Seal of approval for accessible path

Students from Catcote Academy were some of the first to use the new path which was made possible thanks to a £12,000 grant from the community charity Groundwork, through the Tesco Bags of Help Grants Programme.

Catcote staff and students pictured with staff from Summerhill, Groundwork and Tesco

It comes as the money raised from the 5p bag charge in Tesco stores is being used to support community participation in the development and use of open spaces. Administration of the local funding is managed by Groundwork.

The new path enables wheelchair users to access an area of woodland at the 100-acre site that was previously inaccessible to them.

The £12,000 grant has also allowed for the creation of a fully accessible pond viewing platform and a number of new sculptures around the Hartlepool Borough Council site.

Volunteers and staff at the opening of the Summerhill platform

Adam Reah, from Summerhill Country Park and Visitor Centre, said: “It was great to welcome pupils from Catcote Academy and be able to show them the wheelchair accessible path and some of the new sculptures.

“It was also good to welcome staff from Tesco and Groundwork and be able to show them the accessibility improvements we have been able to make as a result of the grant we received.

“Making the Summerhill site accessible to people with disabilities is a priority and we are delighted with the feedback we have received about the brand new pond viewing platform and the accessible path.

“I’d also like to thank the Countryside Team and our Summerhill volunteers for their ongoing work and helping to prepare the site for these recent developments.”

To find out more about Summerhill Country Park and Visitor Centre visit www.hartlepool.gov.uk/summerhill