We have now submitted funding bids to Heritage and Big Lottery funds for 3 new projects in the Churnet Valley. If these are successful we will be able to deliver:
1. A 2-year youth project working with young people from Leek College.
Groups of young people will have the opportunity to discover, explore and help to conserve a range of local countryside sites. They will find out what it takes to look after local nature reserves and the wildlife that benefit from them, as well as learning new skills themselves. During each year they will share what they’ve been doing using a variety of methods including social media and video clips.
2. The Plateways project
The long awaited project based on the early railway lines between Froghall Wharf and Cauldon Lowe quarry. This bid is for the development of the project to include surveys of the existing built heritage such as lime kilns, bridges and tunnel and drawing up a plan to enhance the natural heritage surrounding the lines. All the information gathered during this development phase will be used to write the next funding bid for full delivery of the project.
3. Skills Builder
This 18 month pilot project will give groups of supervised probationers the opportunity to work on a range of local countryside sites. They will gain qualifications in transferrable skills such as health & safety awareness and working in a team which will help them to access future employment opportunities. Countryside sites in the Valley will benefit from the land management work completed by these groups.