The Pocketeer The News letter of Northamptonshire’s Pocket Parks

Autumn & Winter 2011

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Editorial

Welcome to the Autumn & Winter edition of the Pocketeer

The Pocket Park consultation has now come to an end and huge 407 people took part. This consultation asked residents of Northamptonshire to give their views on the Pocket Park scheme. The results will be used to inform the County council's budget setting process for 2012-13. Read the results on p8.

The Pocket Parks scheme has continued its partnership with Plantlife this year delivering training to volunteers and primary school teachers across the county. See p 7.

In recent years, research has proved that quality parks and green spaces play a vital role within local communities. They are assets contributing to the local environment, the local economy, individual‟s health and well-being, and in bringing the community together so it is great news that four of our Pocket Parks have been nationally recognised as providing high quality green space by winning the Green Flag Community Award this year. To find out more see p 3 & p 15 – 16.

I am really pleased to welcome a new Pocket Park joining the scheme in Stanwick. See p 3.

Keep enjoying your local Pocket Parks this Autumn & Winter!

Thank you for your valuable work and support.

Rose Little

Northamptonshire County Council has been working in partnership with local communities for 28 years to help establish Pocket Parks across the county. Pocket Parks are helping to protect and conserve local wildlife, heritage and landscape – caring for the countryside on our doorsteps.

Website: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/pocketparks

E-mail: rlittle@northamptonshire.gov.uk Tel. No. 01604 237 222

Find us on Facebook!

Cover photo by Margaret Barton

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Content

News p2 - 7

Pocket Park Consultation results p8

Using Social Media p9

Wildlife Surveys to take part in p10-11

Hedgehog Street p12

News

New Pocket Park – Stanwick

The group have been working very hard over the past year and have just found out they have been successful in receiving £30,000 from GrantScape Community Greenspace Challenge to create a new wildflower meadow and pond network amongst other things.

As well as greatly enhancing the local community‟s overall enjoyment of the area, the transformed site will provide an important educational area for local schoolchildren. Work will start in February 2012.

Green flag community awards

Congratulations to the four Pocket Parks who have won the Green Flag Community Award 2011/12 they are Little Billing, Great Houghton, Kingsthorpe New Churchyard and Hartwell who have won for the first time!

Figure 1Children playing at Hartwell Pocket Park (J. Richards)

Funding and Awards p13-15

Kew native flower project p15

A closer look at......Rectory Farm p16

Pocket Park contacts p17

details -

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Sulgrave

After receiving £50,000 from Community Spaces, Sulgrave have transformed their Pocket Park. Sulgrave was one of the early Pocket Parks created in 1988 and the play equipment was looking a bit tired. The park now has super new play equipment, a new pond network with dipping platform, loads of new seating and a path making it easy for everyone to access the pond, there is even a covered area with seating for parents to sit and read whilst the children play!

Figure 2 Open Day 2nd July

Broughton

As a Lent project St Andrews church offered a hand to help in the Pocket Park. The pond has become very overgrown with grass and reeds and some management was needed. We spent a good morning clearing out the pond. With thanks to Revd Brian Withington and his church.

Figure 3 Work party at Broughton

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Little Billing

After receiving grants from the BIG lottery and Northamptonshire Community Foundation work is now underway. The community orchard has been planted, tree work has been completed and plans are under way for some new footpaths along the river.

Figure 4 Community Orchard

Dog Kennel Spinney

A new group has formed at DKS and they have been really busy this year creating glades clearing out the congested stream, litter picking, and keeping the paths accessible and putting up a new sign.

Cogenhoe

Cogenhoe took part in Love Parks Week by holding a creative photography workshop lead by a professional artist.

The competition was open to adults and children with prizes donated by Northamptonshire University Bookshop. To see the entries please click here

Figure 5 Ladybird on seed head (J. Badcock)

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Pocket Parks feature in White Paper

The Natural Environment White Paper published by the government in June 2011 highlights the importance of our green spaces and the benefits our natural environment has to us all. Pocket Parks were used as an example on p 50 please click here

Summer Sortie 2011

On 6th August 16 of us met, for the annual Summer Sortie. We started at Hartwell, with coffee and cake kindly supplied by the group.

All of the parks were looking great and it was interesting to hear about the different stages everyone is at; from Hartwell who have just won the Greens Flag and been open for four years, to Greens Norton approaching its 30th birthday! It was nice to see the pond at Deanshanger looking so nice and to see the 1000 trees that have recently been planted. At Syresham we heard about plans to create a pond, and to saw how the central grass area is coming along and walked along the newly barked paths in the woodland trail.

With special thanks to all of the host Pocket Park volunteers for showing us around. Thank you to everyone who came along for the day.

Figure 7 Deanshanger(J. Richards)

Figure 8 Greens Norton (J. Richards)

Figure 9 Syresham (J. Richards)

Figure 6 Coffee & Cake at Hartwell (R. Martin)

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Plantlife training event report spring 2011

NCC continues to work in partnership with Plantlife.

Engaging Nature Workshop - using green spaces for learning

12 schools and 13 teachers form Northamptonshire attended this training event. It was a great day lead by Felicity Harris form Plantlife, full of inspiring ideas to use in Pocket Parks all tailored to fit into the National Curriculum

“This was an excellent course. It has inspired me to take (the rest of) the school with me in this learning journey.”

“I have been really inspired by today’s course ideas and I will definitely be taking theses back into school to share with staff and do more outside things with the children.”

“Brilliant day; full of fab ideas and activities that we can really use in school. Looking forward to sharing in school.”

Wild Flowers Count

Sue Southway from Plantlife showed a small group of us how to take part in the wild flower count national survey. Wildflowers Count is the UK‟s only annual national wild plant survey.

To find out more about Plantlife please visit the website

Dates for your diary

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee- Your Pocket Park or Parish Council may want to commemorate this occasion by planting a tree or holding an event. The official Jubilee Weekend is 2nd -5th June 2012.

Winter Solstices 21 December - Celebrate midwinter‟s day with a guided walk around your Pocket Park.

Figure 10 Teachers taking part in the Engaging Nature Workshop

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Pocket Park Consultation Results

The public consultation ran from 4th July –26th August 2011.

407 people took part.

This consultation asked residents of Northamptonshire to give their views on the Pocket Park scheme. The results will now be used to inform the County council's budget setting process for 2012-13.

89% of respondents strongly agree or agree that the Pocket Park scheme provides value for money.

89% of respondents said that ongoing support for the Pocket Park officer in helping sustain their group was very or fairly important.

To read the full consultation report please click here

“On a low income using the

Pocket Park is free and it

helps my health and

wellbeing. My asthma is

much improved and I’ve lost

weight”

“They are breathing

spaces in our dirty,

overcrowded town and

cities. They are

desperately important”

“I have always considered

Pocket Parks one of the best

things pioneered and

sustained by NCC. Let’s

continue!”

88% of respondents said that support from the Pocket Park Officer when setting up their Pocket Park was very or fairly important.

58% of respondents are fairly likely or very likely to seek support in the next five years from the Pocket Park officer to establish a Pocket Park in their area.

92% of respondents thought that Pocket Parks are very important or fairly important to their local area.

“The Pocket Park scheme is

of great value and should

not be subjected to any

budget reductions”

88% of respondents said that support from the Pocket Park Officer when setting up their Pocket Park was very or fairly important.

72% of respondents would like to see more Pocket Parks in their local area.

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Figure 11 screen shot of Broughton Pocket Park website

Using Social Media – and free websites

Using social media is one way to advertise your Pocket Park and the services you provide (wildflower meadow, play equipment etc) it is a way you can update people about what is happing in your Pocket Park such as events you are running and work party days, and it‟s all for FREE!

There are lots of different ways of communicating through social media you could use Facebook, Twitter, a Blog, or set up a website.

Websites to set up your free Pocket Park website. WordPress Weebly voice

Visit the Green Space blog for more information

Lots of Pocket Park groups are already using these forms of communication; take a look below at a few of them.

Boughton have a website please click here and they also use Facebook please click here

Broughton have a website please click here

Deanshanger have website please click here

Higham Ferrers use Facebook please click here

Obelisk Spinney has a website and use Twitter please click here

Rectory Farm has a Blog please click here

Find Pocket Parks on Facebook!

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Surveys

OPAL Bugs Count - join in the nationwide bug hunt

Do you know what bugs are living near you? Count and discover the incredible variety of invertebrates that make their home around us. Find as many bugs as you can in our timed challenges and keep a special eye out for the six Species Quest bugs.

Your findings will help scientists learn more about the distribution of invertebrates across the country and how the urban environment may be affecting them.

Download and print the documents or send your name and postal address to

bugscount@opalexplorenature.org

OPAL Metal Survey

Is your local lake or pond suffering from metal pollution?

Join in the OPAL metals survey and help us learn more about metal contamination in lakes and ponds across England. Taking part is easy. Just collect a small mud sample from your local pond and send it to the OPAL Water team. We'll then analyse your sample for the presence of metals.

Please contact Rose Little for freepost sample packs – contact details page 2

Figure 12 Green Shield bug

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Take part in the urban tree survey

The urban tree survey looks at the most

common groups of trees. “We want to get

as much information on the number,

species and location of urban trees as

possible”

We know relatively little about trees in the

urban environment. Information collected

in this project will allow the Natural History

Museum and other research organisations

to gain a better insight into:

•the make-up of the UK‟s urban forest and

what tree species it contains

•which urban species are native to the UK

and which have been introduced from

other countries

•regional differences in what trees grow

where

•the biodiversity of the wildlife in urban

areas living on or supported by trees

•how tree populations have changed over

time, as a result of urban planning or

garden fashions

•how changes in the climate might affect

what trees grow where, when they flower

and produce fruit

To download the survey visit the website

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Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs have declined by a quarter over the past decade and they urgently need help.

About Hedgehogs The European

hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

belongs to the group of mammals called

Eulipotyphla, which includes moles and

shrews.

Why are they disappearing? The

reasons aren‟t clear but more intensive agriculture – with larger fields

and the loss hedgerows and permanent grassland – is likely to have

played a role. The use of

pesticides too will reduce the

amount of prey available.

Hedgehog Street We are

asking people to become

Hedgehog Champions to rally

support from their neighbours

and work together to create

ideal hedgehog habitat

throughout their street, estate,

communal grounds and parks

Link your garden and parks

Hedgehogs travel around one mile every night through our parks and

gardens in their quest to find food and a mate. If you have an enclosed

garden you might be getting in the way of their plans. Making a hole in

your fence or wall, could really help hedgehog passage.

To find out more about hedgehogs, how you can help them and become

a hedgehog champion please visit the website

Figure 13 Hedgehog in leaf litter (K. Brown)

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Funding and Awards

BIG Tree Plant

The big tree plant is a campaign to encourage people and communities to plant more trees in England. It is a partnership bringing together national tree planting organisations and local groups working with DEFRA and the Forestry Commission to plant trees throughout England. Visit the website

Woodland Trust

The Woodland Trust has a range of free tree packs available to schools, youth groups and communities.

Apply now to receive a free community tree planting pack to plant in spring / autumn 2012

Individual trees, small copses, traditional hedgerows and woodland are invaluable features of thriving neighbourhoods in our villages, towns and cities.

Tree packs come in two sizes:

105 trees ideal for planting either in small groups of trees or as a hedge (approx 30m) 420 trees create a long hedge (approx 120m), or divide up and plant at different sites. If planted as a block of trees, there is sufficient for approximately one acre of land. Visit the website

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Northamptonshire Community Foundation

1. General Grants Programme:

Our general grants programme intends to benefit the whole community and fund a wide range of project including:

Community events and activities

Small scale training, rental and staffing costs

Small and large pieces of equipment

Support groups, residents associations, sports and arts clubs 2. High Sheriff‟s Initiative Fund:

The High Sheriff‟s Initiative encourages the development of projects which bring young people closer to their communities to create a more cohesive society.

Grants of up to £2,500 are available. Your total budget for the project you are applying for cannot be more than £20,000

3. Midcounties Community Co-operative Fund:

The fund is keen to receive applications from voluntary/community organisations that are able to demonstrate that their project will build their capacity and bring benefit to the local community and in doing so meet at least one of the criteria listed below:

Encourage community responsibility

Develop community capacity

Demonstrate Co-operative Values

Grants are up to a maximum of £2,000 and groups are advised only to apply for the amount they need to purchase an item of equipment or to fund a project.

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4. Northamptonshire County Council Small Grants Programme:

The small grants programme will offer individual grants of £500 to £5000 for one-off type costs that must have match funding of at least 25% of the overall cost of the project.

5. Northamptonshire 100 Fund:

Northamptonshire 100 was launched in May 2010 and its aim is to bring 100 like minded businesses and individuals together into a „circle of giving‟.

We wish to fund small projects – we will offer grants of up to £1,000. Your total budget for the project you are applying for cannot be more than £20,000.

For full details of all of these grants visit the website

For further information contact Grants Director Rachel McGrath on 01604 230033 or email: rachel@ncf.uk.com

Green Flag Community Award®

With four Pocket Parks winning the GFCA this year it‟s a great achievement. But so many more Pocket Parks could also win this prestigious award.

Green Flag Community Award®

Assessment Criteria

Each Community Award® application will be judged on its own merit by

an independent judge. Judges score each green space against a

detailed checklist based on the following criteria:

Welcoming place first impressions are all too important and the site

should look inviting. Issues that must be considered are:

Good and safe access, Welcoming, Signage, and equal access for all.

The site should be freely access to the public.

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Healthy, safe and secure It is of paramount importance that the site is

safe. Issues such as: personal security, safe equipment and facilities,

appropriate level of facilities and dog fouling must be considered

Clean and well maintained There should be an appropriate standard of

maintenance throughout the site and effective management skills to

combat issues including: litter and waste management, overall standard

of maintenance including graffiti and vandalism.

Sustainability Judges will examine environmental issues such as peat

and pesticide use, sustainable material use and waste minimisation.

Biodiversity and heritage Each green space is unique and has its own

character. The judges will be identifying the nature of conservation and

historic feature value of the site, and what measures have been taken up

to increase this where appropriate.

Community involvement This is a key criterion for the Green Flag

Community Award® as it looks to how well the site relates and

encompasses the local and wider community.

Management/Achievements Here, judges will be looking at what you

have achieved, not only in terms of managing the green space, but also

what funding and resources you have secured and how you have used

them. How creative and innovative you have been with projects on your

site will also be of interest here.

To apply for an award for the first time, email your interest to:

greenflagawards@keepbritaintiday.org or telephone 01942 612612.

If you would like some help with your application or seeing if your park could potentially win please contact Rose Little.

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Kew launches native flowers project

Grasslands are a precious but vanishing habitat. Fragments survive in areas that have not been ploughed, re-seeded or heavily fertilised. They contain a diverse range of plants which in turn support a variety of insects, birds and other animals. Compared to the 1930s, only 2% of species-rich grasslands remain, and the potential for restoring these attractive habitats is immense.

Samples from these stocks will be made available to commercial seed companies for bulking up for use by conservation organisations in landscape-scale restoration projects. Seed can be highly effective for increasing the species diversity in a restoration project.

Funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, with a gift of £750,000 as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, the money will establish the project over four years. The UK Native Seed Hub will comprise a dedicated seed store, and approximately one hectare of seed production beds, which are currently being developed. To read the full story please click here

UK Native Seed Hub aims are:

To increase the quality, quantity and diversity of UK native plants and seeds available to conservation organisations and others involved in habitat restoration projects to enhance UK biodiversity.

To support UK Native seed producers and conservation agencies through the provision of high quality seed stocks, information and advice.

To develop research into improved nursery and plant production techniques for UK native plants.

Figure 14 Olney Meadow Silverstone Pocket Park

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A closer look at ........Rectory Farm Pocket Park

Rectory Farm Pocket Park forms the northerly part of Ecton Brook Linear Park. It contains varied habitats including a stream, pond, marsh and

wet woodland as well as scrub and grassland. Over the years the area had become somewhat neglected and in 2003 it became a Pocket Park under a twenty year management agreement with Northampton Borough Council.

During the first couple of years the group obtained a Local Network Fund grant, to fund children‟s wildlife activities, then an Award for

All grant which funded a Pond Dipping platform, new seats and also wildflowers and shrubs. Subsequently, tons of rubbish has been cleared and events have included bat walks, a moth night, willow weaving and a herb walk.

Areas of the park have always become very muddy in the winter, and in 2010 the group obtained a Community Spaces grant to fund new paths in the park enabling the whole length to be accessible all the year round and on the third of September 2011, local residents gathered with some of the BTCV volunteers who had helped to construct the paths to see the Mayor of Northampton Jamie Lane

and Cllr David Mackintosh open the paths and have some fun pond dipping, badge making, bouncing on the castle and visiting the cake stall.

Since the new paths have been built, the increase in use by walkers, joggers, wheelchair users and baby buggies has been quite marked.

Next year the group look forward to more children‟s activities funded by the Community Spaces grant and the opportunity to obtain some more bulbs, equipment and training.

Anne Ward – Rectory Farm Pocket Park Coordinator

Figure 15 New Paths (A. Ward)

Figure 16 Path opening event (Ward)

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Pocket Park Contacts- Autumn & Winter 2011

Aldwincle John Foster 01832 720 238

Aston-le-walls Sue Ball 01295 660 489

Barton Seagrave Louis Bonel 07721 053 257

Blakesley Janet Clark 01327 860 461

Boughton Charlotte Mackaness 01604 842 311

Boughton Lane Peter Nalder 01604 630 719

Brackley Sue Crouch 01280 702 441

Braunston Pat Herlihy 01788 890 590

Brigstock Nigel Searle 01536 373 672

Brixworth Alison Kimbell 01604 882 139

Broughton Rebecca profit 01536 799339 broughtonpocket park@hotmail.co.uk

Burton Latimer Maureen Jerram 01536 725524

Byfield Emma Marsh 01327 262318

Chapel Brampton Derek Bland 01604 842 238

Cogenhoe Sue Carverhill 01604 891 512

Collyweston Shelagh Busby 01780 444 607

Cottingham Chris Owen 01536 771 127

Cranford David Iversen 01832 730881

Crick Keith Liggins 01788 822 781

Croughton Trevor Davies 01869 810 704

C. Old Allotments Jean Coles 01869 810 473

Deanshanger Alan Dott 01908 564 725

Desborough Dennis Ainge 01536 763 423

Dog Kennel Spinney John Grewcock 01536 519 872

Earls Barton Rosemary Smart 01604 812 850

Easton on the Hill Pauline Bradbury 01780 755 262

Evenley Merrick Loggin 01280 702 725

Finedon Emma Baker 01933 398 967

The Grange Pete Walker 01536 517 494

Great Billing Chris Campling 01604 785447

Great Houghton Julie Joy 01604 769 969

Greens Norton Mike Potter 01327 350 520

Gretton Bob Dobson 01536 770 734

Hackleton Pam Heap 01604 870 018

Hannington Julie Friell Julie.p.friell @btinternet.com

Hartwell Derek Hawley 01604 863169 info@hartwell pocketpark.co.uk

Higham Ferrers Richard Gell 01933 359 237

Hollowell Barry Wenden 07740 719 881

Kett. Gen. Hospital Maureen Groom 01933 680629

King’s Cliff x 2 Hilary Blunt 01780 470 799

Kingsthorpe Peter Gasson 01604 712 973

Little Billing Michael Clasper 01604 786 240

Long Buckby Mike Ivens 01327 843 885

Lowick Phoebe Edwards lowick@ndo.co.uk

Moulton Jane Austin 01604 492 318

Nassington Yvonne Banke 01780 782 841

Obelisk Spinney Steve Campbell 01604 820735

Old Stratford Derek Everett 01908 569 053

Oundle x2 George Higgins TBC

Raunds Julie Barke 01933 624 467

Ravensthorpe Cliff Giles 01604 770 451

Rectory Farm Anne Ward 01604 786 991

Ringstead Kathryn du Boulay 01933 461 432

Rothwell Carolyn MacKay 01536 711 086

Rushton Jackie Hands 01536 711 478

Silver. Brickle Ivor Floyd 01327 858 499

S. Olney Meadow Margaret Holland 01327 857328

Spring Boroughs Joe Joyce 07768 982 637

Stanion Gordon Wallace 01536 205 529

Stoke Albany Julia Routen 01858 535 504

Sulgrave Jane Osbourne 07879 624 375

Syresham Dot Dunkley 01280 850 626

Thurning Derek Capp 01832 293 330

Tiffield M.Greenaway-Rowe 01327 352 638

Towcester Nicki Wilson 01327 351 466

Walgrave Alicia Schofield 01604 780 192

Warmington x2 Derek Rowell 01832 280 473

Weldon John Hayward 01536 201 068

Wellingborough Julie Knighton 01933 226 720

Welford Phyllis Hayhurst 01858 575 284

West Haddon Jane Ellis 01788 511052

Wilson’s Wood John Smith 01604 696 228

Wollaston Jane Woods 01933 665010

Wootton Jayne Saunders 01604 705 055

Yardley Gobion TBC 01604 237 222

Yardley Hastings Malcolm Saw 01604 696 858

Yelvertoft Joanna Gamble 01788 823 982

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In Partnership with and supported by:

Borough Council of Wellingborough

Corby Borough Council

Daventry District Council

East Northamptonshire Council

Kettering Borough Council

Northampton Borough Council

Northamptonshire Association of Local Councils

Plantlife

River Nene Regional Park

South Northamptonshire Council

Wildlife Trust Northamptonshire

Contact: Pocket Parks Office on 01604 237 222

E-mail: pocketparks@northamptonshire.gov.uk

website: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/pocketparks

This information can be made available in other languages and

formats upon request, such as large print, Braille and CD. For more

help and information contact: 01604 237 227.