We have contributed £5,000 towards East Devon District Council’s environmental project Routes for Roots, in the Clyst Valley Regional Park, which is also funded by the National Lottery Heritage fund (NLHF).
The Regional Park is a new breathing space to connect the growing communities of Exeter and East Devon by ensuring there is space for people to connect with nature, opportunities for conserving natural habitats, and supporting business.
Centred on the River Clyst, it stretches from Ashclyst Forest in the north to Topsham on the Exe estuary.
The Park is half the size of Exeter and aims to provide access to local green and blue spaces via traffic-free trails and sustainable public transport, encouraging local people to get active outside and discover hidden gems on their doorstep.
The Clyst Valley Trail will form the backbone of this network, linking the Exe Estuary Trail with the Exe Valley Way. There was a public consultation on proposals for this new multi-use route which took place in June.
The Routes for Roots project is about encouraging people to get out in the countryside and exploring nature easily by walking and cycling; also gaining an understanding of local heritage and developing skills through volunteering opportunities.
Plans happening this summer include a story creation of the Cranbrook archer with St Martin’s Primary School, and a new heritage map for Pinhoe.
LiveWest donated £5,000 towards the scheme and has also supported drama workshops for students of Cranbrook Education Campus.
Lesley Browne, our Community Connector for East Devon, is involved in the Routes for Roots project and was also on the Task and Finish group for the Clyst Valley Regional Park Masterplan.
Lesley Browne said: “We are very pleased to support East Devon District Council with this initiative. Cranbrook is an area where we have housing stock of 500+ homes, with more under construction.
“As the town grows, residents need to be able to connect easily to the wider community and be able to access opportunities and experiences beyond the confines of the town.
“We are one of the largest employers in the area and Cranbrook is an area where we would hope to recruit new staff from, therefore it is within our corporate interests to be supportive of projects that will improve the health of the community but also its surroundings.
Simon Bates, Green Infrastructure Project Manager for the Clyst Valley Regional Park, said “It’s wonderful to partner with LiveWest for a second time. They funded are former ‘Great Trees’ project during which LiveWest employees helped to plant a new woodland which can be seen from their head office.
“I’m really hopeful that this partnership can grow further – we have ambitious targets for tree cover in the Clyst Valley.”
In addition to the NLHF and LiveWest, the funding partners involved in the Routes for Roots project are East Devon District Council, National Trust, Devon County Council, Move More Cranbrook, and Active Devon.
Lesley added: “Our role as a developer in these areas is to ensure that our development projects are aligned to the principles of the Clyst Valley Regional Park masterplan, and we help to support the outcomes.
“The project proposals are in line with our Community Investment objectives and corporate vision of building homes and communities which are great places to live.
“We’re very excited to see this important scheme take shape and we’re looking forward to all the elements it will bring to the area to make it a better place for people to work and live.”