Severn Valley Country Park to get new £400,000 visitor centre

Severn Valley Country Park is extending and renovating its visitor centre following a successful grant application.

Shropshire Council's Outdoor Partnerships Team applied to the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and received a grant worth £295,839.

A further £115,161 is being contributed by the park, based in Alveley, near Bridgnorth, resulting in a total of £411,000 being spent on the renovation.

The project hopes to strengthen the site's position as a top tourist destination within the Severn Valley.

The new building will have a larger interpretation space to tell visitors about the history and wildlife of the park, and the cafe will also be improved and enlarged.

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Consultancy, based in Gloucestershire, have been appointed to design and build the new centre.

The team have designed visitor centres on country parks all over the world.

Well-loved

The plans are currently being finalised, with construction planned to start in January next year.

The new facilities are set to open by June.

Councillor Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: "Severn Valley Country Park is well-loved by locals and visitors alike.

"The team at Shropshire Council are working hard to bring the park into a cost-neutral position.

"The new visitor centre will enable the staff and volunteers to deliver more top quality public events and safeguard the future of this wonderful facility."

Councillor Tina Woodward, ward member for Alveley and Claverley, said: "With the support of the Rural Development Programme, this project will update the visitor welcome facilities and interpretation to reflect the parks position as a top-class tourist destination and green flag award winning site."

Councillor Dave Tremellen, ward member for Highley, said: "The natural and cultural heritage of Severn Valley Country Park is extremely rich.

"This is an amazing opportunity to upgrade the visitor centre and create an amazing space in which to share stories of local wildlife and history with visitors of all ages, school children and groups."