the cutEVENTS ALONG THE LEEDS & LIVERPOOL CANALTHROUGHOUT THE SUMMER OF 2009.

Inside this edition

Ice cream boatsFishingBeehivesGiant vegetable trialUpside down taxiand lots more

WWW.BIENNIAL.COM

‘The canal is for everyone’

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Many of you will know that The Leeds & LiverpoolCanal runs right through South Sefton and NorthLiverpool. Pretty much neglected over the last 40-odd years, today the canal has a new lease of life,thanks to the new cut through the Pier Headlinking these neighbourhoods with the Northand South Docks and the city centre.

It is a chance for boaters to travel from Leeds tothe Albert Dock for the first time but perhaps moreimportantly it has given a new reason to discoverthe beauty of the place and bring it back to life.Think of the canal as Sefton and Liverpool’s longestpark. In places it may not look like a park at themoment but with a little help it could do quiteeasily. The potential of the canal and what couldbe done to make it better is what The Cut is about.

Over the past six months artists have engagedstakeholders and local residents in active dialogueabout the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and itspotential within the regeneration process. It ispart of a three year project, ‘Art for Places’, whichaims to produce three public art commissions inthe NewHeartlands Housing Market Renewal(HMR) areas across Merseyside. The first one willhappen along the South Sefton stretch of the canaland will take the form of a moveable watersportsfacility. The second commission is planned for theWirral and the third in Liverpool.

Making the CutIn this publication you can read about the projectsthe artists and residents have started along thecanal and how you can participate. From July toSeptember there are several activities centeredaround former St Winnies School and the water,which you will find on the centerfold map. Thenfrom 16–20 September we’ll have five days ofevents called Urbanism ’09. Urbanism ’09 is botha conference and a celebration of everything thathas been achieved and hopefully a starting pointfor new thinking around the next phase ofdevelopment in Sefton and North Liverpool.More about that in our second issue publishedearly September.

We hope you enjoy your read and look forward to seeing you over the summer.

Canal& – suggestions for a future canal. Read more on page 15

Ever wondered what those wind turbines look like close up?

YouTube keyword search ‘SEAFORTH WINDTURBINES’

Canaltube

Kerry Morrison out and about drawing

with ‘Kenny the Cart’.

History of the Leeds& Liverpool CanalBy Mike Clarke

In the eighteenth century, Liverpool was thelargest industrial centre in Lancashire, withindustries including copper refining, chemicals,sugar refining and iron working.

All these industries needed coal as did thegrowing number of sailing vessels using theport and not forgetting the local inhabitantswho needed coal for heating and cooking.

Merchants in Liverpool saw the potential of aninland waterway that could carry coal easily aroundthe area and after some initial problems over theroute, the canal opened from Liverpool to Parboldin 1774 allowing coal to reach Liverpool.

Building the canal was slow work, and it wasnot completed until 1816. A link into the Merseywas authorised by the Canals Act, but it wasleft to Liverpool’s second great dock engineer,Jesse Hartley, to build the link when heconstructed Stanley Dock in 1846.

Many barges worked up and down Stanley Locksas it was cheaper to transfer cargoes betweenships and canal barges than it was to land goodson the docks. The locks were built larger thanothers on the canal and the canal deepenedbetween Bootle and the locks to allow largerbarges to carry their full load which meant ofcourse more trade and more money!

The original Canal Basin was located in Old HallStreet but in the 1880’s a new road was built,Pall Mall, and much of the old Canal basin filledin. You can still see the old Canal Master’s housewhich is now The White Bar attached to theRadisson Hotel.

Traffic on the main line of the canal finally endedin 1964 following the severe winter of 1963/4.Most of the basin was filled in shortly afterwardsand an extension to Tate & Lyle’s sugar refinerybuilt over part of it.

Fast-forwarding to 2009, British Waterwayshave just opened the new canal extension atPier Head which will allow water traffic to travelthrough Stanley Dock and up through the locksat the Eldonian Village to connect with the Canal,the first traffic to pass through here in about 80years! Industry has given way to leisure cruisingand a new chapter of the Leeds & Liverpool Canalis beginning.

Mike Clarke is an Industrial Historian who haswritten several books about the Leeds & LiverpoolCanal, his new book about Canal barge painting‘Brightwork’ has just been published. Mike willbe coming to talk about the history and peopleof the Canal on Monday 20 July, Bootle Town Hall,Stanley Road, Bootle. 6.30pm.

To book a free ticket please call 0845 220 2800or email canal@biennial.com

Fishing tips for beginnersTurn up at the canal. Find some ducks to sit withfor company. Set up your rod and cast out. Wait a while. Bring your line in. Cast out again.Have a cup of tea... repeat for 5 hours and tryto stay awake.

Seriously though, first things first, find a goodspot to fish – look out for features like rushes,overhanging bushes or trees – fish usually hangout around here. It’s worth fishing 2 or 3 ‘swims’ –try down the centre of the canal in the channeland in the margins close to the tow path.

Set up your rod using light line and floats andsmall hooks. Next, plumb the depth in yourswims – fish feed at different depths dependingon weather and water temperature. Cast out,sink your line and concentrate on your float –don’t get distracted watching birds or planesflying overhead or texting your mates – the fish seem to know when you’re not looking!

Feed bits of bait into your swim at regularintervals depending on frequency of bites. Trymaggots, casters, worms, sweetcorn or smallpieces of bread and meat. Pellets, hemp andgroundbait can also be good. Experiment, bepatient and concentrate!

What have you found most interesting aboutthe area?We are in a complete different situation from theone in our city Naples. Although edgy as Liverpool,in Naples we need more space and space is likegold. Liverpool, on the other hand, is full ofspace, space that can be enhanced and used,simply waiting for ideas. A very challengingground for urban practice.

Any particular anecdotes during your residencyso far?We found another similarity between Liverpooland Naples. We always see older people searchingfor coins in Naples with magnets around the fewgardens or even fewer fountains we have. Alsoin Rome it is a common ‘hobby’ possibly broughtabout by the high living costs. In Sefton, we sawan old man metal-detecting on the huge beachnear Crosby Coastal park, probably searching fortreasure? At sunset he was silently walking onthe beach, wearing headphones and carrying ametal detector: it is so different from Napleswhere people hunt for their treasure in muchsmaller spaces.

You have been in Liverpool for a few weeksnow, what ideas do you have for a project inthe canal?We are working on different ideas, we arebrainstorming. Well, first of all we have founda series of interesting areas along the canal.The stretch of canal from Sandhills bridge up tothe rail bridge, and a fascinating old industrialcorner towards the Bank Hall bridge. The firstidea is about a green area alongside CommercialRoad, and a hilly garden with a sloping groundthat leads to the canal border. It is a naturalgreen arena with a high terrace on the canal andhas five big steel platforms, ruins of industrialuse. These platforms are often used as fishingspots. The elevated position of the garden besidethe canal gives the place a horizon to view thecity panorama. The garden is close to twoneighbourhoods (Kirkdale and Vauxhall) andhas the potential to be a new point of attraction.Our idea is to create an open air cinema usingthe slope as the arena; to involve local residentsin the construction of a wooden version ofGross Max’s Rotunda pavilion with some userfriendly features like a kiosk where we willorganize barbeques and picnics. Beside thekiosk, the benches that we have made to sit onthe slope will allow everyone to see movies andgive a view of the city.

In 2008 Danilo Capasso worked with Rotunda College in Kirkdaleon their La Dolce Vita party. He enjoyed it so much, he brought hispartner Diana Marone back to Liverpool for three months to developa series of events along the canal.

A view from Naples

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Could this be an open air cinema?

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Back to school!(but not as you know it)

St Winnies, as we have affectionately renamedthe school is located on Merton Road, Bootle,L20 7AR. It’s a very short walk from Bootle OrielRoad Station or you could get the 53 bus fromSeaforth or the city centre.

If you would like further information on any of the water sports activities happening at St Winnies call 0845 220 2800 or emailcanal@biennial.com

With all of the different activities going on thissummer we thought it would be a good idea tocreate a hub or centre for all our projects andprovide a base for Urbanism ’09 in September.The old St Winefride and St Richard’s CatholicPrimary School on Merton Road seemed like theperfect place! It had been occupied by HughBaird College but when they moved into theirnew buildings we saw our chance.

It’s not only big enough to house our artists,boat builders, growing projects (Squash Nutritionhave planted raised beds filled with all kinds ofdelicious fruit and veg) but also backs onto theCanal so is a great location to base our WaterSports Centre (we can’t wait to go kayaking) and isright opposite Carolina Wharf so expect to seesomething popping up there too!

To find out about the activities you can getinvolved in on the Canal including water rollers,rafting and even swan pedaloes – see the activitiesmap on the centre pages.

European Neighbours Day at St Winnies

SUPER SIMPLE ITALIAN FOOD

Danilo Capasso and Diana Maronne have

contributed this wonderful recipe from Naples:

INGREDIENTS (serves 6)

500g pasta (Fusilli)750g fresh mushrooms (any type)

1 garlic bulbA big bunch of parsley

1 large ripe tomato White wine Extra virgin olive oil

METHODPeel and cut a whole garlic bulb (or les

s,

depending on taste). Chop up a handful of

parsley and slice the mushrooms very thinly.

Bring a large pan of water to boil. Once boiling

add the pasta and cook on medium heat. In a

large frying pan cook mushrooms without oil

until they are cooked through and all the juices

from the mushrooms have evaporated.

Add 2 glasses of white wine (or 1 glass of Brandy)

to the mushrooms and cook until reduced down.

Add one glass of extra virgin olive oil, the garlic

and the chopped tomato. Cook for 10 minutes.

When the pasta is cooked, drain but save a

cup-full of the pasta water and set aside. Mix

the pasta and the sauce in the wok or pan and

if it is a little dry add the cup of pasta-water.

Add the fresh parsley and serve!

ARE YOU LICENSED TO FISH?DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT.

In the Leeds & Liverpool Canal you can expectto find roach, rudd, perch, eels, bream, skimmers(small bream), tench, carp and pike – a whopping30lb pike was caught last year!

Liverpool & District Angling Association own therights to fish on the Leeds & Liverpool Canalfrom Liverpool city centre up to Halsall. The clubwas established in 1911, making it one of theoldest angling associations in the UK. Membershipis open and annual permits are available fromlocal tackle shops or by contacting Joe Farrell theHon Secretary. The current year’s fees for yearending 31 December 2010 are: adults £20,concs (OAP, disabled) £15, juniors (under 16)fish for free but must be registered as members.

Alternatively you can purchase day tickets for £5 from local tackle shops or from bailiffswalking the banks.

In addition to a Liverpool & District Anglersmembership or day ticket you must also havean Environment Agency rod license, availableonline (www.environment-agency.gov.uk) andat some Post Offices.

For more information about the club go towww. liverpoolangling.com

Take a short train ride from Bootle to Bank Hall.

YouTube keyword search ‘TRAIN RIDE BOOTLE BANK HALL’

Canaltube

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Collecting Canal Postcardswith Trevor EllisTuesday 1 September 2009. 6pm.

St Winnies School, Merton Road.

Trevor Ellis from the Canal Postcard Collectors

Society will be giving an illustrated talk taking

us through his postcard collection. The talk will

give an introduction to canal postcards, a short

history of postcard collecting and what makes

the canal such an interesting subject to collect.

For more information and to book free tickets

please call 0845 220 2800 or email

canal@biennial.com

“There seem to be so many fences and walls...”

Cash for bangers or luxury yacht?

RECYCLING TIPS

1. Turn your car upside down with help from family,neighbours or friends. Discover how almost everyone iswilling to help you in exchange for a beer and a laugh.

4. The boat is now moored along the quay in the canaland ready for its maiden journey. Navigate carefully usingpaddles or an outboard motor. Wear a captains hat to show who is the boss.

People who can’t swim should wear a life jacket. A life buoyand a good horn always come in handy should anything gowrong despite your precautions.

3. Go to a builders yard, get some 2x4’s, glue and screws.Make a frame on the inside of your car, so you get a solid shape.

Go to a polyester shop and ask for the stuff they sell to buildand repair boats. Get a good size tub of polyester and a fewroles of fibreglass. Laminate the inside of the car includingthe frame. Your car-boat is now waterproof.

Fix the old car seats in the boat and find a good launchingsite along the canal. Paint on a name and ask your wife,daughter, girlfriend or the mayor to throw a bottle of bubblyagainst the side of the boat and gently lower it into the water.Make sure you have some sand around to stabilise the boatin the water.

2.Make sure you have some good tools such as a grinder,some heavy hammers and again some neighbours or familyto help you remove the heavy parts. Continue until onlythe exterior of the car is left.

Protect your body with a face guard, ear guard and goodgloves. Wear old clothes or an overall, it is a dirty job. Keep sparks and fire away from the petrol.

TAXI! – Take a cruise along the canalon Lambert Kamps Canal Taxi. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 August –20 September.Boarding is at St Winnies school only but you can hop off at twoother locations along the canal. See the map overleaf for details.

Canal wildlifeThe Mallard is Britain’s commonest duck andthey can be very tame and will often approachpeople at the water side hoping to be fed. Themale is more colourful than the female, with itsglossy green head, chestnut belly and grey backand wings, the female is mainly brown this helpsconceal the bird when on the nest. The younghatch during late March or early April and cannumber up to 12 but few will survive to becomeadults. This duck is well known for its noisyquacking which is only made by the female.

Moorhen and Coot are mainly black birds, theCoot has a white bill, the Moorhen’s red andyellow, both birds have large, partially webbedyellow-green feet. They feed on watersidevegetation, the Coot will dive to feed under thewater, the Moorhen feeds on plants along thewaterside. Both nest along the water’s edgeusually laying up to six eggs several times a year.Both species are rather poor parents so not allthe young survive.

The Mute Swan is Britain’s largest bird, it is a familiar sight on most canals or large lakes,particularly in winter when large flocks can beseen. We’ve spotted single Mute Swans bothon the Canal at Litherland and at Stanley Dock.It is a very territorial bird, especially during thebreeding season when it will attack any intruderwhich comes too close to the nest, even dogs or people are not safe! A single brood of up toeight young may be raised, the young stayingwith the parents until winter when they arechased off.

Canada Geese are also a familiar sight and onour Canal walk we saw literally dozens in theparkland at Eldonian Village. They were broughtover from North America by the Victorians todecorate ponds and lakes in ornamental gardensand parks. Inevitably some escaped into thesurrounding countryside and survived to breed,since then the population has been steadilyincreasing to the extent that they are found onvirtually any large stretch of water. Unfortunatelythey can be a pest as they are very territorialand will chase off any other duck or water birdwhich comes too close and disputes betweenneighbouring pairs are commonplace especiallyduring spring if the pair has a nest or young toprotect. They feed almost entirely on grass socan often be seen grazing on grassy areasadjacent to their territory.

Tony Parker, a wild-life expert from the World Museum led a bird-spottingwalk in May starting at Bank Hall and finishing in the City Centre. It was abeautiful day and a variety of different species share the water with gaudilypainted barges. Here are some of the birds we spotted.

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Canada Geese near the Eldonian Village

Residents needed forenvironmental groupContainers, tyres and a bathtub planted up withall kinds of herbs and flowers have appearedaround Stella Precinct. The (former) SeaforthPost Office in Stella Precinct was the base forKerry Morrison’s Wild and Productive, the projectthat started this activity. A weekend of plantingand food tasting in March produced a lot of ideasto enhance the physical environment of Seaforth.

Many more ideas are waiting but need yoursupport. A small core of residents have formedan environmental group to do more plantingand would welcome your help. For moreinformation please call 0845 220 2800 oremail canal@biennial.com

Explore the whole of Liverpool on the Scouse Times YouTube Channel.

www.youtube.com/user/ScouseTimes

Canaltube

Making do, getting by

1. Danillo Capasso’s Open Air Cinema and Recreation AreaIf you wander down to the grassy slope next to Bank Hall Station this summer you just might see an open air cinema ... when the weather is nice, listen out for the announcements.

2. Water Sports and Activities At St Winnies Primary School, Merton Road, L20 7AR.

Canoeing, Kayaking, RaftingMonday to Friday, 27 July – 28 August.Two sessions: 9.30am–12pm or 1pm–3.30pmFor groups of up to 8. Only available to existinggroups (eg. youth groups).

Swan PedaloesWeekends from 1 August – 30 August.1/2 hour sessions: 9.30am–12pm and 1pm–4pmEach swan pedalo can seat up to four people, for a more leisurely cruise along the Canal.

Water RollersWeekends from the 1 August – 30 August.Two sessions: 9.30am–12pm and 1pm–4pmWalk on Water Rollers and stay ‘absolutely’ dry.Run in your own hamster ball and try to stay uprig

Lambert Kamps Canal Taxi1–2 August then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundaysuntil 20 September. You can only board the canal taxi at St Winnies butyou can hop off at any of these 3 stops:

1. Eldonians2. St Winnies3. Litherland

m

ght.

Swan Pedaloes and Water Rollers are free and do not require advance booking. A £10deposit and ID is required. You will need to fill out a short disclaimer form and bring aparent or guardian if you are under 18. Youmust be 14 or over to use Water Rollers.

Canoeing, kayaking and rafting activities arerun by Local Solutions / Merseysport.

For more information call 0845 220 2800 or email canal@biennial.com

Sefton ProduceAt the former St. Winnies school in Bootle,Squash Nutrition have been making headwaywith the first phase of Sefton Produce. Hugebeds have been installed in and around the schooland over the summer seeds will sprout and grow.Squash have just planted some old varietyCambridge strawberries and rye, oats, barleyand spelt have been sown for bread makinglater in the summer. A multitude of seedlings,grown for the project in the last six weeks at theSquash nursery are now almost big enough tomake the trip from Liverpool to Bootle.

Sefton Produce shows how to grow your ownfood, harvest and eat it. Through to Septemberresidents are welcome to join workshops andevents lead by resident Squash plant doctorsand cooks.

To grow, all the plants and seeds need wateringand a lot of TLC. If you are a gardener, awould-be cook or simply want to lend a helpinghand please call 0845 220 2800 or emailcanal@biennial.com

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HOW TO GROW LETTUCE

WHAT YOU NEED:Lettuce seeds (any variety), some com

post, a

few different pots or a wooden crate (from the

greengrocers), a windowledge, sunlight, water

and love.

GIVE IT A GO:1. If you’ve got a crate, line it with a b

in bag,

pop a few holes in the plastic to let it drain,

and fill with compost... or fill a few pots with

the stuff.2. Make a few holes in the compost wi

th your

finger and sprinkle a few seeds in each one.

Cover the seeds up with compost and give your

baby seeds a good drink of water.

3. Make a label with the variety of lettuce on

and the date – you can give your new friend a

name if you want! 4. Place them in a sunny spot on your

window

ledge and gently water each evening (and in the

morning if it’s really hot – but not if the sun

shines on their leaves, the water drops may burn

them). In a few days your seeds will start to

shoot and in a few weeks the little leaves will

appear. Pull out a few to let the others grow.

5. When they’re a good size – say 4 or 5 leaves

each, transplant each one to it’s own pot.

6. After about 10 weeks you will be able to pick

the outer few leaves as you need them, and your

lettuce will keep on growing more leaves for you!

You can use your lettuce to make a special salad

or super sandwich – or try our lovely lettuce,

pea and mint summer soup recipe.

LOVELY LETTUCE, PEA ANDMINT SUMMER SOUPINGREDIENTS (serves 4–6)500g fresh or frozen small peas 6 medium spring onions 1 head of any sort of green lettuce 25g butter 1 large clove of garlic1 teaspoon of fresh chopped mint1.2 litres (2 pints) vegetable stocka little bit of freshly ground black pepper

METHOD1. Pod the peas if you’re using fresh ones2. Trim and finely slice the spring onions 3. Give the lettuce a good wash and shake,then roughly chop it up4. In a largish saucepan, heat the butter over amedium heat and gently fry the spring onionsfor a few minutes until soft5. Add in the hot stock, peas, lettuce, mint,crushed garlic and black pepper and bring tothe boil6. Turn down the heat and simmer for 5minutes. Take if off the cooker and let it coolslightly7. Optional: if you have a blender, whizz untilit’s a smooth, green liquid (‘Shrek soup’ for kids!)8. If you’ve got a bit of cream or thick yogurt stirin a dollop when you’re serving it up. Eat witha good chunk of wholemeal bread... gorgeous!

Thanks to Squash Nutrition

The Pride of Sefton flag

Nice afternoon out, chatting and looking around the Canal from a bridge in Litherland.

YouTube keyword search ‘LEEDS LIVERPOOL PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE’

Canaltube

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Honey bees and other pollinators

Wild and productive

According to Kerry Morrison wildflowers alongthe canal are a good habitat for bees. Kerry hasbeen mapping and planting the plants sinceJanuary. She and her colleague Dr Alicia Prowsehave identified three sites on the canal for livehives. With the advice of the National Associationof Beekeepers, twenty residents of Sefton arebeing trained to take care of the hives.Interestingly bees produce more honey whenthey have neighbours so each site will have twohives. In addition, 14 empty hives will beinstalled along the canal route with the idea thatthese could become the natural homes of wildbees or other pollinators.

All the hives will be installed on the oppositeside of the towpath and unless people botherthe bees, the bees will not bother with people.Honeybees are very docile creatures. They donot sting unless they are under attack. You mayhave read that bee populations have declinedin Britain. This is possibly due to insecticidesused by many farmers to protect their crops.Let’s hope that our urban bees fare better.

Chris Toop: About our BeesWednesday 19 August, 6pm, St Winnies School, Merton Road.Chris Toop, who keeps a beehive in the Liverpool area will tell usabout his experiences of getting into beekeeping and managing a small hive. A selection of honey refreshments will be served.For more information and to book free tickets please call 0845 220 2800 or email canal@biennial.com

ANDY HUBBARD’S ‘CANAL’ RECIPES:CHOCOLATE BEETROOT CAKE

METHODWhisk the sugar and eggs together until they’repale and light. Continue to whisk and pour theolive oil in a steady stream: the mixture will nowlook like a soft mayonnaise.

Sift all the dry ingredients together and gentlystir into the mixture until smooth.

Mash the beetroot until it’s a soft puree (use afood processor if you have one), fold into the restof the cake mix until everything is more or lessan even colour.

Pour into your cake tin and pop in the oven.

Bake for 40–45 minutes. The cake doesn’t risea great deal, it’s not that kind of cake. You cantest if its done by inserting a skewer into thecentre: if it comes out clean, it’s ready. The topmay have cracked a bit, but no worry, you canflip the cake over once its cooled down. Cool for5–10 minutes, release from the tin and thenleave to cool completely on a wire rack.

Chocolate Ganache Topping200g plain chocolate (I use Divine chocolate –Fairtrade and not too expensive)200g whipping cream

Break the chocolate into pieces in a bowl andwarm over a pan of water just enough to melt,and heat up the cream (not too hot, just enoughso that it’s uncomfortable if you dip your littlefinger into it). Pour the cream onto the chocolateand whisk together until well combined. (Thisis the ganache.) Put it aside to cool and stiffen a little before pouring and spreading over yourcooled cake (it’s too runny to use straight away).This will give you a ganache with a densefudge-like texture.

Dust the topping with cocoa powder, and serve!

Don’t be afraid, it doesn’t taste only of beetroot,but its earthiness does really compliment theflavour of chocolate. The cake is deliciously moistand satisfying, and keeps for ages (given the chance).

PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutesCOOKING TIME: 40–45 minutes

Heat the oven to 180C / Gas mark 4.Grease a 10” (25cm) round springform caketin, and line the bottom with baking parchment.If you’re using an 8” (20cm) tin, reduce thequantities by about 20–25%.

INGREDIENTS320g caster sugar4 eggs260ml olive oil (I find extra virgin is too aromatic.You could use another vegetable oil, likesunflower, instead)1tsp vanilla extract (You can omit this if youdon’t have any in the cupboard)60g cocoa powder240g plain flour2 tsp baking powderPinch of salt 400g cooked fresh beetroot (NOT PICKLED, unlessyou’re experimenting with sweet & sour flavours)

Kerry Morrisson and Botanist Dr Alicia Fallows led a

dawn chorus bird walk along the Canal. You can listen

to it at www.biennial.com

11

If you use Seaforth and LitherlandStation regularly you may havenoticed some familiar faceslooking at you from the walls.

The Dutch/Curacaoan artist David Bade visitedSeaforth in February and set up his studio inthe (former) Post Office, Stella Precinct. For amonth local residents could walk in for a chatwhile David painted their portraits. From theseportraits he made up two very large canvaseswhich will be displayed in Seaforth once wefound a space big enough. In the meantimephotographs of sections of the paintings are ondisplay at Seaforth and Litherland Station andthe energy in them is amazing. David will beback in July and August to work on part two ofhis project – a floating gallery.

For ten years now, from the Southport train toLiverpool, I have looked down on the CarolinaWharf site on the canal in the heart of Bootle,and wondered what the site was for and whowas lucky enough to live in the flats alongsideit. The space always seemed so untouched andun-used – it was as if no-one knew it wasthere. Could this be true?

Now, as we develop the Arts for Places projectin Sefton, I know all about the canal and theCarolina wharf site, and I have met some of theresidents who live in those flats, and yes indeedit is a wonderful and un-used site right in theheart of Bootle. I bet there are plenty of othercommunities who would love a canal like this torun through their neighbourhood. What’s beingdone to make the most of this canal in Bootle?

With support from NewHeartlands, Arts Counciland three Resident Social Landlords in Merseyside(Vicinity, PlusDane, Riverside), I am workingwith Liverpool Biennial to bring artists into theregeneration process to see if we can have animpact and enhance developments which takeplace in the area. We are doing this by creatinga piece of public art in Sefton, and at the sametime develop a community engagement programmeof other artists projects alongside it to try togive everyone the opportunity to get involved.

After a long process looking at lots of sites toplace public art, including the infamousKuchenMonument touring arts project in June2008, we chose the canal as the focus for ourwork. There were lots of reasons for this... butthree spring to mind,

Firstly, it runs right through the housing marketrenewal area in Sefton and many of the vacantindustrial sites along it are to be developed for housing.

Art for Places–Sefton

Secondly, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal has anew, multi-million pound extension into theAlbert Dock in the heart of Liverpool. Lots oftourist canal boats are expected to go there andthey have to go through Bootle to get to Liverpool.

Thirdly, and perhaps more importantly, it is agreat asset for the area, the key asset in my view.Yes it needs some tender loving care, and a goodscrub down, but my god, can you imagine whatit could be like if that were to happen? Can youimagine what a great community and leisureasset it would become if it were to feel more safeand secure and was used a lot more. Otherneighbourhoods would give their right arm for such a space.

It was clear this was our site, and we needed a project to animate the canal to local people.

The Public Art project for Sefton has become abrief to deliver a movable centre for watersportsactivities, education classes about the localwildlife (and there’s a lot of it) and a café. Underthe title ‘Waterworks!’we held an open competition,which attracted entries from around the world,and we have now shortlisted five proposals,which will be developed with further drawingsand a model. They are outlined opposite. We willhold an exhibition of the proposals in Bootle overthe summer and aim to make a final decisionin September.

Alongside this competition there will be lots ofother artists developing projects along the canalthis summer, including watersports activities.

We want this summer to be a debate about thecanal. What could it be used for, what we cando to improve it, what can you do to help? It’syour canal, lets work together to create a greatnew future for it.

The Art for Places project works with contemporary artists andthe Housing Market renewal programme in Sefton. Paul Kellymanages the project and introduces ‘Waterworks!’ the public art commission for the canal.

Canal Family History Drop-In with the Waterways Trust Museum,

Ellesmere PortTuesday 8 September 2009. 11am–4pm.

St Winnies School, Merton Road.

Do you have relatives who worked on the

Leeds & Liverpool Canal? Why not come and

see if you can find them with the help of the

Waterways Trust Archive team. There will be

a short presentation at 12pm on researching

family history and then using various sources

and original documents you will have the

opportunity to discover your families past.

If you liked the BBC programme ‘Who do you

think you are?’ then this day is for you!

For more information and to book free tickets

please call 0845 220 2800 or email

canal@biennial.com

David Bade Portrait DNA Archive

A section of David’s painting at

Seaforth and Litherland Station

Take a drive around Linacre –who needs Sat-Nav?Check out the other videos ‘BrunnyBoy’ has made, he seemsto cover a lot of ground, all with great soundtracks!

YouTube keyword search ‘DRIVE AROUND LINACRE’

Canaltube

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The Antillia CollectiveIn approaching the briefing for the Waterworksproject, the area’s unique heritage, combiningindustry with leisure, was foremost in ourminds. Much as we admire the recent spate of grandstanding sculptural gestures that nowactively seek to find a brand for communities,our aim with this work was a structure that wasat once flexible and unique. If local communitieshave felt in the past that their identities havebeen in need of iconic symbolism, Another Place is everything that could be hoped for in this respect.

Therefore, rather than grandstanding gesturesor overt shape making, the pavilion is shapedby a range of more subtle influences from theleisure traditions of longboats, bandstands,windbreaks, deckchairs and the like. We feelthat a wryly humorous take on British outdoorcoastal culture might be appropriate for atransient, light-hearted installation such asthis one.

Bianchini e Lusiardi Architetti AssociatiWe decided to give our design an almost-organicshape: a number of articulated segments housethe main functions, the segments are hingedtogether so to allow four different configurations,depending on the size and shape of site.

It seemed strange to us to design an artwork,which has to be peripatetic and at the same timeneeds to be strongly related to the Liverpool-Leeds canal, without conceiving it as somethingthat can be moved through the canal itself. So we designed a structure, which can be“compacted” and stored on a barge to be movedfreely along the canal; to incorporate the bargeinto the design was then a natural step, so to havean object standing both on land and on water.

The structure is conceived to be environmentallyfriendly, you can disassemble it fully and it isrecyclable at the end of its life; it also incorporatesa stand-alone photovoltaic system, which providespower both for the equipments and for the nightlighting system.

Waterworks! The shortlistStudio KAHThe proposed building draws inspiration fromthe working boats that once populated thecanal from Leeds to Liverpool, in particular theworking ‘no frills’ cargo boats, the ‘short boats’and the ice boats which kept cargo flowing duringthe winter months by breaking the ice and whichwere unique in their construction from solidtimber planks.

‘Vessel’ evokes an inverted ice boat hull as adry-land structure. This is a watertight vesselfor the containers inside, which are imagined as the cargo. These containers form enclosedaccommodation. The building is devised to openup completely on the waterside extending thebuilding use and flexibility depending on theseason. The materials and construction of thebuilding allude to the canal’s industrial past aswell as looking forward to contemporary use asa waterside social and leisure venue.

Duggan Morris ArchitectsThe form of the building is derived from acanoeist’s profile in full motion. It is meant toremind you of a series of peaks and troughs; arhythmic stretching and pulling, and the longlow glide of a canoe in perfect pitch. The buildingis a series of repeat modules arranged in a linealong the canal side. Each unit, prefabricatedand identical, is representative of a canoeist,whilst the canal edge becomes the canoe.

The notion of the lock informs an additionalrange of function and flexibility. Each modulehas an oversized brass wheel, which can lowerthe large vertical side panels to a horizontalposition to act as deck and jetty. The surroundingsite flows under and through, in the same manneras a canal flows through the gate of a lock.

Nex Architecture‘Drift’ takes advantage of the existing infrastructureof the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Like a piece ofdriftwood that can seed the creation of newwaterside features, ‘Drift’ is designed to be highlymobile and flexible in its configuration dependingon its location between Stanley Dock and MillersBridge. Reinterpreting the once familiar motor-less canal barge, the project aims to blur thedistinction between banks and water by allowingtourists and the local community to occupy both.The lightweight timber roof shells resonate withthe industrial heritage of the area and arecontemporary at the same time.

The Antillia Collective

Bianchini e Lusiardi Architetti Associati

Studio KAH

Duggan Morris Architects

Nex Architecture, ‘Drift’

We spotted this secret garden on one of our walks.

EMAIL TO THE EDITOR

Cycled up the canal to beyond Scarisbrick

and back on Sunday. It was amazing how the

canal was being used – both legally and

illegally – to make the most of it in the heat:

Some residents in the Klondyke have made

a gap in a fence and set up an illicit fishing

platform and beach.

Lots of people on various kinds of

unseaworthy craft – inflatable dinghy, lilos,

a hardboard door, a tractor tyre inner tube –

no doubt all unlicenced!

Lots of tens and teens swimming.

A bunch of about 30 teenagers on bikes at

the Stanley Locks ‘tombstoning’ into the

water from the road bridge parapet.

Wish I’d taken the camera!

TOM

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The canal link through the Pier Head links theNorth to the South Docks after something like80 years. Why was it important to you to re-establish the link?British Waterways have been thinking abouta new canal link for many years with a view torevitalise the South Docks area of Liverpool.Historically, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal didhave a direct route into the dock system, butover time as the method of transporting goodsvia canals declined, and the overall need for thedocks diminished, docks were in-filled for landreclamation and other purposes.

Now that the canal link is navigable, we see thisas an important visitor attraction for the city ofLiverpool, which will help to attract further visitorsand investment to the city. The Liverpool canallink project will also support the continuingregeneration of Liverpool waterfront, and thewider area along the banks of the Leeds &Liverpool Canal.

How many boats have gone through the newcanal link and what do they think so far?Up until the end of May, 80 boats have gonethrough the canal link, with another 107 boatscurrently booked until the end of the boatingseason, although more bookings are coming in.

How does the scheduling work? Do you haveto book in advance?For the first year of the canal link being open,we are operating a booking system at the NWregional office to use the link. The bookingsystem will be for both passages, and alsomoorings in Salthouse Dock. This will enable us to manage numbers effectively, and ensureour customers a safe and trouble free journey.To book a passage on the canal link, pleasecontact our enquiries desk at the Wigan Officeon 01942 405700.

Who do you think uses the Canal?People may feel that the canal is there primarilyfor boaters, but the canal is for everyone. As wellas boating, the canal towpath is used by anglers,walkers and cyclists. This may not only be forleisure; the towpath is becoming increasinglypopular as a commuter route too. This is evenmore so where towpaths have been improved,such as in Bootle and Liverpool.

How long does it take an average narrowboatto get from Leeds to Liverpool and what is thespeed limit?The distance from Leeds to Liverpool is 127 miles.

Canal boats only travel at 4mph, so it would takeat least two weeks for them to travel the fulljourney comfortably with adequate rests andtime to navigate locks.

Is it possible to travel through the whole of the UK by narrowboat?Yes. You can travel from the South of Englandup to Tewitfield on the Lancaster Canal. BritishWaterways maintain over 2,000 miles of navigablewaterway, so that is a lot of boating!

Can you see much wildlife on / in the canal?You’ll find all sorts – from common sights suchas mallards and moorhens, water voles, kingfishersand the mighty bumble bee. The canals act asgreen corridors and are safe havens for manyspecies. British Waterways has launched its 6thannual wildlife survey which gives our ecologistsa clear picture of what species live where andhow they can be protected. For more information,or to download a wildlife survey guide, visitwww.waterscape.com/wildlifesurvey

Is fishing or swimming allowed on the canal?How deep is it?There are two great fishing clubs on the Leeds& Liverpool Canal. The Liverpool and DistrictAngling Association lease the section from theEldonian Village up to Halsall Bridge. You needto be a member of the club to fish on this sectionof the canal. Wigan and District Angling Clublease from bridge 35 to Johnson’s Hillock MossLane Bridge in Chorley. The rest of the Leeds &Liverpool canal is under the Waterways Togetherscheme, which is open to anyone as long as theyhave a British Waterways fishing permit and anEnvironment Agency rod license.

We do not allow swimming in the canal becauseyou never know what hidden dangers there are.Machinery could have fallen in the water andsometimes there are waterborne diseases whichmay not harm fish or fowl but could make you ill.

Thanks Alan, last question, what’s yourfavourite thing about the canal in Bootle?The Leeds & Liverpool canal is rich in heritage,has lots of wildlife and is teeming with activity.The canal is a great place to escape from everydaylife and you can use the canal as a short-cut towork, the shops, for walking the dog or simplyfor taking time-out and watching the boats

For more information go to:www.britishwaterways.co.uk/liverpool-canal-link

Opportunity to wear hi-vis vestVolunteers are being asked to take part in a‘tow-path-tidy’ event on the Leeds & LiverpoolCanal in Litherland.

Sefton Council has teamed up with BritishWaterways for the environmental project onSaturday 25 July, between 10am and 1pmat Penington Bridge, Litherland.

Protective equipment and high visibility vestswill be given out but people should wearsuitable footwear.

Please spare the time and get involved. Telephone 0151 934 3482.

Alan Carter is the Business Development Manager of British Waterways,the organisation responsible for managing the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. We asked Alan how he sees the new canal link at Pier Head and thefuture of the canal in Liverpool.

Pier Head link now open

Great time-lapse video of the new Canal Link beingconstructed at Pier Head posted by British Waterways here.

YouTube keyword search ‘DAILY POST LIVERPOOL CANAL LINK’

Canaltube

PARADEPARADEPARADE

Do you recognise this image?It is taken from a parade in Bootle in the 1950s.We think it looks great and would love to see ithappen again – floats on the canal!

On Saturday 19 September

If you have a boat and /or would like to make a float please get in touch.

To register your interest please emailparade@biennial.com

PARADEPARADEPARADE

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Alan Dunn and artist collective Re-Dock developeda series of workshops around new signs at keyentrance points along the canal in South Sefton.Canal& – suggestions for a future canal encouragedSefton residents to think about their personalconnections to the canal, as well as theirsuggestions for its future use.

Work produced has been turned into a suite ofimages suggesting possiblities for work, rest andplay around the canal. With over 2,000 peopletaking part in workshops at local fun days,community centre’s, youth centres and along thecanal itself, the images represent a synthesis ofthe wealth of imagination in the area. A selectionwill be presented across the eight billboards atChurch Road, corner of Hawthorne Road from10 September – 4 October 2009.

And some of the ideas will also be made tohappen during this Summer...

Orgonite

Who else is taking part in this experiment?We are probably up to about 100 or so people inthe Brighton area, from priests to BBC morningDJs. Others are scattered around the whole ofthe UK and we also have people taking part inthe experiment in New York and San Fransisco.

Are you coming back to see what happens?Yes on Saturday 4 September, 6pm at St Winnies.We are inviting anyone who has found any resultsafter using Orgonite to come and share theirresults. I hope we’ll have some great stories.

Mark, could you tell us what Orgonite is?It is made up of three basic off-the-shelf elements –resin, metal shavings and pieces of crystal. It isquite simple actually and anyone can make it.

How does it work?A tricky question as no one knows for sure.Butthen the same can be said for gravity and we’reall standing on Earth because of it. There areseveral theories – one of which is that it effectsthe surrounding ‘noisy’ electromagnetic spectrumand evens its out so that it is beneficial to plants.Think of it like trying to study when your neighbouris playing thrash metal rather than Mozart.

How did you get involved with this gardening experiment?A crate of Orgonite arrived unannounced on mydoorstep from a friend. After I googled it andread up on the various bizarre claims I decidedto test the claims that it could improve plantgrowth and start with basic seed germinationtests. I put Orgonite in with one lot of seeds andleft the rest without, the ones with Orgonitegrew to three times the size of the other!

I distributed them to several local friends lastyear and incredible results came in with lotsfinding a significant increase in plant growth.This year I wanted real proof and so started theOrgonite trial across England to see if the goodresults we’ve had using Orgonite were by chance.

In May you recruited gardeners from Seaforth.What do you expect to see happening there?It is an experiment. I am as curious as anyoneelse to see what happens. I do hope that thegardeners who are actually putting them in theground will have a bumper crop and have somany vegetables that they have to share withneighbours or start a roadside vegetable stand.As I said, it’s a hope.

In May Mark Bennett came to the (former) Post Office in Seaforth totalk about Orgonite, a ‘wonder-resin’ that, it is claimed, when placed in the ground with plants and vegetables can radically increase growth.We talked to Mark about his experimental gardening campaign.

One of the ideas

And another one

Two identical pepper plants grown by Mr Rogers

from Shoreham, East Sussex. The one on the right

has been planted with Orgonite and the one on the

Left without, you can also see the Orgonite effect

on grapes in this picture. Photo courtesy of M Rogers

Canal& –suggestions for a futurecanal

Experimental Gardening: Orgonite, the Results!Saturday 5 September 2009. 4pm. St Winnies School, Merton Road. Journalist Mark Bennett came to visit Seaforth in May to launch the Sefton leg of thenationwide Orgonite Trial (the ‘wonder-resin’ that is supposed to promote plant growth).Now Mark returns to see what’s been happening with the experiments – have any giantvegetables turned up? Whether you took part in the summer trial or want to learn abouthow to get involved, come to St Winnies and hear what’s been happening in gardens,allotments and grow bags all over the country.For more information and to book free tickets please call 0845 220 2800 or email canal@biennial.com

T H E C U T I S P R O D U C E D A S P A R T O F A R T F O R P L A C E S S E F T O N W H I C H I S S U P P O R T E D B Y

DESIGN BY MIKE CARNEY. WWW.MIKESSTUDIO.CO.UK

the bricked up doorways and blocked off loadingbays, eyes forever closed to the canal. Whileindustry ignored the canal the local populationswere actively opposed to it. There were manycalls for the canal to be filled in. It was seen asdirty and dangerous. Locked gates and highfences kept people off the towpath and awayfrom the canal. Housing estates were built withtheir backs to the canal. Children were warnedto stay away.

Attitudes were slow to change. In 1983 WiganPier was regenerated and a boat rally attracted50,000 people and 428 boats to the canal.Canals were starting to be looked at as an assetto the communities around them. It was aroundthat time that Vauxhall was undergoing dramaticchange. The Tate and Lyle sugar refinery onVauxhall Road was demolished and the BritishAmerican Tobacco plant closed. The localcommunity, fearing they would be dispersedacross the city, formed the Eldonian CommunityBased Housing Association Ltd. Regrettablypart of the canal was filled in and built uponbut Eldonian Village was designed around thecanal. For maybe the first time the canal wasseen as a nice place to live. The gates and fenceshave come down and people are now encouragedto use the towpath. New information boardsremind us of the canals history. The towpathhas a new life as a cycle path.

The canal can be an important focus forcommunities but it can also link them together.It is not just Merseyside that is learning to lovethe canal. Blackburn, Burnley, Bradford, Chorleyand Leeds are also improving the environmentaround the canal and encouraging its use. Butall this work is only worth it if people use andenjoy the canal. The modern canal needs walkers,cyclists, anglers, boaters and people who justwant to sit and contemplate.

For more information about the canal got towww.towpathtreks.co.uk

Walking along the 127miles of the Leeds &Liverpool Canal you get time to appreciate thechanges that have taken place since it was firstbuilt. When the canal was started at Halsall backin 1770 the wheelbarrow was cutting edgetechnology, the tricorn hat was in fashion andthe British colonists in North America had yetto have their Tea Party in Boston. The canalnetwork spread across the land and was a catalystfor change. The cheap coal it brought fuelledthe Industrial Revolution. Towns turned intocities as people moved from the countryside towork in the dark satanic mills. Liverpool expandedrapidly; its population grew from 77,000 in1801 to 701,000 in 1901.

The canal became an important part of localindustry and commerce. While it was still aworking canal it was held with a certain amountof respect. New bridges were opened with adegree of ceremony and local dignitaries wereproud to have their names put on them. Localchildren swam in the warm waters used to coolpower stations and factories. During the Blitzof 1940 the canal was important for transport,as a source of water for fire fighting and as adefence against possible invasion. You can stillsee stonework damaged by shrapnel, the slotsfor stop-planks which prevented the canaldraining when breached by bombs and evenpill boxes and other defences.

After the war the canal stopped being importantfor transport and industry. There was a nationalreview of canals in the 1960s. Canals weredivided into those which were still commerciallyviable, those which would become importantfor leisure use and the rest. The rest or ‘remainder’were seen as being of no use to anyone and hadmerely to be maintained to a minimum standard.The canal from Aintree to its terminus at PallMall was classed as Remainder. Industry whichonce relied on the canal turned away from itand towards the roads. Walking along thetowpath at Litherland and Bootle you can see

BAC K PAG E

Urbanism ’09 will look at the regeneration of North Liverpool and South Sefton from theperspective of the imagination. Over 5 days itwill present topical interventions, projects andimaginative approaches by artists, architects,urbanists and residents to unlock the potential of the Liverpool and Leeds Canal, in the renewalof the area, from Seaforth to Stanley Dock.

As part of Urbanism ’09, Places Matter! is hostinga national and international conference exploringthe power and potential of local assets to stimulate,generate and sustain neighbourhood change.Inspired by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal as agreen and blue lung running through the HousingMarket Renewal Areas of North Liverpool andSouth Sefton, this is an opportunity to look at those elements of communities that for a variety of reasons have fallen outside mainstreamregeneration thinking.

Urbanism ’09This one-day conference, taking place at St Winnieson 18 September, will feature speakers drawnfrom the worlds of urbanism, social change andsustainability to consider how assets that haveformed the heart of communities for generationsmight be rediscovered to form the basis of a newmanifesto for change. It has now been recognisedthat new neighbourhoods are made up of morethan bricks and mortar but are we being creativeenough in thinking about the distinctive aspectsthat make up those communities – canals, localtraditions, dog walkers, local music, allotments,local entrepreneurs and cyclists.

For more information and booking for theconference go to www.placesmatter.co.uk

Urbanism‘09 takes place from 16–20 September.More information in the next issue of The Cutand on www.biennial.com

Cycle rideLIVERPOOL OVERHEAD RAILWAY HISTORY CYCLESaturday 15 August, 2pm, Seaforth and LitherlandStation, Seaforth Road, L21.�This route will follow the route of the LiverpoolOverhead Railway that closed in 1956. A localhistorian will talk about the railway en-route and a cycle map with each stop will be provided so you can explore the history of individual sites in your own time. The ride will take about 2 hours.�

Canal and Community By Peter Robinson