Where does the money go?
A community garden project, a revitalised wasteland and a family play area are just some of the projects that M&S has helped Groundwork to fund with its 5p carrier bag charging.
Plymouth
Plymouth Woodhay Road Garden Project - North Prospect in Plymouth is ranked as one of the most deprived wards within the UK where over 35% of the population is made up of children and young people. The funding will turn a large garden in a local neighbourhood into a community space for all residents and young people to enjoy incorporating a sandpit, fruit trees, plants to attract butterflies and seating boulders. The project is already well underway. Click here to see the film showing how the money from the charge has been spent and how this has benefited the local community.
Newry, NI
Daisy Hill Woodland - To encourage community involvement in the maintenance and development of Daisy Hill Woodland as a community resource. In recent years the woodland has become a focal point for various anti-social activities. The carrier bag money will help to get local people involved in clearing the land and planting trees in the hope that people will begin to use the woodland as a recreational & educational resource. Click here to find out how the money from M&S is being spent.
Edinburgh
In Scotland, Groundwork will work with the charity, the Federation of City Farms and Gardens, to deliver local projects. The first Scottish 'greener living spaces' project will be at community managed Gorgie City Farm in Edinburgh. Here funds will help to reinvigorate a family play area with new equipment, picnic facilities and an improved pets' corner.
Scarborough
Royal Albert Park Children's Play Area - this greener living spaces project will create a brand new family orientated open space and play area in a stunning seaside location on Scarborough's North Bay. Money will be invested in new play equipment and natural play features, picnic tables and landscaping.
Wigan
Vauxhall Road Play Area - here M&S and Groundwork will turn a currently neglected and derelict play into a new community space for young people and families. The local community has campaigned for several years for funding to transform the space, and M&S' support will help to make that finally happen.
Nottingham
The Sunken Garden - currently an underused space that attracts anti-social behaviour, the garden will be given a new lease of life by being raised to ground level. In conjunction with a local artist, a brand new community space will be created with seating and landscaping that will help to install a sense of pride within the area.
Hammersmith
Hammersmith Roof Garden - this project will overhaul an uninspiring and environmentally unfriendly concrete area into a roof top garden to provide an oasis of green within the confines of an urban setting. Vibrant trees and shrubs will provide natural colour all year round as well as a range of habitats for wildlife.
Bristol
Mancroft Park - a valuable community resource, which provides a selection of predated play facilities. Over the years the park has fallen into a state of disrepair and a new initiative has been put in place to create a new playground. This project will work with children and young people to design and build a piece of bespoke play equipment for the park using traditional wood working techniques and locally sourced timber.
Belfast, NI
Glencairn Daycare Centre - the carrier bag money will fund the development of a landscaped seating area within the ground of a day care centre. Currently the older people who use the centre have to sit in the car park in the summer months.
Derry, NI
Shantallow Community Recreation Project - Shantallow is a large housing estate on the outskirts of Derry city. The money for this project will be used to build on a number of recent improvements to recreational facilities in the area. Activities will include, developing a mini-golf course to complement other recreational facilities in the area and providing an inter-generational activity, which will give adults and children a positive activity to enjoy together.
Lisburn, NI
Old Warren Community Centre - Old Warren is a large housing estate on the outskirts of Lisburn. The community are currently in the process of developing a new centre at the heart of the estate. The carrier bag money will create an environmental play area with seating for young children and their parents.
St Albans
Walsingham Way Natural Play Space - developing a natural play area at Walsingham Way Recreation Ground in St Albans, Hertfordshire. M&S’s funding will help towards the transformation of the site, working with Groundwork Hertfordshire, London Colney Parish council and St Albans District Council. The aim is to create a climbing area, agility trail, tunnels, earth maze and wildflower meadow, encouraging natural play for all ages and providing a focal point for the London Colney community.
Birmingham
Renfrew Square Community Gardens, Castle Vale – creating a garden in an underused communal space. Improvements will include re-landscaping the area, planting trees and shrubs and providing seating, all of which will benefit the nearby local residents living in properties with little or no garden space.
Southampton
Thornhill Park Playground – renovating Thornhill Park in Bitterne Ward, Southampton. Groundwork Solent in partnership with Southampton City Council will transform the existing site, updating the play facilities and seating areas, with the funds from M&S going towards initiatives such as a conservation maintenance programme and education and play events.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Wretham Place Park Area – developing the Wretham Park area in Shieldfield, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle will work alongside Newcastle City Council and Shieldfield Community Forum to introduce a new play area and a green urban leisure space, benefiting a wide range of people living in properties with little or no access to green space. M&S funds will facilitate the on-going maintenance of the site, as well as organising a number of volunteer days and activities.
Brierley Hill
Hawbush Community Gardens – transforming a derelict piece of land in Brierley Hill, West Midlands. M&S funds will go towards creating a new community garden to include the creating of growing plots, nature trails and a natural play zone. The project will also provide a valuable educational resource for local schools and organisations.
Little Neston
West Vale Park – improving an urban public park in Little Neston, Cheshire. New play equipment and pathways will be introduced, allowing local people to benefit from a new recreational community area, focusing on natural play and physical well-being.
Waterloo, London
Ufford Street Play Area and Community Garden – redeveloping Ufford Street Recreation Ground in central London. The local community and M&S staff will be invited to engage in the creation and maintenance of the new area where new equipment, seating areas and fencing will be introduced. The M&S funds will ensure the space continues to be a valued community asset.
Tondu
Tondu Green Play – creating a stimulating play experience for all ages at Port Talbot’s Parc Tondu site. Physical improvements within this new community facility will include the creation of a natural play area and a ‘trikes and trails’ section, with M&S carrier bag money funding the development of a ‘friends’ group’ and facilitating maintenance and development work.
Truro
Malabar Field - M&S funding is helping to improve a community recreation and kick-about area for the benefit of young people. The money will go towards the installation of seating and active health equipment around the site. Access to the site will also be improved and additional facilities will maximise use by the wider community.
Dorchester
Dorchester Wildlife Park - M&S funding is helping to develop an under-used site into a wildlife garden, improving the ambience of the local area and providing a much needed quiet space for public enjoyment.
Weston-Super-Mare
The Boulevard - M&S funding will go towards the installation of a series of benches with floral planters along The Boulevard in the town centre. Shoppers, in particular older people, and those with young children and prams, will benefit from somewhere pleasant to rest.
Blackpool
Bethesda Play Area - M&S funding will help to create an exciting, attractive and safe place for young families to enjoy.
Sunderland
Hendon Community Allotment - we'll be helping to transform a derelict site into a working community garden for local residents.
Milton Keynes
Great Linford Park - we'll be helping to give a neglected area a new lease of life. New pathways, play equipment and a tranquil wood will make it a place for the whole family to enjoy.
Thurrock
Dilkes Park Entrance and Avenue Garden - M&S funds are going towards transforming a neglected area in the park into a vibrant community garden, featuring a striking new entrance and lots of places to sit.
Stockport
Shaw Heath Park - we'll be helping to turn the neglected bowling area into a green and tranquil space the whole community can enjoy.
Glasgow
Alderman Road Community Garden - working with The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, we'll be helping to transform a derelict market garden into a green and tranquil space for everyone to enjoy.
Yorkshire
Wood Green in Castleford - we'll be helping to install play equipment and create a tranquil courtyard garden for everyone to enjoy.
Kettering
Kettering's Community allotment - M&S funding will go towards paying for raised beds for older and disabled people and new plots for local groups and schools
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