logo
Pierrepont Farm accessibility improved thanks to funding

Pierrepont Farm accessibility improved thanks to funding

BBC News30-04-2025
New accessibility improvements at a Surrey farm have been completed thanks to nearly £60,000 of funding.The improvements at Pierrepont Farm near Frensham are being launched on Wednesday following a project by the site's owners, the Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT).The work, which began in January, included making a historic carriage track an accessible pathway to a picnic area, installing interpretative signs including braille, disabled parking and improvements to toilets.Helena Darragh, head of conservation at CRT, said: "Opening up Pierrepont Farm to more people has always been our goal, and this new path ensures more people have the opportunity to experience it."
The project, which received money from Surrey Hills National Landscape's Access for All Fund and a legacy donation, was developed in collaboration with partners including the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.Suzân Lewis-Jones, who is a coalition member and set to cut the ribbon, said: "The changes mean it will make it much easier for so many people, including me, to visit and benefit from everything that the countryside has to offer."When accessibility for all those with impairments, whether mobility or sensory, is addressed such as here, it means true inclusivity and a greater enjoyment of all that nature has in abundance."The Surrey Hills Access for All Fund, provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, supports initiatives that improve access to natural spaces.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Frensham farm aims to create 'pollinator paradise' for insects
Frensham farm aims to create 'pollinator paradise' for insects

BBC News

time12-07-2025

  • BBC News

Frensham farm aims to create 'pollinator paradise' for insects

A countryside charity has said it wants to create a "pollinator paradise" for bees, butterflies and other insects as part of a project to transform overgrown land at a Surrey Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT) said it wanted to use Pierrepont Farm, in Frensham, as a site to grow wildflowers and build insect nesting project is aiming to protect pollinators in the local ecosystem, with many species in decline Hackett, volunteer manager for the CRT, said the work would ensure a "continuous supply of nectar and pollen from early spring to late autumn". She added: "While bees are often the first pollinators to come to mind, many other insects are equally vital. "We anticipate welcoming diverse species of bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths, various wasps, beetles, and other flies to our pollinator paradise." 'Everyone's problem' Roughly a third of insect species are either extinct or in decline, according to the Surrey Wildlife Bumblebee Conservation Trust also said that 2024 was the worst year on record for bumblebees in the UK, with population figures 22.5% lower than the average for said the issue was "everyone's problem" as the insects were "key pollinators of affordable fruit and vegetables for all". Work at Pierrepont Farm would begin in the winter or early spring, involving clearing the overgrown scrubland and replanting wildflower seeds.A CRT spokesperson said the farm, located on sandy and acidic soil, would be able to provide food for adult and caterpillar insects with the right mix of site would also incorporate areas for ground-nesting bees and host plants for butterflies, moths and CRT is aiming to raise £5,000 to support the project.

The club that brings together teens, pensioners and refugees to meet and mix
The club that brings together teens, pensioners and refugees to meet and mix

Wales Online

time05-07-2025

  • Wales Online

The club that brings together teens, pensioners and refugees to meet and mix

The club that brings together teens, pensioners and refugees to meet and mix Grangetown Boys and Girls Club is getting everyone involved in shared projects The club helps many who face the effects of poverty, isolation, and social change (Image: Rahaf Ali ) At at time when youth services has seen steep cuts, one of Cardiff's few remaining open-access youth centres is working to reconnect communities across generations and cultures. Grangetown Boys and Girls Club offers a range of programmes not only for young children and teenagers but also groups of all ages, many of whom face the effects of poverty, isolation, and social change. 'We're unique in that respect,' said Mathew Salley, development manager at the club. 'Youth provision has been reduced by around 70% across Cardiff due to austerity and the cost-of-living crisis. But we're still here, open to everyone, led by the community.' ‌ Mathew, who has worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years, says the club now operates on an intergenerational model that brings together pensioners, young people, and newer migrant communities. ‌ Projects set up by the club range from sports and cooking sessions to gardening, outdoor activities, and volunteer work. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here 'We have a Tuesday group called Made with Love, which is for older residents. On Fridays, we run a session called Cartref, which is the Welsh word for home and is designed to bring together asylum seekers, refugees, and residents,' he said. 'It's not about separating people into groups; it's about getting everyone involved in shared projects.' Mathew stresses the importance of those who are new to the UK in integrating with the community. 'With the political situation at the moment, there's a lot of resentment, it's really important for the guys that I work with to be part of the community straight away', he says. He explains the projects the Grangetown Youth Club provides for refugees and asylum seekers. Article continues below He describes the projects as 'we are not sitting around all day drinking tea we're out in the community, for example we do river cleans with whitewater centre in Cardiff, we helped when storm Darragh flooded the valleys, we get voluntary work right across the border, its important for our people to be involved with the wide community because it helps with improving English and understanding the culture', he reiterates. Recent work with construction firm Wates has helped renovate the centre, including garden clearance, plans for a new kitchen, and improved heating and windows. 'We don't have much funding, so when Wates came in and tidied the place up, it was huge for us,' Mathew explained. ‌ 'They even brought volunteers to help clean the garden, which is important because we grow our food and run environmental sessions in the garden.' But for Mathew, the renovations are part of something bigger: rebuilding the kind of community cohesion he remembers growing up in Grangetown and the Cardiff docks. 'I grew up on Alice Street,' he recalled. 'My father was Muslim, my mother Christian. We celebrated Eid and Christmas, and it was all just community. Everyone came together.' ‌ The club's approach challenges the modern form of community support, where services for different age groups often don't overlap. 'We want to go back to a simpler approach, just people coming together, through storytelling or just being in the company, so we even do activities where younger people will cook with older people, giving the opportunity to talk about things and to learn. It's about creating a sense of belonging again,' Mathew said. As Grangetown continues to change, with new housing developments and more residents moving in from across the UK, Salley believes it's crucial that new and existing communities meet and mix, rather than remain divided by culture or class. ‌ 'There's a strong Welsh-speaking community here, but they're not always involved in projects like this,' he said. 'We want to change that, to bring everyone in, so that when decisions are made, it's done as a collective voice.' Despite limited public funding, the club is backed by the National Lottery's People's Trust and has secured new partnerships that may open employment pathways for residents. As Mathew puts it, the centre is 'small in size but big in purpose.' 'It's not just about helping young people,' he added. 'It's about helping Grangetown remember what it means to be one community.' Article continues below

Emergency alert to be sent to every UK mobile phone
Emergency alert to be sent to every UK mobile phone

Wales Online

time27-06-2025

  • Wales Online

Emergency alert to be sent to every UK mobile phone

Emergency alert to be sent to every UK mobile phone There will be a 10-second siren and a warning message People got the first messages in 2023 The Government is to send an emergency alert to revert mobile phone in the UK, with a message taking over the screen and a loud siren sounding for 10 seconds. The alarm will come from a system that was launched in 2023 to alert people across the country to immediate threats. According to the Sun, this will be a nationwide test of the system - designed to tell people if they are at risk of everything from extreme weather to disease and war. The message will read: "Severe Alert. This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. ‌ "In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.", reports the Express. ‌ An Emergency Alert from the UK government During the 2023 test, people reported the alarm being loud' and frightening. The test signal will be sent later this year on a date to be set, and will be tested every two years to make sure it is still working. Article continues below A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "This system is not designed to cause panic, but to ensure people are aware of imminent threats and can act test is part of building national resilience and saving lives in future crises." The system has already been used in real-world situations. Earlier this year four million people got an alert ahead of Storm Eowyn smashing into the UK. Three million were sent a message ahead of Storm Darragh in 2024. Roger Hargreaves, director of the Cobra emergencies committee unit at the Cabinet Office, told MPs in 2023: 'It is international standard practice to do regular test messages. I think there is a case for doing it every two years, but we haven't got a ministerial decision on that. Every two years is what we would probably advise ministers but we're yet to get a view on that.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store