On yer bike! Country Park in South Downs benefits from CIL boost

April 22, 2024

People and nature are benefitting from £100,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

Hampshire County Council was awarded £50,000 for the restoration of an existing pond and the creation of a fully-accessible facility that the education team can use to provide nature activities for school groups.

The works included the replacement of the pond liner, installation of fencing, a new dipping platform and the removal of invasive plants.

Nikki Allen, CIL Planning Officer for the National Park, said: “The new interpretation provides lots of information for visitors on the importance of ponds and the different wildlife that inhabit them. As wildlife returns to the pond and the new planting becomes more established the benefits to the surrounding environment will only increase.”

Meanwhile, a further £50,000 was awarded to help make QECP a key cycling destination in the National Park.

A series of fun trails and ramps for mountain biking have been created, as well as a coaching area and improvements to a former work depot to provide a base for an e-bike hire business.

Nikki added: “The facility opened just under a year ago and it’s wonderful to see it being enjoyed by people of all ages.

“The project has built on the country park’s growing reputation for mountain biking and as a stopping point along the South Downs Way for cyclists.”