IN BRIEF
NEO COMMUNITY
DELIVERS 2000
CHRISTMAS HAMPERS TO
LOCAL FAMILIES
FESTIVE FUN FOR FAMILIES
AT RSPB BURTON MERE
Families are invited to get into the festive spirit this
December with a special Christmas quiz at RSPB
Burton Mere Wetlands near Neston. The trail is available
throughout the month when families can drop-in
anytime from 9.30am-3pm and take part in this fun
outdoor activity, to discover more about the rich variety
of creatures found on the Dee Estuary.
Neo Community has been working hard again this year
putting together Christmas hampers for people who
need a little extra help this Christmas.
They have been so well supported especially through the Wirral
Life links, Mandy Molby, Steve Taylor Smith, Cash for Kids, and
Birkenhead School.
Over 2000 hampers full of food, toiletries and cleaning products were
made up and delivered with the support of lots of local volunteers.
VMS MOT services supplied vans and staff to help carry and deliver
hundreds of hampers. They also gave a generous donation to help
buy more gifts and food.
Ema Wilkes of Neo Community said: "We have distributed as many
toys and gifts as possible to local children. It is so sad that this has
to happen in 2018 but all we hope is that it has helped families
stretch their budgets that little bit more. For anyone on their own at
Christmas they will know someone has thought of them in what can
be a very, very lonely time of year for so many.
"Neo Community would like to give a special thank you to the 347
volunteers who have made this possible; and the amazing support
from Mandy Molby and Claire Gallagher; and the support of the
HIVE Youth zone who without the space, volunteers and young
peoples support we would not only have 600 hampers left to make.
Birkenhead School Year 8 were amazing and we are so proud of all
the Neo Team as always."
To get in touch with Neo Community, visit: neocommunity.org.uk.
At this time of year, the whole area becomes a winter wildlife
wonderland, as many of our feathered friends from further north
choose to spend the colder months here. Vast flocks of pink-footed
geese make regular flights around the wetlands, whilst wild swans feed
in surrounding fields. Probably the most spectacular (and noisy) are
the thrushes and starlings that have come from the continent to feast
upon unfrozen farmland. A range of birds of prey spend their winter
on the estuary and regularly hunt the pools and wetlands at Burton
Mere Wetlands too. Visit: www.rspb.org.uk/burtonmerewetlands.
WIRRAL HOSPICE ST
JOHN’S CHRISTMAS TREE
COLLECTION 2019
Starting on Saturday 12th January, an army of volunteers
will be driving all around Wirral picking up people’s used
Christmas trees (real not artificial) from outside their
houses. It’s an annual campaign which helps to raise
essential funds for Wirral Hospice St John’s.
For a pre-booked donation of £5 for a small, £7 for a medium and £10
for a large tree (or, if desired, a larger donation is always appreciated)
people leave their pine tree in an accessible spot outside their homes
and, within the week, their tree magically disappears. For volunteer/
van details please contact: Elaine Connell at Elaineco@wirralhospice.
org or, to register your tree for collection call 0151 343 0778. Or go
online to www.wirralhospice.org/treecollection
wirrallife.com 13