Poole based W H White Limited and Canford Park Sports Ltd are delighted to announce the opening of Canford Park SANG on 1 June 2019.
AN OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 10.30AM ON SATURDAY 1 JUNE. THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A GUIDED WALK PROVIDED BY DORSET DOGS - EVERYONE WELCOME.
The ceremony will be held at the SANG car park and attended by other local dignitaries and representatives from Dorset Dogs and apprentices from Cobham who have helped created the SANG entrance sign.
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What is a SANG? A SANG is a “Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace” and is like a country park. The primary purpose of a SANG is to provide an alternative area of greenspace to protect other greenspaces of ecological and environmental value which are under intense recreational pressure. A SANG provides important mitigation to reduce recreational pressures on sensitive habitats and to ensure that tourism and new development do not have a negative impact on areas with environmental and ecological value. |
Canford Park SANG will deliver, over a series of phases, a 44 hectare Riverside Country Park (the size of 61 football pitches) alongside the River Stour providing beautiful natural parkland with a network of circular riverside walks, ecological hotspots and leisure trails which can be enjoyed by everyone.
In the case of the Canford Park SANG, it will provide an attractive area of natural parkland open to everyone to protect the Dorset Heathlands by providing an alternative natural landscape for outdoor activities. The SANG will therefore protect the integrity of the Heathlands as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC). over 3,000 new trees have been planted on the site and over 150 native Beech trees have been transplanted on the site.
Planning permission for the Riverside Country Park has already been granted and the delivery of the SANG will come forward in stages, primarily funded by new development in the local area.
Work is currently underway on the first phase of the SANG which is due to open at 10.30am on 1 June and is associated with Barratt David Wilson Homes’ Canford Paddock development. This first stage will consist of approximately 14.3 hectares of park land between Magna Road and the former Canford Magna Golf Club.
Other developments, such as the allocation for Land North of Poole in the adopted Poole Local Plan (November 2018), will enable the release of further phases the extent of which will be agreed through the planning process with the Council and Natural England.
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In the first instance, the initial 14.3 hectare area of SANG will provide: - Circular walking paths with varied routes - A wide range of benches and way markers and dog waste and litter bins - A dedicated fenced dog training area - Interpretation board showing a map of the SANG and identifying key features and ecological areas of interest - Ranger hut for Park Rangers who will, in time, maintain the wider SANG - An easily accessible car park for SANG visitors from further afield |
A representative from Canford Park Sports Ltd said:
“We are delighted to be confirming the opening of Canford Park SANG which will provide an attractive natural parkland open to the entire community at no cost to the tax payer. Canford Park SANG will allow local people to enjoy riverside access and explore the natural environment whilst also helping to protect Dorset Heathlands from recreational pressure”.
“In preparing the site, we have planted over 3,000 new trees on the site and have transplanted over 150 native Beech trees.”
Canford Park SANG will provide a perfect environment for dog walking and will include a purpose built and fenced dog training area where residents can safely train their dogs.
Sue from Dorset Dogs said:
“Dorset Dogs is all about ‘love dogs, love nature’ so we’re really looking forward to exploring this beautiful new park where dogs are especially welcomed. People can come and enjoy friendly, fun and free walkies with us at Canford Park, and our big annual event, Dorset Dogs Festival, is being held here on 17 August.
“It’s so exciting to have a truly dog-friendly area where dogs can enjoy off-lead exercise all year round in such a beautiful riverside setting, whilst reducing impacts on areas with more sensitive wildlife (such as heathlands, where rare bird species like nightjar nest on the ground). We hope lots of people will join us to explore Canford Park!”
ENDS