£85k boost to level up park

A new orchard and play equipment for people to enjoy are coming to Redditch after government funding was won.

Arrow Valley Country Park will get the upgrades after a successful £85,000 bid to the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ fund by Redditch Borough Council.

The money will bring even more to do and see for free at the 900-acre park, which is at the heart of Redditch and within walking distance of many areas of the town including Matchborough, Winyates, and Church Hill.

It’ll see the main play area near the Arrow Valley Visitor Centre extended with a new inclusive basket swing and teqball table – a cross between football and table tennis! – alongside other improvements.

A new orchard of at least 25 Worcestershire fruit trees will also be planted in a community event during the winter planting season, along with some new specimen trees to replace older trees that must be removed after reaching the end of their life in the area.

And a new, expanded nature wayfinding trail with accompanying leaflet will be made available for park visitors.

The announcement comes during the Tree Council’s ‘National Tree Planting Week’ which this year runs November 26 to December 5.

Redditch Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Leisure, Cllr Jo Beecham, said: “People have been asking us about increasing the inclusive play provision in the park to make it even more welcoming for people of all abilities, so we’re really pleased to be able to do that as part of this work and put even better facilities on the doorstep of so many residents.”

Leader of the Council, Cllr Matt Dormer, said: “We’re delighted the government accepted our bid to level up one of Redditch’s most-treasured community assets. It’s a very popular, accessible park and improvements to it benefit a lot of people.”

The tree-planting event will take place at a date to be announced this winter, while the play area works are expected to be complete by early spring.