Helston is one of just three sites in Cornwall chosen to be part of a new wildlife project.

Coronation Park, along with two other small sites in Newquay and Launceston, will become thriving hubs for biodiversity and for local people to visit and enjoy.

The project – called Growing Communities Through Nature – is co-ordinated by the University of Exeter and aims to test different ways of getting the public involved in improving open spaces.

A £38,000 grant for the project is coming from UK Research and Innovation’s “Enhancing Place-Based Partnerships in Public Engagement” programme to fund it.

Melissa Muir, of the University of Exeter, said: “Two small grassy spaces will be transformed by local people, boosting both biodiversity and community engagement “The third is working with an existing community group and established park to work on an under-used corner.

“Although the general aim is to improve biodiversity and create spaces for local people to use, the design of these new spaces is very much up to those local people themselves.

“We want to encourage researchers, local government and local community organisations to work together to engage residents in the design of their local green spaces, highlighting what we can do in our local area to help mitigate climate change.”

Growing Communities Through Nature is a partnership between the University of Exeter, Cornwall Council, South Kerrier Alliance Community Interest Company and Cornwall’s Voluntary Sector Forum.

The project will test if working with established voluntary organisations and self-organised community groups leads to different levels of interest in the sites.

Professor Jane Wills, from the project, said: “We want people to engage more with local green spaces, and to understand how well different approaches work.

“If people are closely involved in the creation of sites, we hope they will also be more likely to use them in the future.

“Our results could help inform future improvements in Cornwall and further afield.”

To find out more, email Melissa Muir via mm815@exeter.ac.uk The project is one of 53 across the UK to win a share of £1.4 million from UK Research and Innovation.

Cornwall Council and the University of Exeter are already working together on an ambitious project called Making Space for Nature, which turns neglected open spaces into places for people and wildlife.

Growing Communities through Nature will complement the work being done within this project.