One of the things that we all appreciated during those long months of Covid restrictions, was how much we needed our open spaces, gardens and parks, both for our physical and mental health. That is why Hatfield Town Council is embarking on a programme to improve and rejuvenate our green spaces and planters across the Parish. Whilst we will continue to mark out and cut the sports pitches, we will ensure that we do not neglect our other green spaces. We know what a difference these can make to the lives of local residents and contribute to the health and wellbeing.
Hatfield Town Council is responsible for approximately 70 acres of sport fields, parkland, open spaces and playgrounds, stretching from Lemsford in the north of the parish, through Hatfield town centre and on towards Newgate Street Village in the east. The sheer variety is amazing, with meadows and woods located in the Grange, Hatfield Garden Villages, numerous pop up playgrounds and green spaces across the borough and substantial recreational parks at St Albans Road East, Millwards and Nast Hyde. This is in addition to the sport facilities and community halls we have at Lemsford, Birchwood, Roe Hill and Newgate Street Village.
However, one of the challenges the Estates Team face is that many of our sites do not have running water. This makes it hard to maintain planters, young trees and green spaces, especially during hot summer months. That is why we were delighted to receive funding from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to help us. The Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s ambitious Levelling Up agenda and the primary goal of the Fund is to build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK. Special thanks needs to go to our friends at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council who helped us secure the funding. Cllr Caron We have used the £5,000 of UKSPF funding to help pay for a new water bowser. Whilst this may not sound like the most exciting purchase the Town Council has made in recent years, it will allow the Estates Team to look after our green spaces across the parish. Leader for the Town Council, Cllr Caron Juggins remarked as she inspected the new bowser: “We know how much joy and respite our parks and playgrounds can offer to residents and that was why we are keen to refocus our efforts on them. And for sport fans, don’t worry, you are not being left out. The water bowser will also help the grounds team maintain goal mouths, cricket creases and other well-worn areas on our pitches.”
0 Comments