NEWSROOM

New pond dipping activities are now available at a pool in the award-winning Telford Town Park – surrounded by spruced up benches, bins, and fences thanks to the work of volunteers.

Families can now walk onto the block paved platforms on the Withy Pool, just behind the information centre, and open dipping windows within the fencing to lower nets into the pool.

The new feature has been opened after volunteers at The Friends of Telford Town Park (FOTTP) removed weeds, sealed gaps between the block paving on the platforms, repainted the railings around the pool, repainted the bins and sanded and also treated the wooden benches in the area.

The project to revamp this area was originally funded by Telford & Wrekin Council, Landfill Community Fund and Potter Group and the FOTTP have added the finishing touches.

Adrian Smith, Chairman of the Friends, said: “This work has been carried out by our volunteers over several months, and we are so pleased with how fresh the area is looking. Alongside the council, we wanted to ensure the Withy Pool project was accessible to the public.

“We believe it is the first time the benches have been treated since they were installed and it is just one way, we are proud to serve the park, which really is a wonderful jewel in Telford’s crown.

“As well as our members, we had volunteers from local companies like Fujitsu, Lyreco, Simmonds Transport and from HMRC who have really helped with this project. We value their support and would not have been able to get this project finished and improve the experience for visitors without them.”

Councillor Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability added: “It’s fantastic to see the continued dedication of the Friends and the real difference their work makes to one of our Borough’s most loved green spaces.

“The council is delighted to support the improvements around Withy Pool that not only enhance the look and feel of this area but, importantly, make it much more accessible for families and visitors to enjoy.”

There are two platforms on the Withy Pool which are now accessible for visitors and FOTTP want to raise funds to bring a third platform into use. Returnable pond dipping kits are available free of charge from the Visitor Centre.

This is just one of several projects the Friends have undertaken, others include a forest school area by the Grange Pool, replacing the Crannog bridge and habitat work to encourage basking lizards and snakes in the local nature reserve.

The group is also investigating ways to raise money to replace the wooden walkway in the Japanese Garden in the Maxell Gardens and has almost completed a revamp of the sensory garden in the Chelsea Gardens.

There are 25 members of FOTTP, and gardening sessions are held each week on a Wednesday morning and once a month on a Saturday morning. They welcome volunteers from local businesses to join them as part of employee wellbeing or volunteering schemes.

To keep up to date with their work follow their Facebook page, Instagram page or visit their website www.friendsoftelfordtownpark.org.

You can also support them by signing up to the TWINCL lottery to help raise money for the work they do. Anyone can do this by visiting www.twincl.co.uk and choosing FOTTP as the cause to support.