Knights Grange Friends Launch event July 18th – come and join us!

A new community group, Knights Grange Friends, has been established and is inviting local residents to play a leading role in the future of one of the area’s most valued green spaces.

We are now inviting Winsford residents, users of the park and anyone who cares about this special green space to attend its official launch event on Friday 18th July at New Images Youth & Community Centre, starting at 2pm.

Knights Grange Friends has been officially incorporated with the backing of the Council (CWAC) to encourage the wider community to increase the use of Knights Grange with all its open spaces and walks beyond just sport. e.g. for walking, as a place to picnic, get fit, or meet up, and for community events to make it come alive.

We have three key themes and are looking for Volunteers with ideas to champion:

• Community Events – to establish Knights Grange as a hub for all to host events bringing us all once more, closer together.
• Health & Wellbeing – to support activities which will promote community health and wellbeing; and also provide opportunities for meeting people.
• Nature & Environment – to provide opportunities to explore, develop and protect the varied environment the entire Knights Grange parkland area.

At the launch event residents will have the opportunity to meet members of the group, learn more about its aims and ambitions, ask questions and share ideas about how to make Knights Grange come alive as a Community Hub.

The launch will be followed by a Community Walk & Talk event on Sunday 26th July, setting off at 2pm from next to the playground by the Knights Grange Pub giving local people the chance to meet up, explore the site, discuss opportunities and identify ways to make the area even better.

The formation of Knights Grange Friends comes from a desire to ensure that local people have a strong voice in the future development and stewardship of the area.

Tim Ashcroft, Chair of Knights Grange Friends, said:

“Knights Grange is much more than a piece of land. It is a place where people exercise, socialise, enjoy nature and make memories with family and friends. We believe it has enormous potential and want the community to be at the heart of unlocking that potential. Critically we are looking for Volunteers to champion ideas and make it come alive!”

He continued: “The launch event is not about presenting a finished plan. It’s about starting a conversation. We want to hear from residents about what they value most, would like to see, and how they would like to be involved.”

Mr Ashcroft added: “Too often people feel that decisions happen around them rather than with them. Knights Grange Friends has been created to do the opposite. We want to build a broad coalition of local people who care about this special place and are willing to help it become a vibrant centre of our local community.”

The group is encouraging attendance from residents of all ages, community organisations, environmental groups, local businesses and anyone with an interest in the future of Knights Grange. No specialist knowledge or previous experience is required, and those attending can become involved as much or as little as they wish.

Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to attend either event.

• Launch Event: Saturday 18th July: Starting at 2pm: New Images Youth & Community Centre. Talks at 2.30pm and 3.30pm finishing at 5pm.
• Community Walk & Talk: Sunday 26th July. Setting off 2pm. Starting from next to playground at Knights Grange Pub.