Sunderland, United Kingdom
City population: 271734
Duration: unknown – 2012
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Previous derelict area, Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: October 2021

The "Sunderland North Community Allotments" project aimed to clear and renovate derelict allotment plots, remove fly-tipping and rubbish and transform the site into brand new resources for local people. The project is expected to increase people’s knowledge of growing healthy produce and aims to enhance their diet whilst improving the amount of exercise and time spent in a green space. The project has been implemented in multiple areas including but not limited to Fulwell, Primrose, Thompson Road, Shields Road, High Southwick, Fulwell and Waterworks Field, Shields Road. Very recently, one of the allotments in Fulwell Mill got destroyed by a devastating fire. (Ref 1, 9 and 10)

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Allotments

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Environmental education
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
  • Economic development: agriculture
  • Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
  • Sustainable consumption
  • Sustainable production

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas

Project objectives

1. To increase people's knowledge of growing healthy produce. 2. To improve the amount of exercise and time spent in a green space. 3. Provide job training. (Ref 1)

Implementation activities

1. Create new allotments and improve existing ones, 2. Organise activities for citizens to undertake at these allotments to increase their engagement. (Ref 2)

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Regional government
  • Non-government organisation/civil society

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The project is planned and executed by Groundwork in Tyne and Wear, the regional sub-group of the national Groundwork federation (Ref 7).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The intervention is part of "The Green Activity Programme" delivered across Sunderland. This programme provides new and innovative ways to health and neighbourhood improvement (Ref 2). )

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Other

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • 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)
  • Other

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved soil quality
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased number of species present
  • Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

  • Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
  • Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Increased access to healthy/affordable food
  • Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
  • 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

References

Ref 1: Andy. (2012). Green fingered volunteers open Fulwell community allotment. Retrieved from Source link
Ref 2: Groundwork. (n.d.). Green activity, Sunderland. Retrieved from Source link
Ref 3: Sunderland Partnership. (2011). Green Infrastructure Strategy Framework. [attached]
Ref 4: Johnson, J. (2013). Infrastructure Delivery Plan. [attached]
Ref 5: Sunderland North Area Committee. (2011). Financial statements and proposals for further allocation of resources. [attached]
Ref 6: Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. (2012). Grants awarded april 2011 to march 2012. [attached]
Ref 7: Groundwork. (n.d.). Community allotments. Retrieved from Source link
Ref 8: Wikipedia (2020). Community Foundation. Retrieved from Source link on 9th November, 2020.
Ref 9: Chronicle Live (2020) New footage shows devastating aftermath of Sunderland fire which killed 250 pigeons. Retrieved from Source link on 9th November, 2020.
Ref 10: Sunderland City Council (n.d.) Allotments in Sunderland. Retrieved from Source link on 9th November, 2020.