The Green Flag award-winning Stanmore Country Park has been granted more than £72,000 from Severn Trent’s Community Fund and Shropshire Council to enhance bio-diversity and improve access for those with impaired mobility and introduce a range of environmentally friendly play equipment to encourage children’s curiosity as the future custodians of the park.
The Shining Light on Stanmore Park Project has received £65,582 from the Severn Trent Community Fund, which awards grant money to improve the three elements of community wellbeing – people, places and environment. Shropshire Council has added a further £7,287, bringing the total project fund to £72,869.
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, culture, leisure and tourism, and transport, said:-
“To have this generous funding from Severn Trent, and with additional funds from Shropshire Council, means we will be able to carry out some work to improve the park’s ecology, thinning tree canopies and enhancing the ponds.
“The park has been awarded the Green Flag Community Award, recognising the vital role that the Friends of Stanmore Country Park play in helping to manage the park. The grant project will also fund a shipping container so that the volunteers have a secure tool store on site.
“A training programme will also be delivered to upskill the volunteer group in countryside management techniques.”
Dr Andy Howard, Chair of the Friends group said:-
“This grant will provide a real step change in the management of Stanmore and focus on a number of initiatives which the group have previously considered aspirational. We must thank the Outdoor Partnerships Team for all their hard work in bringing this grant application to fruition.”
And Lucy Hockenhull, Secretary for the Friends group added:-
“The Friends of Stanmore is a small but active volunteer group dedicated to help deliver the ongoing park improvements created by this latest grant funding. We would like to invite everyone from the local community with some spare time to join in and help with a wide variety of tasks. For more information contact the ranger team on 01746 781192.”
The Shining Light on Stanmore Park Project will also involve:-
- Path improvement – Paths will be cleared and resurfaced with stone.
- Woodland management – Thinning of the woodland will be undertaken to boost biodiversity and help future veteran oaks to thrive. Disease-resistant elms will also be planted to help a rare butterfly that lives on the park, the white-letter hairstreak.
- Pond enhancement – Two ponds will be enhanced for wildlife and water quality.
- Family play trail – An artist has been commissioned to work with a local primary school. The children will help to design some low-key wooden play features around the park. The features will tell the story of the history and wildlife of the park.
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