The Greensand Trust is delighted to have been awarded funding totalling £32,508 which will enable the toddler play area at Rushmere Country Park to be refurbished. 

This project is funded by Central Bedfordshire Council and by the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by Central Bedfordshire Council, which respectively awarded £7,530 and £24,978. 

This much needed funding will enable the refurbishment of a well-loved and used toddler play area located beside the Tree Tops Cafe and the Visitor Centre, in easy walking distance from the car park.

The Trust plans to purchase five new pieces of play equipment based on a wildlife theme, including bug springers and a spider swing, also a new digger to replace the very popular worn out original.

Work is planned to take place at the beginning of January and it is hoped the revamped play area will improve accessibility for young children of all abilities and widen its appeal.

Jon Balaam, The Greensand Trust's Director of Development, commented:

We are very pleased to be able to refurbish and improve our incredibly popular toddler play area. It has been so well loved that much of the equipment has simply worn out.  The toddler play area isn’t just a safe and enjoyable space where young children can play while parents or carers enjoy a coffee and cake from the café, it is the perfect first step to enjoying the great outdoors and wider country park.

The refreshed toddler play area will be a welcome addition to the park's play offer which earlier this year saw the opening of a brand new, bespoke older children's play area, Heron's Hangout, aimed at children aged 7+, which includes nature-inspired play equipment where kids can climb, balance and explore in a safe outdoor setting. Nestled in the heart of our beautiful woodlands, it's the ideal spot for big imaginations and boundless energy!

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. It is positioned as the UK replacement of the European Structural and Investment Programme (ESIF). The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus