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Plymouth
Plymouth Woodhey Road Garden Project - North Prospect in Plymouth is ranked as one of the most deprived areas within the UK where over 35% of the population is made up of children and young people. The funding has helped 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. Click on link below to see the film showing how the money from the charge has been spent and how this has benefited the local community.

plana.marksandspencer.com/we-are-doing/waste/stories/38/

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 had become a focal point for various anti-social activities. The carrier bag money has helped to get local people involved in clearing the land and planting trees and has encouraged them to use the woodland as a recreational & educational resource.  Click on link below to find out how the money from M&S is being spent.

plana.marksandspencer.com/about/partnerships/groundwork/stories/14/

Edinburgh
In Scotland, Groundwork have worked with the charity, the Federation of City Farms and Gardens, to deliver local projects. The first Scottish 'greener living spaces' project is at community managed Gorgie City Farm in Edinburgh. Here funds have helped 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 has helped create a brand new family orientated open space and play area in a stunning seaside location on Scarborough's North Bay. Money has been invested in new play equipment and natural play features, picnic tables and landscaping.

Wigan
Vauxhall Road Play Area - here M&S and Groundwork have turned a once neglected and derelict play into a new community space for young people and families. The local community had campaigned for several years for funding to transform the space, and M&S' support has helped to make that finally happen.

Nottingham
The Sunken Garden - this was formerly an underused space which attracted anti-social behaviour, but the garden has now been given a new lease of life by being raised to ground level. In conjunction with a local artist, a brand new community space has been created with seating and landscaping that has helped instill a sense of pride within the area.

Hammersmith
Hammersmith Roof Garden - this project has overhauled an uninspiring and environmentally unfriendly concrete area into a roof top garden providing an oasis of green within the confines of an urban setting. Vibrant trees and shrubs provide natural colour all year round as well as a range of habitats for wildlife.

Bristol
Mancroft Park - over the years the park had fallen into a state of disrepair and a new initiative was put in place to create a new playground. This project involved children and young people who designed and built 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 has helped to fund the development of a landscaped seating area within the grounds of a day care centre, giving the older people who use the centre somewhere to sit outside in the summer. 

Derry, NI
Shantallow Community Recreation Project - Shantallow is a large housing estate on the outskirts of Derry city. The money for this project has been used to build on a number of recent improvements to recreational facilities in the area. Activities include a mini-golf course, giving 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 help create an environmental play area with seating for young children and their parents.

St Albans
Walsingham Way Natural Play Space - M&S’s funding has helped transform this recreation ground, working with Groundwork Hertfordshire, London Colney Parish council and St Albans District Council. The improvements include 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 –  Groundwork Solent in partnership with Southampton City Council have transformed 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 - new play equipment and pathways have been introduced to the urban public park in Cheshire, 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 – the local community and M&S staff were invited to engage in the creation and maintenance of the new area in this central London recreation ground.  New equipment, seating areas and fencing were introduced adn the M&S funds have ensured the space continues to be a valued community asset.

Tondu
Tondu Green Play – a stimulating play experience for all ages has been created at Port Talbot’s Parc Tondu site. Physical improvements within this new community facility have included 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 has helped to improve a community recreation and kick-about area for the benefit of young people. The money has gone towards the installation of seating and active health equipment around the site, with access much improved and additional facilities maximising use by the wider community.

Dorchester
Dorchester Wildlife Park - M&S funding has helped to turn 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 - money from the carrier bag charging inititative has gone 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, are now benefiting 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, introducing landscaping and new play equipment.  Groundwork Lancashire West and Wigan will transform the site, alongside local residents, Blackpool council, local schools and M&S staff. 

Sunderland
Hendon Community Allotment - we've helped to transform a derelict site into a working community garden for local residents.  Environmental works have included improvements to access and security, the installation of water and renewable electricity supplies and the provision of equipment to grow fresh produce. 

Milton Keynes
Great Linford Park - we've helped to give a neglected area a new lease of life. New pathways, play equipment and a tranquil wood have been created, making 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 many places to sit.

Stockport
Shaw Heath Park - Groundwork Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford will work with the local community to improve a disused area within Shaw Heath Park in Stockport.  With the bowling club relocating, the green had fallen into disrepair and M&S funds will be helping to turn it 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 - the project aims to improve an underused area of green space to create an attractive and exciting area for leisure and play.  We'll be helping to install play equipment and create a courtyard garden for local residents to enjoy.

Kettering
Kettering's Community allotment - established in 2001, the 'Green Patch' is a community allotment and wild flower meadow in Kettering.  The site is now in need of investment and M&S funding will go towards improvements such as the creation of raised beds for older and disabled people and the development of new plots for local groups and schools.

Wrexham  

Bryn Y Cabanau Play Area - M&S and Groundwork will be making improvements to this area in Hightown, Wrexham.  Money will be invested in transforming the site into an attractive new play area for children, with the local community consulted and engaged in the design and delivery of the project.

Aberdeen

Manor Park - we'll be helping to transform Manor Park with improved play faciities and green space, with M&S funding going towards the creation of a larger orchard and an innovative new play area. 

Leicester

The Community Orchard, Gilmorton Avenue - a run down green space will be revitallised with the help of local volunteers to provide a new resource for the community.  Money will be invested in fruit trees and features such as a meadow and pond to encourage people to appreciate nature and wildlife.

County Down

Hackworth Park, Shildon - M&S funding will go towards the improvement of Hackworth Park, the main recreational area in Shildon, County Down.  Plans for the park include a natural play area and fitness elements.

Maida Vale, London 

Paddington Recreation Ground  - we'll be helping to create a pond and wetland habitat to enhance Paddington Recreation Ground and provide a facility for people to explore and appreciate wildlife and nature.  Money will be invested in decking paths, a reed bed habitat, wetland meadow and a pond-dipping platform.

Luton

Marsh Farm Estate - M&S funds have helped transform a disused concrete area within the estate into an attractive community meeting space for parents and young children.  Money has been invested in seating, lawns and new planting, creating a fun and exciting new family space.

Merton, London

High Path Estate - in partnership with the London Borough of Merton, M&S and Groundwork will help re-develop a disused skateboard area, transforming the concrete 'snake pit' into a green space, creating a new play area for children and a valuable community space.

Cardiff

Anderson Field, Adamsdown - with additional support from Adamstown Communities First, this project will improve an underused area of open space with landscaping, the creation of new pathways and the display of community arts projects developed by local young people. 

Dartford

Jubilee Field, Dartford, Kent  - with support from M&S, Groundwork will transform this overgrown and underused space into a new play area for children and a venue for community events, thus creating a lasting resource for local people. 

Bradford

Park Lane Neighbourhood Centre - Groundwork will work with community groups, local residents, schools, a church and also M&S staff to develop a small park on a disused area next to the centre.  Not only will this green space provide a place for relaxation and leisure, but it will also hold displays of local artwork and host regular community days and seasonal planting events, all which will help towards the wider regeneration of the area. 

Carlisle

Eden Bridge Restoration Project - Eden Bridge garden is an historic park located in the centre of Carlisle, which is in need of significant investment to restore it to its former glory.  Improvements will include relaying paths, repairing steps, restoring a rock garden and clearing overgrown vegetation, as well as creating educational boards to tell people about the history of the park.

Darlington

Heart of the Park - the aim of this project is to meet the needs of the local community by fully restoring the bandstand in the 'heart' of North Park.  Groundwork West Durham and Darlington Borough Council will work closely with local residents, schools and community groups to provide a modernised facility to be used by the community as a performance space, thus providing a focal point in their local park. 

Douglas

Loch Promenade Sunken Gardens - located in the Isle of Man, this project aims to improve the sunken gardens in Loch Promenade, creating an attractive town centre space, which is accessible to all.  Improvements will include ramped access and environmentally friendly paving, providing a site celebrating both community values and creativity. 

Omagh, Co. Tyrone

McClay Park Regeneration - this project aims to regenerate a dated play area to create an inclusive and green play space.  Groundwork Northern Ireland, in partnership with Omagh District Council,  will transform this site, along with help from local residents, community groups and M&S staff. 

Durham

Sherburn Road Estate - the regeneration of a neglected and derelict site on the estate will include an educational nature area for the whole community.  Improvements will include seating areas and habitat creation, with young people given the opportunity to display sculptures, thus creating a site that promotes creativity as well as environmental awareness. 

Lincolnshire

Scampton - this project aims to bring a focal point to the centre of this rural village by turning an under utilised piece of land into a village green and thus benefiting the entire community.  Throughout the planning, design and implementation stages, a range of partners, including the local community, the neighbouring RAF base and the Parish Council, will be engaged to ensure that the project reflects both environmental and local heritage issues.  

*1.85p per standard food carrier bag and 0.76p per cake carrier bag.