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• Budding artists go superlambananas

Aspiring artists across Liverpool are being encouraged to get inspired by their local parks this summer to design a ‘SuperSafeSpace Lambanana.

The competition is part of the SafeSpace intiative, with the winners having their designs made reality on their own bespoke models.

Safespace is a two-month long initiative which aims to make Merseyside's parks safer. During the campaign, a host of activities are taking place to encourage the responsible use of parks and open spaces.

Merseyside Police will be stepping up patrols in the 23 'gold' parks over the two months, with other partner agencies including Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, The Primary Care Trust and The Local Authority. As well as encouraging communities to take pride in their local parks, SafeSpace also incorporates a total war on crime and total care for victims through Merseyside Police’s Total Policing approach.

Celebrated local artist Frank Green, whose work has been inspired by open spaces across Merseyside, said: “Parks can provide a huge amount of inspiration for artists, particularly those with rich histories such as Merseyside’s. Anything that encourages children to get out into their local green areas and enjoying their surroundings is a good thing.

“The Superlambanana seems to have become the ‘blank canvas’ of choice this year, with some great designs being displayed throughout Liverpool, and it will be fantastic to see what comes up as part of the SafeSpace competition.”

There are two age categories: 10 years and under and 11 to 16 year-olds, and the closing date for entries is Friday August 29.

Director of Go Superlambananas Sally-Ann Wilkinson said: ‘We are delighted with the positive response to Go Superlambananas and particularly pleased with the way in which local communities are helping us to keep the Superlambananas safe and looked after throughout the summer. We are thrilled to be involved with this initiative which offers the opportunity for young people to tell their story creatively about the importance of public parks as safe environments that everyone can enjoy.”

Together with the competition, a host of events is lined up during this summer’s SafeSpace campaign, with many having an artistic theme to tie in with Liverpool and the wider region celebrating its year as European Capital of Culture.

Among the events lined up to coincide with SafeSpace is the Shakespeare Festival in St James’ Gardens, surrounding the Anglican Cathedral. The festival will run throughout August and finish on September 7th and will involve performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Elsewhere, a ‘Halls of Fame’ guide of the Coach House in Calderstones Park, will be starting at 10am on Sunday 17th August, and a photography exhibition in Croxteth Park will take place on August 20th, hosted by The South Liverpool Photography Society.

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne of Merseyside Police said: “Following the success of the inaugural SafeSpace campaign last year, we are confident that we can build on the reduction in reported crime achieved and make parks safer places for the communities that enjoy them.”

Entry forms for the SuperSafeSpace Lambanana competition can be downloaded from www.merseyside.police.uk/safespace.  Details of the events arranged across In Liverpool during the campaign are also available.

Ends