Heritage, biodiversity and water management.
Many of you will have seen the proposals to regrade the main path and add a pond on the Lady Lane side of the park. Included in the mix there will be a community engagement and a citizen science programs. All of this work is estimated to cost around £250,000. To get that amount of money takes a LOT of work. We have had to prove our credibility, viability of the project, sustainability of the group and a whole set of other “ity’s” I have forgotten!
A really important element of the proposed bid is to prove that the community want this project to be done. It’s all painstaking work but if you were the NLHF would you give that sort of money to just anyone?
All of these questions have needed answers, backed up with solid evidence, . Encouragingly, many people have recognised that we are definitely not “just anyone” with several important milestones for the project proving that point:
Recognition that the project is worth developing into a viable bid by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We are actively in discussions with our bid manager and indeed there will be a visit to the park by NLHF delegates very soon. These are the guys with the big money we neeed.
Development of plans and reports outlining how the work can be done and what the impact will be. This alone cost the Friends £6,000, obtained through grants from Bingley Town Council, Shipley Community Fund, Damart UK and private donations. All necessary to prove the project’s viability.
The project has been adopted by the “Unlocking Heritage” Program. this provides technical and financial help in developing the project and bid. We are one of only 10 projects in Bradford to be helped in this way. Proof that other groups think the Friends are capable of completing the project so ticking the credibility box.
Green and Blue stepping stones Program are also very interested in the project. This program aims to control water movements in urban areas, like the park, and increase biodiversity. It’s part of a nation-wide scheme backed by large amounts of funding. HWe are sure that having our project align with the goals of a national project ticks another “ity” box somewhere.
Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Bradford Technical Services have asked if we will partner with them to deliver the project. This is a massive boost to the Friends, demonstrates that the Project is viable, deliverable and valued. We can’t do the project unless the landowner agrees, which they do! AND they want to help. These tick the INCREDIBLE box.
To date the work has taken over two years and many, many hours of work from the project team, Bradford Technical Services, our supporting programs, Bradford Councillors, Bingley Town Councillors, our MP and of course all of our volunteers. But there is more work to do! We have an incredible team helping to deliver this project and we have amazing support but most importantly we have support from the local community.
The wind is set fair; storms will come and go but we think we can see the journey’s end in sight. When might we land? Possibly mid next year.
What if NLHF say “no”? To quote a volunteer “No is just temporary”. Wish us luck!
