Community Delivery
GI is not just about places but also people.
Communities across the region are central to delivering, improving and animating GI and organisations like the BTCV, GreenSpace, Groundwork, the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trusts, Rural Community Councila and other Third sector members of the South West Forum and many local authorities work closely with their communities to do this. Together they hold a wealth of knowledge and expertise in community engagement.
The South West has a strong history of community participation in GI work as shown by the many Friends Groups, many of which have developed their own identity, raised thousands of pounds and provided hours of training, enjoyment and social interaction.
Planting Places
Examples of community projects from across the region are celebrated through Planting Places.
Planting Places is a Sustainability South West partnership project that champions and celebrates local green spaces in the South West of England. It is supported by an advisory group of key regional experts that help to inform good practice and support green space development in the region.
The Planting Places vision is for integrated networks of green space which support communities to be healthy, productive, socially-just and to live within environmental limits. Well designed green spaces promote community well-being, inclusion, cohesion and self-sufficiency (eg in food, energy and skills) and support resilience to climate change impacts.
Planting Places hopes that everyone can find inspiration in a local green space, whatever the size, and help to transform it into something special!
THE VISION for 21st century urban green space
Our vision is a South West that integrates networks of green space (green infrastructure) which support communities to be healthy, productive, socially-just and to live within environmental limits. Sustainable areas require green spaces that promote community well-being, inclusion, cohesion and self-sufficiency (eg in food, energy and skills) and support resilience to climate change impacts. Green spaces can bring benefits to local authorities and other agencies by supporting attractive and vibrant towns and cities and offering a cost effective alternative to managing and maintaining built environments.
THE PRINCIPLES
In each city/town/village, green space should apply the following principles in unison:
Health and well-being
Support safe, accessible and appealing recreation, relaxation and play opportunities for the community. Develop programmes which maximise the well-being benefits of community participation in green space (eg fresh air, interaction with neighbours, access to wildlife, etc)
Safety and ‘ownership’
Actively maintain and manage green space so it is perceived as safe and is cared about by all segments of the community. Use the principles of ‘passive surveillance’ and ‘secure by design’ to discourage crime and anti-social behaviour.
Active participation and inclusion
Encourage active community participation and representation in green space development. Ensure participation is inclusive and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, disability or faith.
Local Food
Support the development of local food cultivation that contributes to local food markets/networks and reduce and reuse food waste through composting schemes.
Energy and waste
Maximise the potential of locally-owned (council or community) sustainable biomass and other renewable energy schemes (including wind and solar). Find sustainable uses for ‘green waste’.
Biodiversity
Enhance and create wildlife habitats and corridors for the survival and adaptation of healthy local ecosystems (including developing green ‘veins’ to outlying rural areas) and actively reverse declines in local soil quality.
Climate impacts and pollution
Develop resilience to increased flood, drought and soil erosion risks through good drainage, tree planting and water management
GreenSpace Community Network
The Community Network is a hub for community groups working with parks and green space. By working together we can work better and this is what the Network is all about.
Most people involved in voluntary work understand the difficulties of operating with limited resources and time. So the Network is here to bring together the experience and knowledge developed by community groups and create a forum for sharing it. Find out exactly what the Community Network provides.
Case Studies
The following websites include examples of community delivery of green spaces/green infrastructure:
Planting Places *
Assess to Nature
GreenSpace
* we are in the process of writing up a selection of Planting Places winners as fuller case studies of local authority-led delivery - these are being added to the GI Activity Map
Tools To Support Community Engagement
More tools coming soon
The organisation CABE offers a facilitated, practical workshop - 'Spaceshaper' - which brings together users and managers of a public space, to identify strengths and weaknesses and plan improvements. The process can be used for parks, play spaces, streets and squares. Spaceshaper provides a simple way to engage people in improvements to their neighbourhood and benefit from local knowledge and creativity. A special version of the tool for young people - 'Spaceshaper 9-14' - has been used in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, to inform the regeneration of a central public space known as 'the Triangle'.
Funding Sources For Community Engagement
Heritage Lottery
Wildlife Gardening
European Social Fund
Growth Fund
Landfill Communities Fund Scheme
Access to Nature Access to Nature is a £25 million BIG Lottery grant scheme to encourage people from all backgrounds to understand, access and enjoy our natural environment. There are many new peojects being initiated across the region
CommunitySpaces The programme helps community groups create or improve green and open spaces so that the quality of life in neighbourhoods across England is enhanced.
Further Guidance and Learning
Sustainability South West's GI Briefing Note for all orgs involved in sustainable communities - Urban green infrastructure networks: the social, economic and environmental potential
See also Planning and Delivery signpost.
If you experience any problems with this page, please contact the content owner: lucy.goldring@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk
