SHOPPERS AT BRIGG TESCO CAN BAG A SAY

FROM KIRSTY WESTFIELD, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

North Lincolnshire Council is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative for Ashbyville Nature Reserve in Scunthorpe. You can help decide how much.
Tesco has teamed up with Groundwork on its Bags of Help initiative, which see grants of £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 – all raised from the 5pm bag levy – being awarded to environmental and greenspace projects.
Three groups in each of Tesco’s 416 regions have been shortlisted to receive the cash award – North Lincolnshire Council being one of them.
Ashbyville Nature Reserve has no areas for sitting to enjoy the views and watch the wildlife. There are currently a lot of people who have picnics on the site but there are no facilities for this.
The growing number of visitors makes the site one of the most popular outdoor areas in Scunthorpe being used by jet skiers, fishermen, dog walkers, cyclists, families, local schools, mother and toddler groups, ramblers and bird spotters.
If the project receives the £8,000 grant it will be spent on seating and picnic areas. If one of the top amounts, £10,000 or £12,000 is received North Lincolnshire Council’s Environment Team will implement a nature trail through the woods and create seating and picnic areas.
This month, shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores in North Lincolnshire to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.
Voting is open in stores from 26 September to 9 October. Customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the checkout in store each time they shop.
This is the second round of the initiative; the first round saw approximately eight million shoppers vote in stores up and down the country earlier this year.
coun Neil Poole, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: 
“The Bags of Help initiative is a fantastic project that helps local communities. Ashbyville Nature Reserve has huge potential and with the help of this funding, we will be able to develop the area to meet visitors’ needs.
“In the last round of funding, we received £20,000 to improve a number of Local Nature Reserves across North Lincolnshire. This funding has made a big difference, so it is great that we have the opportunity to get further funding.
“Next time you visit a Tesco store, please make sure you cast your vote for Ashbyville Nature Reserve.”
Lindsey Crompton, Head of Community at Tesco, said:
“The first round of the Bags of Help initiative was a fantastic success.
“In total 1,170 community groups were awarded £8,000, £10,000 or £12,000 – that’s a massive £11.7m being invested in local projects.
“We are already seeing some great results from groups transforming their own environmental and greenspace areas.
“We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for round two. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlist and we can’t wait to see them come to life in hundreds of communities.”
Groundwork’s national Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said: “Bags of Help is giving our communities both the funding and the support to create better, healthier and greener places for everyone to enjoy.
“We’ve been thrilled to see the diversity of projects that have applied for funding, ranging from outdoor classrooms, sports facilities, community gardens, play areas and everything in between.
“They are all fantastic projects that make a real difference in our neighbourhoods.
“We’re looking forward to learning the results of the customer vote and then supporting each group to bring their project to life.”

PICTURED: The Tesco store, Brigg, off Barnard Avenue. Three groups in each of Tesco’s 416 regions have been shortlisted to receive the cash award – North Lincolnshire Council being one of them.