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The Berry Maze

Funded on Spacehive 24 April 2017 Delivered 18 November 2017

Impact data and claims within this report are provided by the project creator and have not been independently verified by Spacehive.

The Berry Maze

Raluca McKett By Raluca McKett

Building a berry maze instead of a field of weeds for the community of South Bristol to enjoy. The design will be created by the children from the local school.

Bedminster Delivery stage

30
backers
£3,821
raised
funded icon
This project was funded on 24 Apr 2017!

This is an unique project in the UK. Beside the obvious scope of bringing together the residents by offering a space suitable for children play, organising treasure hunts, harvest day, etc, it could potentially become a tourist attraction, helping a struggling community hit hard by the local council cuts to thrive. Already with two litter-picking events (a third one is on the way on the 11th of March), together with a handful of people, we managed to transform what used to be called "the tip" amongst the residents into a beautiful community space, where people come for a picnic rather than to dump their rubbish. This is also democracy at its best - at the last event, local residents have voted for the best way to improve the park and building a berry maze was almost unanimously chosen. Bristol Parks have agreed to the idea, so now it has come to the point where we need to gather funds for the project.

What we'll deliver:

  • Plough & prepare the area for planting
  • Erect the structure - poles, wires, planters
  • Lay paths with ornamental bark
  • Paint the concrete slab in the middle
  • Plant the various berries
  • Put the beaches on the slab in the middle of the maze

Why it's a great idea:

- builds the community - creates a beautiful place instead of an eyesore - helps the fauna by providing shelter and food to birds and insects in an area heavily affected by building - provides a lovely space for children to play and learn about nature - helps children from the local schools to get hands on experience by helping with the maze's maintenance - increases volunteering opportunities, not only during the building of the maze, but also permanently, as monthly maintenance is needed - it's an unique project in the UK

Steps to get it done:

  • Buying all the materials for the maze structure
  • Buying the materials for painting the center of the maze & the benches
  • Buying the plants
  • Preparing the land for planting
  • Erecting the structure
  • Grand Opening!
  • Painting, placing the benches and laying the materials for the paths
  • Planting

The park is situated in a disadvantaged area of the city, where many people survive on benefits and there is very little community involvement. There is a lot of antisocial behaviour too. We all know that people are less prone to litter when a space is clean (we have had the proof of that in our experience of cleaning the park). Similarly, when a place is beautiful and well kempt, people tend to treat it better and are more likely to be inspired to do good things. We are a small group, but our dreams are big.

Location Bedminster

About the space

.Brixham Road Open Space is a small open space in South Bristol, a natural paradise which has been fly tipped for years, but it's changing as we speak!

Council

Bristol City Council

How will the money be spent?Total £3,791

Compost, gravel, top soil for the planters - £782 (21%)
Plants - £557 (15%)
Posts for training the berries - £446 (12%)
Weed stopping membrane - £395 (10%)
Plough + tractor hire - £350 (9%)
Timber + sheet + screws for the planters on the concrete slab - £314 (8%)
Ornamental bark for the paths - £207 (5%)
Wire for training the plants - £197 (5%)
Paints for the design of the slab + the benches - £180 (5%)
Post driver hire - £105 (3%)
Other - £258 (7%)

Costs Breakdown

This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.

21%
Compost, gravel, top soil for the planters
£782
15%
Plants
£557
12%
Posts for training the berries
£446
10%
Weed stopping membrane
£395
9%
Plough + tractor hire
£350
8%
Timber + sheet + screws for the planters on the concrete slab
£314
5%
Ornamental bark for the paths
£207
5%
Wire for training the plants
£197
5%
Paints for the design of the slab + the benches
£180
3%
Post driver hire
£105
7%
Other Read More
£258
  • Spacehive fees
    £159
  • Benches
    £60
  • VAT
    £32
  • Transaction Fees
    £7

Total £3,791

Our Volunteer List

We're currently looking for people to offer skills and time to develop our project! Check out the list of what we need below and then use the 'Volunteer' button to the right to get involved.
  • - berry plants bare root canes - please contact us for details
  • Networking - the more people hear about the project, the more chances there are to get volunteers and funding. So if you're good at spreading the word via internet or in person, let me know and I'll send you all the info that I have.
  • Muscle power & non specific talents - from measuring & doing the markings for the structure, to laying ornamental bark on the paths or simply pushing a wheelbarrow, there will be plenty of things to do under this umbrella.
  • Gardening skills a. when we build the maze - there will be various days, but it will be quite short and intense b. Maintenance - less intense (just watering, when & if necessary, training the plants & pruning once a year), but more committed.
  • Drawing/decorating - for the planters, benches & the childs design on the concrete slab.
  • Building skills - the concrete slab might need a bit of a repair and tools may be needed for various other odd jobs on or off site.
  • 2MM X 100M 7X7 STEEL WIRE ROPE - 1000m
  • Mulch - wood chipping or bark - 126m3
  • playground paints - 8 pots of green, 1 pot of blue, 1 pot of black
  • - 26 MACHINED ROUND POINTED wooden posts 1.8MX75MM + 56 MACHINED ROUND POINTED wooden posts 2.4m x 60mm diameter
  • - top soil - 5t - compost + 2.5t + gravel - 250 kg
  • 45 litter pickers, vests, and gloves
  • children equipment
  • 4 anvil prunning shears
  • 2 loopers
  • 1 rake
  • 2 bypass prunning shears

Want to help?

Do you have stuff or skills to contribute to this project? Use this tool to offer something to the project creator.

Volunteer

Offers

STIHL GB offered
We are delighted to offer you a variety of gardening tools to help maintain the Berry Maze and keep it looking in top form.
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