Witton Lakes conservation group receive £500 boost to help raise awareness of the park

Made up of a group of local residents, FOWL will use the money to create engaging information boards detailing the insects, amphibians, and animals that will inhabit its ‘Hibernation Station’ during winter.

One of FOWL’s most recent projects includes installing an accessible trail within the grounds of Witton Lakes Eco Hub – an environmentally focused community facility - to steer visitors past the Hibernation Station and dedicated areas for frogs, newts, butterflies, and bees, which help nurture their growth and survival.

The donation is just one of several being made as part of McCarthy Stone’s Happier, Healthier Project which aims to provide financial assistance to community groups.

Chair of FOWL and Witton Lodge Community Association, Linda Hines MBE, comments: “I have lived in Erdington practically all my life and I am incredibly passionate about the local area and encouraging local people to help make a real difference within their community. FOWL is a fantastic initiative helping to make Witton Lakes Park a wonderful place for residents and schools to enjoy, whilst protecting the abundance of incredible species that live there.

“As a group made up entirely of volunteers, we truly value all kinds of support. We’re especially grateful to McCarthy Stone for their generous donation, which will be used to purchase information boards, so visitors can learn more about the park’s native species.”

The McCarthy Stone Foundation supports grassroots, volunteer led charitable causes, including those that promote the health and wellbeing of older people. It is the independent, registered charity of the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, McCarthy Stone, which has a new Retirement Living development, Botham Place, under construction on Orphanage Road in Erdington.

Lindsay Roberts, Environment Manager at McCarthy Stone at McCarthy Stone, comments: “Supporting and engaging with the communities close to our developments is a key focus at McCarthy Stone and we are delighted, in partnership with the McCarthy Stone Foundation, to lend a helping hand to Friends of Witton Lakes Park. It was great to get a better understanding of all the fantastic work FOWL is doing and I’m pleased we’re able to support initiatives that align with our business goals on environmental and sustainability.”

Designed to meet the specific needs of the over 60s, Botham Place will offer a mix of one and two-bedroom cost-effective retirement apartments, along with superb facilities to create a unique brand of retirement living in the local area with independence and community at its heart.

On-site communal spaces will include a well-appointed lounge and an attractive landscape garden to enjoy the company of friends, family, and new neighbours alike. For peace of mind, a House Manager will be on-site during office hours to oversee the day-to-day running of the development, while 24/7 emergency call points and camera door entry offer additional reassurance.

Those wanting to take a closer look at the stylish interiors and the little details unique to Botham Place can take a look at the virtual tours, which are now available on the McCarthy Stone website, giving prospective buyers the opportunity to take a tour of the accommodation and social spaces.

Properties at Botham Grange will be exclusively available through McCarthy Stone’s Shared Ownership scheme in partnership with Homes England, which offers a helping hand by reducing the upfront cost of a new retirement property, through providing a choice of home ownerships up to 75%.

To discover more about Retirement Living at Botham Place, please call 0800 201 4384or visit: www.mccarthystone.co.uk/botham-place.

Those interested in finding out more about the McCarthy Stone Foundation are invited to visit: mccarthyandstonefoundation.org.

To contact the Friends of Witton Lakes: www.facebook.com/FriendsofWittonLakes/

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