Our key partner for phase one will be Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

We are members of the Wirral Council Coastal Advisory Group; a growing network of coastal experts, geographers and botanists who support our awareness raising and advocacy activities and will advise the council on improving the sustainability of their coastal management activities. Members of the Coastal Advisory Group include:

• Revd Dr Paul Rooney, Head of Geography and Environmental Science at Liverpool Hope University and Director, Sand Dune and Shingle Network
• Dr Alan Jemmett, Chief Executive of MEAS
• Sarah Bennett, Cheshire Wildlife Trust
• Dr David Parker, Chair of the Natural Environment Advisory Group, National Trust and Chair of the British Ornothological Society and Independent Consultant Ecologist
• Dr Hilary Ash, Botanist, Honorary Conservation Officer, Wirral Wildlife

We are also under advice from Professor Kenneth Pye, Environmental Geoscientist and Visiting Professor in Environment and Engineering at Southampton University, with whom we are aim to work to produce a baseline geomorphological survey of the area concerned.

The project has widespread support among local and regional environmental groups including the Dee Estuary Conservation Group; a network of 26 regional organisations.

We also have the support of the University of Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University, through whom we are in the process of arranging for Masters and PHD students to undertake research for the next stages of the project.

The Life Sciences Department of the University of Liverpool have also expressed interest in particular in contributing to our longer term vision to deliver a “Learning Hub” in which academic research and development can take place in a new base set within an environment of dynamic coastal change at Hoylake, as well as offering significant learning opportunities for local schools and the community.

The project will also partner with the Beacon Scheme (mentioned above) where cinema facilities can be used for educational purposes, and where opportunities for net zero carbon food production is already being explored.

We have also been building links with Liverpool Friends of the Earth, who are very supportive of the objectives of the project.

Finally we have been in conversation with the National Oceanographic Centre and hope to obtain endorsement for the project soon.