A RAFT of environmental, cultural heritage and community improvements will be unveiled at Stover Country Park later this month.

The public launch event, which takes place from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday, November 16, will offer people the opportunity to be among the first to see the benefits of the Restoring Stover Park Project.

Visitors will be able to follow a two-hour trail that takes in all the varied aspects of the Restoring Stover Park Project, including a new community workshop and upgraded visitor centre.

The trail will also explore the conservation work which has been carried out to restore the gatehouse and there will be a chance to learn about the de-silting of Stover Lake.

The Restoring Stover Park Project has been made possible thanks to a grant of £2,084,600 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, together with several other organisations.

In 2019, National Highways’ funding enabled Devon County Council and the Stover Country Park team to deliver a giant reedbed filtration system to help improve water quality and enhance biodiversity and wildlife habitats within the Nature Reserve bordering the A38.

The initial scheme was designed to capture and filter water run-off from the A38, among other pollutants, and this has since brought twofold benefits – not only seeing significant improvements in water quality but also an increase in bird and invertebrate species within the Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Five years on, and further company funding has helped the Stover Park team to deliver the second phase of the environmental and biodiversity work, seeing the de-silting of Stover Lake – an initiative which is hoped to see white water-lilies return to the lake.

The Restoring Stover Park Project has also seen the restoration of the historic Grade II listed gatehouse, a newly built community workshop and an extended and upgraded visitor centre.

The improvements will have longstanding benefits and local communities will be able to see these first hand during the launch event.

Numbers to the public opening event are limited and people have the chance to book a two-hour slot, on a first come, first served basis; choose from either: 9.30am to 11.30am, 12pm to 2pm or 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Bookings can be made via the Eventbrite website.

Admission to one of the two-hour sessions being charged £2 per car – the same price as parking for two hours.

For more information visit the Stover Country Park website.