The Productive Landscapes in Preston (PLiP) is a project led by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside in partnership with various organisations in Preston.

PLiP was created in 2003 to bring together a number of exciting projects that help improve the local landscapes for people and wildlife. It aims to.

• Involve the community in protecting and enhancing local wildlife
• Organise activities that involve local people and help them enjoy their community green spaces
• Develop the skills of local people so they can sustain their activities
• Raise awareness of local wildlife issues
• Manage existing Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) and encourage local people to use them for education and recreation

 

The PLiP Projects

Community Food Growing (CFG)

Preston Incredible Edible (PIE) - The Preston CFG Action Plan outlines the PIE project and was developed from the Central Lancashire CFG Strategy.

The project is funded by the Lancashire Primary Care Trust and aims to involve local communities and groups in food growing and improving their health and wellbeing through increased activity, social interaction and healthy eating.

The emphasis on sustainable food growing and organic principles also helps people develop an interest in their wider environment and local wildlife.

PIE aims to:

• Identify and work in partnership with residents, community groups and other agencies interested in food growing
• To identify potential food growing sites and sites for orchards, berries and hazelnuts
• Identify a site for a social enterprise
• Develop a programme of training, events, volunteering, drop-in sessions and education relevant to food growing
• Encourage and support community groups to develop projects which actively promote health and social inclusion
• Develop capacity within communities to sustain their initiatives
• Develop 20 CFG sites by 2012 for Preston Guild

Growing Food For Life - The Growing Food For Life project is funded by Big Lottery’s Target Wellbeing fund and runs alongside the PIE project. It aims to organise healthy eating and a range of food growing activities for community groups and individuals.

Activities will encourage people to eat healthily, take up physical exercise, improve their cooking skills, gardening skills and confidence.

Sessions include:

• Food growing activities and advice at events for individuals, groups and organisations
• Food growing for individuals and community groups at the Wildlife Trust Community Allotment in Deepdale, Preston
• Healthy eating sessions at various locations throughout Preston
• Training and supporting volunteers to develop food-growing areas

Preston Leaps into Participation

The Preston Leaps into Participation project is funded by the Big Lottery’s Target Wellbeing fund and works with other organisations, community groups and individuals to organise a programme of healthy living activities that help people get physical exercise through walks, volunteering opportunities and local community action.

The PLIP project aims to increase peoples’ physical and mental wellbeing by encouraging them to get active at Preston’s green spaces and help build self-esteem and a sense of belonging in their local community.

Sessions include:

• Volunteering opportunities at Preston’s nature reserves
• Activities for people to improve their local environment
• A programme of health walks for people with various levels of ability
• In partnership with Preston City Council’s sports development team we can supply people with maps so they can walk without a leader
• Training for volunteer walk leaders for those who want to lead their own guided walks

Preston’s Blooming Brilliant!

The project is funded by the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund and Preston City Council.

‘Preston’s Blooming Brilliant!’ works in partnership with Preston City Council, Neighbourhood Management, housing providers and other organisations to encourage community involvement in Britain in Bloom “It’s Your Neighbourhood” Awards organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

The aim of the project is to create garden areas that local people, groups and organisations can help design, develop, use and look after. Areas include community gardens, school grounds, community centre grounds, derelict sites and gated alleyways. This in turn improves the image of the environment for everyone to enjoy, and instilling pride within local people through their efforts to make their neighbourhoods a better place to live.

Activities include:

• Consultation, garden design and planting sessions
• Community estate clean-ups
• Horticulture courses and informal training
• Invitation to the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards ceremony
• The setting up of a Preston Britain in Bloom Steering Group

Preston Local Nature Reserve Project

Five Local Nature Reserves (LNR’s) have been designated in Preston since the start of the PLiP project. These are Pope Lane Field and Boilton Wood, Grange Valley, Haslam Park, Fishwick Bottoms and Hills and Hollows

Click here to read more about Preston LNR's

Contact Us:

For more information, contact Julie Livesey