Archive for the ‘North East’ Category

Playground takes flight

Posted on 18th June 2012 by

howden le wear

The aptly named Jubilee Park in Howden-le-Wear, Co Durham, was the scene of a Jubilee Party and Community Spaces launch event rolled into one. For years the local community partnership has worked to get play equipment sited in the park.

Community Spaces funding was matched with money from Playbuilder to provide equipment including zip wires, a toddlers’ multi-use tower and a woodland adventure trail. 

The site also now sports a new mosaic designed by the local school and created by villagers, at the entrance to the park.

During the launch, 60 tagged red, white and blue balloons were released, with a prize awaiting the person whose balloon has travelled furthest from the site.

Playtime at Swanton Close

Posted on 18th June 2012 by

swanton

The Friends of Swanton Close Park in Newcastle are celebrating after the launch of their improved play area, created thanks to a lot of hard work by the group and a grant from Community Spaces.

Coun Sharon Pattison cut the ribbon to start the celebrations and let the eager children on to the playground.

There was face painting, a barbecue, red, white and blue themed cakes galore and a wonderful spread of food to celebrate, as well as plans and displays of how it all came about.

The old play area was derelict and underused. The Friends of Swanton Park was set up by local residents to give the children more and better play options, and they have worked incredibly hard over several years to get to this point.

 The area is very small but manages to fit in swings, a multi use castle with climbing wall, and a smaller one for the very young. There is inclusive access and a sensory sculpture too.

The site has also been supported by Newcastle City Council, which has provided new fencing and access to a wider woodland and open area behind the play area. This now means that the area is effectively much larger and it will provide a ‘stepping stone’ to new and more adventurous play in the future.

Going wild in Jarrow

Posted on 3rd May 2012 by
west park jarrow

Coun Alan Kerr, Geoff Dawson of Groundwork and West Park Friends chairman Paul Moore with pupils from St Bede’s and Epinay schools

The West Park Wildlife Area in Jarrow, which was launched just a week ago, is already an award-winner.

The Wildlife Area was conceived two years ago and developed through the hard work and enthusiasm of the newly formed Friends of West Park and funded entirely by Community Spaces. Wildflower bulbs and plug plants, as well as trees and shrubs have been planted in their thousands to give a swathe of colour for human visitors to enjoy and an improved habitat for wildlife.

Just a few days before the launch the Friends won the Greener South Tyneside category in the Pride of South Tyneside awards organised by the Shields Gazette in partnership with the Customs House and South Tyneside Council.

Friends chairman Paul Moore said: “We weren’t expecting it at all, and it’s so nice to be recognised for what we do. We’re delighted with the way the scheme has worked out. We have 15 members and the more who join, the more we can do.”

In the park, the Community Spaces grant has provided picnic tables, a path through the woodland to an ‘outdoor classroom’ log seating area, interpretation panels and nature trail posts that lead visitors on a self-guided’ walk.

More than 40 pupils from Epinay Business and Enterprise School and St Bedes RC JMI School attended the launch. The schools were involved in designing the site and the nature trail.

Coun Alan Kerr, deputy leader of South Tyneside Council and a member for the Monkton ward, which includes West Park, officially launched the scheme.
He said: “The Friends, Groundwork and Community Spaces have done a great job. I’m proud to be able to support residents in their efforts to keep West Park looking its best.”

Geoff Dawson, operations manager for land and neighbourhoods for Groundwork, which planted trees and shrubs, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to help the Friends turn their dreams into a reality.”

The Friends are now embarking on sustainability work, including maintenance of the wildlife area, visiting other similar sites to continue developing the park and organising events in the park.

The Friends are always keen to welcome new members. They meet on the second Tuesday of each month, at 6pm, at West Park Lodge, just off Park Road, Jarrow.

Cake bake for swan lake

Posted on 12th January 2012 by

lakeside explorer swan lake cakeSwans, ducks, reed-planting, children from six schools and a home-made Swan Lake cake – just some of the ingredients at the launch event of the Lakeside Explorer project in Newcastle.

The party was a celebration of the hard work carried out by the Exhibition and Brandling Parks Community Trust to transform the lake in Exhibition Park.

A Community Spaces grant helped the trust to improve the landscape around the lake, making it more wildlife-friendly and with better opportunities for visitors to enjoy nature.

The Lakeside Explorer project combines the best of the past with a new future: it softens edges and builds boardwalks out into the lake, creates sheltered shallows planted with reeds which will soon be tall enough to hide people walking though them and brings new plantings of wild plants to the lake edges.

Well done to all.

Toronto still thriving one year on

Posted on 9th January 2012 by

toronto family fun dayResidents of Toronto in Co Durham celebrated the first anniversary of the transformation of their local recreation ground with a Family Fun Day

The Community Association secured a Community Spaces Sustainability Grant following on from their original funding for the development of the rec, which has helped to fund further activities and events.

The family fun day followed an activities programme that saw youngsters from the community engaged in football, basketball, tennis and dance mats.

The Family Fun Day was a huge success, with over 150 people attending throughout the day. With activities to choose from such as basketball and football, a bouncy castle, soft play, and the popular 4 in 1 bungee trampoline, the day went down as treat (as did the home baked refreshments).

The project, which was developed by Toronto Community Association and Groundwork North East, included the replacement of the existing play area with a new improved facility along with the installation of a multi use games area and access improvements.

The scheme, which cost over £130,000, was part funded through Community Spaces. Other money came from Durham County Council Urban Rural Renaissance Initiative, Section 106 funds and Bishop Auckland Town Council.

Sustaining the interest

Posted on 12th October 2011 by

martin proffittMartin Proffitt was the facilitator for the Byker Garden project in Newcastle, which completed last month.
Here, he outlines some of the imaginative plans from the group behind the Garden and how mambers plan to use their Sustainability Grant 

“I was really impressed from the beginning as to how the group behind this project ran with the seemingly impossible task of developing the project further and gaining support and momentum from all as they did so.

Now that the main project is complete on the ground comes the real test in sustaining support and involvement of local people in its long-term development.

I recently received their sustainability grant application form and they have some great, innovative ideas which should really help push their project forward into the arms of the local community.

The working group behind the sustainability grant development have really embraced the need to involve all sections of the local community.

To give you a flavour, they will be engaging with local schools, residents and other groups in a range of activities which involve activities such as… deep breath… practical gardening and food growing sessions, wildlife education sessions hands-on with bird and bat box making, mixing history and wildlife with art, using food produced in the garden for pizza making (using an outside oven!), creating colourful planters and window boxes to take home, BBQ days, local talent show and events, summer workshops, poetry and music, seed collection, storage and use, decoration making workshops, apple celebration days… nearly finished!… Hallowe’en celebration, mini-beast hotel making, art workshops in the garden – being inspired by the plants and colour around them, tree day – tying in with the history of the tree and picnics.

Phew!

The group is also applying for an extensive list of tools to ensure they are able to carry out the maintenance of the newly improved area.”

Plenty of  ideas – and hopefully some inspiration there. Please share your plans for sustainability… you might just inspire like-minded groups up and down the country.

Byker Time-Lapse: The Final Cut

Posted on 5th October 2011 by


Here’s the final version of the fantastic time-lapse film we commissioned to show the development of the Byker Garden in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

The film shows the site from two cameras, taking you from the first day of work through to completion last month.

The launch event was a great success, despite the nippy Northern weather.

What was once an unloved and neglected churchyard is now a vibrant community resource at the heart of Byker, with places to sit and enjoy stunning views over the city and its landmark bridges over the Tyne.

The garden also features a performance amphitheatre and will host a gardening club. 

The project was supported by Norcare, a North East-based suppported housing charity, that helps people to move towards independent living.

There are more photos on our Flickr page.

October project launches

Posted on 28th September 2011 by

A busy month of project launches coming up… If there’s one in your area why not get along?

And don’t forget to let us know how your launch went… we love seeing your photographs, videos and reports.

Share the joy!

 

October 1
Northall Village Trust
South End Lane
Northall
Dunstable
Bedfordshire
LU6 2EX
Playground and natural play area
 
October 2
Friends of Mossley Park
Stamford Road
Mossley
Ashton Under Lyne
Lancashire
OL5 0BA
Seating and performance amphitheatre
 
October 7
King George V Playing Field at Mylor
Mylor Bridge
Falmouth
Cornwall
TR115NG
Playground
 
October 8
Kearsley Mount Methodist Church
Manchester Road
Kearsley
Bolton
Lancashire
BL4 8QJ
Community garden
 
Lascelles Community Partnership
Eastbourne Park & Lascelles Green Link
Off Rydal Road
Darlington
Co Durham
DL1 4BH
Improved pathways and access to link two green spaces
 
Kingsbury Episcopi Recreation Ground
Thorney Road
Kingsbury Episcopi
Martock
Somerset
TA12 6BB
Multi-use games area
 
October 9
Down Thomas Silver Jubilee Hall
Down Thomas
Wembury
Plymouth
Devon
PL9 0BG
Playground and trim trail
 
The Middlestown Playground Club
Old Road
Middlestown
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF4 4QE
Playground
 
October 15
Friends of Chapel Park
Chapel-en-le-Frith Memorial Park
Rowton Grange Road
Chapel-en-le-Frith
Derbyshire
SK23 0LA
Multi-use games area
 
Bourne Valley Action Group
Bourne Valley Park
Turbary Close
Parkstone
Poole
Dorset
BH12 4HD
Playground
 
All Saints Community Development Company
Vicarage Road
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 7RA
A new village square and community facility
 
October 16
Claypole Playgroup
Main Street
Claypole
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG23 5BA
Playground
 
Ware Skate Park Scheme
Priory Street
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 0DE
Skate park
 
October 17
Friends Of Memorial Park
Warrenhust Road
Fleetwood
Lancashire
FY7 7AE
Rose garden
 
October 22
Brandon 3 Tenants & Residents Association
Warham Street
Camberwell
London
SE5 0TB
Community garden and public square
 
Kingsholm Kids at Play
Sebert Street
Gloucester
GL1 3BS
Playground
 
Brixton Community Association
Woodland Drive 
Brixton
Plymouth
Devon
PL8 2PB
Playground
 
October 23
Falstone Village Hall Committee
The Croft
Falstone
Northumberland
NE48 1AA
Playground
 
October 24
Trimdon Grange Community Centre
Trimdon Grange
Co Durham
TS29 6PB
Multi use games area
 
Brown Edge Action Group
High Lane
Brown Edge
Staffordshire
ST6 8QA
Playground
 
October 27
Parent Carers Voice
Victoria Park
Bideford
Devon
EX39 2QQ
Play park featuring equipment for children with special needs and allowing for inclusive play with able bodied children.
 
October 28
Weston and Ivy Community Development Group
Weston Recreation Field
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK11 8SR
Multi-use games area, community artwork and park improvements
 
October 29
Thrapston BMX & Skate Park Group
Meadow Lane
Thrapston
Northamptonshire
NN14 4QL
BMX park
 
October 31
Shenstone Playing Fields
Birmingham Road
Shenstone
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS140JR
Footpath, signage, natural play features

Catalyst award for Teesdale Park Friends

Posted on 21st September 2011 by
friends of teesdale park catalyst award

Secretary Ray Morton, park manager Shaun Underwood and group chairman Paul Gibson

Congratulations to the Friends of Teesdale Park, whose work in restoring their local green space has been recognised with a Catalyst Achievement Award.

Secretary Ray Morton, park manager Shaun Underwood and group chairman Paul Gibson collected the Community Group Award in the Catalyst Awards 2011. Catalyst is the leading voice for the third sector in Stockton-on-Tees.

The judges praised the Friends for their tireless work with local residents, businesses and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to restore Teesdale Park. The area had been subject to fly tipping and vandalism and was under-used by local people. The Friends secured £48,000 from Community Spaces and worked to undertake improvements and add new facilities, restoring the park to its former glory.

Don’t forget to let us know if your group wins an award – we can celebrate your success and encourage others to keep up the good work!

Glebe Garden: ‘sculpting the generations together’

Posted on 10th June 2011 by

Young and old stand together to launch the new garden. (Photograph courtesy of Teesdale Mercury)

Today we’re joined by guest blogger and Community Spaces Facilitator, Phil Macari. Phil tells us about the Glebe Garden project in Bishop Auckland, Durham. The project secured just over £25k from Community Spaces to create a community garden.

Phil tells us more about the Glebe Garden project and the launch.

“The Cockfield Parochial Church Council opened the Glebe Garden back in April in glorious weather, with stalls, cakes, teas and of course a chainsaw sculptor! After years of development and wide consultation over this rural community, the much needed space has come to be. It reflects the history of the area: mining in the sculptured gates, raised beds shaped like coal wagons and other designs on the site. It also has features such as spaces for children’s mosaics, a wildlife meadow and a viewing platform that looks out over to the surrounding countryside, to continue the theme of ‘connection’.

Gardening and maintenance will be equally intergenerational with spaces already set a side for the school and other local groups, as well as chainsaw sculptured seating for all to sit and enjoy the new space.”

Sounds like a very relaxing little space Phil - we hope locals will come together to enjoy it for a many years.