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05/10/2012 Improvements made to Gawflat Meadow to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Skipton Civic Society and Craven District Council have been working together to make improvements to Gawflat Meadow in Aireville Park, Skipton to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The project, funded by Awards for All and Craven District Council, has seen the entrance signs replaced and the introduction of two interpretation boards detailing wildlife and historic information of the meadow. Some of the artwork for the interpretation boards has been produced by Aireville School pupils. A new gate and fence has also been installed to complete the boundary.

Earlier in the year, the Civic Society successfully applied to the Woodland Trust's Jubilee Woods initiative and were given 106 saplings including one Royal Oak grown from seeds gathered from Royal Estates. The saplings were planted in the hedgerow of the meadow by Craven College students, Civic Society members, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Craven District Council.

As part of the project, Craven District Council successfully applied to protect the meadow in the Fields in Trust's legacy programme, The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge. The meadow will become a designated Queen Elizabeth II Field and can only be used as a valuable urban hay meadow and wildlife habitat for all to enjoy walking round the edge.

Councillor Chris Harbron, Chairman of Craven District Council said "We are very pleased to have worked with the Civic Society to make improvements to Gawflat Meadow. I am particularly pleased that we have been able to involve pupils from Aireville School and Craven College too as many of their students pass the meadow every day. There is a wealth of knowledge about the history and variety of wildlife within Gawflat Meadow which will now be shared and accessible to everyone visiting the meadow."

Sheila Clark, member of Skipton Civic Society said "Having managed Gawflat Meadow as an environment project since 1994 on behalf of the Town, the Society has enjoyed this joint improvements' project to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Now designated as a Queen Elizabeth II Field, the Meadow has wider recognition and protection. Within the Society's natural environment portfolio, the management will continue. More information from http://www.skiptoncivicsociety.org . Anyone interested in helping, contact the Society.

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