Penrith Town Council has provided us with a grant of £8,000 to support two exciting new projects at Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve, including the creation of a pond platform on site and the enhancement of a wildlife garden, engaging young people with nature and enhancing the site for community use.

The pond platform will provide safe, structured access to the site’s freshwater habitats, supporting the growing number of school visits to Cold Springs, enabling children and young people to explore pond life up close as part of their science and environmental studies. The pond is already blooming with wildlife including two rare species of dragonfly. The platform will also support ongoing wildlife surveying and water quality monitoring, helping to track the ecological benefits of conservation work and chart the site’s environmental progress over time. The wildlife garden will provide an accessible area where visitors can sit, relax andenjoy nature. 

The Council's Communities Committee supported the development of adedicated wildlife garden and the creation of a pond platform at its meeting in December 2024. Cllr Danny Smith, Chair of the Communities Committee, said: "It was great to be back at Cold Springs to see the completed projects following the Communities Committee visit in March this year. 

"The new pond platform and wildlife garden will be fantastic community assets - particularly for schools and young people who are already using the site to connect students with nature. These are not just physical improvements; they’re long-term investments in the education, health, and wellbeing of our young people and in the biodiversity of our area.

"The Council is proud to fund initiatives that bring learning to life, nurture a love of the environment, and foster stewardship of our green spaces for generations to come.”

Ami Stidolph, Cold Springs Engagement Officer at Cumbria WildlifeTrust, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Penrith Town Council for their generous support, which has enabled these projects to be completed before the site's opening back in May.

"The May opening saw over 300 people attend - it was fantastic to see how much community interest there is in the nature reserve already.                                                         

"This funding has helped us bring our vision for Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve to life and deepen it’s role as both a haven for wildlife and a hub for community learning.”