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Hedgerow planting takes place at Wepre Parks new education area

Published: 10/03/2015

Work is gathering pace to develop an education area at Wepre Park in Connahs Quay. Rangers from Flintshire Countryside Service, volunteers and friends of Wepre Park recently took part in a hedgerow planting event, to plant 100 metres of hedgerow as part of the project. The Friends of Wepre Park and Flintshire Countryside Service recently secured £17,000 funding from the Welsh Government Tidy Towns initiative to enable community organisations and voluntary groups to improve their local environment quality. The project is redeveloping an area of the old golf course to provide an enclosed space purely for educational use. It will incorporate a meadow, pond and wetland area, a raised teaching section with seating, and a canvas sail shade to provide protection from the weather. The newly created pond will have a dipping platform to provide access for people with disabilities. Wetland pond plants will be planted around the pond to attract dragonflies and other pond invertebrates. The existing play area will also be improved with fencing and a hedgerow. Mike Goodall, Chair of the Friends of Wepre Park said: We were really pleased to take part in the hedge planting event in the new education area at Wepre Park. Approximately 100 metres of new hedging was planted with a variety of species chosen for their positive bio diversity impact. The hedge will not only protect the area but provide shelter and food for a variety of species, especially in the autumn. It is essential that we provide and develop such areas to encourage young people to take an active interest in their surroundings and learn the importance of conservation. Many thanks to Flintshire Countryside Service for putting on such a great event. Councillor Bernie Attridge, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Once completed, this will be a great facility for Wepre Park. I am extremely pleased that an under-developed area of the park is being improved in this way. The area will look fantastic when it is finished and I am sure it will be used for years to come. Stephen Lewis, Countryside Ranger for Flintshire Countryside Service, who is delivering the project said: “This education area is going to provide an enclosed space where children and adults will be able to learn about a variety of different habitats and ecosystems through our ranger-led programme of events. We are expecting it to be ready by April. Information about Wepre Park can be found at www.flintshire.gov.uk/countryside where you can also find a link to the Friends of Wepre Park Facebook page. Images Caption in 0017, Left to Right: Stephen Lewis (FCC), Neil Dudley (volunteer), Phil Rodgers (volunteer), Mike Goodall (Chair, Friends of Wepre Park ), Julie Gallagher (Secretary, Friends of Wepre Park ), Tim Johnson (FCC).