Member Article

Nature reserve transformed thanks to Tesco

Northumberland Wildlife Trust has completed its new Natural Play area on its Hauxley nature reserve – which was funded by its successful £12,000 grant from Tesco’s Bags of Help campaign.

The supermarket teamed up with Groundwork to launch its Bags of Help initiative, which saw grants of £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to environmental and greenspace projects.

Eight million shoppers voted in stores up and down the country.

Earlier this year, shoppers at Tesco in Amble voted for the new play area on the wildlife charity’s Hauxley nature reserve which is currently undergoing a transformation which includes access improvements, habitat improvements and the jewel in the crown - the new volunteer built Wildlife Discovery Centre. It is envisaged that the reserve will become a unique wildlife-watching facility for everybody.

As part of the vision, the wildlife charity hopes to attract children under the age of 12 to the site and so was delighted to receive the £12,000 via the Bags of Help campaign which has enabled it to create an amenity that would appeal specifically to that age range.

Over a number of weeks, a specialist playground company visited the site and installed the wonderful play area which includes two large oak climbing pieces, a tunnel made from reclaimed sleepers, a pull up rope to help children scramble along the rope and wood balance beams and a wildlife den.

The equipment has been well and truly tested thanks to young jounalist group ‘Artograffi’ the talented creators of the young people’s section of The Ambler Community Newspaper which is generated by Amble Developments Trust.

Alex Lister, Living Landscape Manager for Druridge Bay who oversaw the installation of the play equipment said: “It is wonderful that the Tesco shoppers of Amble got behind supporting our community project.

“When the reserve officially opens next spring, I would love to welcome all those shoppers to the site and show them what their vote has helped us provide for the local community.”

Caroline Silke, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “It is wonderful to see how the money from our Bags of Help initiative has been spent.

“This is money that has come directly from Tesco customers living and shopping in each of our regions up and down the country and the feedback for the project has been brilliant.

“Applications for the next round of the initiative will open from 18 April to 3 June and we look forward to helping a further round of groups and projects bag their share of the bag charge fund.”

Voting ran in store last year, with customers choosing which group they’d like to get the top award using a token given to them at the check-out in store.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Bishop .