Groups in Long Sutton bring natural world to town parks
Volunteers from two groups in Long Sutton have worked together in bringing more of "Planet Earth" to the town.
Members of Long Sutton in Bloom and the town's Men's Shed group joined forces in an effort to attract more wildlife to parks run by Long Sutton Parish Council.
New bird boxes, insect and bug hotels have been placed in Cinder Ash Park and Winfrey Park after they were specially made by members of Long Sutton Men's Shed.
Youngsters from the town also played a part in the project by helping In Bloom and Men's Shed volunteers to decide where the new wildlife furniture should be located.
Barry Meade, secretary of Long Sutton Men's Shed and treasurer of Long Sutton in Bloom, said: "It was just a nice, little environmental scheme aimed at bringing people together and increasing community spirit.
"The guys at the Men's Shed were happy to make the bird boxes and insect hotels as a pretty low profile thing just to get them involved.
"But then I had a word with the chairman of Long Sutton Parish Council, Coun Charles Moore, and asked if we could get children interested in the project.
"Coun Moore thought it would be a great idea so a couple of families from the town walked around the parks and chose the sites for the bird boxes and insect houses.
"We explained to them what the benefits were of the boxes, from an environmental aspect, and they were hands-on in helping to put the bird boxes together"
Coun Moore said: "Long Sutton in Bloom asked the Men's Shed to build some bird boxes and bug hotels as part of an initiative to encourage bees, insects and other wildlife into our parks.
"As chairman of the parish council , I was approached to give permission for this to go ahead.
"I agreed and offered to attend with my own family to fill up the bird boxes and bug hotels with bits of wood, pottery and pine cones.
"We had two families and other volunteers at both parks who, over one afternoon, filled and put up the bird and insect boxes."
The project is another sign of the growing popularity of the Men's Shed since it was set up by Mr Meade and Long Sutton district councillor Jack Tyrrell in March 2017.
Coun Tyrrell said: "We've had nearly 60 new members in a year who come from all over the area, as well as King's Lynn and Wisbech."
Mr Meade added: "There's a great value in bringing people together, but I can't believe how well the Men's Shed has taken off and it's a real success story."
