*update: PLATFORM APPROVAL BY COUNCIL! If you’d like to donate towards the cost of it to go along with the sponsors donation please do.<br /><br /><br /><br />Since this fundraiser was started we’ve sadly lost the new baby cygnet due to what seems a freak accident as it was sadly stepped on by its devoted mother and it hasn’t survived. It seems the whole community is deeply saddened by this, we will miss seeing it grow and care very much about the parents and their loss. Onwards and upwards and looking forwards to embracing this swan family if they choose to stay and making something to benefit them and the other wildlife. Hello all! It is quite obvious we are a community of animal lovers and Im sure aside from a few ignorant people and negatives in the area, we can all be proud we are part of this community. Wildlife is everyone’s and we should do our utmost to embrace it! Nature is the best free medicine available to all. Being around nature and wildlife releases endorphins and serotonin! These are proven to improve physical and mental health, encouraging us to get outdoors, exercise and spend time with our loved ones. I think many of us have a new found respect for our wildlife and parks and the positives they have brought us all during covid. So with this in mind, let’s do something to make our park even more wildlife friendly! The new breeding pair of swans has brought a community closer together over the past few months. Their precious eggs and signet, signifying new beginnings as lockdown eases! We all want to protect them and the ducks by giving them a safe area they can rest. It will enhance their surroundings, improve the aesthetics of the lake whilst allowing the lake to be optimally used by all safely and respectfully. If we all pull together in this group, a mere pound each can make a great difference and go towards creating a nesting raft. Albeit we’ve missed the nest period for this year, the raft can still be used by the signets, parents and the ducks as a safe area to rest whilst getting it established to (hopefully) be used next year. A potential nesting house on the raft will also provide some protection in the winter months from any adverse weather conditions.A bit about me. I’m a professional licensed ecologist who strives to follow and adhere to wildlife guidelines and enhance wildlife where I can. Due to having to work away this year, I’m not available as much as I’d like for litter picking, etc so I have  just donated a fair amount of bat boxes and bird boxes as my contribution to the park this summer. I also devote a lot of my time to helping the local wildlife particularly with the hedgehogs that are in rapid decline. I recently raised the money for a much needed ultrasound scanner for the rescue. I’m not saying all this for gratitude for my donations or commended for my volunteering, I am merely mentioning it to emphasise we can all contribute in some way, whether it’s money, making something or simply our time. Also due to this being part of my profession as well as a passion, I hope my contributions to wildlife in our community emphasises you can trust me in raising this money and knowing where it will go. I am working closely with some wonderful members of the committee and the community who are willing to help make this happen. Any money raised over the target (which I’m literally just rough estimating?!) will not be wasted. It will be used for further enhancements in the park or, for example, any maintenance/adjustments needed of the raft. Obviously you will be notified and made aware of this and your opinion will be sought if needed. It would be an idea to also maybe start a monthly donation standing order to the park from our members. Although it could be argued the council should be paying for enhancements etc, there are only so many enhancements we can obtain from the council funds and we know right now times are tough. With our own money we can build up a little.... pardon the pun..... “nest egg” pot and routinely enhance and maintain things in the park throughout the year that will be seen as “luxury” extra assets to our park. Let me know your thoughts on this and I’m sure we can get the committee bank account to sort this.Thanks for reading! I will keep you all updated!

Anonymous

Anthony McKie

Natalie Davison

Miss T Bell

Leighanne edminson

Janice Corner

Sharon Donkin

Beryl Close

Laura Mackay

Caroline Noble

Karen Davison

Elizabeth Darbyshire

Deborah Nicholson

Sheila Watson

Rachel Groves

Julie Nicklin

Build a platform, create a safe haven for wildlife

Just £685£ to go! Make an impact.

Build a platform, create a safe haven for wildlife

Just £685 to go!
Make an impact.