Prestonpans Labyrinth needs your votes!!!!

Please watch our video and read more about our application to create a labyrinth in Cuthill Park.

Then, we really need as many votes as possible to support our application for funding to the Aviva Community Fund.

Please vote here (you will need to register but it is really quick and easy, honest!).

You can support as many projects as you like with your votes (up to 10). Spread them around or use them all to support one project- we really hope you will support the creation of a labyrinth in Cuthill Park, Prestonpans.

Here's what CHANGES Community Health Project, an East Lothian charity which was established in 1996 to promote positive wellbeing and provide opportunities for people to find ways towards healthier and less stressful living had to say:

CHANGES through its Healthy Living Project runs Wellbeing Walks in Prestonpans, which were established through a request from the local GP Practice.  CHANGES also runs  regular mindfulness courses which have been beneficial for people coming to the project due to their stress, anxiety and depression.  Having a labyrinth in Cuthill Park in Prestonpans would be an excellent asset to the community and would provide a quiet contemplative space in which to walk or to practice mindfulness techniques.

The labyrinth  would be well used by CHANGES and the local community, as being outdoors in nature either to walk or being mindful can provide wide ranging benefits for mental health and wellbeing. 

Please vote here: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/voting/project/view/16-2735#5

Wild Garden Box

We would love the park to be bursting with wildlife so were delighted to learn that the Wild Garden Company are sending us their Autumn box - one of four seasonal boxes which are sent throughout the year to subscribers and packed with wildlife-attracting goodies!

So, what's in the box?!

Help For The Little Ones

Specially drilled wooden tubes to provide shelter for bees and other insects.

Also included is some ladybird attractant.

Help For Our Prickly Little Park Visitor... 

Hedgehogs usually hibernate from November - March and they must have enough fat reserves to survive this period.

The autumn box contains plenty of hedgehog food and treats to build them up for this critical time of year.

Keeping Our Feathered Friends Full

Autumn is a time of plenty for birds. However as we move closer to winter and reserves become low they will soon appear closer to home.

Over the next few months, you may notice feeders appearing in the Wildlife Learning Zone.  By keeping these stocked with seed and treats, passing birds will know where to find their next meal.

Thank you Wild Garden Company!


(If you would like to encourage wildlife into your garden, you can subscribe to The Wild Garden Box.  You can even get your first box for just £14.99 with FREE delivery when you enter the coupon code WGB50 at the checkout.)

Nancy Ovens Play Awards: 'Play in the Community' Commendation

We were delighted when we learned that Cuthill Park had been commended at a recent awards ceremony to recognise quality outdoor play experiences for children.

Cuthill Park was commended in the Play in the Community category of The Nancy Ovens Play Awards.

The nominating party gave the following statement:

This fabulous playground has been developed by the local community. It has a strong focus on natural surroundings, lots of natural materials, a brilliant playground, a viewing post for inspecting the smaller wildlife in the park, a telescope which overlooks the sea to Fife. Lots of green space and is a secure safe place for families to visit. The park hosts occasional small community events and is beautifully decorated with murals painted by local friends of the park and a small allotments area. It's also home to beautiful wrought iron gates. There's something for everyone here! A truly delightful space with a focused community leadership.

To anyone visiting the park for the first time, it is hard to imagine that a mere 4 years ago, the park had no amenities bar a bin and scored the lowest rating in terms of quality of any play park in East Lothian.

We are really thrilled to have our hard work recognised - and not just our efforts - East Lothian Council's Amenity Services team have been very supportive in helping us create a very special play park for all sections of the community. 

 

Today, the play area is well used and much loved - in fact it must be one of the tidiest play parks around!

Creating the play area has been a lengthy process during which we forged great partnerships with local groups, schools and the Council. We have no intention of resting on our laurels!  We are reinvigorated start to create a Woodland Learning Zone in the park.

We hope you can join us Wednesday 5th October 9.30 - 11.30 to clear the woods of rubbish and form trails.  We'd love to show you our certificate!