The Council’s Making Space for Nature (MS4N) project working with residents to improve 24 spaces in seven Cornish towns has been shortlisted for a major national award.
Making Space for Nature works with local communities to create havens for wildlife, planting wildflower meadows, providing pollen, nectar and shelter for butterflies and bees, and new hedges and trees to provide homes for hedgehogs and other wildlife.
The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management has shortlisted Making Space for Nature for its prestigious CIEEM Best Practice – Large-Scale Nature Conservation Award.
Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for environment and climate change said: “The Council declared an ecological emergency last year in a bid to tackle the decline of wildlife and nature.”
“That declaration works alongside our plan to help Cornwall become carbon neutral by 2030, ensuring that the recovery of nature is prioritised alongside efforts to reduce impact on the climate.”
“Projects like Making Space for Nature are an important part in delivering on that plan.”
Castle Park, an MS4N project in Liskeard has already been recognised with a Building with Nature Award as ‘a national exemplar in the design, delivery and maintenance of high-quality green infrastructure for the benefit of people and wildlife, now and long into the future’.
Cllr Alvey added: “It is great that the MS4N project for the Castle Park site in Liskeard has already been recognised and that the project as a whole is now shortlisted for such a prestigious award. We need to provide homes for our bugs, birds and other wild creatures and these awards recognise the efforts that have been made to reverse the decline of pollinators in urban areas. They also encourage us all to appreciate the value of creating corridors of wildlife-friendly planting.”
“We want to ensure we take people with us. If you live close to any of these spaces, please do get involved. You can just drop in to one of our gardening groups, share your skills, learn new ones, and meet others in your community who share your interest in making your area better. There’s a programme of monthly drop in gardening events at selected parks. Details of all the sessions can be found on the Let's Talk Cornwall website
University of Exeter’s Impact Fellow, Dr Ros Shaw said: “It’s important for long term success that local people get involved. Not only do the projects seek to improve access for people to appreciate the spaces and to contribute to them, there are also mental health and community building benefits to be had.”
These are the MS4N towns
- Bodmin
- Falmouth
- Launceston
- Liskeard
- Newquay
- Penryn
- St Austell
Making Space for Nature can be the start of creating bigger, better and more joined up wildlife corridors if local people can do the same in their own gardens and nearby green spaces.
The official name of Making Space for Nature is Green Infrastructure for Growth 2 which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund with Cornwall Council and University of Exeter providing match funding.
Story posted 22 April 2022
