IVYBRIDGE’S Victoria Park is getting a makeover thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of the town’s Scouts.

Last weekend the First Ivybridge Scout Group planted an oak tree in the park to mark the centenary year of the scouting movement, as part of a community tree planting day.

And as part of a wider programme of improvement for both Victoria Park and Longtimber Woods, the Scouts are working with local garden designer Helen Williams to rejuvenate the nature garden in the park.

The projects are possible thanks to an award of money through South Hams Council’s Big Greenspace Challenge scheme, which in turn comes from the Langage Landscape Fund. Centrica, owner of the Langage gas power station, provides funds via a Section 106 agreement to carry out planting and landscaping to offset the power station’s landscape and visual impact, to address climate change and to benefit communities in areas affected.

In Victoria Park, trees and shrubs have been planted to replace those lost in recent years, with the aim of improving the park landscape with species popular in Victorian times. In Longtimber Woods a scheme to improve the entrance close to the viaduct has seen upgraded fencing carried out over the past week. 

Other fixtures, together with new planting at the entrance will boost facilities and benefit wildlife in the area. These improvements will carry on into the autumn with a holly hedge also planned.

The town council is also driving an upgrade of the old swimming pool area of the woods, and an interpretation panel will welcome visitors to the two sites.

Helen Williams said the nature garden had been developed some time ago, but had been a bit neglected recently. Plans to spruce it up were at an early stage, but all ages of Ist Ivybridge Scouts, from Beavers to Explorer Scouts would be involved.

Work would probably start in the autumn, but in the meantime youngsters were involved in the design process, and in the tree planting in the park.

Ivybridge West district councillor Mike Saltern, said: ’It’s fantastic that the Scouts have been involved in this community project to improve the park’s landscape. It’s a wonderful place for everyone in Ivybridge to visit, and the trees and shrubbery planted with the help of the Big Greenspace scheme are a great benefit to the area.’

Fellow Ivybridge West member Cllr David May added: ’Getting the community involved in events like these is wonderful. It’s important to keep planting trees in our parks and I’m thrilled that the district and town councils are getting behind these projects.’

The community tree planting day was carried out under the expert supervision of Eco Land Management, who provided the trees, tools and expert training on how to plant a tree to the local children.