The monthly newsletter for GreenSpace’s Community Network.

Issue 33: August 2006


July’s Park it! events a great success…
We want to hear from you…..a Million of you…..
A change is coming
NEW feature for Community Green Place !
Lottery £50m lays foundations for Community Buildings
Funding still top priority for parks
Every Action Counts!
Kids need parks staff to feel safe
Public asked for view of heritage
Best year yet for Green Flag awards

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July’s Park it! events a great success…
Park it! in Horsham
Hundreds of people completed the Sports Relief Mile as the Festival of Inclusion
kicked off with a storm on Saturday 15th July in Horsham Park , West Sussex .
One boy incredibly managed to pogo jump the entire mile, while an 89 year old
lady crossed the finish line in a remarkable time! From then on crowds reveled
in the music, entertainment and activities that took place throughout the day
and into the evening.

Many of the performers and stars in the film festival were from the local
community and had either a learning or physical disability. Visitors got the
chance to play table tennis, new-age curling and squash, whilst others opted for
a more relaxing option and visited the tipi for a Ki healing session. This
event was organised in partnership with The Circles Network, a national charity
dedicated to building inclusive communities.

Park it! in Kings Lynn
Gaywood Park, Kings Lynn returned to a scene from the past on 16th July when
hundreds of children dressed as pirates and sailors stormed the park with their
sea shanties and silver swords. Lord Nelson popped along to welcome the crowds
and the festivities lasted all afternoon. People brought their dogs along,
hoping to take home a Best in Show rosette from the Dog Show and were
entertained by a range of live music all afternoon, showcasing local bands and
musicians. Really popular activities included the Punch and Judy, mobile
library display and a sandcastle competition in a giant sandpit.

The event was organised in partnership with the Gaywood Park Action Group and
Greenspace’s Park it team. The Action Group is made up of residents
supporting their local park and community. The group successfully raised some
funds at the event, which will go towards their annual running costs and putting
on more events in the future.

Park it! in Stockton
The Friends of Ropner Park hosted their first major event on 16th July since the
recently completed Heritage Lottery Funded restoration. In line with the
beginnings of the park, a Victorian Fun Day was held. Over 5,000 people
attended and enjoyed a range of activities on a hot, sunny day.

‘Queen Victoria ’ took a turn around the park with a number of her 19th
Century counterparts. She visited a number of stalls and stopped to exchange
news with passers-by. It was reported that ‘Her Majesty’ enjoyed a tour of
the park in the horse and carriage rides that was in turn used by other
visitors.

A jazz band was on hand to greet people entering through the main gate, whilst
the newly restored bandstand played host to even more musicians. The crowds
were entertained by Dr Southall’s acrobatic show, falconry displays and Punch
& Judy. They could even try their hands at unicycling, drumming workshops, or
simply find a shady spot to listen to the music.

Park it! in London
Y3FD was the title of Southwark’s Park it! event with a difference held on
Sunday 31st July. This event had been organised and hosted by the Young Friends
of Southwark Park, whose ages range from 9 – 14 years old. The Young Friends
were successful in achieving an event for children, run by children. Adults
were only allowed if accompanied by a child. The only exception to this rule,
was the Mayor of Southwark who came along to congratulate the Young Friends.

In total, 500 people turned out to enjoy an afternoon of storytelling, Punch &
Judy, bouncy castles, sports activities and free fresh fruit. In addition, a
variety of musical acts entertained the crowd. Obviously, all the performers
were children or young adults!

Upcoming events in August…
Park it! in Manchester
The Friends of Gaskell Street Park, Newton Heath, Manchester are about to
celebrate the rewards of months of effort, planning their Park it! 2006 summer
event. ‘Back to the Future’ will be an event to remember, with it’s key
theme being the change of climate across Britain over time. Imaginatively the
group has focused on changes in the local environment to highlight their
park’s significance to the local community and rally ongoing support for the
efforts they are making to maintain the park as a community asset for everyone
to benefit from.

The event will host past, present and future zones where visitors can benefit
from varying climate change characteristics such as ice skating and beach life
as well as enjoy a healthy snack and having a go at Human Table Football. There
will also be traditional games to play and beauty therapies on offer for those
seeking a bit of pampering after the excitement of the ice rink.
Gaskell Street Park , Newton Heath, Manchester ,
Saturday 5th August, 12.00 – 4.00pm.

Park it! in Derry
Brooke Park will be hosting Derry ’s first ever Park it! event on Saturday 5th
August. The event has been organised by the Old Library Trust, The Feile and
the new Friends of Brooke Park. The event is entitled Picnic in the Park, and
organisers are hoping that local residents will do just that.

Picnic in the Park promises fun for all the family with bouncy castles, a
treasure hunt, face painting, balloon modeling, tree decorating and a wishing
tree for the kids. There will also be a number of sports events on the day with
a Mini-Soccer Competition and Bowling Fun. Derry City Football Club’s
successful Football in the Community scheme will be on hand with football fun
for all. The Picnic will also feature an exhibition on the history of Brooke
Park and a wide range of live music with local artists performing throughout the
day including Eamonn Friel, George Kelpie, Chadsko and Portabello.
Brooke Park, Derry , Northern Ireland ,
Saturday 5th August, 2pm – 5pm.

Park it! in Wales
‘The Park is Mine!’ has all the makings of a fantastic summer event for the
residents of the Merthyr and Rhondda area of south Wales . Parc Taf Bargoed,
Trelewis, is the site of 3 former deep shaft collieries and employed 2000 men
across the valley until the early 1990’s when the mines closed. The site
today has been transformed into a community park, with the National Climbing
Centre as one of its many features. ‘The Park is Mine’ festival will link
the historic significance of the site with the community today and the new
facilities on offer within the park. There will be mining and pit pony
displays, a crawl through mine shaft and a blacksmithy. Mingling actors will
recreate scenes from the past and children will be invited to have a go at old
fashioned games.

There will be a fantastic line up of live music and comedy all afternoon, from
local celebrity Owen Money and the Soul Sharks, the former Colliery Band and
local bands, Chris King and the Attic Plants and 7inch Giants. Falconry
Displays, high fly fishing demonstrations and kayaking will also take place
around the park’s lakes. Bring along your friends and neighbours for a great
afternoon of hands-on history and entertainment.
Parc Taf Bargoed, Trelewis, Treharris CF46 6RD
Saturday 19th August 11.00am – 5pm.

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We want to hear from you…..a Million of you…..
GreenSpace has recently launched the Million Voices campaign, which aims to
create a snap shot of what people think about their local parks and discover if
they are a delight or a disgrace. The Million Voices campaign is the first of
its kind to be undertaken in the UK and will encourage one million people to let
us know if their parks are brilliant or boring, a no-go-area or the place to be
or litter strewn or litter free.

This valuable information will help GreenSpace to gain a better understanding of
what people want from their local parks and will help managing organisations to
improve them for the benefit of the whole community.

Be one in a Million…..
Taking part is easy, simply log on to www.millionvoices.org.uk and take a few
minutes of your time to let us know what you think. Complete a questionnaire
online and you could win a copy of the Good Parks Guide (rrp £12.99), which
lists over 500 parks to discover and enjoy.

If you would like more information on this exciting campaign, or wish to find
out how your community group can help us reach our target of a Million Voices,
please email: dianaj@... or call 0118 946 9060.

A change is coming
GreenSpace’s latest conference, ‘A Climate of Change’, takes place on
Tuesday 19th September 2006 at Manchester Town Hall . It is supported by
Manchester City Council. The conference will look at the potential impact of
climate change on Britain ’s parks and consider their importance in providing
an environment more able to cope with its effects. Looking forward, the event
will aim to give practical guidance on how green space strategy and management
planning should start to take account of climate change. There will also be the
opportunity to take site tours to some of Manchester ’s parks to learn more
about the work being undertaken to provide high quality sustainable parks. Go
to www.green-space.org.uk/events/conference_aclimateofchange.htm to find out
more and book your place.

NEW feature for Community Green Place !
Over the next few months, Community Green Place will feature a new section…
the Community Profile. This will take the form of an informal interview with a
member of a community group based within the UK . It will reveal why the group
set up, the group’s main achievements and challenges, their future plans, and
key advice for other community groups. Hopefully, you will all find this
extremely useful, giving you the opportunity to network with other groups to
overcome any issues.

If you would like to find out more, or are interested in featuring in this
section over the coming months, please contact Amanda Outen on 0118 946 9060 or
email amandao@....

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Lottery £50m lays foundations for Community Buildings
Grants of between £50,000 and £500,000 are available to improve, replace or
introduce a building into a community that provides services and activities to
meet the needs of a range of people. The programme is open to voluntary or
community organizations, which includes charities, unincorporated associations,
not-for-profit companies, credit unions, self-help groups or co-operatives,
faith based community organisations, as well as parish councils.

Under Community Buildings, the Big Lottery Fund will give out grants that
broaden access to and increase the use of existing services; create a greater
number and wider range of new services; improve opportunities for the community
to access a wide range of learning; and improve the skills, knowledge and
capacity to respond to community needs. Applications to the Community Buildings
programme will be assessed in two stages and applicants wanting to apply for a
grant, must submit their first stage application form by 30 April 2007. For more
information and to apply, visit
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/pr_110706_eng_cb_lottery__50_millions_lay_found\
ations_for_community_hubs?regioncode=-uk.

Environmental and land-based subsidised training available
Lantra has received funding from the European Social Fund to provide subsidised
training to employees. Funding of up to £450 is available to people living or
working in parts of England , in an environmental or land-based industry and who
are over 19 years old. For more information, go to
www.lantracoursefinder.co.uk.

Funding still top priority for parks
Operating parks in partnership with the private sector can be successful if both
parties work together but the key to healthy London green spaces is more
funding, according to Lewisham council parks regeneration manager Martin Hyde.
Speaking at a recent London Parks & Green Spaces Forum meeting, Hyde said there
was debate about the type of service delivery that best suited green spaces and
parks in London but everyone agreed that increased and sustained funding was
vital. To find out more, go to www.hortweek.com.

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Every Action Counts!
‘Every Action Counts' is a new exciting initiative to support the work of
community groups, community workers and voluntary and community sector
organisations in England. It will be a one-stop-shop for guidance on working
positively with your local community, learning from the experiences of other
groups. It is supported by Defra and delivered through a consortium of
voluntary and community sector organisations. Log onto the website and keep up
to date with any exciting developments as this initiative gets going over the
next few weeks and months. To find out more, visit
http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/index.htm.

Kids need parks staff to feel safe
Two out of three children would feel safer playing in parks if there were park
keepers on duty, a survey of 211 children aged ten to 16 has found. The survey,
by Carrick James Market Research, contributed to a study by the Commission for
Architecture and the Built Environment, which wants every urban park in England
to have dedicated staff on site during daylight hours. Park managers believe
that having staff on site has a major impact on reducing the levels of
anti-social behaviour. Maldon Council in Essex reported that vandalism in parks
had halved over the last two years since on-site staff were introduced. In its
report ‘Playing Out’, the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management
identified bullying by older children, traffic and criminal or anti-social
behaviour as being the key fears of parents. For more information, visit
www.londonplay.org.uk.

Greening the Games gathers momentum
Supporters of the Greening the Games campaign met in London on Monday to review
progress and debate the next steps for the campaign, which seeks to ensure the
London 2012 Olympics is a showcase for UK horticulture. There is a particular
interest in how trees, shrubs and turf can help to deliver a carbon-neutral
games. Skills issues are also high on the Olympic agenda. For more
information, visit http://www.hortweek.com/news_story.cfm?ID=1988.

Public asked for view of heritage
A national crusade is under way to promote history and heritage in our gardens
and beyond. The ‘History Matters’ campaign aims to raise awareness and
build support for heritage across England and Wales by asking members of the
public what heritage mean to them. Weston Park , near Telford , is starting the
campaign with a postcard promotion. Visitors will record their views on why
history matters and what they would pass on to future generations. The Historic
Houses Association is leading the campaign, with English Heritage, the National
Heritage Memorial Fund, Hertiage Lottery Fund and Civic Trust. For more
information, visit www.historymatters.org.uk.

Entries invited to BURA’s Awards for Community Inspired Regeneration
The British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) has launched its call for
entries to the 2006 Awards for Community Inspired Regeneration. These awards
celebrate best practice in community inspired and led regeneration in urban and
rural areas across the United Kingdom . The closing date for entries to this
year’s awards is 21st September 2006. For further information visit
http://firsthand.bura.org.uk or contact BURA on 020 7539 4030 or
awards@....

Horticultural employers' views sought on national Specialised Diploma
From September 2009, a qualification designed by horticultural employers will be
available to 14 to 19 year olds in England . The Land-based and Environmental
Specialised Diploma is offering employers a rare opportunity to influence the
content and structure of a national qualification. It will ensure that young
people have the essential knowledge, capabilities and personal skills that
employers need, giving them a fast track into their chosen career.

The development of the Diploma is being led by Lantra, the Sector Skills
Council. A consultation is now underway and Lantra is urging employers working
in the production horticulture industry to have their say. To get involved, all
you have to do is visit the new Land-based and Environmental Diploma website at
www.diplomalbe.co.uk and complete a short questionnaire. You can also sign up
for the latest news on developments and be kept informed on new areas of
consultation. Further information about the Specialised Diploma is available on
www.diplomalbe.co.uk.

Your Place or Mine? Engaging New Audiences with Heritage
Your Place or Mine? is a major national conference about broadening
participation in heritage for practitioners and policy makers working in
heritage or with communities. It is taking place in Manchester Town Hall on 2nd
and 3rd November 2006 and is being run by English Heritage and the National
Trust. Experts from community groups, and heritage, arts and cultural
organisations will be leading practical workshops on topics from how to make
sustainability real to engaging young people with heritage. The full programme
and booking forms can now be downloaded from
www.english-heritage.org.uk/yourplaceormine or phone Helen Charlton at Sussex
Arts Marketing on 01273 882 112 to be sent a copy.

Best year yet for Green Flag awards
A record number of Green Flag awards have been presented to the nation’s parks
and green spaces. About 500 parks were entered in the competition, now in its
10th year, with 423 reaching the necessary benchmark and being allowed to fly a
Green Flag. In 2005, 322 parks achieved the required level, up from 253 winners
in 2004. The scheme, which is managed by the Civic Trust, is the national
standard for parks and green spaces. For more information, visit
www.greenflagaward.org.uk.

Green spaces vital in helping boost bee populations
Parks and gardens can help to reverse the decline in British bee species and the
flowers which depend on them, according to a leading bee researcher.
Apparently, gardens and parks make up 20% of flower-rich land in the UK and many
bee species use them. Sometimes individual bees are dependant on one or two
flower species and there are other plant species that depend on particular
insects to pollinate them. Therefore, sowing specialist plants rather than
using generalist species like roses would help both bees and plants. To read
the full article, go to www.hortweek.com.

Restoring the land with compost
A new report by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) examines the role
that compost can play in a brownfield site setting. With the Government
promoting brownfield site development, developers are continually searching for
cost effective methods to make land suitable for purpose, whilst becoming
increasingly mindful of helping to build sustainable communities. Compost made
from recycled organic waste addresses both of these issues and can play an
important role in land restoration projects - it is already being used cost
effectively in the manufacture of replacement topsoil.

Supported by CL:AIRE (Contaminated Land: Applications in Real Environments),
‘Restoring the Land with Compost’ offers an insight into the significant
role compost is starting to play on brownfield sites, its importance in the
future and outlines why the benefits of compost are being acknowledged more and
more. For more information, visit www.wrap.org.uk/document.rm?id=2386.

Bodies draw up plant strategy
An action plan to promote the conservation of cultivated plants has been
launched by the National Council for the Conservation of Plants & Gardens and
the RHS. The action plan aims to foster greater knowledge of conservation
issues relating to cultivated plants in the horticultural sector, among
legislators and the public. For more information, visit www.nccpg.com.

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COMMUNITY GREEN PLACE is the online newsletter of GreenSpace aimed specifically
at community groups. It reports on community green space issues across the
country and the work of organisations and groups that take an interest in the
spaces.

To be removed from the list reply to this email with ‘remove’ in the subject
header. To add someone to the Community Green Place mailing list reply to this
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Do you like this newsletter? But more importantly, what don’t you like, and
what don’t you think works? Please let us know so we can use it to make this
newsletter better.

Past issues can be viewed in the community news section of our website, at
http://www.green-space.org.uk/. If you would like to become a member of
GreenSpace, please visit our website at
http://www.green-space.org.uk/membership/index.htm.

T: 0118 946 9060
F: 0118 946 9061
E: community@...
W: www.green-space.org.uk
A: Caversham Court , Church Road , Reading , RG4 7AD

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The comments, notices and opinions featured in COMMUNITY GREEN PLACE do not
necessarily reflect the views of GreenSpace Forum Ltd.

Edited and written by: Amanda Outen

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