An unused old all-weather bowling green in Barrow has found a new life as a sensory trail for all ages.
The green at the Abbotsvale Community Centre hadn’t been used for years and has now had been transformed into the Abbotsvale Oasis.
It now has an accessible path installed with funding from Travel Actively, along with sensory elements such as mirrors and coloured textures funded by a grant from windfarm company Ørsted. Sponsorship for the building materials came from MKN Building Supplies and further sponsorship has come from Westmorland and Furness Council. In total the new facility has cost £80,000.
Jean Waiting from Abbotsvale Community Centre said: “something that wasn’t being used is back in use, and it will be used. People are coming all the time. Whether you are disabled, whether you’re with a child or whether you’re old, it’s for everybody.”
The trail is already being used by children at the Cheeky Monkeys pre-school nursery on site to learn to ride balance bikes. 3 year old Arthur loves to ride over the “bumpy bits” where pebbles have been set into the path. “That’s my favourite, I love to go there!”
It’s also being welcomed by Jack Bunting, the Manager of nearby Vale House, who said it is a “really positive thing. We have a variety of service users with varying levels of needs. To have different areas where they can go is absolutely ideal for their needs.”
Alf Hadley, who is visually impaired, thinks the new trail is “absolutely brilliant. It’s what’s been needed in this area.”
The new facility is being formally opened on Monday 21st July at 11am, with the day also featuring a balance bike session from 10 (please pre-book this via 01229 830900 or abbotsvale@gmail.com), an intergenerational walk at 11.30, lunch at 12, a litter hitters walk around the centre and park at 12.30, and a chair aerobic session at 1.15. In addition Barrow on Bikes will be in attendance to help with bike maintenance and other bike-related tasks.