Run-down Keresley trouble-spot to be transformed by residents

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Keresley Parish Council have big plans for Jubilee Wood



Residents are racing to transform tired woodland in time for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

Jubilee Wood, in Keresley, was created as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 and includes several memorial trees.

It is a valuable community asset, but in recent years has become run-down, attracting fly-tippers and anti-social behaviour.

The memorial wood is used mainly by dog walkers, runners and by local residents for daily exercise.

But Cllr Matthew Dille of Keresley Parish Council told CoventryLive they have big plans to rejuvenate the area, with hopes it will be done in time for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

"During the pandemic especially, the maintenance has been minimal, we are only really in a position now to get a group like this in motion, it's not necessarily our responsibility to do that but we are the parish council and Jubilee Woods, even though it's not ours, we would really like to get in good shape for the community to enjoy" he said.

Watery Lane-based Jubilee Woods is three hectares, and filled with native trees and hedges.

Owned by Coventry City Council and overseen by the local park rangers, Cllr Dille has appealed to the community to help clean up the woods.

"[There have been] examples in the past year of anti social behaviour, fly-tipping, an abandoned car, nitrous oxide canisters, that sort of thing.

"It's like the broken window theory, if you let somewhere look rundown and tired it can start to attract other forms of anti- social behaviour."

Adding: "It's not that the area is unloved, lots of people use it but lots of people use it for the wrong reasons too, if we can get it in a good state we can detract away from these issues."

Councillor Dille said he is working with Cllr Nukey Proctor to "breathe life into Jubilee Woods" so it can become a thriving environment for wildlife and the local community.

And mentioning future plans, he said: "At the moment there's one way in one way out, as a broader vision I would like to see multiple entrances so that people aren't restricted.

"If we really want to make something of it then it needs the involvement of everyone to help the community enjoy the space.

"A good tidy up by June would be nice, and then it would take some months and years for the other things to come into fruition."

Keresley Parish Council is looking for volunteers for their monthly litter picking event, with the first on January 30 and Jubilee Wood Action Day on February 12.

To get involved with either event contact clerk@keresley-pc.gov.uk or on the Parish Council Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/keresleyparishcouncil