Last Updated: Jul 18
Category: GBN Projects
An environmentally-friendly woodland walkway at the White Windows care home in Sowerby Bridge was opened to the public by the Mayor of Calderdale, Councillor Martin Peel on 19th May. The new path marks the end of the first phase of improvement work at the Heart project coordinated by GBN in conjunction with Halifax’s Pitstop Project and the Leonard Cheshire organisation in the grounds of the historic White Windows.
The woodland at White Windows had suffered from decades of anti-social behaviour and the uncontrolled spread of the invasive species, Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed. Litter was everywhere, trees and historic boundary walls had been destroyed, and no resident from White Windows had been into the woods in almost 50 years.
The Pitstop Project have helped to transform the woodland, using it as their base for conservation and outdoor skills training. Other work parties have also provided invaluable assistance at key times including volunteers from HBOS, provided as part of the “Calderdale Cares” initiative, who solved a drainage problem on the main track down into the woods.
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers have built the walkway using a unique recycled plastic groundblock product developed initially by the GBN’s Intruplas and now manufactured in Halifax by Lynwood Products of Hopwood Lane. The disability friendly finished path is low maintenance and will not rot.
The Mayor marked the occasion by presenting a specially commissioned plaque to one of White Windows’ first residents, Eric Thomas, who then enjoyed a trip around the woodland with Pitstop as a highlight of a weekend of 50th Anniversary celebrations.
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| The Mayor presents a specially commissioned plaque to one of White Windows' first residents, Eric Thomas |
The pathway is now open to all by following the green sign for the ‘Heart of the Woods’ walkway off Fore Lane. The project, which includes a fence to secure the secluded end of the woods, has been funded by Grantscape with £20,000 of landfill tax credits generated through Calderdale waste going to landfill.
