18 - Lottery bid to resurrect Wren’s Nest plans

 

A fresh bid to fund plans for Wren’s Nest National Nature Reserve, which includes providing access to the Seven Sisters limestone mine entrance, has been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

 

Following the disappointment of missing out on the televised People’s Millions £50 million lottery jackpot, Dudley Council has moved quickly to ensure the exciting plans on and beneath the nature reserve still become a reality.

 

The council is keen to push ahead with these initial proposals, which in the future will see a visitor and learning centre created above the world renowned Seven Sisters mines and subterranean canal basin. The cost to realise these first stage plans would be just over £1.1 million and the council is seeking £799,971 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help fund the development.

 

The proposal which has now been submitted to HLF is called ‘Ripples through Time’ can be broken down into two main areas – ‘Physical development’ and ‘People and Programmes’.  

 

The physical developments to the national nature reserve would include improvements to entrances, paths, steps and fencing and the creation of a new accessible route around the reserve.

 

In addition, the project will renew external access to the principal scheduled ancient monument feature of the nature reserve, the Seven Sisters caverns. The caverns have been fenced off and inaccessible to the public for the last seven years.

 

Through the plans, visitors will be able to interpret and learn about the site and how 420 million years of geology led to the Black Country becoming the ‘workshop of the world’.  This will be done through integrated, site-wide interpretation of the nature reserve and its features, including the Seven Sisters through art installations, lighting and sculpture

 

Learning resources including on-site and outreach programmes, website development, downloadable learning packages such as podcasts and expanded guided walks, talks and special events would also be provided.

 

Meanwhile a learning and community development officer would be employed to encourage volunteer development and help establish a Community Partnership Group. The officer would also encourage involvement of local young people in the development of the proposals.

 

 

“The overall project objectives will be to conserve and enhance the nature reserve, its canal links, geology, natural history, unique mining features and infrastructure and allow safe access to them.

 

"We are confident that this first phase bid will help to realise the diverse potential of Wren's Nest for natural and cultural heritage and conserve its features of international, national and local importance for future generations."

 

“So many local people supported the project when we were up for the £50million, so we really want to make sure that it becomes a reality.”

 

The application will now go through a six month assessment process before a decision is made in September. If the council’s stage one bid is successful a six month detailed design process, with additional community consultation, will then take place. Work could then begin on the scheme in September next year and all the site access improvements completed during 2011.

 

Meanwhile Dudley Council will continue to seek additional funding to stabilise the caverns before re-opening them as a visitor attraction.