Credit G14G / Cornwall Council

Residents invited to contribute to plans to improve biodiversity and community use of the green space in Newquay

The University of Exeter is holding a workshop on Saturday 14 March to transform the green space on Towan Blystra Road, Newquay, TR7 2RP. 

The workshop will take place at the space with a marquee from 2pm–4pm with refreshments provided by Treehouse Newquay.

People attending the meeting will be engaged in the practical work of planning what to build, what to grow, and how to maintain the area. Local residents can decide what the area will look like and they will be encouraged to get involved in the future maintenance of the space once it has been improved.

Professor Jane Wills, Project Lead from the University of Exeter said: “We hope to get people from Town Blystra Road and the wider community in Newquay to come along to the workshop and share their ideas on what they would like their green space to look like. For example, people might want to plant pollinator-friendly plants, create wildlife habitats, introduce orchards or seating.

“Everyone is welcome, including individuals, families, and local groups.”

Experts from the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus and Cornwall Council are supporting this project through their Growing Communities Through Nature research project. This work is a partnership with Cornwall Council, Treehouse Newquay and local residents to explore different ways to engage the public in improving local open spaces for wildlife and for people.

The focus is on bringing together communities in Cornish towns to transform forgotten green spaces. Launceston and Helston are also included in this project to use co-production of public open space designs to improve biodiversity, mitigate climate change and foster lasting community links in this area.  Both Newquay and Launceston will benefit from the Making Space for Nature project which will deliver the landscape plans during 2021.

This event and the town centre transformation that will follow align perfectly with Council priorities for a green and prosperous Cornwall, for community engagement and harnessing natural solutions to counter climate change.

For more information, please contact Melissa Muir mm815@exeter.ac.uk.

Date: 3 March 2020