About us
Wembdon Parklands and Community Together is a not for profit charity managed by 6 trustees and volunteers. We came together as a group of people, who have a variety of disabilities and wanted an inclusive to all outdoor leisure facilities in the local community. We all shared the same vision of enhancing the quality of life and wellbeing for the less abled parishioners of Wembdon. These people may feel isolated in the community; are elderly and lonely; wheel chair users; disabled with mobility issues; visually impaired; have young families but limited out door space to play or exercise in; are adults and children with various learning disabilities. We also share a passion for nature and conserving and protecting local green spaces and wildlife.
W e carried out research to ascertain what parishioners wanted and needed to be able to fully enjoy the parklands belonging to the Parish. We ran a children's 'design your own parkland' colouring competition and distributed questionnaires at parish events. We regularly meet with parishioners at the park and in the parish centre, talking and listened to their views and ideas. Founder member Lorna Edwards delivered a presentation to the Parish Council on the 19th June, 2017, explaining what parishioners needed from their parklands. The PC welcomed our group and agreed to work with us on the project. The out come of our research has further been confirmed in the recent results of the Neighbourhood Plan questionnaire, 2018.
Our objective is to raise funds to rejuvenate an inaccessible area of the Wembdon Parklands and transform it into an all inclusive recreational facility with a woodland walk, nature trail and a prairie orchard that encourages insects and wildlife. The park will be designed to include a wide pathway suitable for wheelchair users to ensure maximum enjoyment and inclusiveness.
Sensory borders will be planted to stimulate the senses. The nature trail follows native animal sculptures and promote gentle activity and education. Low level adventure wooden play equipment will help children with coordination and balance. Seating areas will support a healthy social environment, helping people make friends and meet others, giving them a feeling of belonging in their community.
Land scaping and planting of mature trees, hedging and shrubs , will be essential in combating traffic emissions from the adjacent busy northern distributor road (NDR/A39), making it a healthier space to enjoy. Conserving and enhancing the natural landscape will protect and encourage wild life back into the area. We will install bat boxes and nesting boxes high up in the trees. A stumpery will be created to encourage biodiversity and increase invertebrates and insects in to the food chain . The parklands are known to be a badger foraging area and we have planed and design the planting to enhance and improve their feeding ground. To be able to achieve our aims and objectives, we are working togethers with local authorities, agencies and experts whose knowledge and expertise have helped us to design a plan that improves the natural environment nd is also an educational and all inclusive recreational Parkland for the public.
After this large project is completed the charity will continue to raise funds to support the Parishioners and the Wembdon Parklands for the benefit of wildlife and the disabled and for the general well being of all parishioners. We will help the elderly and disabled people in the community to achieve a good quality of life, through gentle activity, equipment and mobility improvements that will enable them to become socially included. Wembdon PACT will continue to raise funds and run various fundraising events. We will continue to apply for funding from local and national companies and funding bodies for the benefit of the community and the preservation of the parklands.
The plans explained
Our priority is to raise funds to rejuvenate and maintain a once inaccessible area of parklands, into an all inclusive woodland recreational facility. So far we have raised the funds to create new wheelchair accessible pathways and solar lighting. We have created a safe woodland and nature trail which includes, new fencing and gates, that will prevent children and off lead dogs running out of the concealed entrance on to the very busy main road and prevent hazards for drivers. The new and wider pathways, lead you to seating areas where we have planted more than 30 new trees and new hedging, that will help to combat the emissions from the busy NDR and compliment existing trees and hedging. New sensory borders and a prairie orchard have been planted with fruit baring plants and trees to encourage insects and provide a good food source for badgers and birds. We are improving and enhancing the area, creating a natural woodland echo system, which will attract all kinds of wildlife to return to the area. We are installing new insect hotels, a stumpery area, bird and bat boxes. Protecting and maintaining the natural biodiversity of a thriving wetlands area, for badgers and combating pollution and emissions.
This is fast becoming a flag ship disabled facility, that will is enhancing the health and well-being of less abled people in the community, bringing new opportunities to socialise; thus enhancing the community spirit now and for our future generations to come. This area has become a very important facility during the COVID crisis, with many people using it for their daily exercise.
Wembdon PACT are pleased to be working with Wembdon Parish Council on the Parklands Project.
A Huge Thank You To Our Sponsors
A Huge Thank You To Our Sponsors
Local businesses supporting a local community charity project - contact us for more information
Local businesses supporting a local community charity project - contact us for more information
