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'We are using cardboard to create a beauty spot'

Earth Moves A woman holding a wheelbarrow full of soil. She has short white hair, and is wearing a gilet over a grey jumper. She is smiling as volunteers dig away in the background, while the ground is covered in cardboard boxes. Earth Moves
The project is aimed at regenerating the land in Wirral

Volunteers have been using cardboard boxes thrown away by households in Wirral to transform a neglected strip of land into a fertile and flower-filled meadow.

The community project by non-profit environmental group Earth Moves aims to regenerate four acres of land at Wallasey in Wirral so it can sustain wildflowers and grasses without the need for digging or chemicals.

A German gardening technique called Hugelkultur, which involves using decaying household waste and turning it into a nutrient-rich compost to form the base for raised beds, is being used by the volunteers.

Paula Staunton from Earth Moves said the 12-month project is "a critical intervention in times of environmental crisis".

Earth Moves A wide shot of nine members of the Earth Moves group. They are standing on layers of cardboard which will eventually be used for compost.Earth Moves
Earth Moves said the project is "a critical intervention in times of environmental crisis"

As part of the work, around 800 people will be trained in how to create the compost through workshops on the site, and they will also be taught how to suppress weeds, and build healthy soil.

"By turning waste into a resource, we're not just regenerating the land; we are building a resilient, informed, and empowered community that can take meaningful action against climate change," said Paula Staunton, director of Earth Moves.

Earth Moves A woman hold a rake over a patch of soil dumped on top of a pile of cardboard boxes. Earth Moves
Volunteers will be trained in the regeneration technique as part of the project

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