Two new projects at an Eden nature reserve have been given an £8,000 boost.
Penrith Town Council has given the cash to Cumbria Wildlife Trust for the projects at Cold Springs Nature Reserve.
It will include the creation of a pond platform on site and the enhancement of a wildlife garden, engaging young people with nature and enhancing the site for community use.
The platform will provide safe, structured access to the site’s freshwater habitats, supporting the growing number of school visits to Cold Springs, enabling children and young people to explore pond life up close as part of their science and environmental studies which is already blooming with wildlife – including two rare species of dragonfly.
The platform will also support the trust’s ongoing wildlife surveying and water quality monitoring, helping track the ecological benefits of conservation work and chart the site’s environmental progress over time.
The wildlife garden will provide an accessible area where visitors sit, relax and enjoy nature.
The council’s communities committee supported the development of a dedicated wildlife garden and the creation of a pond platform at its meeting in December 2024.
Councillor Danny Smith, chair of the communities committee, said: “It was great to be back at Cold Springs to see the completed projects following the communities committee visit in March this year.
“The new pond platform and wildlife garden will be fantastic community assets – particularly for schools and young people who are already using the site to connect students with nature.
“These are not just physical improvements; they’re long-term investments in the education, health, and wellbeing of our young people and in the biodiversity of our area.
“The council is proud to fund initiatives that bring learning to life, nurture a love of the environment, and foster stewardship of our green spaces for generations
to come.”
Ami Stidolph, Cold Springs engagement officer at Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Penrith Town Council for their generous support,
which has enabled these projects to be completed before the site’s opening back in May.
“The May opening saw over 300 people attend, which was fantastic to see how much community interest there is in the nature reserve already.
“This funding has helped us bring our vision for Cold Springs to life and deepen the reserve’s role as both a haven for wildlife and a hub for community learning.”
