Local Conservation Group receives Heritage funding 

The Forest Town Nature Conservation Group are celebrating after receiving £8,500 worth of Heritage Lottery Funding, in order to study the history of Spa Ponds Nature Reserve – known locally as “Gara Ponds”. 

Spa Ponds is located off Clipstone Drive near Garibaldi Wood in Forest Town, Mansfield. FTNCG is the volunteer-run charity who bought Spa Ponds in 2014 with help from the community of Forest Town. 

Commenting on the award of the grant, FTNCG Secretary Lorraine Dowen said: “I am hugely excited and grateful to be part of a project that will skill-up local volunteers to research this amazing and as yet unexplored medieval site, recently purchased by the community and now held in trust for future generations.”

Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, added “Our Sharing Heritage programme helps local communities embark on a journey of discovery to find out more about an aspect of their areas heritage. The Gara Ponds will be known to many in Mansfield, but few will be aware of their 700 year history and its great that this project will involve dozens of volunteers in revealing their untold stories”

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