Friends of Sandy Lane Park celebrates after receiving £9.5k from the Severn Trent Community Fund to help with their River View Revitalisation Project.

Local community group, Friends of Sandy Lane Park, is today celebrating after being awarded £9.500 in funding from the Severn Trent Community Fund to support its work.

The group will use the cash to repoint and structurally improve the river view steps and local artist Nikki Pinder will design and paint the steps with a nature – inspired mural. Her artwork will feature wildflowers, butterflies and other insects, reflecting the park’s natural environment. The aim is to create a calm, inviting space that encourages people to sit and connect with the river. The group aim totransform the River View Steps into a vibrant seating area. They also plan to purchase a steel tool shed that we will have on site so that our gardening tools are easily accessible.

Friends of Sandy Lane Park has been running since 2024 and is staffed by 7 volunteers committee members.

The group now runs monthly volunteer sessions on the first Saturday of the month, attended by up to 25 people, where they join in to help make the park look beautiful again.

The new funding from the Severn Trent Community Fund, which awards grant money to improve the three elements of community wellbeing – people, places and environment – means the river view steps can become a real feature for local people and visitors to enjoy.

At the same time, the group will be able to press on with plans to introduce interpretation boards, monitor wildlife and hold events and activities at the park.

Heather Swainston, Chair of Friends of Sandy Lane, says: “We’re delighted that the Severn Trent Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. We’re thankful to the Severn Trent Customer Panel for selecting us for funding so that we’ll be able to press on with our plans to make Sandy Lane Park beautiful again. This is important because it is such a community asset at the heart of the community, where neighbours meet, friendships blossom, and the simple joys of nature bring us closer together, fostering a sense of belonging and care.

Fiona Neame volunteer says: “Friends of Sandy Lane Park is bringing the joy back to this much loved park, with its wonderful views across the River Dee to the Meadows, the ancient city of Chester and the Welsh hills beyond. A place for all ages to enjoy, Friends of Sandy Lane Park is helping to increase community engagement, to enhance the space to benefit people and wildlife.”