Councillor Roger Harington, chair of the Climate Change Partnership  will formally open the 20 space bike shed at 3pm on Tuesday 12^th March at The Conservation Volunteers, Hollybush in Kirkstall Leeds.LS5 3BP

Our 20 space bike shed has a simple frame made of green larch with a living roof of sedum and other plants (aka Green roof).  The project involved over 60 different volunteers over 10 days, installing the metal anchor points to the concrete foundation blocks, assembling the timber frame, constructing the roof with a water proof membrane and then adding the growing medium and the plants followed by all the fine details. It was a great empowerment project with some experienced volunteers using their carpentry knowledge and some novice volunteers who had never used a power drill before.

Funding came from two sources, the main part  was funded as part of our Reaching Communities grant from the Big Lottery.  There was some very welcome extra help from Sustrans through Department for Transport ‘Links to Schools & Communities’ grant

Sustrans enables people to choose healthier, greener and cheaper journeys, and was delighted to provide a grant of towards the installation of covered cycle storage at TCV Hollybush. The Centre is situated close to the Aire Valley Towpath, part of the National Cycle Network, and it’s a direct traffic-free route to Leeds city centre and rail station. Good bike facilities make cycling a great transport option for Hollybush volunteers and staff.

Big Lottery, Reaching Communities is funding the Volunteer Support and Inclusion Project at Hollybush for 2011-15. This has enabled The Conservation Volunteers to expand its activity at Hollybush by 2 sessions each week and offer more comprehensive support to those volunteering long term.

The Bike Shed provides covered storage and is frequently full, a great demonstration of a green travel policy in action. Many staff and volunteers come in by bike and some staff use bikes to get to meetings in the City Centre and further afield. “All this is great for our health, good to reduce emissions for everyone and leaves space in the car park for others” say John Preston West Yorkshire Manager “It is also important as Environmental organization to be seen to live our values, and lastly it has added a much admired aesthetic feature to Hollybush”

For more information please contact John Preston on 07801 686 035  or J.Preston@tcv.org.uk