£126,600 raised to help green spaces grow

More than £126,600 is being shared among 21 green spaces, from local groups to school projects and garden hubs, thanks to the Society’s Community Champions scheme.

A donation was made through the scheme every time a member shopped in a Lincolnshire Co-op outlet using their dividend card in June, July and August. Proceeds from the carrier bag charge and staff fundraising also went into the pot.

Shoppers dug out spare change to buy special £1 wildflower seed packets in Lincolnshire Co-op food stores in July and August, which helped wildlife such as butterflies and bees while adding to the total.

Plus, a whopping £17,620 was added thanks to people who uncluttered their wardrobes and donated unwanted clothes using Salvation Army clothing banks at Lincolnshire Co-op stores.

The proceeds are split between the Salvation Army and Lincolnshire Co-op, and the Society’s share for the year went into the green spaces pot.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Community Engagement Manager Sam Turner said: “We’re delighted that together, our members and colleagues have raised such a brilliant amount to help these green space projects and groups.

“They support their local communities in so many ways, from the hubs which are passing on valuable gardening skills and new outdoor classroom areas at primary schools to the village play areas which are being created and essential maintenance for existing parks.

“The donations they’ve all received will go a long way and hopefully make a huge difference to the people in those areas - we can’t wait to see how each of them flourish and grow for future generations to enjoy.”

The groups which have received money are:

• £5,760 to Castle Wood Academy in Gainsborough for developing an environmental space for children and people in the community.
• £4,417 to Healey Road Wildlife and Education Centre, Scunthorpe to turn unused land into a pond-dipping area and sensory path with disabled access.
• £10,794 to Centre4 in Grimsby to create a horticultural area and games garden.
• £7,028 to the Woodland Workout team in Market Rasen to renew picnic benches and maintenance.
• £6,406 to Saxilby with Ingleby Parish Council to help create a new play park for the community.
• £6,322 to Green Synergy in Lincoln to help develop Hillside Community Garden.
• £5,243 to Fosse Way School Friends in Lincoln to help create an outside reading area and classroom.
• £7,426 to Hartsholme Country Park in Lincoln to enhance the sensory garden and invest in uniform for volunteers.
• £6,891 to Wellingore Parish Council to help fund the High Flight Memorial Park to commemorate John Gillespie Magee Jr.
• £8,087 to Burgh Angling Society and Community Nature Reserve to help create a water bore hole, a reception and classroom space, net dipping area and disabled facilities.
• £6,097 to Hubbard’s Hill Trust, Louth to put towards repairs after an increase in visitors and other work.
• £8,468 to Billinghay Community Group to help create a community garden with seating.
• £9,402 to Swaton Parish Council to buy equipment for a newly-developed play park.
• £6,291 to Boston Woods Trust to add a wooden trim trail to Grange Woods.
• £6,875 to Long Sutton Primary School to help create a wild learning zone and pathway for walks.
• £4,535 to Gosberton Community Action team to put towards upgrading and refurbishing the playing field and reinstate the summer fayre.
• £7,054 for 1st Foston Scouts and Conservation Group to install a water butt and guttering to support plant growing.
• £8,152 to Friends of Sconce and Devon Park, Newark to help add a sensory garden and play trail.
• The rest will be shared between Noddle Hill Nature Reserve in Hull, Raincliffe Wood in Scarborough and The Community Orchard in Hunstanton.

Members and colleagues kicked off all the support with the Big Co-op Clean in June.

Teams spent special volunteer days helping out at eight different green spaces with tasks such as weeding, clearing and path building and even a beach clean.