The idea
With a series of six events and several areas of improvement we will turn the appearance & usage of this small but wonderful park around. We need the crowd to help us nurture the park back to its former glory by funding the new dye bed, a series of space based events, establish a 'Friends Of' group, and revamp bins, benches & small building that will provide a wonderful covered space for future park based activities. Events will enable local residents to reconnect with this underused space and come to understand its local heritage & importance to the area. Celebrate the bio-diversity of the space, learn new skills through natural dyes, embroidery and heritage. Find out about the hidden heritage of plants and how that relates to modern immigration. Reclaim plants for communities with an exciting artist developed game set to blow up the world of botany. With new bins to increase recycling rates, smart benches to relax on St Thomas's Rec will become the newest Hackney destination.
What we'll deliver
- 2 x Natural Dyeing pop up events
- 2 x #HackneyBanner Pop up embroidery events
- 1 x #whosheritage game launch event
- 1 x #whosheritage discover the Rec event
- Revamp bins, benches, pathways, and small building
- Develop a 'Friends of group for long term support of the park
- Create a natural dye bed as per professional design
Why it's a great idea
Currently this park is supported by Hackney Parks maintenance team who are doing the best job they can in the face of severe cuts to services. On the surface St Thomas Rec suffers from anti-social behaviour and many local residents feel it is an unsafe space. However there is huge hidden value in this park. Tucked away behind an ivy covered imposing white archway is an area of significant historic and horticultural heritage. The design that remains very much unchanged since the mid-Victorian period when London's first female landscape gardener, Fanny Wilkinson, turned her hand to it. With links to Thomas Braidwood who pioneered schools for the deaf, and the hotbed of C17 non-conformity this space has many stories. A snippet of what has been uncovered about this park to be shared with the wider community. Add to this the surrounding horticultural history that goes back 100's of years, and how that relates to the current diverse culture of Hackney equals a fascinating project.
Steps to get it done
- sourcing and planting dye plants needed to complete the garden design
- Creating clear pathways around planting of dye beds as per design
- installing plant descriptions, design plaque and information into dye bed space
- Revamp current park benches and replace if needed
- Revamp and replace current park bins as needed
- Paint and repair current building in park
- Hold six pop up community engagement events
It is important that this project has a dedicated project manager to organise the activities in a timely and safe way. Liaising with Hackney Parks and Council to make sure the all events are suitably arranged and stewarded. They will also be tasked with developing the 'Friends of' group over the course of a twelve month period, arranging monthly meetings, keeping up with feedback and being the link between the public and the council. The project manager will look at ways to support the development of the project, create a SWOT analysis and plan for project management withdrawal - leaving the community in a position of strength to continue. Working with the council the PM will increase the volunteering opportunities within the park space, develop a community owned narrative of the heritage, and importance of the space and produce a sustainable support system to ensure the space is used for the good of the local community.
