03 March 2008 12:24 Access all areas for Duffield’s Millennium Meadow, thanks to Central Networks

A £2,500 grant from Central Networks is opening up access for disabled visitors at Duffield's Millennium Meadow project.

The Millennium Meadow was recognised by English Nature as a Local Nature Reserve and won an Age Concern award for "uniting different generations and promoting positive environmental attitudes".

But over time many of the visitor features added to the meadow, such as bench seats and gateways have deteriorated.

Now Central Networks, part of E.ON, has donated £2,500 from its Safer Environmental Fund to provide new benches for the 14-acre site and better access for wheelchair users.

Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager for Central Networks, said: "Up to 200 people a day visit the Duffield Millennium Meadow, which proves what a valuable resource it is for the local community.

"It is exactly the sort of project our Safer Environment was set up to help and we are delighted to help make this a nicer and more accessible place to visit."

The project is one of the winning applicants for Central Network's Safer Environment Fund, which makes money available for projects that demonstrate they will have a lasting and positive effect on the local environment.

The new furniture for the meadow will be made from sustainable and local Green Oak.

Nick Mirfin, Secretary of the renovation project, said: "With wear and tear over the past eight years, the seating has rotted, the ground through the gateways has eroded and some more modern wheelchairs are now too large to pass through the access.

"The improvements will benefit all visitors, particularly wheelchair users and other disabled and will also encourage others to do so and improve their environmental knowledge and attitudes."

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Central Networks brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Boarders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For more information contact:

Andrew Barrow on 02476 183 677

A selection of Central Networks images are available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under Distribution