A donation of £94,341 from the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund has seen Welbeck Street Recreation Ground in Whitwell, Derbyshire, receive a complete overhaul after almost 30 years of use.
The support came following a consultation with Whitwell Parish Council and local residents, where it was identified that there was a clear need for a more suitable all-inclusive space catering for families, dog walkers and sports groups.
With the previous site needing a complete refit and still featuring equipment from three decades ago, the generous funding has enabled an extensive new play area and multi-use games zone to be built in its place.
The overall site now includes four areas; a broad range of play equipment split into two spaces for all ages and abilities, a multi-use games area designed to facilitate sports including football, tennis, basketball and cricket, as well as a fully enclosed dog exercise area.
Children aged as young as two now have a designated space to explore and learn whilst they play. The toddler specific play area has nine pieces of inclusive playground equipment constructed to provide a range of engaging and educational play opportunities for children of all abilities, under six years old.
A junior play space has been designed to encourage older children to explore the environment with natural features such as mounds, boulders, and trees to be incorporated to work alongside the fixed play items to add further interest.
Positioned away from the play spaces, a ‘Bark Park’ has also been introduced. Completely enclosed, the park provides dog owners with a safe place to exercise their dogs, along with bins available to dispose of dog waste – highlighted as a previous issue by residents in the area.
Dannika Bannon, Whitwell quarry manager at Tarmac, said: “It’s great to see the space that has now been created for the local community to enjoy and that the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund has helped to make it possible.
“Supporting projects like this and giving back to areas in which we operate is a key part of what we do. We hope Welbeck Street Recreation Ground is used by generations of Whitwell for years to come.”
Norma Woolley, clerk to Whitwell Parish Council, said: “As a site protected by Fields in Trust, it was really important to us that these four new areas had maximum play value without disturbing the natural setting they are in. We’re so pleased with the outcome and the community is delighted with the results – fab work from all involved.”
The Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund is just the latest in a number of trusts, corporate entities and other benefactors to have supported the project, some of which include Veolia and Viridor Credits.
Through the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund, Tarmac donates around £1 million each year to community projects UK wide. The fund is open to applicants who meet the criteria for projects delivering community benefit.
