WGRA Three-year plan

It is known that people who are active and involved in communities, and who feel able to access informal and formal support, are both happier and healthier. We are fortunate to live in an area that is safe, secure and has a motivated and resourceful resident population.

Community life, social connections and having a voice in local decisions are all factors that have a vital contribution to make towards health and well-being. The WGRA seeks to support the role of promoting community health and well-being as its core purpose.

This three-year plan is in support of WGRA's vision and will provide the platform for seeking the views of residents of Woolley Grange.

Our Vision

To create and support the development of a 'community' that comes together to promote and improve the health and well-being of all residents, utilising our resources, interests and environment to improve community cohesion to make Woolley Grange a place where people will want to live, socialise and raise their families.

Key outcomes

• To improve resident's contribution to local decisions regarding how we promote the health and well-being agenda for Woolley Grange.
• To create a platform for residents to come together and build a sustainable sense of community.
• To maximise the impact of fundraising, local grant applications, national funding streams and partnership opportunities in furthering the WGRA vision.
• To utilise the local environment and spaces around Woolley Grange to develop opportunities to improve community life and its contribution to resident's health and well-being.

Key priorities

Improved seating areas

Installation of seating and picnic tables at strategic locations throughout the estate, including: Semi-circle on the main access road

Community Orchard

Creation of a community apple orchard on the plot of land at the top of Wheatley Drive, with a footpath through the orchard to enter the woodland. The project would include an open store for residents to help themselves to windfall and picked apples. Excess fruit will be sold to raise funds for WGRA.

Community Gardens, community growing and allotments

A long-term project to develop the plot wasteland adjacent to the entrance used by Network Rail at the bottom of the Driveway down The Grange. A multiple phase project linked to funding availability but aspirationally to include:

• A community garden with covered decking/ seating area to support community/ meeting events (possibility of BBQ's, firepits, seating, and picnic area.
• Sensory, seasonal, zonal gardens.
• Community growing areas, where individuals can contribute and share produce. Consisting of raised beds, easy access - supported by a communal shed and greenhouse space, tools and resources.
• Community plum, greengage and soft fruit orchard - community sharing of produce - excess to support community bottling, preserving and jam initiatives/ groups - potentially using the community decking space to run group sessions.
• WG Allotments consisting of small-manageable raised bed plots that encourage individuals to grow.
• Community cut flower plot - growing for the vase! Growing flowers for all residents to cut and enjoy at home - after the wildlife have benefited of course!

Outdoor Gymnasium

Creation of an outdoor community gymnasium area for the benefit of community activity and exercise groups and individual residents that want to exercise outdoors. Creation of a dedicated area with specialist equipment.

Wild flower meadows

Creation of patches of wild flower meadow throughout the estate to create interest and promote wildlife.

Bulb/ roadside improvements/ raised planters

Improving the road side and shared green area's through bulb and flower planting initiatives - creation of colour and wildlife opportunities.

Rhubarb Triage

Dedicated community rhubarb bed.

Herb corner

Raised beds on every corner for the creation of community herb beds.

WGRA Support resource

Community resource project to support local residents to buy their property leasehold and drive the agenda to get the roads/ drains adopted by the Local Authority.