The Centre for Excellence in Developing Professionalism opens at ...

ABOVE: Dr Joanna Sharples
The University’s Botanical Gardens at Ness on
the Wirral is welcoming young plant lovers with
free storytime sessions for the under fives.
Each week during November the Education
Team at the Gardens read to excited tots and
hope this will lead to future support from the
local community.
Newly appointed Director, Kevin Reid, said: “We
want to extend our facilities and enthusiasm for
Ness to the widest possible audience, and consider
families to be vital to the future appeal of the
Gardens, particularly as a living resource within the
local community.”
Buds blossom at Ness
Joanna retires
Dr Joanna Sharples retires this month after
24 years’ service at Ness Gardens. Joanna
studied Marine Biology at the University
then went on to gain her PhD in 1972.
She later worked as a Lecturer and Senior
Research Assistant in the Department
of Oceanography. Joanna has made a
significant contribution to the operational
development at Ness and input to the new
Visitor Centre.
On the border
Staff, students and volunteers have joined
forces at Ness to tackle the Garden’s
herbaceous border which was last
redesigned in 1958.
Paul Cook, who is overseeing the
project, said: “When I started at Ness
Latest news from Ness Botanical Gardens
in February 2002, the long herbaceous
border had changed little in design and
some of the plants, notably the large
Pampass Grass, Cortadeira selloana
‘Sunningdale Silver’, had survived from
the 1960s.
“After waiting a season or two to assess
the planting and look at how the border
was being viewed by visitors, I decided to
make some changes. Grass paths were
put in to split the border allowing visitors to
wander through it. I also wanted to reflect
the changes in herbaceous planting and
add some new varieties into the scheme
so, over the last two years, with help from
the garden volunteers, the herbaceous
borders have been given an overhaul.”
Work is still ongoing on the border
but, once finished, it will be an impressive
feature in the garden for 2007.
Breaking news: Ness Gardens has been shortlisted for the Gardeners’ Question Time Northern Garden award
LEFT: Sean Cross, first year architecture student, tests the Segway
Segway or not Segway?
The Segway Personal Transporter (PT) is described
as an environmentally-friendly alternative to cars,
buses and trains, able to go anywhere a pedestrian
can. It claims to be able to take you 24 miles at
up to 12.5mph on one battery charge, emitting no
greenhouse gases and needing minimal parking space.
And at around £4,000, it’s certainly cheaper than a car.
So, could the Segway be a viable alternative to the car and,
more importantly, could it be the answer to our campus
parking problems? Gareth Brandwood from Facilities
Management certainly thinks so, and he has started a
petition to make them legal in the UK.
“I originally bought one so that I didn’t have to
take my car on short journeys around town. I live just
outside Liverpool so, with parking charges and congestion,
it was easier to use the Segway. I bring it into work sometimes and I’ve
even been around ASDA on it!”
Although it is widely used across the world – by the postal service
and the police among others - the Segway PT is currently illegal in the
UK except on private property with the owner’s permission.
“The Highways Act of 1835 renders the Segway PT illegal,” says
Gareth, “but, if we are trying to find more sustainable forms of transport
for the future, the legislation needs modernising.”
Gareth has set up a petition to legalise devices such as the Segway
PT on pavements and cycle paths in the UK. More than 400 people
have signed up to date and Gareth is hoping for a formal response from
the Prime Minister’s Office when the petition is sent in March 2007.
Visit the website: www.LegaliseSegways.co.uk
What do you think of the Segway?
“My team is fragmented all around the campus so it
would be good for getting from lab to lab but I’m not
sure I’d drive to work on one.”
Steven Bode, Engineering
“All the Building Managers should have them for
going between buildings and the mail room. It would
certainly be easier on the knees than a bike!”
Brian McDonald, Area Building Manager
“I think you might turn up to work a bit dishevelled
if you rode in on one of these, and I don’t think
there are any female changing rooms here to tidy
yourself up.”
Caroline Diaz, Research and Business Services
“It’s great fun to ride, but where would you park it?”
Richard Murphy, first year student, Architecture
“They look like they would take up far too much room
on a pavement, they’d be worse than buggies! I don’t
think we’ve got the climate for them either.”
Jill Hudson, Veterinary Preclinical Sciences
“They take the same space up as an adult and are far
move manoeuvrable than a buggy.”
Gareth Brandwood, Facilities Management
11