Exhibits to be overhauled at Craven Arms visitor centre
A tourist centre has bagged funding for an overhaul of its exhibitions and displays.
The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre will get European funding as part of a drive to invest in the economy of south Shropshire, it has been agreed – though the exact amount has yet to be revealed.
Jade Marriott-Lodge, marketing and development manager at the Craven Arms centre, said it was just one of a handful of encouraging developments at the centre, including an increase in visiotr numbers on last year and the recent installation of a play area at the site.
She said: "What a great start it has been for 2017. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre relies on grant funding as well as income from visitors and the help of volunteers to keep the centre and adjoining meadows open for all to enjoy.
"Visitors to the centre are up by eight per cent compared to last year, which is fantastic and we also have some very exciting news. The centre’s application for LEADER funding to refresh the exhibition has been successful.
"This funding will make a significant improvement to our exhibition here at the centre. Alongside the mammoth, who will remain in his rightful home, we will be able to refresh the exhibition, bringing it up to date with new interactive exhibits and give us the flexibility to use the huge area currently taken up with the balloon film for other events as well as housing our new panoramic film.
"The changes to the exhibition will happen in stages, over the next few months with some interactivities installed for the start of the summer school holidays."
The LEADER programme is a funding stream introduced at the start of 2016, which will bring a €2.54 million (£2 million) investment into southern Shropshire,to boost the "economic wellbeing of the area through sustainable development", drawing on existing assets in the region.
The centre also recently bagged £10,000 from Tesco's Bags of Help scheme for a new outdoor play area that has now been installed.
Catherine Collier, general manager at the centre, said: “While visitors have always enjoyed everything we have to offer within our 30 acres of meadowland, we never had an area for children to simply play. This new playground, right next to the picnic area, is a whole new attraction.
"We are so pleased at the reaction we’ve had.
“And it’s not just for our visitors. We are based in an open access area, right next to Stokesay Primary School, so children from the school and local area have been able to make use of the equipment too.”
The new playground includes everything from spring animals and slides for toddlers, to balance beams for older children.
