The aims of the Green Infrastructure for Growth
The project team is working to improve urban open spaces so they become more sociable community hubs. It is hoped they will be celebrated and enjoyed by local people.
We aim to:
- plant
- wildflower meadows
- trees
- orchards
- pollinator friendly flower beds
- create Cornish hedges and ponds
- work with local communities to re-think areas of our green space
We want to encourage existing uses, such as responsible dog walking and sports to support healthy living.
The University of Exeter's environmental specialists are working with our project team. They will help to ensure that we can measure and understand the benefits of the improved green spaces: both for nature and local communities.
Why we are doing it
In 2015 Cornwall Council launched the Environmental Growth Strategy. Protection alone is no longer enough. Through this strategy we are working on investing in and growing the environment as well as protecting it.
The GI4G project is leading the way in environmental net gain. We will be investing in urban greenspaces so that they are of greater benefit to people and wildlife. Through this work we will develop a range of best-practice maintenance techniques. These will support environmental growth and can be used on other public open spaces in Cornwall.
Public consultations were carried out in the project towns to gather local points of view on their open spaces.
Funding
The project is receiving £2,800,500 of funding. This is from the European Regional Development Fund. Cornwall Council has put forward £670,000, and the University of Exeter is providing £32,500. This includes both capital investment and establishment works.
For more information visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
Community engagement
The Green Infrastructure for Growth team conducted a series of public consultation events. Residents in the seven towns were able to provide feedback on the plans to public open spaces.
The events were very successful. We gained a spread of opinion about the environment and public open spaces in each town. These fed into the final design stages of each project.
TheRoyal Cornwall Show
The team had a stand at the summer show to help direct engagement with residents from across the county. The Kehelland Trust's 'Biodiversity in a wheelbarrow' showed in miniature the aims and objectives. This was a great attraction to visitors. Workshops also took place to make wildflower seed 'bombs'. This was to encourage people to create their own mini wildflower meadow.
Places for people and wildlife
Residents took part in activities across the sites to experience the enriched green spaces and get involved in further improvements.
The first spring event took place in Penzance on 30 March 2019. We'd like to thank all the volunteers who gave up their Saturday to help out.
Also completed in 2019 were community days at:
- Trenoweth Playing Field, Redruth
- Warfelton Field, Saltash
- Love Lane Wildlife Garden, Penzance
- St Day Road Cemetery, Redruth
- Berries Avenue, Bude
- Goldsworthy Field, Bude
- Treveglos Meadow, Hayle
- St Mary’s Churchyard, Penzance
- Millpond Gardens, Hayle
Email the team for more information GI4G@cornwall.gov.uk.