Lottery Funding

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In November 2024 Owlthorpe Fields Conservation Group were awarded £101k of funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.  With this, an ambitious 3 year project has been meticulously planned to enhance the local natural environment, already rich in biodiversity such that it is more welcoming, more functional for people of restricted mobility to use and will provide an educational perspective of both the built and natural heritage of the area.

 

The community orchard, the surrounding paths and stone walls are to be restored, and the adjacent hedgerows and woodlands managed.  Knowing how much the locals (and the wildlife) appreciate the apples from the orchard in the autumn we will be turning it into a welcoming space for local people and visitors to the area, with a central feature and interpretation boards of the history of the orchard and environs.

 

The orchard will be fenced, though with public access, and turned into a native wildflower meadow.  With the provision of a bench/benches it is anticipated that the orchard and surrounding area will offer a place of rest and solitude within the chaotic and hectic lifestyles we all lead nowadays.  As such, we hope that you, our community, will embrace the area and help to maintain it so we can continue to have a lovely nature abundant space on our doorstep for years to come.  

 

Work has already started on the orchard but will take some time to complete.  Check out our ‘Works on site’ page to watch the orchard progress over the next 3 years.

 

A series of events and workshops will be held over the next few years including walks, volunteering experiences, hedgelaying workshops, path creations, stonework, children's art/ environmental activities, family events and open days, bioblitz’s, macro photography workshop.  Keep your eye on our ‘events’ page for upcoming workshops/events. 

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