Community group receives equipment to help maintain local nature reserve

Pendle Plant Craft has received a welcome boost to their community conservation efforts, thanks to a donation from United Utilities’ Community Fund.

The group, based in Lancashire, was presented with brand-new PPE equipment to help the group of volunteers continue their vital conservation work.

Pendle Plant Craft is a non-profit community of nature enthusiasts, who strive to share their collective knowledge of nature, fungi, plants, and cultivation with the local community through free foraging workshops and well-being walks.

With the help of the United Utilities’ Better Rivers Better North West Community Fund, the donation will help Pendle Plant Craft focus their efforts on maintaining Lomeshaye Marsh Nature Reserve, which lies between Edge End Brook and Pendle Water. These watercourses will benefit directly from their conservation activities, which include litter picking, water quality monitoring, and habitat management.

Earlier in the year, the Pendle Plant Craft group met with River Rangers from the North West’s water company as they handed over the equipment. The donation from United Utilities provided the local group with a range of PPE equipment such as waterproof clothing, safety boots and first aid kits, helping them to continue their work safely and efficiently.

Pete Compston, from Pendle Plant Craft, commented: “We are so very grateful to United Utilities for the donation of PPE equipment. It’s been great to be able to make a positive difference to our local area.

“The funding has greatly benefitted us, especially with local schools and community groups from harder-to-reach, poorer communities. These groups often do not have the appropriate clothing or PPE, and now being able to provide volunteers with suitable equipment has made our activities far more accessible and inclusive.”  

Ian Pilling, area engagement lead for Lancashire, commented: “We’re really pleased to have been able to support Pendle Plant Craft Group. They clearly have a lot of enthusiasm for improving their community and were just lacking the tools to become more efficient. Hopefully this donation will encourage them to keep up their efforts and inspire new volunteers to join in with the great conservation work that they do.”

The Better Rivers Better North West Community Fund supports community groups whose activities:

• Benefit local watercourses and riverside environments
• Act as catalyst for improved community and environmental wellbeing
• Reconnect communities to riverside environments
• Promote sustainable drainage

Groups can apply to the fund for up to £2,500 worth of support by emailing  Stakeholderrelations@uuplc.co.uk with details of their request.