Photo opportunity: 1pm, Wednesday 15 September. Deputy Mayor Cllr David Lockwood presenting "Best Community Project Award" to Woodlands Way representatives and local schoolchildren.
Anglia in Bloom judges have today rewarded a partnership between St Edmundsbury and volunteers on Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds, by awarding it the Best Community Project.
Cavendish won the Best Public Open Space award for its village green and Bury St Edmunds won the Best large Town category. Clare was also recognised, being awarded a silver medal - for full list see below.
The community project award comes after several years of working with residents on Moreton hall. The Greenlight Trust approached St Edmundsbury Borough Council in 2001 as part of its People Planting Scheme to establish a local community group on Moreton Hall that would create a new community woodland and maintain it on behalf of the community. Suitable land was identified by the borough and after a few public meetings the new group was formed - Woodland Ways Community Group (WWCG).
They have, in consultation with the community, named the new 20-acre site ‘Natterer’s Wood’. Over an acre of new trees have been planted to date with the help of volunteers and school children. The community group has also been active at other sites on the Moreton Hall such as Home Covert and Woodland Ways Pond having regular monthly work parties with attendance up to as many as 50 volunteers for tree planting, 45 for a design workshop and 25 for the installation of bat boxes.
This year they helped with the design and creation of an outdoor classroom in the woods. St Edmundsbury has a Management Agreement with the group that establishes a work programme on an annual basis and the group received £2450 this year from the council to carry out the works.
WWCG continues to consult with the community to encourage participation in improving the local environment and bringing forward good ideas for improvements.
St Edmundsbury results:
Best Large Town Category - Bury St Edmunds, and Silver Gilt award.
Best Village Category - Cavendish, silver award.
Best Large Village Category - Clare, silver award.
Best Community Project, Bury St Edmunds, Woodlands Way Community group.
Best Public Open Space - Cavendish village green
ENDS
Note: The award will be handed over by the Deputy Mayor at Pond Covert, near the entrance to Sebert Wood Primary School, Symonds Road, Moreton Hall. Meet at the school side entrance to the woodland.
For more details about Woodlands Way contact Parks Development Manager John Smithson on 01284 757092.
For Bury in Bloom information contact Cllr Mike Ames on 01284 701238.
