Archive for the ‘Nature & wildlife’ Category

Trees for free

Posted on 16th April 2013 by

trees wordcloud

The Woodland Trust is offering community groups, youth groups and schools the chance to apply for packs of free trees.

Whether groups are interested in helping wildlife, creating a community garden or allotment, or just want to enhance their local area – any community groups are very welcome to apply for free trees.

The Trust has 4,000 to give away and the tree packs come in three sizes – 30 saplings, 105 saplings and 420 saplings in various themes (wildlife, wild harvest, year-round colour, future firewood and wetland).

Find out more at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/communitytrees Applications are open until September, but groups are advised to apply sooner rather than later as the offer looks likely to be oversubscribed.

Pride of Trowbridge…

Posted on 21st March 2013 by

Congratulations to the Friends of Biss Meadow Country Park from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, who have been awarded the Town Development Outstanding Achievement Award.

Their award, presented at the Mayor’s banquet in Trowbridge, recognises that their pond renovation project has considerably enhances the town.

The group reports that the joint winner was a £22 million refurbishment of the local library, so the £49,000 Community Spaces grant the group received looks to have been money well spent.

Working party Co-ordinator Sharl Adabashi walked the red carpet to receive the award certificate from the Mayor of Trowbridge, Coun John Knight.

Alan Cooper, Pond Project Manager, says: “Sharl has been organising and actively working at Biss Meadows since the main works were finished, to ensure the whole of that area of the Country Park is looking tremendous for our opening in the summer. So it was fitting that Sharl received the award on behalf of the group. Congratulations to everyone who has help in various ways to bring this two-year project to its completion.”

Volunteers wanted for Saltash work

Posted on 11th February 2013 by

A hedge and tree planting day at Elwell Woods in Saltash, Cornwell on  February 16 will see local volunteers continue the transformation of the area, as preparations continue for the arrival of the Cornish Cross.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust will be working with a group of volunteers to plant a 100m long perimeter hedge around Elwell Woods.  The hawthorn, blackthorn and broadleaved hedging will encourage wild birds to nest in the area.  A variety of native trees and shrubs will also be planted through the woodland.

Anyone interested in helping can come along from 10am-3pm on Saturday February 16.  Volunteers must wear suitable clothing, including boots and work gloves.  Refreshments and pasties will be provided.

This will be the latest in a series of volunteer days that are transforming Elwell Woods. Saltash Waterfront Resident’s Association (SWRA) initiative will turn the former wasteland into a wooded area complete with fitness equipment, picnic areas, a small orchard and a 20 metre high Cornish Cross.

Further volunteer days are planned for Saturdays in March – planting the orchard on the 2nd, and building and installing bird and bat boxes on the 23rd.

Joe Ellison, Project Leader for SWRA, said: “With the help of our volunteers, we are transforming this previously forgotten area into a beautiful place to visit with stunning views and, when the Cornish Cross is in place, one of Cornwall’s most important landmarks.”

The 20-metre cross, designed by Cornish sculptor, Simon Thomas, is in the final stage of fabrication at Newquay Airport, made from leading edge aerospace materials such as glass and carbon fibre to resemble copper.

SWRA believes the Cornish Cross will become the ‘gateway to Cornwall’ and will become as firmly fixed on the tourist map as the Angel of the North, attracting visitors to the area and boosting the local economy.

Elwell Woods, including the Cornish Cross, is a Community Spaces Flagship project. Additional funding and support has come from Cornwall Council, Saltash Town Council and the Duchy of Cornwall.

Tree-mendous offer from the Woodland Trust

Posted on 15th October 2012 by

The Woodland Trust is offering community groups, youth groups and schools the chance to apply for packs of free trees for delivery in March 2013. Whether groups are interested in helping wildlife, creating a faith or inter-faith green space, a community garden or allotment, or just want to enhance their local area – any community groups are very welcome to apply.

The Trust has 1,250 to give away. The packs come in three sizes – 30 saplings, 105 saplings and 420 saplings in various themes (wildlife, wild harvest, year-round colour, future firewood and wetland).

For more information follow this link  The deadline for applications is Christmas and the packs are due to be delivered in the week commencing March 5.

Afternoon on the tiles for Cherie

Posted on 22nd February 2012 by
cherie blair at st luke's church, crosby

Jimmy Hill works on the St Luke's mosaic, watched by Cherie Blair, Coun Les Byrom and Joe Benton MP

Cherie Blair visited St Luke’s Church in her native Crosby to see how work is progressing on the Community Spaces project to transform the church grounds.

She looked in on a workshop where local schoolchildren are creating a mosaic that will be placed on pillars in the grounds.

The St Luke’s Breathing Space project, which is being supported by a £49,760 Community Spaces grant, began in October and is due to be completed by April.

mosaic for st luke's church, crosbyThe project aims to transform some of the highly visible parts of St Luke’s church grounds to make them attractive, accessible and welcoming. The church grounds already contain a number of gardens at the fringes of the site, which have been developed over the past four years. 

The latest work will include welcome signs, relaid and new paths, an entrance garden featuring raised beds and a sensory garden, replacement railings and a nature/heritage trail around the bog garden, butterfly garden, bug hotel and wildflower meadow, war graves, solar powered water feature and a cycle shelter.

Project co-ordinator Steve Matthews said: “It was a happy coincidence that on the day Cherie visited we were having our second mosaic workshop so she got the chance to see the work in progress.

”She wasn’t intending to go to look at the pillars to see where the panels
will be placed as she had a function that night and didn’t want to get her
hair wet. Fortunately we were able to supply a brolly!”

A reservoir of talent

Posted on 7th February 2012 by

gosjac presentation coverIt’s always good to report the successful conclusion to a Community Spaces project – and here’s an impressive presentation on the restoration of the Heaton Mersey Reservoir in Stockport.

What was an uninviting – and in places dangerous – former mill reservoir is now an attractive location for anglers and nature lovers.

The freehold of the site is owned by GOSJAC Angling Club, whose secretary Mike Fox was project manager for the restoration project.

Mike’s presentation tells the complete story of the project and is an excellent guide for groups looking to carry out similar work.

The pool has 26 pegs and is an ideal venue for beginners. The reservoir is stocked with, carp, tench, bream, roach, rudd, crucians, perch and golden orfe.

Gosjac Angling Club was founded in 1959 by the then Grants of St-James Angling Club. After several years this name became synonymous with angling in Stockport. When the establishment where the club was founded closed down members decided to keep the club running and abbreviated the name to GOSJAC.

 

Keeping up with Conigre

Posted on 14th December 2011 by

damsel fly

The Conigre Mead Volunteers have set up a blog to keep friends and supporters up to date with developments at the project.

The volunteers, who help to maintain Conigre Mead Nature Reserve in Melksham, which is owned by the Wiltshire wildlife Trust, are using their £47,710 Community Spaces grant to improve the reserve.

Work include new surfaces to paths, new gates, new notice and information boards, and new seats. It will be carried out during the next few months and will be finished by June 2012.

The work will make the reserve more accessible and friendly to all users, particularly those with disabilities. Wheelchair and buggy users will be able to use the reserve all year round.

Seats will be installed suitable for all ages and will be useful for school groups and others.

There will be up-to-date and seasonal information about the site and its wildlife

October project launches

Posted on 28th September 2011 by

A busy month of project launches coming up… If there’s one in your area why not get along?

And don’t forget to let us know how your launch went… we love seeing your photographs, videos and reports.

Share the joy!

 

October 1
Northall Village Trust
South End Lane
Northall
Dunstable
Bedfordshire
LU6 2EX
Playground and natural play area
 
October 2
Friends of Mossley Park
Stamford Road
Mossley
Ashton Under Lyne
Lancashire
OL5 0BA
Seating and performance amphitheatre
 
October 7
King George V Playing Field at Mylor
Mylor Bridge
Falmouth
Cornwall
TR115NG
Playground
 
October 8
Kearsley Mount Methodist Church
Manchester Road
Kearsley
Bolton
Lancashire
BL4 8QJ
Community garden
 
Lascelles Community Partnership
Eastbourne Park & Lascelles Green Link
Off Rydal Road
Darlington
Co Durham
DL1 4BH
Improved pathways and access to link two green spaces
 
Kingsbury Episcopi Recreation Ground
Thorney Road
Kingsbury Episcopi
Martock
Somerset
TA12 6BB
Multi-use games area
 
October 9
Down Thomas Silver Jubilee Hall
Down Thomas
Wembury
Plymouth
Devon
PL9 0BG
Playground and trim trail
 
The Middlestown Playground Club
Old Road
Middlestown
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF4 4QE
Playground
 
October 15
Friends of Chapel Park
Chapel-en-le-Frith Memorial Park
Rowton Grange Road
Chapel-en-le-Frith
Derbyshire
SK23 0LA
Multi-use games area
 
Bourne Valley Action Group
Bourne Valley Park
Turbary Close
Parkstone
Poole
Dorset
BH12 4HD
Playground
 
All Saints Community Development Company
Vicarage Road
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 7RA
A new village square and community facility
 
October 16
Claypole Playgroup
Main Street
Claypole
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG23 5BA
Playground
 
Ware Skate Park Scheme
Priory Street
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 0DE
Skate park
 
October 17
Friends Of Memorial Park
Warrenhust Road
Fleetwood
Lancashire
FY7 7AE
Rose garden
 
October 22
Brandon 3 Tenants & Residents Association
Warham Street
Camberwell
London
SE5 0TB
Community garden and public square
 
Kingsholm Kids at Play
Sebert Street
Gloucester
GL1 3BS
Playground
 
Brixton Community Association
Woodland Drive 
Brixton
Plymouth
Devon
PL8 2PB
Playground
 
October 23
Falstone Village Hall Committee
The Croft
Falstone
Northumberland
NE48 1AA
Playground
 
October 24
Trimdon Grange Community Centre
Trimdon Grange
Co Durham
TS29 6PB
Multi use games area
 
Brown Edge Action Group
High Lane
Brown Edge
Staffordshire
ST6 8QA
Playground
 
October 27
Parent Carers Voice
Victoria Park
Bideford
Devon
EX39 2QQ
Play park featuring equipment for children with special needs and allowing for inclusive play with able bodied children.
 
October 28
Weston and Ivy Community Development Group
Weston Recreation Field
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK11 8SR
Multi-use games area, community artwork and park improvements
 
October 29
Thrapston BMX & Skate Park Group
Meadow Lane
Thrapston
Northamptonshire
NN14 4QL
BMX park
 
October 31
Shenstone Playing Fields
Birmingham Road
Shenstone
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS140JR
Footpath, signage, natural play features

A Herb Garden with a Difference!

Posted on 9th December 2010 by

Rosliston Foresty Centre

Community Spaces have just awarded Rosliston Forestry Centre in South Derbyshire £41, 814 to create a 40ft herb garden in the shape of a human!

The human shaped herb garden, which has been nicknamed ‘Herbie’ will consist of a raised flower bed planted with herbs used for medical purposes on different parts of the body.

The group are aiming to a to have ‘Herbie’ finished by the summer! We look forward to seeing some photos of the finished garden!

We first mentioned the ‘Herbie’ project in our innovation blog piece see: http://blog.community-spaces.org.uk/2010/09/what-is-innovation  If your group is developing a project that is a little bit different please tell us about it by following the link.

Friends of Bennion Pools scoops another award!

Posted on 30th July 2010 by

The Friends of Bennion Pools has been awarded a Green Pennant Award for the Bennions Pools Nature Reserve near the Walkers crisp factory in Leicester.

 The Green Pennant Award is a national award that recognises high quality green spaces in England and Wales that are managed by voluntary and community groups. The Award is part of the Green Flag Award scheme, the national standard for quality parks and green spaces.

The Friends group was awarded just under £50k to re-develop the site, increasing access to the pools and encouraging local people to get involved.

Chair of the Friends group, John Greasley said, “We are delighted to be receiving this award – it’s a real boost for the local people who have volunteered so much time to the pools and the projects we run here. We’re also thankful for the Community Spaces funding, without it what we have created here would not have been possible.”

The group worked closely with Leicester City Council to develop the project. Since receiving the funding they have organised many events encouraging local people to get involved in further developing the site and ensuring that it is kept clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.