Groundwork Thames Valley: Tree Mendous Parks & Play
Great Linford park and play area in Milton Keynes was much in need of improvement -although the park was used, the equipment was of poor quality and there was no place for parents to sit.
As with all Groundwork projects, improving the park was very much a local community effort. To help demonstrate how M&S carrier bag charges were being reinvested, staff from Groundwork Thames Valley organized a bag packing day, where Groundwork staff went to the store for the day, explained to customers at the tills about the project, and gave them leaflets with details of how to get involved.
By consulting the community, and particularly local schoolchildren, people’s pride in their park has been increased. Volunteering events throughout the project attracted lots of local residents and the opening event was attended by hundreds from the community.
The end result has been families spending more time in Great Linford Park – parents now have a place to sit, which means they’re more comfortable while the children play. The new equipment also demands greater energy, providing children with exercise while they’re having fun. And, thanks to schoolchildren planting 95 native trees, there’s increased tree cover.
Mrs Knight is a childminder who lives and works in the area. She believes that the project has transformed the park for her and the children she looks after.
“Before the work was done, the park was run down. It had been vandalised and the wooden things had rotted away - there wasn’t anywhere for the children to play. People didn’t go there much. There were always broken bottles lying around, and things were
broken and being taken away.
“Some of the children in the local school were asked to design the play park. They enjoyed that – they felt their ideas had been taken on board. Some of the children I look after also helped paint the park’s statues. They thought it was great – they had fun but they also felt like they were doing some good. They go there now and say “We painted this bit, he painted that bit” – it makes them feel like they were involved with something.
“The park is completely different to how it was before. There is lots of new play equipment and it’s for all ages. There are always people there and sometimes it’s quite crowded. Everyone with children or grandchildren is pleased with it, and you also see older children there, because there are things for them too.
“It looks better so everybody feels better, and everyone gets involved there now. It’s changed the appearance of the whole area.”
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