Stafford Orchard - Timeline

The project to refurbish Stafford Orchard is complete. We retain the information below as a brief record of how the project was initiated and how it progressed over the years.

Background
A team of Councillors and community volunteers sponsored by the Parish Council started a project in January 2006 to refurbish Stafford Orchard for Quorn Village. The team eventually succeeded in securing a National Lottery ‘Parks for People’ grant for £645,500 and partnership funding of another £160,000.

The project has:

revitalised the somewhat faded and underused public park in the heart of the village
increased and broadened use of the park; made it more welcoming by improving the entrances, access and boundaries; provided better public amenities
made people feel safe there
employed a groundsman to look after the park
involved volunteers in all aspects of the park’s management, maintenance, use and development; appointed volunteer park wardens
enhanced biodiversity and natural habitat (particularly in the brook area); provided a sensory garden and peaceful area; planted new trees and shrubs; adopted organic horticulture and sustainable practices and policies
united the brook area (the old Swyne Green) and Stafford lands
provided information and interpretation of the history, heritage and archaeology of the park and the surrounding area
provided new infrastructure: soft and hard recreational areas; a young children’s playground; youth facilities; a level grassed space for games; a performance space; seating; waterside play, picnic and family areas by the brook
applied for a Green Flag award

This was a community project, developed by the village team in consultation with local people, with the full support of Quorn Parish Council and Charnwood Borough Council.

Stafford Orchard Newsletters

These were published throughout the park's development period to keep people in touch with what was happening, and they also appeared in the quarterly Quorndon Magazine:

Stafford Orchard News Issue 6 - Spring 2011		download PDF
Stafford Orchard Newsletter Issue 5 - Winter 2010		download PDF
Stafford Orchard Newsletter Issue 4 - May 2010		download PDF
Stafford Orchard Newsletter Issue 3 - March 2010		download PDF
Stafford Orchard Newsletter Issue 2 - November 2009		download PDF
Stafford Orchard Newsletter Issue 1 - June 2009		download PDF

Timetable - Key Dates

		January 2006		Initial approach by Parish Council to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)
		May 2006		Pre-application documentation submitted to HLF
		November 2006		Pre-application process completed
		March 2007		Stage one application submitted to HLF
		September 2007		Stage one pass and project development grant awarded by HLF
		June 2008		Planning Application submitted to Charnwood Borough Council (CBC)
		September 2008		Stage two application submitted to HLF
		April 2009		Final decision from HLF - Award of grant of £645,500
		August 2009		Purchase of Swyne Green land Acquisition of lease on Station Road entrance area
		January 2010		Tree work in Stafford Orchard and Swyne Green
		March 2010		Appointment of contractor for landscape and building works
		May Day 2010		Tree carving (Sunday 2nd May)
		May 2010 onwards		Work Starts: - site clearance and fencing off - leveling and landscaping - installation of new play equipment - improvement of entrances, boundaries and paths - refurbishment of Station Road entrance area and Park Services Building (inc toilets) - refurbishment of the old listed Lock-up - new park furniture (seats, benches, tables, bins, information boards, artwork)
		October 2010		Volunteer planting of sensory garden and bulbs
		November 2010		Landscaping works complete - park re-opens
		November 2010		New tree and shrub planting
		March 2011		Building works complete - mods and defects period starts
		May 2011		Official opening of park - May Day
		April 2012		Mods and defects period ends - Project Complete

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