Durlston Country Park in Swanage held a celebration event today (Thursday 13 June) to say thank you to its sponsors, supporters and volunteers.
The Dorset Council owned park won support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund in July 2018 to restore and enhance its lost Victorian landscape to benefit local people and wildlife.
£900,000 was awarded to the park thanks to the National Lottery and other partners to enable the park to embark on a programme of work known as the ‘Durlston Pleasure Grounds’ project. The project is one year into its three-year programme of work.
As part of the day of celebration, Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment officially opened the ‘Everyone needs a shed’ project. The Shed will provide opportunities for gentle, sociable volunteering, such as gardening, green woodworking and DIY. It will also help provide training for young people, as well as the chance for people with dementia and learning disabilities to volunteer and socialise.
Cllr Bryan said: “Our green assets including our country parks, rights of way and nature reserves present a wonderful opportunity to improve the well-being of our communities, and the Durlston Pleasure Grounds Project is an excellent example of this.
“The Shed has already provided new opportunities for people with dementia, disabilities, health conditions or who are socially isolated to volunteer and to build on the inclusive culture of volunteering.”
There are many ways to volunteer or get involved at Durlston, if this is something you would like to know more about contact the rangers on 01929 424443 or visit www.durlston.co.uk
