A GENEROUS Lottery grant is funding the creation of a new trail in Great Ayton celebrating butterflies and other pollinators.

Moor Sustainable CIC has received a Heritage Fund grant of £9,900 to create a rubbings trail along the town’s High Street.

Next May will see the launch of the trail when an activity booklet and leaflet will be available from the Tourist Information section of The Discovery Centre.

An augmented reality app will also be available to download from the Visit Great Ayton website.

The project focuses on the story of Great Ayton’s High Street through the eyes of pollinators from the earliest records to planting for the future.

Over the past year the Brighten Up Great Ayton group, with the support of Great Ayton Parish Council, has been developing areas of planting to be attractive to pollinators around the village.

The planting is based on a plan for pollinators developed by local expert botanist Martin Allen.

As part of developing the plan, Mr Allen looked at19th century ordnance survey maps of the village and spotted that there used to be lots of small orchards.

This led to the planting of a mini-orchard supported by Broadacres Housing Association.

Caryn Loftus, of Moor Sustainable CIC, who instigated the development of the pollinator plan, was intrigued by the historic maps and came up with the idea to undertake and share the results of research to see how the planting for pollinators has changed over time as the village has developed.

She said: “We are delighted to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and look forward to helping residents and visitors to Great Ayton find out more about the history of planting in the village and how we can further improve planting to support more pollinating insects given our changing climate.”

Members of Great Ayton History Society are helping to further explore local maps that might help with the research and Ms Loftus would love to hear from any residents who have memories of, or remnants of, old orchards, old garden planting plans with house deeds or any paintings/old photographs of planting in gardens in the village.

She would also like to hear from anybody who has recently planted fruit trees or are planning a mini-orchard in Great Ayton.

Anyone who can help the research can contact Ms Loftus on 07773-048250 or carynloftus@moorsustainable.org.uk .