A project that’s turning green deserts into wildlife-friendly spaces across Cornwall has had its final site transformed with the help of Cornwall Housing.
The Making Space for Nature project is enhancing areas across Cornwall transforming unexciting grassy spaces into beautiful sanctuaries for people and wildlife.
‘It’s wonderful to bring nature to the doorstep in Cornish towns - we are so pleased to work alongside Cornwall Housing to help urban nature recovery, community and climate resilience. We always welcome new volunteers! Please visit the Cornwall Council website.’ said Melissa Ralph, Making Space for Nature Project Lead at Cornwall Council.
“Making Space for Nature helps green spaces in towns and communities be regenerated with wildflowers and other planting to help improve biodiversity,” said Alastair Spencer, Area Technical Officer Grounds Maintenance and Estates.
“Cornwall Housing invested into supporting some of our managed estates in the county to improve the areas working in conjunction with community volunteer groups from our tenants.”
“Four estates have been significantly transformed with planting in terms of wild flowers, creating meadow spaces, new trees and shrub beds – all to support nature and to vastly improve the green spaces for our residents,” added Alastair.
Cornwall Council’s Making Space for Nature project aims to transform recreation grounds, parks, edges of sports fields, verges and closed churchyards to create havens for bees, butterflies, birds and hedgehogs.
“After consultation with our tenants, Cornwall Housing were able to provide the investment needed to change the way we manage our open spaces on four of our estates,” said Alastair. “Kinsman/Treningle in Bodmin, Prince Philip in Launceston, Lambs Lane in Falmouth and The Beacon Falmouth have all been transformed over recent months.”
The Making Space for Nature Project is part of the Green Infrastructure for Growth project, which leads the way in improving open urban spaces and forms part of the Council’s environmental growth strategy, It is estimated that it has improved the conservation status of over 40 hectares of habitat in urban areas across Cornwall.
The partner project between Cornwall Housing and Cornwall Council’s Making Space for Nature project is ERDF funded. The project was contracted to Cormac to establish the sites and, along with town councils, will be maintaining it going forward.
“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved,” added Alastair “Cornwall Council, community groups and volunteers as well as our own Tenant Engagement Team and Cormac. By working in partnership with the Corserv Group and Cornwall Council, we are delighted that Cornwall Housing were able to play such an integral role in planning and implementing the scheme.”
One of the final sites to be transformed is the Kinsman and Treningle View estate. Just 8 months ago the site was just laid to grass. It is now a rich environment which supports bio-diversity and nature and has significantly improved the amenity of the estate for our tenants
Cornwall Housing is required to maintain each of the planted sites for the next 15 years and they have a management plan for each site in place with Cormac’s horticultural team and town councils to support this.
“We would like to use these sites as a catalyst to demonstrate to residents on all our estates how we can change how we manage our open spaces, both for their benefit and for wildlife too,” added Alastair.
Email: contactus@corservltd.co.uk
