Page 4 - Managing Partner Awards Shortlist

and the pit has been capped with the surrounding clay and had formed a bund. The area is
still Harris fenced by this will be replaced shortly with sweet chestnut cleft fencing to match

the whole lake. The actual bund will be either wildflower seeded or green hay depending on
SSSI restrictions.
The lakes island’s reeds are re-growing with ducks breeding in on the island and a first for

the sight this year a Cettis Warbler a reed bed specialist singing from lake.

St Michael’s Hurst
At St Michael’s Hurst, as well as supporting the people in our new communities, a key part of
our stewardship is to also see how we can enhance the biodiversity on site and boost local

populations. Recently this year at Bat Willow Country Park, attached to St Michael’s Hurst,
we have seen a number of hibernaculums installed to assist with the local population of

common lizards, some of which were translocated from the construction areas. We have
also allowed areas to grow wild including areas of bramble to protect songbirds and allowing
areas containing species such as teasel to self-seed providing much needed food. Bat

Willow also contains large areas of wildflower meadows which are managed on an annual
cut as well as clear paths being provided so the locals can still explore without causing too
much disturbance.

Nominations for Health Site of the Year

Monkton
Every week Groundwork run a Green Gym session at Monkton Woodland, to encourage

people within the community to be outdoors and be more active in order to improve both
their physical and mental health. Over the past year over 70 individuals have taken part in
these beneficial activities. Volunteers are asked to fill in a mental and physical health

questionnaires and the results were extremely positive. For a second year running, 100% of
the volunteers who attend the Green Gym sessions said that they feel happier and confident

since engaging in the sessions and green space.
Groundwork have held several community outdoor planting events to get those who do not
attend the usual sessions outdoors and active in the woodland. They have planted 100s of
spring flowering bulbs and seeds in the woodland and wildflower seeds around the site.

Countess of Chester Country Park

Countess of Chester Country Park has an abundance of activities for the community to get
involved in.