Dedicated volunteers are set to rebuild a popular boardwalk in a Sutton beauty spot - thanks to a grant from Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust (SCCT).
The Friends of New Hall Valley Country Park will be working alongside Park Rangers to restore the boardwalk task to a grant from SCCT.
In April, the Friends of New Hall Valley Country Park will be working alongside Park Rangers to restore the boardwalk, after being given £26,200 funding by SCCT.
The volunteer group, which boasts almost 800 followers, organise monthly get-togethers where they roll up their sleeves, grab some tools and get stuck in to help keep the Country Park in the best possible condition.
In February they were busy planting 950 hawthorn ‘whips’, which will eventually grow into a hedge to replace a decaying fence.
However, in April a major project will see the damaged boardwalk transformed, helping establish an accessible walking route for residents.
Mark Sargent, Chair of the Friends, explained: “People have stopped using the boardwalk as it is, because it’s in a dangerous condition, which is a real shame. However, when we’re finished, it’s hoped the work will not only restore the boardwalk but also complete the path up to New Hall Drive, so it will form part of a circular walk.
“There would then be three circular walks around the valley of different lengths which would all have a hard surface, so people with wheelchairs and pushchairs can use them.”
The reconstruction of the boardwalk will also help maintain biodiversity, while providing a safe way for the public to interact with local habitats.
Mark added that, without the grant from the SCCT, the work would not be possible.
He said: “The grant will allow us to use recycled plastic boards for the boardwalk, which is a material that will last 25 years minimum.
“If it wasn’t for the money from the Charitable Trust, we would be using timber, which would be less durable. It makes a big difference.”
Matthew Barker, a Sutton Park Ranger working alongside the Friends, said: “The boardwalk passes over a reed bed, a fantastic habitat for all sorts of creatures. It’s an important way to protect the habitat and show people what they wouldn’t normally see.”
'Construction will begin in early April, with the Friends hoping that the works will be complete within a fortnight.'
SCCT Chief Executive Tina Swani said: “One of the Trust’s core aims is the advancement of environmental protection and improvement, and we are lucky in Sutton to have so many beautiful open, green spaces that improve the quality of life of residents.
“Passionate voluntary groups like the Friends of New Hall Valley illustrate just how much people cherish these parks and open spaces, and the Trust is always delighted when it can make a grant to back a worthwhile project that supports their efforts.
“The replacement of the boardwalk is a perfect example of this – it’s something that so many local people will get enjoyment out of.”
