THE Countess of Chester Country Park could soon welcome some new amenities, following a wealth management company awarding it a grant of £500.

Equilibrium Financial Planning’s community support scheme donates funds to organisations and charities near its headquarters in Cheshire, and Friends of the Countess of Chester Country Park has used the money to install a permanent orienteering course in the park.

The Friends, which help develop and conserve the park, have installed marker posts, orienteering station discs, fix posts, purchased course leaflets and bought an interpretation board for the start and finish of the course.

Morag Scargill from Friends of the Countess of Chester County Park, said: “We’d like to thank Equilibrium for this vital funding, which will allow us to install the set orienteering trails and update them in the future.

“Our focus for 2020 is to develop outdoor facilities and activities which can be used whilst Covid-19 restrictions are in place, when indoor activities are very limited.

"We particularly want to provide for those who may be anxious as they come out of lockdown by working with some of these people in small groups with a qualified leader.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming people to our new orienteering space.”

Equilibrium’s community support scheme was set up in 2015 to award grants ranging from £100 to £500 to community organisations and charities in Cheshire East, Greater Manchester and Chester and District.

With this latest handful of grants, the wealth management company has awarded over £28,000 in funds to community groups.

The scheme forms a part of the company’s wider charitable strategy, anchored by the Equilibrium Foundation – which has a current donation goal of £4m by 2028.

Potential applicants can visit https://www.eqllp.co.uk/the-foundation/chester-and-district-community-support-scheme