Cherry Fields
By Rachel Shawl
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Cherry Fields has been crowned the winner of the 2024 Lincolnshire Environmental Awards.
The project’s win was announced during an inspiring morning of presentations and Q&A sessions at the Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park on Saturday 28 September.
Cherry Fields at Cherry Willingham fought off tough competition from the other two finalists, The Community Growers CIC in Boston and Nettleham Woodland Trust, to be awarded the trophy, with the judges highlighting the impressive balance it has achieved in catering for the needs of wildlife, village residents and visitors.
The early vision for Cherry Fields began back in 2013 when the parish council conducted a survey to identify what local residents really wanted. There were two clear answers: access back to the River Witham and more greenspace.
"We wanted real, wild, natural greenspace, the kind where children can get mucky," explained Nigel Hooper, who has been one of the driving forces behind the project.
Since Cherry Willingham Parish Council purchased the land - at the time, intensively farmed arable fields - in 2016, volunteers have planted nearly 10,000 native trees and shrubs and several hundred native woodland plants, and hand-sown four acres of wildflower meadow.
People, along with wildlife, have always been at the heart of the plans. There’s a network of surfaced paths, boardwalks, bridges and a wheelchair-friendly ramp to the riverbank has ensured access for everyone.
Quieter nature areas are complemented by a popular dog exercise area, children's 'scramble trail', picnic sites, and a cycle track. An adjoining field that was part of the original purchase is now thriving community allotments, and the site also includes The Oasis, a youth-based YMCA charitable venture.
"Getting the balance between space for people and space for wildlife is tricky on a fairly small and well used site," Nigel acknowledged.
"But as long as people respect nature and accept that it does sometimes need a bit of peace and quiet, it works. We excavated a lagoon and planted bulrushes - there's a lot of footfall in that area and we didn't know if it would be too busy, but moorhens nested in the middle and fledged three chicks."
That crucial respect for the site and its species is there because the community has been so invested in the project from the start.
"There's hardly a teenager in the village who didn't plant a tree there as a child," Nigel said. Volunteer Paul Wood echoed the sentiment: "It is very satisfying to walk through this flourishing site and think, 'I planted that'."
The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards are organised by the Rotary Club of Lindum, Lincoln, in partnership with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and sponsored by Pennells Garden Centres.
Top picture shows how the community got behind the Cherry Fields programme.
Below – the scheme opened up the riverbank to the community.
