Support the Pool and show Merseyside cares

Liverpudlians already inspired by the giant, robotic spider, La Machine, are being urged to do something to help creatures living on their doorstep this coming weekend, following a disappointing summer for Merseyside’s participation in conservation work.

‘Support the Pool’ is the message being sent out by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), working in conjunction with the Mersey Forest. The Pool in questions is not one of the City’s football teams, but a Natterjack toad pool nestled in the dunes at Formby.

The BTCV has been running weekends with a difference during the summer, each one enabling participants to sign up for two daily sessions of conservation work, followed by their own choice of activity in their free time, during the evenings.

Surprisingly, few people from Merseyside have taken part in these weekends, despite the fact they will be assisting one of the country’s most endangered species – the Natterjack toad.

The BTCV is determined to find participants from Liverpool for the weekends of September 13-14 and September 27-28, to prove that Merseyside’s population does care about the world of nature. It is looking for ten people, per weekend, who want to derive a feel-good factor, are happy to pay £100 for the two-day experience, or £60 for a day’s conservation work and are aged over 18.

During their time, they will be engaged with vital pond fencing or shrub clearance activity, both of which are vital to the survival of the Natterjack Toad. They will learn conservation techniques from trained BTCV leaders and will be provided with tools. No previous experience is necessary.

The BTCV’s Richard Austin says: "This is an ideal opportunity for couples to get involved in conservation work together, to contribute something to the environment and then to soak up the atmosphere in the City of Culture after dark. We would love to see some Merseyside people supporting their own natural environment on our last two weekends."

To be one of the ten participants on either or both weekends, log on to visitliverpool.com.

Further details about the weekends are at http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/Natural_Tourism_Merseyside, where participants can book online.