The village of Ellastone in the Staffordshire Moorlands is celebrating this week as a partnership between the Diocese of Lichfield, local residents and businesses brings major benefits for the community with improvements to the village playing field.
A significant milestone this week saw two large trees planted, replacing one that become unsafe. Other improvements for the environment will make the space of interest to those who aren’t up for a kickabout with a football: a new nature area and wildlife garden are being added too.
A new lease arranged between the Diocese of Lichfield (the part of the Church of England under the Bishop of Lichfield that looks after churches in Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country) and village playing field committee has enabled the village to unlock grants and sponsorship for most of the work. While the diocese arranged the removal of the dead tree, local companies have sponsored the £700 required to replace it with two substantial saplings, one an acer and the other a green beech.
Speaking for the diocese, Diocesan Secretary Julie Jones said “This is a wonderful example of being able to work together with the village for the common good of the community. The Church is about more than just providing worship: caring for the environment is one of five key areas of activity for our churches.”
Lesley Needham is a villager who’s been involved in the planning and fundraising for the project:
“It has been a pleasure to be able to work on this initiative with the local church, businesses and residents to enable the planting of the trees, its a lovely thing to be able to do and a fantastic gift for future generations“
The vicar of Ellastone, Revd Preb Brian Leathers said “We’re very blessed to live in a beautiful part of the country, but accessible spaces aren’t always as easy to find as you might think. This area in the middle of the village is now even more usable by a larger part of the community with the addition of the nature area and wildlife garden. Many visitors come here to park and walk in the local countryside, but might miss the work done to help the environment in the public spaces and particularly in the churchyards through our involvement with Eco-Church."
The tree-planting including (2nd left) Ed Barker (PCC and Parish Counsellor), (3rd left) Revd Preb Brian Leathers (vicar of Ellastone).