Community Breathing Spaces

BBC teams up with Carlisle City Council

(Date of issue: Monday, 1 June 2009)

Carlisle City Council is asking local residents to get mucked in this Saturday (6 June) as part of the BBC Breathing Places campaign.

In the next 12 months, the council has committed to make space for nature and create wildlife friendly communities in urban and rural locations. Working in partnership with the BBC, Carlisle City Council will encourage nature novices to join events, learn new skills and make a long lasting difference to their community.

The year kicks off with the BBC Breathing Places Dirty Weekend (6-7 June 2009). Carlisle City Council’s Green Spaces team, working with Carlisle South Community Association and Eden Rivers Trust, are organising a three-hour river clean-up, starting at 10am, at Petteril Valley Park, south east Carlisle, on Saturday, 6 June 2009. Volunteers are invited to meet at the car park at the end of Woodsghyll Drive, near Petteril Bank School.

Karen Gregory, BBC Breathing Places Project Executive, said:

"I am delighted that Carlisle City Council has joined us for what promises to be an exciting year for the Breathing Places Campaign. Working in partnership with Carlisle gives us both a wonderful opportunity to reach people and inspire them to get out and do one thing for nature."

Inspired by existing wildlife priorities, the City Council have set practical targets for the year including tree planting, bird box building, pond clearance, wildflower planting and litter clearance.

Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment and Infrastructure, said:

"Everyone and anyone can get involved. We’ll be teaming up with community associations, schools, libraries, children’s centres and existing wildlife organisations. This weekend’s event in Petteril Valley is one of many planned and we hope that local residents come along and get mucked in."

Other Carlisle events will follow through the year.