Great news from one of our member groups..

It was great to hear this week that Neighbourhood Network member Berkeley Street Neighbourhood Watch along with Princes Avenue Community and Traders (PACT) and Avenues Action (and others) have been successful in receiving a grant from the Safer Hull Community Crime Reduction Fund for “A Space for Everyone” (and everything).

This joint bid plans to take back control of the Duesberry Street to Beverley Road section of the cycleway/footpath, by working together to create a better, safer and more environmentally-friendly Wildlife Corridor along that section of the old railway.  

Plans include to commission murals on fences and buildings and invite local artists and children to participate.  The groups have organised litter picks and planted some alder buckthorn bushes as part of the Butterfly City initiative. Other events are also being planned, especially during school holidays, so that children can come and create bug-houses and log-piles and learn about the surprising wildlife already present along that section of the route.  By sensitive management and planting some different small trees, like holly, shrubs and wildflowers (including some “weeds”), it should start to increase the bio-diversity of the area.  

Linking with Butterfly City, they aim to attract more butterflies, and pollinators such as bees, wasps and hoverflies.  Insects and invertebrates (slugs and snails) are the basis of the food-chain that supports many birds and other animals too, such as foxes, hedgehogs and bats.  By providing habitat and food, we have a corridor to allow many species to move more easily in the city.  There are plans to erect notice boards providin information to the public about the project and ‘A Space for Everyone’ will evolve over time.  The groups will be asking people in the area about their use of the cycle-way/footpath and their thoughts on a Wildlife Corridor, to record their views and repeat the survey over time, to see if their use changes. 

By holding regular events, litter picking, management and planting, it is hoped that there will be a reduction in anti-social behaviour, drinking, motorbikes and drug dealing that make the area frightening for some.

It’s a great story that we hope to bring regular updates from these groups.