Exciting project breathes new life into nature reserve

A successful partnership between Shropshire Council and a voluntary group in Albrighton has led to a grant of almost £50,000 being awarded to transform a nature reserve.

Donington and Albrighton Local Nature Reserve Management Committee is made up of representatives from Shropshire Council, Donington with Boscobel Parish Council, Albrighton Parish Council and other members of the community. The nature reserve is a mixture of meadows, woodlands and pools. The partners have secured a £49,999 grant for The ‘Breathing Life into the Pools of Albrighton’ project which is specifically aimed at improving the surroundings of the pools at the site.

The project has been funded through the Community Spaces programme which is being managed by Groundwork UK as an award partner to the Big Lottery Fund. Community Spaces is part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces initiative.

Work will include planting marginal vegetation, replacing damaged fishing pegs and creating a new access platform. Trees and non-native vegetation will also be removed and native shrubs and bulbs planted around the bankside.

Volunteer days will be organised to give people the chance to get involved with building nest boxes and creating a bird viewing area and feed station.

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for active and healthy lifestyles said:

“This is a wonderful project that has arisen from Shropshire Council and the local community working together to transform their nature reserve. It will create wide-ranging benefits for both people and wildlife.”

Malcolm Pate, Shropshire councillor for Albrighton, said:

“Donington and Albrighton Local Nature Reserve is a key open space in the village of Albrighton. It is great to see Shropshire Council working with local people to improve the site.”

To find out more about the project or get involved in volunteer days, please contact Edward Andrews from Shropshire Council’s outdoor recreation service, on 01746 781192.

Community Spaces

Community Spaces is a £57.5 million open grants programme that is managed by Groundwork UK as an award partner to the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces initiative. The programme helps community groups create or improve green and open spaces so that the quality of life in neighbourhoods across England is enhanced.

For further information go to www.community-spaces.org.uk

Groundwork UK

Groundwork supports communities in need, working with partners to help improve the quality of people’s lives, their prospects and potential, and the places where they live, work and play. For further information visit www.groundwork.org.uk

Big Lottery Fund

The Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme was launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments. The programme is funding a range of activities from local food schemes and farmers markets, to education projects teaching people about the environment.

The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since it was launched in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006. Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk