|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Prudential Grass Roots Project at Phoenix Park, Blakenhall, has revitalised a piece of wasteland, transforming it into a nature trail to provide a valuable, much-needed resource for local schools and the whole community. BTCV, in partnership with community group Friends of Phoenix Park, has worked with local volunteers to make Phoenix Park a cleaner, greener and safer environment in which wildlife can flourish. The nature trail provides school children with access to an 'outdoor classroom', and is used for a broad range of National Curriculum studies. Situated in a New Deal for Communities area, just over a mile away from the Prudential-owned Mander Shopping Centre, Phoenix Park has experienced high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour and a lack of community facilities, especially for sport and leisure. Local people, tired of constant drug abuse and vandalism, took action and set up a Friends of Phoenix Park community group and with funding from the Prudential Grass Roots Programme, run by BTCV, were able to tackle the problems affecting their community and environment. Listening to people to find out what they want for their community is vital to build long-term support. Developing a community-based management plan provides a framework for local people, giving them the confidence to continue to maintain their newly created green spaces by themselves. Phoenix Park is an excellent example of how programmes such as Grass Roots can use nature conservation to empower the community and provide a common bond between different cultures and ages. Friends of Phoenix Park and local residents have worked with BTCV to organise a range of practical activities that have engaged the whole community. Hundreds of volunteers have taken part and have been committed to improving the site so that everyone can enjoy it. Activities have been designed so that every generation has the opportunity to take part, including clearing the site of fly-tipped rubbish, practical conservation tasks such as bulb and wildflower planting, ground preparation and tree planting during National Tree week, creating a nature trail for local schools and the community, and organising regular litter pick-up groups. Blakenhall's high proportion of Asian residents have been heavily involved in the project's development, and have brought together local primary school children, youths, families and elderly residents, all of whom will benefit from this urban oasis. Today, Phoenix Park is a safe and welcoming amenity for all the community to enjoy. The image of the park has changed forever and there has been a marked reduction in vandalism and anti-social behaviour. The community now has a real sense of ownership and confidence. The park provides a much-needed space for outdoor games and recreation in a community that shows evidence of poor health. With the introduction of the national Walk Your Way to Health scheme in 2002, the newly created pathways attract walkers from all ages and backgrounds and can be accessed by wheel-chair users. Phoenix Park now presents opportunities for people to learn about biodiversity, and the nature trails have become a popular and creative learning tool for school children. It is now an important green space in an urban environment. The refurbishment of the park has also included a range of partners including Wolverhampton City Council, New Deal for Communities, Groundwork Black Country, Shell Better Britain and Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust. Work has involved improving pathways and lighting, clearing shrubs, redeveloping the car park and building a multi-purpose knockabout area, sports area, educational nature trails and an adventure playground. The project has become the focus for achieving wider social goals amongst the community, tackling social exclusion, helping to foster local pride and ownership which leads to less vandalism, damage and littering. The improved pathway lighting has meant fewer muggings, less drug use and fewer burglaries of properties backing onto the park. The regenerated area has increased the number of people willing to use the park and this has in turn helped local businesses. All content copyright © 1986-2009 BTCV Ltd. Registered charity No. 261009 |
