Credit G14G/Cornwall Council 

Plans to improve biodiversity and community use of Ridgegrove’s green spaces

A special workshop has been organised to give members of the public the opportunity to help transform community green spaces in a distinct site in Launceston.

Experts from the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus are hosting the public workshop this weekend, to collate inspiration and ideas from local residents for revamping the green spaces around the Ridgegrove housing estate.

The project, which is part of the Growing Communities Through Nature scheme, will also include the creation of a new green space on Ridgegrove Lane.

The workshop will give local community members the opportunity to participate in discussions around how to build, grow and maintain the new spaces.

The event takes place on Saturday, February 29^th at St Thomas Church Hall, Riverside, Launceston from 11am–1pm.

Professor Jane Wills, Project lead from the University of Exeter said: “We hope to get as many people from Launceston and surrounding areas to come along to the workshop and share their ideas on what they would like their green spaces to look like. For example, people might want to grow edible plants, create wildlife habitats, plant orchards or build accessible seating.”

Growing Communities Through Nature is a partnership between the University of Exeter, Cornwall Council, South Kerrier Alliance Community Interest Company and Cornwall’s Voluntary Sector Forum.

The project will test if working with established voluntary organisations and self-organised community groups leads to different levels of interest in the sites.

As well as Launceston, the project will also focus on sites in Coronation Park in Helston and a space in Newquay.

The schemes are intended to “enable members of the public to actively contribute to research and innovation projects that affect their lives”.

Cornwall Council and the University of Exeter are already working together on an ambitious project called Making Space for Nature, which turns neglected open spaces into places for people and wildlife.

Growing Communities through Nature will complement the work being done on community engagement within this project. This work has revealed an opportunity for co-creating and co-monitoring the activity with the local community.

To find out more, email Melissa Muir: mm815@exeter.ac.uk

Date: 26 February 2020