Throop Nature Park opens up an area of green space along the River Stour that will offer people more opportunity to get outside and explore the great outdoors, meet up with friends and family and improve their health and wellbeing.

Throop Nature Park will be a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG). The land is being converted into a SANG to offset the impact that new developments in the town centre have on protected heathland habitats. SANGs have been designed to provide an attractive environment to encourage passive recreational uses, including walking, cycling and dog walking.

Proposals for the land, which had previously been used primarily for private grazing, include a network of new paths, new tree and copse planting, protection of the river bank and the reinstatement of hedgerows to improve wildlife habitats. It will also include a new 20 space car park.

A revised planning application for phase 1 of c. 12 ha, was submitted in February 2021 and approved by planning committee on 12th August 2021. The construction programme is still to be determined.