A SCHEME to create a Millennium Green in Rossendale have received a boost thanks to a £30,000 cash handout.

Residents behind the Millennium Green scheme at Lumb received £28,316 from the Countryside Commission and £1,000 from Bass for the flagship scheme.

With the help of £10 million lottery cash, the commission aims to create at least 250 new green spaces nationwide by the year 2000 under the Millennium Greens project.

Lumb residents involved in the scheme carried out a consultation exercise with the help of Groundwork Rossendale to determine what villagers wanted.

And Rainbow Brownies at Lumb and Water County Primary School pupils helped to draw up plans with local architect Simon Walsh. The site is owned by Rossendale Council which has agreed to lease the land to villagers for 999 years.

The green will include feature entrances, paths and boardwalks across the wet areas, ponds and dipping platforms for schools, and wildlife areas.

There will also be walks with views across Rossendale, an area for community events and a millennium storyboard showing the wildlife and history of the site. It is hoped work will start in the spring, with some of it carried out by local volunteers.

Countryside Commission officer Liz Newton presented the cash to community leader Brian Haslam in a ceremony attended by the Bishop of Blackburn and Countryside Commissioner the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, Bass chairman Sir Ian Prosser and Rossendale mayor Peter Heyworth.

Mr Haslam said he was pleased to receive the grant and, with the continued support of the communities of Lumb and Water, he was sure the new green would be a joy for generations to come.

Millennium Greens are areas of open space to be enjoyed permanently by local communities, a Countryside Commission spokesman said.

They may be located in cities, towns, suburbs or villages, and can be very small or as large as 30 acres.

Further schemes are planned for East Lancashire and communities wishing to know more should contact Anna Righton at the Countryside Commission on 0161 237 1061.

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