You are invited to become a Friend of Valley Park…

Cramlington Town Council’s South East ward councillors Cllr Paul Ezhilchelvan and Cllr Steve Garrett are in the process of setting up a ‘Friends of Valley Park’ group.

Valley Park is a large area of woodland and grass meadow between Dudley Lane and the B1505 which offers a wonderful diversity of vegetation and natural habitat for wildlife.

The aims of the group are to connect and inspire local residents, schools and community organisations who have a shared interest in Valley Park, enabling them to exchange ideas, skills and resources and take action on the issues that are most important to them.

Initial objectives include creating a QR-coded nature trail and working with Cramlington Wildspaces Hub to involve residents, schools and community groups in compiling the information about the local wildlife and heritage.

Looking forward to the formation of the group Councillor Paul Ezhilchelvan said: “Friends of Valley Park will be a residents led group, with members generating ideas to improve this asset for community use and volunteering time and effort to see the ideas through, while Councillors and the Council officers offering their earnest support for making it a success story.”

Councillor Steve Garrett added: “At a time of heightened awareness of our shared natural environment and its importance, it is vital that we, as a community, come together to protect and nurture this wonderful woodland in Southeast Cramlington, for today and the generations to come.”

Cramlington Town Council’s Community and Youth Manager Maggie Martin hopes the Friends group will echo the success of The Friends of Doddington Wood, a group formed to offer local residents the opportunity to manage, protect and encourage the small corner of woodland on their doorstep.

Maggie said: “Their efforts have turned an area which had become prone to illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour back into a safe, beautiful space whilst maintaining the balance between nurturing the natural ecosystem and also providing an engaging space for residents and their families. The group now manage two community beehives, they have held numerous bulb and tree planting events, community picnics, litter picks and have raised well over £15,000 for improvements to the wood creating a safer, more inviting community space.”

If you would like to become a Friend of Valley Park please contact Cramlington Town Council’s Community Manager Maggie Martin at maggie@cramlingtontowncouncil.gov.uk