Investment bears fruit for beauty spot
DONATION WILL HELP COLNE VALLEY TO WELCOME MORE VISITORS
A LOCAL beauty spot has been revitalised thanks to a donation from Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP), with the site able to welcome more visitors than ever.
The centre of the Colne Valley Regional Park, which sits on the edge of Uxbridge, has enjoyed significant investment after the Colne Valley Park Trust received a £10,000 donation from CCEP in 2019. The funds have been used to support the upkeep of woodland areas in the park, helping to protect habitats for a host of wildlife including butterflies and insects, as well as plants and flowers such as bluebells.
The group has also repaired footpaths around the park to prevent erosion and ensure they are in the best possible condition for walkers to enjoy the natural beauty of the park. This has come to the fore during lockdown, as more visitors than ever have been visiting Colne Valley for exercise while restrictions have been in place.
Colne Valley Park Trust has also been able to provide online training for its team of 90 river rangers to educate them on river monitoring, ecology and biodiversity, to ensure the preservation of native species and remove non-native pests.
Rangers have also received T-shirts to help visitors clearly identify them and easily report any issues or damage.
The donation was provided as part of CCEP’s Support My Cause initiative, which sees colleagues choose charities close to their heart to receive funding.
It forms part of a long-term relationship between CCEP and Colne Valley Park Trust, which has seen the business initiate litter picks around the park and engage with local volunteers.
Debbie Valman, trustee at Colne Valley Park Trust, said: “More people than ever have been enjoying walks in Colne Valley and we want to make sure that the park remains a beautiful place for people to visit, as well as protect the biodiversity which is under constant threat.
“This type of funding is more important than ever, particularly since the outbreak of the pandemic where the outdoors has played such a fundamental part to our health and wellbeing.
“The donation we’ve received has been a huge boost at a time when we’ve really been working to engage more people and raise awareness of the area too.
“Coca-Cola European Partners has supported us for a number of years, taking part in litter picks around the park and helping to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the local paths and nature spots.
“We’re incredibly grateful for their support and looking forward to continuing our partnership with them.”
Holly Firmin, senior community partnerships manager at Coca-Cola European Partners GB, said: “People’s appreciation of outdoor spaces and the natural world has really increased during lockdown and Colne Valley has provided a welcome escape for many.
“Colne Valley Park Trust is a cause that is very close to our colleagues’ hearts and we’re very pleased to be able to provide this donation. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with them and will look for more ways we can support them and other community groups in Uxbridge in the future.”