A square of grass at the edge of a car park, a space in the middle of a housing estate and a neglected recreation area are being transformed into a blaze of colours and havens for wildlife, thanks to investment and a special team led by Cornwall Council.

Communities are benefitting from 30 previously unremarkable town spaces in Camborne, Redruth, Hayle, Penzance, Pool, Bude and Saltash, which have all been made-over by a Council–led  project called making space for nature.

The three year project is being led by the Council's Natural Environment Service, with the aim of bringing wildlife and bio-diversity back to 35 hectares of land in residential areas, enabling local communities to thrive and enjoy their communal spaces for a green and prosperous future.

Eight community projects have been completed and have received positive feedback from local communities and visitors. 

Three events linked to projects in Saltash, Camborne and Redruth are planned in October:

Residents can visit the Burraton Community Centre at the Grenfell Estate in Saltash which will be opeon Thursday 4 October 4.30 – 6.30pm, to hear plans including a mass bulb planting, a wildflower meadow and new tree planting in the communal green spaces between houses.

Celebrate Apple Day at the Kehelland Trust in Camborne, on 13 October 11am – 5pm.  The team will be there to give a flavour of the project with fun activities linked to feeding Cornwall's wildlife through the winter.

On 23 October 10am – 1pm, residents are invited to get their hands dirty at the Trenoweth Estate, Redruth, where bulb planting and wildflower meadow seeding will be taking place.   

Cornwall Council's cabinet portfolio holder for the Environment, Sue James said: "One of our key priorities is to secure a green and prosperous Cornwall, so I am very pleased that the Council has been at the forefront of this work to bring back the biodiversity and wildlife to urban spaces that have diminished as our towns become busier or more developed. Even the most unremarkable spaces are being transformed for the benefit of local people and for nature.

"We all know that spending time outdoors is great for health and wellbeing and part of the project involves working with local communities to re-think their use of these spaces so they become community hubs.

"We want local people to celebrate and enjoy these local spaces and will be working with individual communities to help develop these plans thenmrediscover these places over the coming months".

Story posted 03 October 2018