Friends of Ladybrook Valley
Breathing Places Award for Happy Valley
By NORM
Dec 13, 2007, 20:28

2008 has been a very succesful year for Happy Valley.The Friends of Ladybrook Valley obtained a BBC "Breathing Places" grant from the "Big Lottery Fund" for £9996, one of 593 grants awarded nationwide.

The money has been used to put in a new path along the river from the stepping stones to the end of the valley. The new path of recycled crushed stone will give year round access in all weathers and replaces the old rutted,very muddy track.

We have begun restoring the habitat along the paths, planting new hedges and also hazel and dogwood along the river bank. We are very grateful to the large number of local people who turned out in November to help us plant the new hedges In spring & autumn 2008 we will be planting native woodland bulbs and more hedging.

By the end of May 2008 there will be new seating at strategic intervals along all the paths in the valley; as well as new notice boards at each entrance. 

A grant from the Local Network Fund has enabled us to involve young people from The Mill youth group and from Neville Road Junior School in workshops to help design two of the benches.One of these benches has now been installed.

Grants fom the local Area Committee and the Brittania Building Society have enabled us to purchase a total of 4 wooden benches.