Community woodland opens following quarry company donation
David Whybrow, parish council, Sebastian Kindersley, cllr cambs, Simon Barrett, Cemex, Beverley Glover, parish cllr, Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, parish cllr, Rogan McCormack, Harry Hughes, George Whybrow, Ellen Gilbert - Credit: Archant
The Queen Elizabeth II Woodland in Barrington, which is directly behind the footpath near the Challis Green playground, had its official opening ceremony on Saturday.
Sebastian Kindersley, Barrington’s county councillor, performed the ribbon-cutting honours at a ceremony attended by 70 villagers.
Barrington parish clerk Val Tookey said that the site had been donated to the village by cement company CEMEX, which up until five years ago operated the cement works at Barrington quarry.
She said: “The parish council has registered the woodland under the Fields in Trust project which was set up to mark the Diamond Jubilee and 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“This ensures that the area is dedicated as a public recreation ground for the benefit of local inhabitants – to be enjoyed now and for ever.”
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The woodland has been worked on by a range of volunteer groups, who have created a wildflower area, made the woodland safe for visitiors, and formed paths and ‘ringles’ with seating.
The tree canopy has been raised and other trees removed or coppiced.
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Further plans for the area include creating totem poles, installing bird and bat boxes, with school children making insect hotels and woodland sculptures. Activities took place throughout the day to mark the woodland’s official opening.
Mrs Tookey said: “Following cutting the ribbon children eagerly undertook the nature trail and were awarded with prizes donated from the Fields in Trust organisation.
“Volunteers continued to move logs and clear scrub, tea and cakes were served by youth club members, and wildflower seeds scattered and stamped in.”
