Project Title

POCKET PARKS

Code

L10

Project summary

Small parks or gardens could be set up and maintained by local people. Any theme or idea could be developed, including: butterfly garden, sensory, seasonal, exotic, water, food production, wild flowers, Victorian, fruit production, bring your own plant. Examples of good practice include the Peace Garden in Upperthorpe, Northamptonshire Pocket Parks and Blake Street.

Project management

Community consultation.
Design and funding.
Produce management plan explaining when and how maintenance should be carried out.
Environmental stewards or local people to monitor site.

Project locations

Small sites.

Planning permission

usually NO

Project links

Litter and fly tipping strategy (A1)
Amenity facilities (A4)
Environmental stewards (A6)
Community tools (C1)
Community composting (C5) could use organic waste and provide compost if needed
Young persons environment team (C7)
Recycling centre (E3)
Landscape improvements - wall climbers (L3), herb spirals (L8), lavender hedges (L9), butterfly gardens (L15) and community orchards (L16)
Depending on a parks content, they could form part of a trail (T1, T2, T3, T4)
Community gardens (V7) may provide advice and plants.

Economic Implications

Funding - set up costs

Design and landscaping for some, although they may be very simple.
May need signs, seating, lighting and fences, etc.

Funders: LPF, Millennium Gardens, Shell Better Britain, Aspects, SCC Small Grants Fund, NOF.

Funding - running costs

Tools available from SSVUDP.
Running costs in general should be reasonably low with full community participation.

Employment

For hard landscaping and other work not suited to voluntary involvement, local contractors would be used.

Tourism

The improved landscape will make the area more attractive and interesting to visitors.

Social Implications

Community involvement

A great deal of community consultation and hands-on involvement is desirable to ensure low cost and long-term success.
Good community capacity building exercise.

Schools involvement

Good opportunity for schools to get involved and teach local children about design, gardening, art, etc.

Recreational benefits

Local interest
Pleasant places to visit and walk
Areas for quiet and solitude

Environmental Implications

Local Agenda 21

This type of project offers a good opportunity for local people to get involved in a local project which may, depending on the project, improve local biodiversity and sustainability.

Wildlife

Potential to provide valuable wildlife habitat.

Project viability

Constraints

Pocket parks may attract gangs, but if the park is situated with thought this could be avoided or restricted to sites away from housing.
Potential target for vandalism.
Regular management and litter picks will be required, although these can help to bond local people with a common aim.