Friday 13 February 2015

Spring Hill: Woodlands improvements on the way with £110,000 grant

A beautiful woodland area close to Accrington town centre is set to be improved, thanks to a
£110,000 grant from the Forestry Commission. Local people are invited to a drop in session on Tuesday 24th February, any time between 4pm and 8pm, at Globe Bowling Club, Bullough Park, off Willows Lane, Accrington to find out more about the planned improvements to the nearby woodlands.

 The woodland area, linking Bullough Park and Woodnook Vale and running right up the hillside to Rothwell Heights is one of the biggest woodland areas in the district, with spectacular views across the valley towards the Coppice and Hameldon Hill. It’s right on the doorstep of thousands of homes and the work there will make it much more accessible and attractive for residents and visitors to enjoy as a  network of surfaced footpaths will meander through the woods and a completely new path will link to a lovely riverside walk along Woodnook Water.

Other plans include woodland thinning and habitat enhancements to improve the condition of the woodlands along with new signage, waymarking and leaflets to help people find their way around.

Council Leader Cllr Miles Parkinson said, “This beautiful landscape is well used by local people already and we know there’s a lot more potential there.  The improvements will help everyone, including families with pushchairs and people with reduced mobility, to enjoy these attractive spaces. Everyone is welcome to the drop in session on 24th February and there’s also a programme of interesting activities for families and local volunteers to get involved, learn more about the area and have some fun, so please come along and see for yourself what it’s all about.”

The large investment is coming from a national organisation, the Forestry Commission, through the English Woodland Grant Scheme. Barnfield Councillor June Harrison has also secured £1,000 from Area Council funding to help towards this bid and assist with development at Royds Street.

Additional projects will be developed in the hope of attracting even more investment to this lovely area of the Borough.  Possibilities include an environmental education space at Rothwell Heights, a heritage project at the site of Woodnook Farm, near Rose Place, and more path linkages to key locations around the area.
The informal drop-in session will take place on Tuesday 24th February any time between 4pm and 8pm at Globe Bowling Club, Bullough Park, off Willows Lane, Accrington.

If you’d like more information about the project or to discuss your ideas, please contact Anne Hourican, Senior Environmental Initiatives Officer on 01254 388111 or anne.hourican@hyndburnbc.gov.uk

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