Howe Park Wood Play Area Transformed Thanks To Tesco’s Bags Of Help Campaign

by Sarah Featley

The Parks Trust, the charity that cares for Milton Keynes’ parks and green spaces, is delighted to unveil its latest completed project – which was funded by its successful £12,000 grant from Tesco’s Bags of Help campaign.

The supermarket teamed up with the charity with a green heart Groundwork to launch Tesco’s Bags of Help initiative, which saw grants of £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to environmental and greenspace projects. Eight million shoppers voted in stores up and down the country to determine which projects deserved the funding.

The Parks Trust used the money to create a new play area for toddlers at Howe Park Wood, which is located near Tattenhoe in Milton Keynes. This includes a climbing frame and balancing beam, and has been further enhanced by new interpretative signage and two new picnic table sets.

The play area perfectly complements the existing facilities at Howe Park Wood, such as the study centre and café, and it is hoped it will encourage visitors to increase dwell time here before they enter the woods itself.

Briony Fox, Head of Community Engagement for The Parks Trust, commented: “We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to complete this development at Howe Park Wood, and it’s all thanks to shoppers in the local area. The play area is a great addition to the study centre and café and we are sure it will prove very popular with our younger visitors and their families!”

Laura Muir, Project Manager (Communities), Groundwork South added: “I am so proud to be able to team up with Tesco in this fantastic scheme, it’s great that the 5ps from carrier bag usage is going to local good causes.  We are certainly not encouraging anyone to purchase a carrier bag, but for those times that you just have to buy one it’s nice to know that you are also contributing to an improvement in a local green space. I would encourage all charities, groups, schools and other organisations to look into applying for one of these Tesco grants while you can, the money is there, why not use it!”

Caroline Silke, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “It is wonderful to see how the money from our Bags of Help initiative has been spent. This is money that has come directly from Tesco customers living and shopping in each of our regions up and down the country. The feedback for the project has been brilliant.”

For more information visit: http://www.theparkstrust.com/parks/howe-park-wood