Chelsea garden details to go on display

Caption: Sketch drawing of The HESCO Garden

Date: 17th April 2009

Details of the show garden which will represent Leeds at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show are to be put on public display at Civic Hall next week.

A model of ‘The HESCO Garden’, together with images and supporting information, will be on show in the council ante-chamber from Monday 20th April to Friday 24th April for interested members of the public to drop in and see for free.

The garden, which will compete against the world’s finest designs at the famous horticulture event in London next month, has been created and produced by Leeds City Council’s Parks and Countryside Service and sponsors HESCO Bastion Limited, who are funding this year’s entry.

As part of the public display in Civic Hall, Leeds City Council’s Recreation Partnerships Manager Martin Walker, who is a key member of the design and construction team for The HESCO Garden, will be on hand all day on Wednesday 23rd April to talk to the public about all aspects of the garden as well as any general gardening questions they may have. Martin will be joined by representatives of HESCO Bastion during the day who will be available to talk about their role and support for the project.

The theme behind The HESCO Garden is to raise awareness of how to address the problems posed by flash-flooding, which caused considerable damage in Leeds and all over the UK during the extreme floods in the summer of 2007. One of the key aims is to explain how people can make small changes in their own gardens to help limit the effects of climate change and therefore reduce the chances of flash floods occurring.

The garden design is inspired by rain gardens which are popular in America as a way of holding water and releasing it slowly to limit flash flooding. Modelled on a typical Yorkshire garden, the garden draws on a number of different techniques and uses locally-sourced materials combined with plants which flourish in wet conditions.

Aside from raising awareness of the problem for people of all ages, an education project is also taking place at primary schools across the city to teach young people about the water cycle, climate change and why flooding happens.

Leeds City Council executive member for Leisure Councillor John Procter said:

“We are delighted to be putting the details of The HESCO Garden on display for people to come in and take a look at in Civic Hall. This garden represents everyone in the city, so we want as many people as possible to come and see what we are creating on their behalf and support the idea by telling their friends and family what we are doing and why it is so important to help try and keep Leeds free from the problems of flooding in future.”

This year’s Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show takes place from 19-23 May in the grounds of the Royal Hospital in London.

Sales manager of HESCO Bastion Ltd Kevin Hardy said:

“Our products are used worldwide to provide planned and sustainable flood protection, so we were pleased to be asked by Leeds City Council's Parks and Countryside Service to be the sponsor of The HESCO Garden at Chelsea this year given our flooding expertise. The HESCO Garden is designed to raise awareness of how we can all contribute to managing rainwater better, and by doing so help reduce flooding risks.”

Leeds City Council has enjoyed great success at Chelsea in recent years, with all six previous gardens dating back to the first in 1997 earning bronze or silver awards.

For full details and the latest news about The HESCO Garden visit the official website at www.leedsatchelsea.com

Notes to editors:

The HESCO Garden is sponsored and fully funded by world-renowned manufacturers of products used in civil engineering HESCO Bastion, who themselves are based in Leeds.

The extreme summer floods of 2007 left 55,000 homes and businesses in the UK flooded and insurance claims of almost £3 billion

From Environment Agency figures, approximately 550,000 people live in areas at risk of flooding in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:
Roger Boyde, Learning and Leisure Media Relations Officer,
Tel 0113 247 5472 Email: roger.boyde@leeds.gov.uk

‘Your community – your priorities’ – event in Weetwood

Residents in Weetwood are being given the chance to meet the people that provide services in their area.

The ‘Your Community – Your Priorities’ event, organised by West North West Area Management, will give residents the opportunity to have their say on how local services are being delivered. This is a real opportunity to influence local decision making in their area.

People can attend the session on Thursday 30 April, at any time between 3.30pm and 7.30pm at Iveson Primary School, Iveson Rise, and can stay for as long, or little, as they wish.

Weetwood residents will get the chance to discuss their priorities for their area with local ward councillors and Leeds City Council staff. Representatives from other local organisations, such as the neighbourhood policing team and the council’s environmental action team, will also be on hand to listen to and take action on their suggestions.

There will also be an Easter egg competition to entertain the children during the sessions.

Councillor James Monaghan, chair of the inner north west area committee, said:
“Events like this are an important way for us to meet with local people and discover what they think of the services the council provides and what their priorities are for the future.”

Councillor Les Carter, executive member with responsibility for neighbourhoods said:
“These sessions are a great opportunity for local people to influence the decisions being made about the future of their areas so I hope that residents will take the chance to voice their concerns and priorities for their town.”

This is one of 12 events which have been taking place across the west and north west of Leeds during March and April.

For further information about the sessions please contact the West North West Leeds Area Management team on 0113 3950978 or via email at west.north.west@leeds.gov.uk.

ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Whittell, Leeds City Council Press Office, on (0113) 2474713
Email: emma.whittell@leeds.gov.uk

‘Your community – your priorities’ – event in Farnley and Wortley

Residents in Farnley andd Wortley are being given the chance to meet the people that provide services in their area.

The ‘Your Community – Your Priorities’ event, organised by West North West Area Management, will give residents the opportunity to have their say on how local services are being delivered. This is a real opportunity to influence local decision making in their area.

People can attend the session on Thursday 23 April, at any time between 3:30pm - 8pm at St James Church, New Farnley and can stay for as long, or little, as they wish.

Residents from Farnley and Wortley will get the chance to discuss their areas’ priorities with local ward councillors and Leeds City Council staff. Officers from other local organisations, such as the neighbourhood policing team and the council’s anti-social behaviour unit, will also be on hand to listen to and take action on their suggestions.

Councillor David Blackburn, chair of the outer west area committee, said:
“Events like this are an important way for us to meet with local people and discover what they think of the services the council provides and what their priorities are for the future.”

Councillor Les Carter, executive member with responsibility for neighbourhoods said:
“These sessions are a great opportunity for local people to influence the decisions being made about the future of their areas so I hope that residents will take the chance to voice their concerns and priorities for their local area.”

This is one of 12 events which have been taking place across the west and north west of Leeds during March and April.

For further information about the sessions please contact the West North West Leeds Area Management team on 0113 3950978 or via email at west.north.west@leeds.gov.uk.

ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Whittell, Leeds City Council Press Office, on (0113) 2474713
Email: emma.whittell@leeds.gov.uk

Armley ‘Your Community, Your Priorities’

Residents in Armley are being given the chance to meet the people that provide services in their area.

The ‘Your Community – Your Priorities’ event, organised by the West North West Area Management, will give residents the opportunity to have their say on how local services are being delivered. This is a real opportunity to influence local decision making in their area.

People can attend the session on Tuesday 21 April, at any time between 4.30pm and 8pm at Armley One Stop Centre, Stocks Hill , and can stay for as long, or little, as they wish.

Armley residents will get the chance to discuss their area’s priorities with local ward councillors, Leeds City Council staff and staff from other local organisations, such as the neighbourhood policing team and also the council’s environmental action team, who will be on hand to listen to and take action on their suggestions.

Schoolchildren from Castleton primary school will also be entertaining the visitors with a musical performance starting at 5pm.

Councillor Janet Harper, chair of the inner west area committee, said:
“Events like this are an important way for us to meet with local people and discover what they think of the services the council provides and what their priorities are for the future. I am sure everyone attending will enjoy the performance by the local schoolchildren.”

Councillor Les Carter, executive member with responsibility for neighbourhoods said:
“These sessions are a great opportunity for local people to influence the decisions being made about the future of their areas so I hope that residents will take the chance to voice their concerns and priorities for their town.”

This is one of 12 events which have been taking place across the west and north west of Leeds over March and April.

For further information about the sessions please contact the West North West Leeds Area Management team on 0113 3950978 or via email at west.north.west@leeds.gov.uk.

ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Whittell, Leeds City Council Press Office, on (0113) 2474713
Email: emma.whittell@leeds.gov.uk

Every second counts

A campaign to remind motorists about the importance of looking out for motorcycles starts in Leeds on Monday.

As part of a wider road safety initiative, this two pronged campaign aims to remind road users to take an extra second to look out for powered two wheel vehicles. This message will be promoted via a series of radio adverts on Radio Aire, and posters on bus backs throughout the city.

May is traditionally the peak month for motorcycle casualties in Leeds, with more and more motorcyclists taking to the roads to take advantage of better weather. This makes it an excellent time to remind other road users to take an extra second to look out for powered two wheel vehicles, especially at junctions and when changing lanes.

Councillor Stuart Andrew, lead member responsible for travel and transport said:
“The majority of our motorcycle casualties occur in the peak rush hour periods, so we are aiming this campaign at commuter drivers.

“Powered two wheelers are a great way of getting through rush hour traffic. If we can encourage everyone to just take an extra second to look out for bikes then we can help to avoid crashes, reduce casualties and keep the traffic moving at peak times.

“Being involved in a collision can have devastating effects for all involved well beyond just being late for work, so it’s important to make sure that you always think once, think twice, think bike!”

ENDS
Additional information
www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
www.qualityyorkshireriders.com

For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk