Neighbourhood improvements a community effort
A DCH housing scheme in Exeter has been recognised with a Royal Horticultural Society South West in Bloom 'It's Your Neighbourhood Award’, a grassroots community gardening campaign helping people to make lasting improvements to their local areas.
Arena Park, Exeter was recognised at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 23rd October held at Exeter Community Centre where they were presented with a ‘thriving community ’ award which recognised the neighbourhoods work on transforming the play park and adopting good environmental practice on their estate, by The Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Rob Hannaford.
Lesley Browne, Community Development Worker at DCH, said: “I was delighted to attend the awards ceremony on behalf of DCH, and accept the award for our residents who volunteer their time to make community improvements which make the neighbourhood such great place to live.
"This award recognises the collective contributions from the Youth Ambassadors, the resident association and the Green group who have all had a significant influence.”
The judges used 3 main criteria which were:
• Community Participation – how the green spaces involve local people; how local people are involved in planning and decision-making; “how well” they get support or funding from their local council, grant funding and sponsorship; how they work in partnership with others e.g. environmental groups, youth groups.
• Environmental Responsibility – is the community group engaged in conservation, recycling, composting and perhaps also helping to address issues such as fly-posting, litter, anti-social behaviour.
• Gardening Achievement – is there good practice which is appropriate to the area, such as good plant choice, good maintenance, creativity and innovation, overcoming site difficulties.
Arena Park’s Youth Ambassadors (Curtis Channing, Reece Driver, Bradley Palmer, Graeme Robertson and Cullum Windsor-Clinton) also recently won the Devon Award for the Voluntary Organisation for Young People and Children (YOYC).
The young ambassadors have been involved with creating a new multi use area which has transformed the park.
Christine Fraser Team member from Exeter Parks Watch said: “Exeter Parks Watch was brought in to help bring together all the groups and agencies who helped restore the green space for the local community.
"When the RHS Judge from Penzance came to assess the park in July he was very impressed by all the achievement but he also provided additional advice to help achieve another of the community's ambitions - namely, to have more trees. This was thought to be impossible because of the old Showground concrete bases under the grass, but Michael Foy showed how, using soil from a nearby housing development, they could create 'bunds' - mounds of earth - onto which their choice of native British trees could be planted. So that is the next challenge and we are sure the community will rise to it!”
Exeter Parks Watch Group submitted 14 'It's Your Neighbourhood' entries this year and all received certificates and praise from the RHS South West in Bloom judges at an award ceremony in Truro Cathedral last month.
For more information on Exeter Parks Watch please contact Chair, Susan Lawrence at hello@exeterparkswatch.org
