MyParkTeddy enjoying wildflowers
MyParkScotland is one of 11 Rethinking Parks projects across the United Kingdom.
Supported by Nesta, The Heritage Lottery Fund and The Big Lottery Fund these projects focus on finding the new business models that will enable our parks to thrive for the next century.
A wide range of approaches being taken across the 11 projects so what better way to highlight the breadth of work being undertaken than sending MyParkTeddy on a study tour of the projects.
We are hoping that MyParkTeddy will enjoy meeting other digital projects along with helping volunteers to do hands on work in parks and maybe even an appearance on stage…
You can follow MyParkTeddy’s study tour on twitter and facebook
TREExOFFICE
The first stop for MyParkTeddy was the fantastic tree office in Hoxton Square, London. This unique space provides a working environment built in to the canopy of a tree in the middle of Hoxton Square.
The TREExOFFICE provides can be used for 8 people working individually using the offices own WIFI or booked for small meetings or intimate events.
MyParkTeddy in the TREExOFFICE
As you can see the morning that MyParkTeddy visited the sun was out and this was a truly beautiful place to do some work before jumping on a train to head down to visit the next rethinking parks project.
Project profile on Nesta website
Website: TREExOFFICE
MyParkTeddy meets Polly
The MyParkTeddy has been visiting sunny Bournemouth as the second stop on the Rethinking Parks study tour.
The highlight was meeting Polly, who has been attracting donations towards a new aviary. Polly has raised over £1000 since being installed less than a month ago.
MyParkTeddy is now getting his bag packed ready as he’s off to on the next stop in the study tour…
Project profile on Nesta website
Website: Bournmouth Parks Foundation
MyParkTeddy @ Bloomsbury² Squared
So for the third stop on the study tour MyParkTeddy got to visit the London Borough of Camden and the Bloomsbury² Squared project.
The project is looking at building on the concept of Business Improvement Districts to test the feasibility of both voluntary and compulsory financial contributions to support the iconic collection of squares across Camden.
MyParkTeddy helping create the steps
So for stop 4 of the study tour of the Rethinking Parks projects #myparkteddy was put to work helping the ParkWork trainees carrying out some important work.
First off there was the creation of the wooden frame for some much needed steps.The getting outside in the Bristol drizzle to put the frame in place and create the steps.
This was just a small part of a full day of activity for the ParkWork team.
preparing the steps
The ParkWork Bristol works to train low skilled people in difficult circumstances to create routes to employment, while improving the maintenance and management of the parks service across Bristol. All work carried out by the ParkWork project is additional to the scheduled park maintenance so offers clear added benefit to the parks in Bristol.
Project profile on Nesta website
Website: ParkWork Bristol
Nearly halfway through the study tour and stop 5 was on Merseyside to visit The Land Trust who are working with the Friends of Everton Park.
Everton Park is a 43 hectre park which is going to be transferred from Liverpool City Council to the Land Trust. The #rethinkingparks project is working with the Friends of Everton Park to build capacity and help the group become more formalised to take on elements of the future management of the park.
As well as meeting the team at The Land Trust MyParkTeddy was pleased to receive a new badge before heading off to Sheffield to visit Heeley People’s Park.
#myparkteddy is packed & ready for his next stop – @HeeleyDevTrust Part of @Nesta #rethinkingparks #parksmatter pic.twitter.com/CqT0ESgEQB
— The Land Trust (@thelandtrust) September 2, 2015
Project profile on Nesta website
Website: The Land Trust
Last weekend saw MyParkTeddy visit Heeley People’s Park as part of the Rethinking Parks study tour. Not only did this stop on the tour give MyParkTeddy the opportunity to learn about the work of the Heeley Development Trust but also to be a rock’n’roll star for the day appearing on stage at the Big Boulder festival.
The Heeley project is to develop a subscription scheme for people to join in and make the park their own.
To promote this a number of events have been organised in the park including the fantastic Big Boulder festival that allowed MyParkTeddy to get out of the office and enjoy all that the park had to offer.
MyParkTeddy @ Big Boulrder
As you can see MyParkTeddy made the most of the day and has taken a few of rest to recover before heading to visit Groundwork in Darlington.
Project profile on Nesta website
Website: Heeley People’s Park
MyParkTeddy and volunteers
After a hectic weekend at Heeley Park MyParkTeddy traveled to Darlington to visit the Groundwork North East project.
The day was spent getting on with helping volunteers from the Department of Education working to refurbish the boardwalk at South Park, Darlington.
The Darlington project brings together a range of partners to help develop the chosen parks.
Working to engage businesses in giving their advice and skills to improve the strategic management and operation of parks as well as offering money and manpower towards volunteering days and improvement projects.
MyParkTeddy had a great day enjoying the sunshine, getting work done in the park and meeting some great volunteers.
Project profile on Nesta website
Website: Groundwork North East
myparkteddy getting a tractor ride in Sheffield
The first weekend in October saw MyParkTeddy making a return trip to Sheffield, this time to visit The National Trust and Sheffield City council project that is looking at the feasibility of of raising money for an endowment that will sustain their parks and green spaces in the long-term.
As part of the day in Sheffield MyParkTeddy got to visit a number of sites in Sheffield including meeting the animals at Graves Park animal farm and playing on the activity area in Meersbrook Park.
MyParkTeddy helping feed the chickens
The idea behind this project is to approach a number of organisations such as health and environmental organisations, philanthropic and corporate sources to help provide an endowment fund. The endoment fund will be left untouched with income from investments being used to support parks city wide. It is hoped that this would provide a sustainable funding steam to parks across Sheffield.
A really interesting idea and information that MyParkTeddy will bring back to the team at MyParkScotland once the Rethilnking Park study tour is complete.
Project profile on Nesta website
Website: Parks and Countryside Sheffield
MyParkTeddy and the bee cage
A bright autumn day greeted MyParkTeddy on a visit to “Go to the park” in Burnley.
MyParkTeddy got to hear about how the project is adopting ecological & permaculture techniques to manage heritage parks and engaging people through the Volunteer in Parks programme. Aiming to strengthen community involvement in parks whilst also creating attractive and ecologically rich green spaces.
checking out the urban bees
Once he had learnt about the Programme it was time to get outside and help out with the worlds first town centre honey sanctuary in Queens Park, Burnley. Learning about the fantastic bee cage which provides a protective environment for the urban bees.
With the work in the park done MyParkTeddy is heading south the for the final stop on the Rethinking Parks study tour.
Project profile on Nesta website
Website: Volunteer in Parks, BurnleyVolunteer in Park, Burnley
Volunteer in Parks Facebook Page
So it was with excitment that MyParkTeddy stopped off at the final visit of the Rethinking Park Study tour. Feeling a little ovrewhelmed MyParkTeddy took on picture taking duties and snapped a picture of new found friends.
The Eastbrookend Rekindled project is looking at how the Eastbrookend Country Park’s Millennium building could be reconfigured to increase income and footfall in to the park.
The underused building is in a fantastic location and re-development would provide a flexible building providing valuable space for use by the wider community whilst also working towards a longer term vision of creating a vibrant space for ecological and environmental businesses.
Project profile on Nesta website
Website: Thames Chase Trust | Friends of the Chase
Click the links about to read about MyParkTeddy’s visits to all the Nesta Rethinking Park Parks projects over the last 3 months. We at MyParkScotland would like to thank all of the projects for welcoming MyParkTeddy to their projects and sharing the exciting work that they have been doing.
There is just one last stop for MyParkTeddy before coming home….
What do you think?