Funding for Chacewater Millennium Green

The Millennium Green Trustees are delighted to confirm that funds have been secured to maintain the Chacewater Millennium Green for years to come.

The Project for the creation of a public open space for informal recreation began over 4 years ago when the Parish Council was asked if they were interested in getting such a project off the ground. An approach was made to the Tregothnan Estate to let the parish have the field which had always been used for the annual bonfire for this purpose. With this agreed a bid for grant funding was put together to send to the Countryside Agency who are managing the funds on behalf of the Millennium Commission. We had to form a Charitable Trust to manage the Green that is the only way we can get funding from the Millennium Commission. It is not the responsibility of the Parish Council, even though they may decide in future years to support it in some way. 

After a great deal of work and negotiation a package has been agreed. This package provides funds for all the work that has already been done and more is promised for pond and wildlife planting in addition to some trees and shrubs which will be planted in the right season. We also have some picnic tables on order and hope to see these installed soon.

We also receive grant funding for all the volunteer labour. This will enable us to save the money thus generated to put towards future maintenance. The grant package is only available until June next year. That is why we are seeking as much volunteer labour as possible over the next few months in order to build up reserves for the future. 

The Trustees want the Millennium Green to be available and used by everyone, individuals and groups alike. We are delighted that we have already been asked by the Methodist Chapel if they could hold an event there in July. We hope we shall see more of these as time goes by.

 It is good to see groups of young people using the Green. Some of them asked why the grant funding for the Millennium Green could not have provided a skateboard ramp for the young people. We are sorry to say that grant funding does not work like that! The grant money MUST be used solely for the purpose for which it has been granted. We tried in the early months of the grant fund bidding to include a skate board facility, but it was made clear that the whole scheme would fail to secure funding if any part of the Green was dedicated to one use.

Chacewater Millennium Green Trustees