MEDIA RELEASE
Issued: 16 July 2020

Shipley Eco-Action Group celebrates after receiving funding from the Severn Trent Community Fund

Local community group, Shipley Eco-Action Group (SEAG), is today celebrating after being awarded £6,243.00 from the Severn Trent Community Fund to support its Shipley Woodside Community Garden project at Hassock Lane South in Shipley, Derbyshire, close to Shipley Country Park.  The funds will be used to create a large wildlife pond, erect a barn structure, the purchase of a recycled plastic bench seat, tool shed and a solar powered submersible water pump and 4 IBC’s so that ground and rainwater can be collected.

SEAG has been running for just over a year and was founded by neighbours Bess Saunders and Kay and Graham Kearton after they realised they shared a passion for sustainable living, the environment and permaculture. SEAG soon had more members following a successful open day, at which the neighbours opened their homes and  focused on promoting community networks, recycling and re-thinking how we can lead sustainable lifestyles, the open day was supported by the Woodland Trust, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, organic producers Weleda and The British Lung Foundation.

SEAG acquired a 7.5 year rolling lease from Shipley Parish Council to work on the 1.5 acre disused field and established Shipley Woodside Community Garden in September 2019.  In less than a year SEAG members and volunteers have transformed the field into a beautiful and productive Community Garden.  The Garden is currently open to visitors and volunteers every Saturday 10 am-1 pm and every Wednesday 1 pm-4 pm.

The new funding from the Severn Trent Community Fund which awards grant money to improve the three elements of community wellbeing – people, places and environment, means that the addition of the large wildlife pond, will quickly attract wildlife, promote biodiversity and allow fun educational events such as pond dipping. The barn structure will provide valuable shelter especially during the colder and wetter days and also mean SEAG can press ahead with its plans of offering educational talks to the community on sustainable living practices and the value of nature, whilst also providing a safe space in a natural environment for people to come together.

Lynsey Beaumont, SEAG member says: “We’re delighted that the Severn Trent Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. We’re thankful to the Severn Trent Customer Panel for selecting us for funding so that we will be able to press on with our plans to develop the Community Garden.  The support from the community thus far has been fantastic and we are excited to be able to progress with the plans to add the wildlife pond and structure for the community to enjoy.”

Councillor Keith Stevenson and Chairman of Shipley Parish Council says this about the Community Garden: “It has to be amongst one of the best things that has ever happened in this area, and it has proven to be successful in attracting people, not only from the local area, but also from across the UK, as it has come to the attention of other similar groups that want to learn and share  similar experiences of organising this type of project.”

Find out more at www.seag.uk

Ends

For further information contact lynsey@seag.uk

Severn Trent is giving away £10 million over the next five years through its Community Fund to support local projects, charities and community groups in the Severn Trent region – helping to make a real and tangible difference to the wellbeing in our communities. The Community Fund is overseen by an independent panel, made up of Severn Trent customers, who review applications and make the final decisions on where the money will go.

The Severn Trent Community Fund looks to support projects that aim to improve community wellbeing, focusing on three elements:

• People: projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills

• Places: projects that help to create better places to live in and use

• Environment: projects that will help look after our natural environment, give people greater access to that environment or help look after water.

More can be found out on their website stwater.co.uk/communityfund