Lowther Outdoor Education/Culture Space

The environment

this has enabled the planting of new trees and greenery. As part of the landscaping for the new building we have created woodland paths, Bug hotels and it has enabled up to redefine the planting in that area to reflect the seascape and position on the estuary at LythamThis has been reflected across the whole park with the renewal of avenues of trees and the further planing of 20 new trees in the locality.

The local economy

The Space is already being used by the Ranger service for green education and as a break out area for workshops currently happening in the new Windmill Centre. This week we have a group from Honk Kong (here for 7 days) who have booked the Windmill Centre and are using both indoor and outdoor spaces. By them staying they are boosting the local economy with Hotel stays Etc.

Volunteering, jobs & education

We continue to rely on a large group of volunteers (in excess of 100) and alsofriends of Lowther (in excess of 300.) Currently we have suspended our volunteers applications as we are now up to strength. The Windmill Centre and outdoor classroom will allow us to expand volunteering opportunities by another 40 people in the next year. Volunteers will be DBS checked when working on the outdoor provision with young peoples groups and be offered training in-house to facilitate full integration with out volunteer force.

Arts, culture & heritage

Whilst it is still early days post completion we believe we have started to fulfill our original plan for this project which will provide grass roots engagement with community groups and a wide range of users in the broad spectrum of artistic and cultural activities that this development will deliver. Providing a space for health and well being projects, green outdoor education, story sessions and outdoor performances. this will expand during the summer. We have already programmed acoustic blues as part of our summer festival, outdoor Jazz and Folk sessions as well as summer performance workshops. On the 15th of may we run our first outdoor green education sessions with the Ranger service and these will continue to develop throughout the summer.

Activity, health and leisure

Initial social media information is being issued and this will increase as we progress. We have summer festival planned in July and August and adverts will include this aspect of our development. We will send on Photographs from the first Green outdoor sessions once it is concluded. We are also starting health and fitness sessions for the third age from June.