Funding boost for Exeter pocket park
Exeter St James Community Trust Ltd has won £13,000 of funding from the Government’s Pocket Parks Programme and, thanks to local County Councillor, Jill Owen, a further £5,000 matchfunding has been awarded from DCC's Locality Budget.
The Trust, which is looking to transform a dilapidated patch of land, Queen’s Crescent Garden Pocket Park, into a community space for everyone to use, said it was delighted with the news.
“Queen’s Crescent Garden was named by St James' residents as top priority of the many projects that emerged during their neighbourhood planning process,” said Robyn Connett, coordinator of Exeter St James Forum's Queen's Crescent Garden Project Group.
“Our ambition is the regeneration of the land as an attractive open space for the whole community to use and enjoy as an important part of a much-needed community hub and we already have an exciting and ambitious Masterplan prepared.”
Cllr Sutton, Lead Councillor for City Development, said: “This is great news and I am genuinely thrilled for the Community Trust and everyone in St James. In time Queen’s Crescent Garden will become a valuable and attractive open space for local people to enjoy.”
This award, with the funding held by ECC in a partnership arrangement, together with the DCC Locality Budget grant, will allow a limited but nevertheless very significant start to be made, clearing overgrown vegetation and restoring sections of the perimeter wall which is in very poor state of repair.
A major boost came in the form of 'in kind' matchfunding provided by national green services provider, Glendale, which sent a great team to the garden, using its professional expertise over two days to carry out a thorough litter pick before clearing the overgrown shrubby vegetation around the perimeter, thus removing cover for anti-social activity, and finally shredding the green waste for use as valuable mulch in due course.
Mike Dennys, senior estimator at Glendale, said: “Protecting green spaces is our bread and butter, so we were only too happy to get involved with this fantastic project. Gardens like this one can really create a sense of local pride, and we’re pleased to be helping restore a space which the community can feel proud of.”
Robyn added: “There is a fantastic buzz in the air now that everyone can see real progress being made. It is very exciting but we mustn't get carried away; the task before us is immense and the current phase is necessarily limited in its scope.
"We are actively seeking matchfunding determined that the restoration of the most dilapidated sections of the perimeter walls will be achieved this spring – we would like to keep the bricklayers on site for as long as it takes to complete the job, but we are prioritising certain parts to ensure the greatest impact.
“We are reusing all the old bricks and coping stones that have been found during the great clearance, but more will be required. If any readers have any old bricks of similar appearance, no matter how few or how many, that they would be willing to donate, please let us know!”
Email info@exeterstjamesforum.org.
