VOLUNTEERS at Foundry Wood in Leamington have landed a £5,000 windfall thanks to customers of the Heart of England Co-operative Society.
The money will be used to help enhance the urban community woodland – created to protect wildlife and offer leisure and educational facility for visitors.
Before the creation of Foundry Wood in 2012 the site – behind the old Ford Foundry site on Princes Drive, had previously been used as railway sidings, but had been abandoned for almost 60 years with no public access.
Today, with the help of up to 40 volunteers, including a core of 20, the site hosts regular events such as forest schools, school and guide visits, and volunteer maintenance days.
Kristie Naimo, chair of the Friends of Foundry Wood, said the money would be used to restore pathways at the site and to make it more accessible to all, by investing in benches and grab rails and other aids.
She added: “We are delighted with the donation from the Heart of England Co-op. Our volunteers work hard to fundraise for the woodland throughout the year so this is a fantastic boost to help us maintain Foundry Wood and make it accessible for all.”
The cash was generated through sales of 5p carrier bags at teh society’s food stores, introduced as part of the government levy to reduce damage to the environment.
Warwick and Leamington Foodbank also received £3,000, and the Helen Ley Care Centre in Leamington was awarded £2,000.
