Winthorpe Estate Residents' Group updates proposal for Gilstrap Charity Children’s Wood and Wildlife Meadow on former Cedar Avenue playing fields, off Lincoln Road, Newark
A residents’ group has updated its proposal to develop a children’s wood and wildlife meadow on an open space in Newark.
Winthorpe Estate Residents’ Group has added accessible picnic benches and play equipment to its plans for the meadow on the former Cedar Avenue playing fields, off Lincoln Road.
In doing so, the group said the proposal would be inclusive of all children and their families who would also be able to access the open space at any time, day or night.
The resident plans come after an application to build a housing development on the site was scrapped last year.
Nottingham Community Housing Association withdrew plans to build homes on the site after they were met with criticism from residents who wanted it to remain as open space.
Winthorpe Estate Residents’ Group said, with minimal financial support, the area could be a place where everyone could come together without the financial pressure of pay to play.
“We would approach local businesses to sponsor picnic benches and resin bonded paths,” it said.
“The district council could provide the solar lighting as previously supplied on Fleming Drive park.”
It added it would approach wildlife charities like the Woodland Trust and Tree Appeal to provide free trees and planting.
The area would be named The Gilstrap Charity Children’s Wood and Wildlife Meadow because the land has been owned by The Gilstrap Trust since the 1800s.
However, the group said the trust would need to protect the land through a Deed of Dedication with Fields in Trust — a legally binding document meaning the meadow would be protected for future generations.
It said: “If successful, our alternate proposal will be the only park in Newark and Sherwood that will have accessible play equipment.
“We cannot find any other examples where families can play on multiple pieces of equipment together regardless of physical ability.
“If we obtain the landowner’s permission we can then start the hard work of chasing funds, charitable donations and Government grants.”
The group said the long-term project would not happen overnight, but would benefit the whole of Newark when built.
“Help put nature back into childhood because all our lives are better when they are a bit wild,” it said. “Children’s contact with the natural world is in decline.”
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