Caldershaw Green needs your vote

Photo: Anthony Taylor

Caldershaw Green

Dustie Hickey, the lady behind the transformation of Caldershaw Green, needs the help of the general public so she can win a grant to take her transformation further.

Dustie wants to continue her transformation of the green to enable children to play safely on the land, as well as giving adults the chance to spend time outdoors in a nice and established area.

Speaking about her plans, Dustie said: “We want to make a discovery nature and wildlife project to improve and make the land accessible, with a diverse ecosystem that has sadly become unloved and overgrown. By moving forward with these plans the local schools, the elderly residents and local businesses would benefit from the positive aspects that moments spent in nature can bring.”

Dustie took on the project around two years ago and has been championing the project ever since.

“We got our first grant for the project in March 2014 and got the attention of local ranger Richard Whittle and we were able to fix up the paths and clear things up a little, but sadly it became over grown again and the volunteers started to drop off. I then saw a boy on his bike who had got stung by some nettles and I just thought enough is enough,” said Dustie.

Dustie is now hoping to secure a grant of £25,000 to improve the land even further by clearing away the over grown sites, developing pathways and installing children’s play equipment.

She added: “This could be a great place for children to come and play safely and play outdoors. I know when I was younger I used to love playing outside, building dens and playing in the stream and children today just don’t have that anymore.”

Dustie is now asking for members of the community to vote for her project to help her secure the grant.

Dustie added: “We really need the votes because we are falling behind other projects. If people were to vote it would really help develop a place that can bring the communities and the environment together.”

To vote for the Caldershaw Green project, visit:

https://foundation.onefamily.com/projects/caldershaw-green/