RESIDENTS of Ridgegrove in Launceston took to the estate for a litter pick recently, as part of the community engagement of the ‘Making Space for Nature’ project.

The green spaces within Ridgegrove have been selected, as part of a group of Cornwall Council owned land in and around Launceston, for the next stream of funding for improvement.

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston Central, Gemma Massey, who took part in the litter pick with her daughter, Evie, said: “It is great to see residents come out and make a difference to their local community again today. The weather hasn’t been on our side, but we still collected over eight bags of rubbish.”

A special workshop was organised to give members of the public the opportunity to help transform community green spaces in a distinct site in Launceston.

Experts from the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus hosted the public workshop, to collate inspiration and ideas from local residents for revamping the green spaces around the Ridgegrove housing estate. Local residents were invited to give their thoughts and help shape these plans at the workshop on February 29.

The project, which is part of the ‘Growing Communities Through Nature’ scheme, will also include the creation of a new green space on Ridgegrove Lane.

The workshop will give local community members the opportunity to participate in discussions around how to build, grow and maintain the new spaces.

Professor Jane Wills, project lead from the University of Exeter, said: “We hope to get as many people from Launceston and surrounding areas to come along to the workshop and share their ideas on what they would like their green spaces to look like. For example, people might want to grow edible plants, create wildlife habitats, plant orchards or build accessible seating.”

Growing Communities Through Nature is a partnership between the University of Exeter, Cornwall Council, South Kerrier Alliance Community Interest Company and Cornwall’s Voluntary Sector Forum.

The project will test if working with established voluntary organisations and self-organised community groups leads to different levels of interest in the sites.

As well as Launceston, the project will also focus on sites in Coronation Park in Helston and a space in Newquay.

The schemes are intended to ‘enable members of the public to actively contribute to research and innovation projects that affect their lives’.

Cornwall Council and the University of Exeter are already working together on the ambitious Making Space for Nature project, which turns neglected open spaces into places for people and wildlife.

Growing Communities through Nature will complement the work being done on community engagement within this project. This work has revealed an opportunity for co-creating and co-monitoring the activity with the local community.

To find out more, email Melissa Muir [email protected]