Is there a small area in your community that would make a lovely garden oasis, or maybe an existing park that could do with a facelift?

As of today, community groups can bid for funds to establish a new pocket park or refurbish an existing park.

Up to £15,000 is available to build new ‘pocket parks’ and up to £25,000 available for renovating existing parks

Green-fingered communities across England can bid for a share of £1 million fund from today (5 December 2018) to help develop their own ‘pocket parks’.

Pocket parks are small plots of land, often about the size of a tennis court, and mostly seen in urban spaces. They provide a green oasis which can help improve the physical and mental health of the communities using them.

Existing pocket parks are used for everything from a quiet escape from busy city life to physical exercise, growing vegetables, children’s play and community events.

Parks and Green Spaces Minister Rishi Sunak MP said:

“Green spaces offer people a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of life to relax, keep healthy, learn about nature or spend time together with loved ones.

Not all communities enjoy access to an abundance of usable space, while some existing parks might need a bit of TLC to bring them back to life. The pocket parks plus fund will help local people to create and maintain small oases that they can take pride in and benefit from for years to come.”

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government welcomes grant applications for the creation of innovative as well as traditional pocket parks. Further information

The first Pocket Parks programme was launched in February 2016.

Pocket parks are defined for this programme as a piece of land of up to 0.4 hectares, although many are around 0.02 hectares – the size of a tennis court.

Each pocket park will be an individual space tailored to the needs of the local area by the community group which has applied for the grant.

To apply, read the prospectus and download an application form, click HERE.

Return the completed form to pocketparkplus@communities.gov.uk.

Be quick though, as applications must be received by 5pm on Friday 25 January 2019.

 

Source: Gov.org