Burrs Country Park to team up The Sunnywood Project

The popular park is expected to see the completed hub in January 2023 as the Sunnywood Project bring their idea to life.

Sunnywood Project (Image: Public)

The Bury charity said that being a parent in today's technology-led world is not easy and it’s fair to say a lot of activities are geared towards spending time indoors. 

They added that with entertainment bombarding children through PCs, tablets and mobile phones, parents often find themselves in a difficult spot. 

With this in mind, Marc and Sammy, founders of The Sunnywood Project, are set to open the new Sunnywood Hub in Burrs Country Park, Bury. 

Sunnywood Project (Image: Public)

Marc Young, from The Sunnywood Project, said “We know that spending time outdoors is incredibly important to support us in maintaining a mentally healthy lifestyle.

“We, therefore, wanted to provide a service that uses the outdoors as the main vehicle to truly enrich people’s lives – from our muddy toddler adventures to our brutal endurance events: we offer a huge range of outdoor events and activities for all ages and abilities – and the proceeds from these activities help to fund our important youth work.” 

After hearing that the time spent playing outdoors has halved in just one generation the Bury charity has made it their mission to get people back outdoors.

The new Sunnywood Hub aims to promote embracing the outdoors for the benefit of improving mental, physical and social well-being.

Sunnywood Project (Image: Public)

In addition, there are hopes that it can provide a calming alternative education and counselling setting for young people and the wider community. 

Cllr Jack Rydeheard, for Elton Ward, said "It's fantastic that the Sunnywood Project are opening this new hub, down at the Burrs.

“Sunnywood do great work getting children to enjoy, play and learn in the outdoors like I used to do and I encourage as many as possible to get involved." 

Funded and supported by individual donations, local council grants, local businesses and organisations like the National Lottery, a core goal of the hub is the help guide people and families into spending quality time outside.

It is hoped that doing this will show them how to mix modern ideas of play with more traditional values of spending quality time in the great outdoors. 

Sunnywood Project (Image: Public)

Cllr Charlotte Morris, for Elton Ward, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome The Sunnywood Project to a permanent home in Burrs Country Park.

“I’ve seen first-hand the fantastic work the team has done over the past couple of years since setting up during Covid and it’s fantastic to see them take this next step in their development. Many thanks, of course, to those officers at Bury Council who have helped to make this happen.  

“From putting on fun runs to supporting our most marginalised young people to connect with nature, and help their local community, The Sunnywood Project has fast established itself as one of Bury’s foremost nature-focussed social enterprises.

“I wish them all the best as they continue to grow and I look forward to continuing to work with The Sunnywood Project as they no doubt go from strength to strength.” 

It is anticipated that the Sunnywood Hub will be opened fully in January 2023.  

Donations towards equipment, resources and renovation work are being welcomed from the Sunnywood site here.

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