Cator Park at Kidbrooke Village opens to the public
Hundreds of happy children, and adults, celebrated the opening of the new play space at Cator Park, Kidbrooke on Saturday 8th June.
Families enjoyed craft sessions. They learned about the birds, mammals, amphibians and insects of Cator Park through Nerea’s illustrations and how HTA’s work with London Wildlife Trust is ‘rewilding’ the green space to increase biodiversity there by encouraging animals to make their home among the plant life.
HTA’s Landscape team are working across multiple phases of the landscape and public realm of Berkeley Homes’ Kidbrooke Village delivering C 5000 new homes from planning to delivery on site, including the redesign of the 8ha Cator Park in collaboration with the London Wildlife Trust.
HTA have returned nature to the city and challenged the perception that urban brownfield development cannot contribute to the wider ecological and biodiversity network whist creating successful spaces for the community. Not only has nature returned but the parkland transformation has received an overwhelmingly positive response from local residents.
Cllr Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: "Greenwich borough boasts over 300 parks and open spaces and we're always looking at making our borough even greener.
"Having access to green space is important to encourage active, outdoor lifestyles and it supports healthy physical and mental wellbeing. Cator Park is a fantastic place for everyone right across Royal Greenwich to discover - and with the new play space, there is even more reason to do so."
David Mooney, Director of Development, London Wildlife Trust, said: "Everything that's happening at Kidbrooke Village is helping to make it a more wildlife-rich environment that future generations can enjoy - from the new open spaces to the events and volunteering sessions that we encourage as many people as possible to join in."
Tony Pidgley CBE, Chairman of Berkeley Group, added: "Children are our future and they need a place to play, have fun, burn off some energy and make plenty of noise. That's what this wonderful new play space offers.
"It adds a fantastic new dimension to Cator Park, where we have already created more than 20 acres of beautiful open space where people of all ages can get close to nature and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the great outdoors.
"If you haven't been here already, then please come to visit and bring your family, friends and neighbours with you.
"At Kidbrooke Village we are working in partnership with local people, the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Wildlife Trust to create a truly sustainable neighbourhood with biodiversity and nature right at its heart."
Source: https://www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/news-and-insights/news/2019/new-kidbrooke-village-play-space
