Great Aycliffe Town Council has entered into an agreement with the County Council to take on the day to day maintenance of over 33 hectares of County Council land around the parish.
These areas include Bluebell Wood, local Nature Reserves at Byerley Park and The Moor and woodland areas around the western and northern fringes of Cobbler’s Hall housing developments. Most of these areas are adjacent to the Great Aycliffe Way and in addition to environmental areas already owned and managed by the Town Council.
A detailed maintenance programme is in place, with work carried out by Town Council staff, with considerable assistance from volunteers and community groups, such as the Byerley Park Friends Group, plus the National Probation Service.
Local schools have been encouraged to use the areas and have been involved in tree planting, bulb planting, themed nature walks and the Town Council’s Town Pride Environment Week with further events planned for the general public.
In a forthcoming series of articles, the Town Council’s Environment Officer, Steve Cooper, will be focussing on the work carried out on individual sites and activities available. Steve can be contacted on 07779 090842 or via the Town Council on 01325 300700.
