Last updated: October 2021
After Local Community consultation, a pocket park was created in Luton Millenium Green to facilitate community engagement and a sustainable legacy for future generations. The project included the installation of pathways, clear invasive vegetation, common vegetable planters, wildflower and enclosed areas and an orchard with 30 trees (ref 1, 3).
Pocket Park at Luton Millennium Green (2017)
Photographer: Stephen Perez (Arches Local at 2E Luton Road, Chatham, ME4 5LU), retrieved 08/13/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Green playgrounds and school grounds
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Project objectives
- Improve community engagement
- Improve the availability of good quality green space (Ref 1)
Implementation activities
To transform an untended area of Luton Millenium Green in a disadvantaged neighbourhood into a pocket park lead by the local community the local community (Ref 1).
- Installation of pathways, enclosed areas, reinforcement of public benches, clearing brambles and invasive vegetation
- 3 vegetable/herbs planters, shared between local residents and Luton Juniors School children
- 1 wildflower and bee friendly area
- Orchard with 30 trees (apple, pear, cherry)
- nature play area for children
(ref. 2)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Arches Local a resident-driven Big Local group was the initial driving force to work being discussed, conceived, planned, delivered and continued work in that area. The intervention was a collaboration between Medway Council and Medway Plus. The latter is a registered charity founded by ex Medway Council employees (Ref 2).
Arches Local in partnership with Medway Plus and Medway Council had also obtained funding from Tesco's Bags of Help scheme and Peoples Postcode lottery as well as invested a significant amount of its National Lottery Funding.
The plans and ideas for the pocket park were formed by discussions with the local community. (ref. 1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The national government department for Communities and Local Government decided that more than 80 neglected urban spaces accross the country will be transformed into enjoyable green spaces (Ref 5). )
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Arches Local, a Big local group and lead partner in this collaborative intervention, produces a yearly plan for its Big Local area in Central Chatham that refers to the importance of green spaces to create social cohesion and community (Ref 6). )
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
- Private Foundation/Trust
- Other
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1: Arches Local. (2016). Luton Millennium Green to get a Pocket Park? Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
2: Medway Plus. (2017). Pocket Park at Millenium Luton Green in Chatham (funded by DCLG and Arches Big Local, in partnership with Medway Council, Magpie Growers and Medway Plus). Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
3: Arches Local. (2016). Luton Millennium Green #Pocketpark Offical opening. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
4: Arches Local. (2016). Luton Millennium Green #Pocketpark DCLG Green light given! Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
5: UK Government. (2016). Green light given to over 80 pocket parks. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
6: Local Trust. (nd.). Arches Local Chatham Plan: Supporting Local Change. Retrieved from: Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
7: Medway Council. (2007). Medway Wildlife, Countryside and Open Space Strategy 2008 - 2016 (Accessed 11 August 2020)
8: Local Trust. (2016). Councillors and Big Local. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
2: Medway Plus. (2017). Pocket Park at Millenium Luton Green in Chatham (funded by DCLG and Arches Big Local, in partnership with Medway Council, Magpie Growers and Medway Plus). Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
3: Arches Local. (2016). Luton Millennium Green #Pocketpark Offical opening. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
4: Arches Local. (2016). Luton Millennium Green #Pocketpark DCLG Green light given! Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
5: UK Government. (2016). Green light given to over 80 pocket parks. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
6: Local Trust. (nd.). Arches Local Chatham Plan: Supporting Local Change. Retrieved from: Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
7: Medway Council. (2007). Medway Wildlife, Countryside and Open Space Strategy 2008 - 2016 (Accessed 11 August 2020)
8: Local Trust. (2016). Councillors and Big Local. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 11 August 2020)
Pocket Park at Luton Millennium Green (2017)
Photographer: Stephen Perez (Arches Local at 2E Luton Road, Chatham, ME4 5LU), retrieved 08/13/2018
Pocket Park at Luton Millennium Green (2017)
Photographer: Stephen Perez (Arches Local at 2E Luton Road, Chatham, ME4 5LU), retrieved 08/13/2018