The idea
An approach by the residents in Knotty Ash during the first pandemic lockdown in 2020 to open up the park for their well-being confirmed the future focus for the park. 12 months later, after spending thousands of pounds on improving the security and facilities, the main success began with recruiting volunteers and we were recently awarded a Level 5 Outstanding Britain in Bloom award. This project will work to grow our friends team which includes individuals and organisations to 50 and volunteers to 100. We will run 2 volunteer recruiting opening days as well as a strong recruitment campaign to regular park visitors.
Participants will be enrolled on landscape training/workshops, take part in seasonal landscape shaping and maintenance activities. Some will develop as tour guides to visitors, others will take responsibility for managing different habitats. Some will help with promoting the park. Pledges will be going towards purchasing capital equipment such as marquees and lawn mowers.
What we'll deliver
- Host 2 recruitment volunteering events in the park and 10 sessions of park volunteering promotion days to visitors
- Facilitate landscape maintenance and habitat development sessions over 6 months
- Run 2 park promotion days to the general public across Knotty Ash & Dovecot Park Ward
- Friends to organise 4 tabletop sales days in the 6 months period
- Run 3 Household composting workshops in over the period
Why it's a great idea
Beneficiaries will develop better landscape and habitat management skills, and report improved physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. They will have an improved understanding of the environment and grow in their passion to work with others to protect and sustain it. Through working with others, some will develop better communication and social skills. Both the landscape and its habitats will be maintained and expanded. Long-term behaviours such as low confidence, no interest in recycling, no interest in making friends will be changed for many participants. Overall, this project will contribute to improving the city region’s environment and safeguarding its green spaces.
Steps to get it done
- Staging a volunteer recruitment campaign with the first community event - Feb 25
- Starting a workshop programme for training volunteers - Feb 25
- Appointing officers among the Friends of Bright Park with clearly defined duties and responsibilities - March 25
- Buying the plants and equipment needed for the project 28th Feb 25
- Restoring habitats and creating new ones - purchase items needed and carry out tasks as needed - 10th March 25
- Planning events - pull together planning team, allocate responsibilities - Feb 25
- Running events - From March to July 25
- Evaluating the programmes - 1st stage in April, Final in August 25
- Concluding the project with full evaluation - August 25
- Sharing progress on social media and printed material - From Feb to July 25
Two objects of the charity are, for the public benefit:
(a) to advance the education of persons resident in the area of benefit, particularly those who have special educational needs, in the subjects of the arts, heritage, culture and the environment;
(b) to provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of persons resident in the area of benefit who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.
