A housing developer has rooted itself in the community.
Castle Green Homes has shared almost £9,000 among good causes on the back of its Woodland Manor development, off Barn Road in Congleton, as part of its Mission Green initiative.
The voluntary scheme supports projects that look after the environment or residents’ well-being. Planting projects accounted for eight of the 18 grants awarded.
Congleton Sustainability Group member Patti Pinto is involved with a number of the projects supported by Mission Green including Trees for Congleton, Congleton Food for Free, Friends of the Community Garden and Friends of Congleton Park.
She said: “There’s lots being done throughout Congleton to help combat climate change and increase biodiversity.
“For example, 700 hedge plants were planted by local volunteers at Congleton War Memorial Hospital to form the perimeter hedge, helping to reduce air pollution.
“With the support of Mission Green, we’ve been able to buy plants to form the final hedgerow. Over at the community garden a border extension will replace a very muddy patch of grass in the shade of a lime tree. The plants have been chosen to thrive in these conditions and will also boost biodiversity within the garden as new species will be added.”
Originally, £5,000 was available to share under Mission Green but that budget was increased to almost £9,000 due to the volume of applications received.
The planting projects supported through the initiative include Bromley Farm Community Development Trust, which was allocated funding to enhance wildlife and biodiversity by installing bird and bat boxes, hedgehog houses and feeding stations.
Buglawton in Bloom’s ongoing work is being supported with funds to purchase plants, trees and bedding plants to enhance the local area.
Congleton Food For Free is using its share to install interpretation boards, encouraging people to grow edible plants and those that support pollinators.
Friends of Congleton Park was allocated a grant for wildflower seeds, herbaceous perennial plants, woodland plants and information signs.
