One of Bolton’s favourite country parks has been made easier to enjoy thanks to the efforts of Bolton Council and a local woman who has gone on to raise over £1,000 for charity.
The nature and birdlife at Doffcocker Lodge Country Park make it a favourite spot for Netty Stuart, who has lived nearby for over 20 years and enjoys visiting the park in her powered wheelchair.
Not only is the park a place of peace and quiet, it is also an important route for Netty to get out and about while avoiding the traffic and challenges of Chorley Old Road.
However, she was finding it difficult to use the path around the park.
Things changed when she got in touch with Christine O’Reardon, a team leader at Bolton Council, who she volunteered to take on a tour of the park.
Christine said:
“To see and experience the park as Netty does was a real eye-opener.
“Dog walkers, nature lovers and families all enjoy the park and for most of them it is easy to get around and experience the wildlife and views.
“But for anyone in a mobility scooter, powered wheelchair or pushing a pram, it can be a different story.”
Netty explained the challenges, which included potholes, paths that lacked proper ramps and vegetation encroaching onto paths.
Armed with a detailed inventory of the work that needed doing, Christine and the council’s Green Spaces Team set to work, aiming to finish the improvements in time for spring.
Netty said:
“If you’re not a wheelchair user, hazards can often go unseen.
“But the team got cracking and cleared the overgrown vegetation and put in a new ramp.
“It’s a massive difference and has made it so much easier for me to get around. I don’t have to think about it now when I go out.
“People in the park say how much better it is and I’m glad to have done it for everyone. I feel like I’ve achieved something.”
With the path improved, Netty decided to take on another challenge.
She raised £1,000 for Bolton Hospice by completing 24 miles around the park lake in 24 days in a ‘charity trundle’.
The Green Spaces Team is proud of the positive feedback from Netty and other park users, and regular maintenance will ensure their hard work continues to benefit people.
Away from Doffcocker, the team is out daily at parks, play areas and nature reserves across Bolton and is responsible for maintenance and repairs like cutting grass, inspecting play equipment and installing benches.
Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change and Environment, Cllr Richard Silvester, said:
“We’re very grateful to Netty for contacting us and helping us to understand how important the park is to her and what she needs so that she can access and enjoy it.
“The fact that our in-house team were able to do all the improvements goes to show how valuable it is to have knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff who are out and about in the parks on a daily basis.
“Bolton is blessed with unusually abundant and high-quality green spaces and it is fantastic to see people enjoying them.”