Land
We help people turn derelict land and waste ground into attractive and valuable spaces from small community gardens or allotments to major new parks or sports facilities. We aim to create landscapes that promote better health and biodiversity and encourage more sustainable living, for example through renewable energy or local food production. We work to ensure that people are fully involved in designing and improving new public spaces from village squares to city centres and that more people have access to environmentally friendly forms of transport. We also encourage people to find out more about the heritage and culture of their area and help them understand and value the natural environment around them, often by building cycleways or footpaths connecting towns with the countryside.
Improving Land in the South East - Case Studies
1. Major Land Schemes
Church Marshes Country Park , Sittingbourne, Kent
Groundwork Kent & Medway (GKM) and civil engineering firm Rural Arisings have formed a truly innovative and exciting partnership to rejuvenate a dilapidated and dangerous landfill site in the town of Sittingbourne, Kent.
Church Marshes is an historic landfill that was capped before more stringent regulations were introduced and now in some places the thin capping has eroded so much that indeterminate waste has been exposed and methane releases are unacceptably high for a site that is regularly used by dog walkers, runners and children.
As well as the recreational potential, the site also houses a unique habitat abundant with species such as the Great-Crested Newt and Slow Worms. It has a mixture of scrubland, wetland ditches and reed beds, which set perfect conditions for a plethora of wildlife to exist. The site is surrounded by housing and is in a growth area earmarked for more developments. There is a lack of other usable public green space locally so this land is ideally positioned to become a formal park area for the new and existing communities.
Originally, Swale Borough Council bought the site with the intention of safeguarding it for local communities, but soon realised that the site was actually dangerous to people using it. The council called in a specialist engineering firm to quote for a recapped site and landscaping – the quote came in at over £2 million pounds. For this reason, the renovation of Church Marshes was not viewed as a priority.
It was then that Rural Arisings and Groundwork approached the council and offered to cap it for free. Their idea was to recycle green waste from local councils and inert waste from local building sites then to sift the particles separating good topsoil from hardcore building rubble and rocks. As the waste accepted is inert, the site is exempt from landfill tax so haulage firms pay a fraction of the cost of traditional landfill. The separated soil, rubble and green waste are then used to cap the Church Marshes site.
The site is divided into small sections and wildlife is systematically and sensitively moved. An innovative ditch lined with folded plastic surrounds these temporary holding habitats and prevents the animals moving onto an active capping area.
The money generated from haulage firms pays for the expertise of Rural Arisings, specialist contractors and Groundwork. Rural Arisings have proved to be excellent partners to Groundwork. As well as paid work for GKM staff, a proportion of the profits are donated to Groundwork towards their charitable work. The lifespan of the project is estimated to be ten years to identify, assess, plan and deliver improvements.
Groundwork Kent & Medway’s landscape team was employed
by Swale Borough Council to develop a master plan for the site with
the council committed to pay for capital improvements on the
completed site. In order to protect and preserve, the finished site
will contain new areas of wetland designed to mimic the optimum
habitat of the Great-Crested Newt. The final design will also
include access paths but the aim is to return the Marsh to its
original scrubland and reed bed state for the enjoyment of local
people for years to come.
2. Forming local pocket parks
Grove Road Community Park, Gosport
A 3 year project to transform a derelict and overgrown school playing field into a beautiful community garden. The garden was designed as a space for people of all ages to enjoy and as a home for wildlife in this residential neighbourhood of Gosport. It is also an invaluable education resource for the local junior school.
The local residents have been the driving force behind the project and with the help of Groundwork Solent have established a 'Friends of the Grove residents group. In doing so new friendships and acquaintances have been made reinforcing the sense of community pride and spirit so evident here.
The site has been transformed through relandscaping. New paths and entrances have been created and a large wooden and brick pergola provides a central focal point. A paving feature includes a labyrinth based on the famous labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France. Wooden play sculptures have been installed for younger children and the site has been further enhanced with artwork at the entrance gates and two mosaics. Residents designed an interpretation board which tells the story of the site.
The garden was completed in 2004 and will now be used to host small events such as community fetes and parties as well provide a local place for people to come and relax, picnic, play and reflect. It is being maintained by Gosport Borough Council with the help of residents and volunteers.
Groundwork South East
18-21 Morley Street
London
SE1 7QZ
| T | 020 7922 1230 |
| F | 020 7922 1219 |
| E |
southeastregion@ groundwork.org.uk |