CATEGORY D.
Horsewater Pond, King’s Cliffe:
A £3,000 grant was provided to carry out restoration works to this extremely old pond in the centre of the village. The money was spent on removal of weeds and other debris that had accumulated over the past 14 years, construction of a new path and re-turfing the area.
King’s Cliffe Memorial Hall
KCEA has allocated £55,000 towards the refurbishment of this valuable community facility. This programme has included many individual tasks, including:
- Replacement of interior and exterior doors
- Replacement of existing upper floor window frames with double-glazed units
- Installation of gas-fired central heating
- Wiring of permanent electrical supply for stage lights
- Fitting a new microphone, hearing aid induction loop and speaker system
These components all form part of a programme of works that has been undertaken throughout 2006 and is nearing completion.
King’s Cliffe Community Association: Sports Facilities land purchase:
This project is the beginning of a long-term scheme to provide a high quality multi-sports facility for King’s Cliffe village and environs. KCEA are working with King’s Cliffe Community Association by funding the purchase of an area of land suitable for this purpose. This having been completed, work can begin on grading the site, enabling it to be used for sport.
CATEGORY DA.
Rutland Water Osprey Project
KCEA has provided £8,500 towards capital equipment for this internationally significant project. Ospreys were first translocated from Scotland in 1996 to Rutland Water as part of a plan to re-introduce the birds to England. The programme has met with success as birds have begun to return to breed annually at Rutland, with the aim being to obtain a self-sustaining population.
Rutland Water is well-served by wildlife viewing areas but many pairs choose to next on private land, away from the immediate vicinity of the lake. KCEA’s grant was used to purchase a video camera, recording equipment, computer, webcam and television set, allowing visitors to gain a close-up view of the nest from the comfort of the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre.
Orchids & Butterflies Project
This project was carried out by the Wildlife Trust of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough to manage seven nature reserves in north Northamptonshire. The project restored flower rich grass and meadow land within the nature reserves. This, in turn, creates habitats for butterflies and orchids to flourish & also encourages greater access to these nature reserves by the public.
The nature reserves are Collyweston Quarries, Old Sulehay, Short Wood, Southwick Wood, Southorpe Meadow, Southorpe Paddock and Yarwell Dingle.
CATEGORY E.
St Kyneburgha of Castor Heating Project.
The Church of St Kyneburgha, in the village of Castor is well-known as a striking & popular building. It is, however, located on a somewhat exposed plot & can suffer very low temperatures in winter. Not only is this uncomfortable for the congregation, it is also detrimental to the health of the structure.
The previously-existing heating system was inefficient, ineffectual and at the end of its life. KCEA provided a £10,000 grant towards a brand new installation. This will enable the church to stay warm throughout the year.
The picture shows a young parishioner putting the finishing touches to the system; painting the pipes after installation.
All Saints Church, Easton on the Hill
All Saints Church is a Grade 1 listed building with a small crypt. This grant was sought after it was discovered that the roof of the church crypt was structurally unstable. A major supporting beam had cracked & the roof was being propped up temporarily.
Professional repairs were clearly needed. A grant of £3,500 was provided by KCEA to construct breezeblock retaining walls and a reinforced concrete ceiling in the crypt. This was topped off with flagstones to match the originals and a refurbished trap door. End result? An attractive & long lasting crypt, completed on time and within budget.
The photographs show:
- The concrete slab being poured
- Newly re-laid flagstones & trapdoor
