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Bowesfield Park, which sits on the banks of the River Tees in Stockton, is a fully integrated mixed-use scheme that was designed by regional employer Banks Property to have substantial wildlife habitats and recreational areas sitting alongside commercial and residential spaces.
The conservation area is now well used by local residents, dog walkers and employees working on the site, and has matured over the last decade to encompass a wide range of thriving flora and fauna.
Current commercial occupiers at the site include BHP Law, Archers Law, Handelsbanken, Audi, Lexus, and Toyota, while there are also around 236 homes already built across the 35-hectare site, and plans to build a further 185 in the future.
Successful North East nursery chain Kids 1st established its tenth premises in the region at Bowesfield Park last year, with the opportunities provided by the conservation area playing a large part in the decision to locate the nursery there.
Alison Winship, head of childcare at Kids 1st Nurseries, says: “The Bowesfield site offered the space we needed, both within the nursery and around the local area, to provide children with the opportunity to be active and get out and about, which ties in with the overall Kids 1st philosophy.
“Since opening the nursery we have developed the ‘Mini Rangers’ programme and work closely with Tees Valley Wildlife Trust to develop the children’s interest in the outdoors.”
Jeremy Garside, chief executive at Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, which owns and manages the Wildlife Conservation Area, adds: “The area has proved exceptionally valuable for wildlife – we are delighted with its success and also that it can be enjoyed by the local community.
“The pools and reed-beds have attracted huge numbers of birds. More than 100 different species of bird have been recorded, and at some times of the year, we have counted nearly a thousand birds on the site at any one time, including nationally-important numbers of ducks and wading birds such as teal and curlew.”
Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at The Banks Group, says: “The nature reserve was created as one of the first steps in the Bowesfield Park project and it has matured into a facility that is highly valued by those who live and work there, as well as others in the surrounding communities.
“Bowesfield Park’s excellent transport links, its proximity to Thornaby, Stockton, Darlington and Middlesbrough, and the huge appeal of the nature reserve have all combined to make it a very impressive development which has opportunities for further residential and commercial space to come forward, and as a North East company, we are proud to have brought it forward.”