didn’t get started until April because of lockdowns.  I know the figures would be even higher if we counted all the “unofficial” hours that individuals put in on their own.  
 
In December we had eight litter pickers in Crescent Garden, and at our Tuesday gardening session three of us continued to work on cutting back the grass edges.
 
From now on, all our Saturday sessions will be joint Litter Picking and Gardening and this month we will be meeting on Saturday 8th January between 10.30am and 11.30am in Adelaide Garden.  
 
Our gardening sessions will take place on Tuesday 11th January at 9.30am and Wednesday 26th January at 1.00pm – meeting outside our lock-up next to the cafe.  If you would prefer to litter pick instead, we’ll have access to all our equipment, so please do join us!!
 
Over the weekend of 5th/6th February we are hoping to get together a working party to clear out the pond in Beach Lawn.  This will be in conjunction with Green Sefton, and the aim is to clear it before the newts start to breed in the Spring.  We’ll be putting a call out for helpers via our newsletter and Facebook nearer the time, but if you know of any groups of strong people who would like to help, please get in touch.
 
We are also looking to borrow a “root slayer spade” or a peat cutter (!) to try out in the pond.  Do you have either of these lurking in a shed/garage? We know from past experience that there is a very thick mat of roots throughout the pond that is difficult to cut through, and if we can find some equipment that will work effectively, we would be happy to spend some of our funds to buy a couple, but would prefer to try them out first!   
 
 
Looking forward to seeing you in the Gardens in 2022,
 
Best wishes, 
 
 
Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Thank you to everyone who came along to our litter picking and gardening sessions in November.  We had 19 litter pickers in Marine Garden, and at our gardening sessions we had 8 and 5 volunteers.  It was good to see a few new faces, and we continued to work on clearing the path edges, and planted a large sack of daffodil bulbs in the grassed areas around the central raised bed in Crescent Garden.  Hopefully they will look good in the Spring!
 
Our litter pick this month will take place on Saturday 11th December in Crescent Garden at 10.30am and there will be just one gardening session this month, on Tuesday 14th December at 9.30am, meeting outside our lock-up as usual.  
 
We had a successful AGM at the Victoria Hotel, when sadly we said goodbye to our Chair of the past 2 years, Caroline Guerin, Secretary (of many years and previous Chair), David Jackson, and committee member Madeleine Litchfield, who has been with us since FoWSG was formed.  Thank you to each of them for all the time and effort they have put into our work in the Gardens.  Caroline will remain on the committee, and David is moving out of the area.  
 
We now welcome our new Chair – Doll Bromilow, and Secretary – Andrew Khodabukus.

Please could we also gently remind members that the annual subscription is now due.  We ask for a voluntary donation of £5 for the year which can be paid via this link: Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens | Localgiving. Thank you to everyone who has donated over the last year.
 
In the New Year, we will be adding an additional monthly Sunday volunteer session to our programme, and all will become joint litter picking and gardening sessions.  Details of dates will follow shortly.
 
The Committee would like to thank everyone who has volunteered in the Gardens over the last year, and look forward to seeing you again in 2022!
 
With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,  
 
Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Thank you to everyone who joined us for litter picking and gardening in October.

We had a good turnout with 25 volunteers in Potter’s Barn.  As well as litter picking, some of us tidied up the flower beds and we also cleaned out the ornamental fountain.

We had 6 and 4 volunteers at our two gardening sessions, when we worked on cutting back some of the overhanging bushes and clearing the path edges in Crescent Garden.

Our litter pick this month will take place in Marine Garden on Saturday 13th November between 10.30am and 11.30am.  Our gardening sessions will be on Tuesday 9th November at 9.30am and Wednesday 24th November at 1.00pm, meeting outside our lockup next to the café.

Our Annual General Meeting is taking place on Thursday 25th November at 7.30pm in the Victoria Pub on Great Georges Road, Waterloo. 

Best wishes,

Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Thank you to all our volunteers who helped in the Seafront Gardens during September.   We had 16 litter pickers joining us in Beach Lawn, and 5 gardeners at our Tuesday morning session, when we worked on clearing the weeds around some of the benches in Crescent Garden.  Sadly, we had no gardeners at the Wednesday afternoon session (although we did have 2 apologies!)
 
Our litter pick this month will take place on Saturday 9th October in Potter’s Barn, meeting at 10.30am.  Our Gardening sessions will take place on Tuesday 12th October at 9.30am and Wednesday 27th October at 1.00pm, meeting outside our lock-up next to the cafe.
 
We had a surprise, and very large visitor to our gardens early in September, when the Air Ambulance landed in Adelaide Garden. 

Hope to see you in October, 

Best wishes,
 
Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Thank you to everyone who came along to our volunteer sessions in August.  We had sixteen at our first litter pick, and ten at the second.  Hopefully now that the school holidays are over the litter will be reduced, and we will go back to having just one litter pick a month until next summer.
 
At our gardening sessions we had five volunteers at the Tuesday morning session when we worked on clearing some path edges in Crescent Garden, and three at the Wednesday evening sessions when we worked in the rockery area of Marine Garden.  Now that the nights are starting to draw in, we’ll go back to daytime sessions over autumn/winter.
 
A lot of the work we do in the gardens isn’t strictly “gardening” – so please don’t be put off attending because you’re no expert!  Clearing the path edges and brushing the paths makes a big difference and isn’t skilled work, so please do come along and join us if you have the time.
 
Our Litter Pick in September will take place on Saturday 11th September at 10.30am meeting in Beach Lawn.
 
Gardening sessions will be held on Tuesday 14th September at 9.30am and Wednesday 22nd September at 1.00pm, meeting at our lockup next to the cafe.
 
Finally, on a sad note, one of our long time volunteers, Don Stewart, passed away last month. Don, along with his wife Anthea, was a regular at our routine litter picking and gardening sessions. He would turn out in all weathers to help us, often putting the younger members to shame by his determination.  One of the things Don will be remembered for by the gardening team is his hard work in attending to the surface drains in the Gardens. He could be found in many a gardening session at ground level clearing leaves, weeds, soil and all manner of rubbish from the little drains to keep them clear.  Don will be very much missed by us all and our thoughts and best wishes go out to Anthea and their family.

Best wishes,

Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Thank you to everyone who came along to our volunteer sessions in July.  We had 17 at our litter pick in Adelaide Garden which meant that we could spread out to litter pick the other gardens too, and some of us cleared the weeds from the paving around the main entrance.  It was great to see some new faces too!  At our 2nd litter pick in Crescent Garden we had 6 volunteers.
 
We had 7 volunteer gardeners at our Tuesday session, when we worked on clearing the paving around the main entrance in Crescent Garden.  Sadly, we were defeated by the weather at our Wednesday evening session – although 3 of us turned up and then decided to go home!!
 
Our litter picks this month will take place on Saturday 14th August in the Children’s Play Park, and Saturday 28th August in Crescent Garden, meeting at 10.30am.
 
Our gardening sessions will take place on Tuesday 10th August at 9.30am and Wednesday 25th August at 7.00pm, meeting at our lock-up next to the cafe.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Best wishes,

Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Thank you to everyone who came along to our volunteer sessions in June.  As well as our usual litter pick on the 2nd Saturday of the month, we decided to hold an additional litter pick on the 4th Saturday of the month, and were very pleased with the attendance at both, with 22 and 20 attendees respectively.  We will continue with the 2nd monthly litter pick during July and August when they will no doubt be needed, especially if the weather is good!
 
We had 4 and 7 volunteers at our gardening sessions, when we worked on the “new” corner beds in Crescent Garden and also cleared some of the path edges.
 
Clearing the path edges can be very satisfying – instant results, no real gardening skills needed and it really does make a difference to how the gardens look, so please don’t be put off coming along to help out if you don’t have any gardening experience!
 
Our litter picks this month will take place on Saturday 10th July in Adelaide Garden and Saturday 24th in Crescent Garden between 10.30am and 11.30am.  
 
Our gardening sessions will take place on Tuesday 13th July at 9.30am and Wednesday 28th July at 7.00pm, meeting at our lock-up next to the Waterloo Sunset cafe.
 
Reminder that although restrictions are eased the following safety measures are still in operation for all our routine volunteer activities;:

• Refreshments will not be provided.
• Everybody taking part must satisfy themselves that they are eligible and safe to help with litter picking or gardening.
• If you or someone in your household starts to show symptoms of Covid 19, or if you are at high risk of severe symptoms yourself, then you must not attend.

• Equipment will be provided but you must bring your own gloves.  Each person can select a ring and a picker, or gardening tools.  All the equipment will be cleaned/sanitised before being stored in the lock-up.
• Bags will be handed out by someone wearing gloves, and the picker will fix it to their own hoop.
• The prescribed social distancing rules must be observed, both within the group (if a group is working) and anybody else nearby.
• The location to leave filled bags will be announced before the start, and pickers will take their own bags there.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Best wishes,
Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens

Hi Everyone,

As restrictions have slowly lifted and the weather has got warmer, we have more visitors to our Gardens and the wider Marina.
 
As a result of this, in order to keep the Gardens looking clean, we have decided to have two official litter picking sessions for the summer months.  In these months we will litter pick on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.

The first of these additional sessions will be this Saturday 26th June, from 10:30 until 11:30am, meeting in Crescent Garden. 
 
Reminder that although restrictions are eased the following safety measures are still in operation for all our routine volunteer activities;:

• Refreshments will not be provided.
• Everybody taking part must satisfy themselves that they are eligible and safe to help with litter picking or gardening. 
• If you or someone in your household starts to show symptoms of Covid 19, or if you are at high risk of severe symptoms yourself, then you must not attend.
• Equipment will be provided but you must bring your own gloves.  Each person can select a ring and a picker, or gardening tools.  All the equipment will be cleaned/sanitised before being stored in the lock-up.
• Bags will be handed out by someone wearing gloves, and the picker will fix it to their own hoop. 
• The prescribed social distancing rules must be observed, both within the group (if a group is working) and anybody else nearby.
• The location to leave filled bags will be announced before the start, and pickers will take their own bags there.

Looking forward to seeing you.
Best wishes,
Janet Markland
Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens