Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park
- How we built the building!

David Bellamy joined 200 guests on Tuesday 15 October to declare the new Parkridge Centre in Brueton Park, Solihull, officially open.  His opening speech followed welcomes and thanks from the Mayor, Cllr Mrs Kate Wilde, Mr John Cutts from Parkridge Holdings and Trust Chief Executive Dr Andy Tasker.

Last-minute fitting out included the new counter and displays, plus even more painting.  Outside, the paths were completed by Middlemarch Environmental Ltd, with two new patios and a pond.  Then lots of cleaning, dusting and polishing to make it all ready for the grand opening on 15th October!

We have now got the keys to the building - and need your help!  We are recruiting new volunteers to help finish the interior of the Centre - and then run it!  Call us on 024 7630 8999 for details.

With the door and window shutters now fitted, the building shell is nearing completion.  The next stage will be the internal fitting out, with painting, decorating and installing all the exciting new features...

 
The Shutters are up - and down!

June saw the start of the roof construction, with the characteristic curve of the new building now clearly visible. 

On with the roof!

May 2002 - Rotary Club Donation received
The generous donation of £14,500 from the Rotary Club of Solihull was received on 31 May at a presentation in the new Centre.  Pictured below are Pam Bankes Gregory and Andy Tasker (from the Trust) and Rev John Bradford, incoming President of Rotary.  The money will support fitting out the new Education Centre.  

April 2002 - Work well underway
The Parkridge Centre is being built by local company Tompkins Construction Ltd, and by April all foundations were completed and the walls were beginning to rise up!

  

Work underway at the Parkridge Centre

13 February 2002 - Mayor Digs Foundations

The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Mrs Beryl Kellie, dug a ceremonial turf to officially start the construction of the newly named Parkridge Centre to be built and operated by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Many supporters of the £300,000 Centre were present at the ceremony including Alan Stainforth, Financial Director of Parkridge Holdings who, through their £100,000 donation, are main sponsors of the project. Also at the gathering were representatives from business park developers Prologis Developments Ltd, who have donated £25,000, along with other major sponsors, plus Councillors and community leaders.

   
L-R: Dr Andy Tasker (Trust Chief Executive), Alan Stainforth, (Financial Director of Parkridge Holdings), Cllr Mrs Beryl Kellie (Mayor of Solihull) - plus a young helper! 

With the help of the RSPCA three ducks and geese have been successfully re-located form the Nature Area to the pool in the park.  This will enable them to be cared for by local volunteers while the Nature Area itself is closed during the construction work.

22 January 2002

Work is now starting on the temporary access road to the Nature Area, which will enable construction traffic to get safely to the new Centre.  Once the Centre has been built, the road will be removed to return the park into its former glory.

The Centre is being constructed by local builders Tompkins Construction Ltd, and work should be completed before June 2002.  Thanks to local volunteers and the Trust's NatureForce team, the area has been cleared ready for the work to commence.

 
Volunteer Ron Hill and Centre Manager Natalie Reed 
moving one of the felled trees at the site 
of the new Brueton Park Centre.

 All the felled trees will be used on site, and even the wood-chip will be used for the base of a new junior play area.

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Last updated 19 March, 2003