Park’s funding boost towards wildlife habitat

The Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland were among 12 community groups across England selected to share funding of £75,000 from the Yorkshire Bank Spirit of the Community Awards.

Elaine Smith, chairman of Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland, said: “We are so excited to be one of the Spirit of the Community Awards winners.

“The funding will enable us to get to work on creating Busy Bee Meadows – a stunning, giant bee-shaped wildflower experience in the heart of Blackpool’s largest park and the very first of its kind on the Fylde coast.”

Coun Graham Cain, cabinet secretary for Blackpool Council, said: “Stanley Park is a fantastic space for the community to enjoy and we’re always looking at ways that we can improve it for everybody.

“It’s fantastic that our bid has been successful, which will see us create a brand new wildflower meadow in the park, which will foster new habitats for bees and butterflies.

“The meadow will be beneficial for both the local wildlife and the local communities, as schools and families will be offered opportunities to use the space to learn more about nature.”

Douglas Campbell, director of Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Foundation, described the scheme as an “extremely deserving winner”.