Our Journey
A quick look at everything we've achieved since embarking on our ParkLife journey.
1
In all the ParkLife project, communities and schools used the Toolkit to help them develop their own creative research into parks. One group made a video of a hedgehog going through the woods and the forest using a 360 camera. Another community created 3D models of their perfect parks. Other communities wrote poems about their parks.
Creative Research
2
The ParkLife Toolkit enables delegates from local councils to join together to listen to communities' manifestoes for change for the local green spaces. Communities have asked for changes to impact safety, to stop littering and improve the engagement of the youth in local green spaces. The Toolkit illustrates how ParklLfe teams can present their creative research, conduct Q&A sessions and get local stakeholders to make written pledges for change.
Advocacy Day
3
Following up on pledges from the council
The ParkLife Toolkit shows how communities can create pledges which include both short-term and local term goals, such as improving safety, litter and engaging young people in green spaces. The ParkLife Toolkit then shows how communities can follow up on these pledges by checking whether they have been achieved or not. If they haven't, the Toolkit provides positive suggestions for achieving the goals.
4
Meeting powerful stakeholders
The ParkLife Toolkit shows how communities can work with powerful stakeholders. For example, all of the ParkLife groups met with councillors or local mayors, as this is an important step to achieve change for the better. The Toolkit shows how scripts can be used to advocate for key goals.
5
Achieving tangible change
The ParkLife Toolkit helps communities achieve tangible change. For example, as a result of using the Toolkit, communities have improve litter picking, lighting and ecology in their local parks, as well having items installed such as new equipment and water fountains.
6
Developing amazing presentation skills
The Toolkit is great at achieving incredible presentation skills. For example, one ParkLife group went to Lewisham People’s Day to celebrate the work that they had created and spread awareness about park life. This helped their confidence to stand up for our park and show others the significance of what we had done. All groups had a chance to present their creative work and goals formally to powerful people in their communities.
7
Working with local organisations
The Toolkit helps groups work with important local organisations. For example, one group went to visit their local health centre and learn how health workers could help with improving their local park. The health centre saw providing access to the local park as an important element of their health plan for the community.
8
Working with the police
The Toolkit helps groups work with the police because safety can be a key concern about local green spaces. One group interviewed their local police and learnt about the nature of the crime in the park, and what could be done to solve it.
9
Creating useful surveys
The ParkLife Toolkit can help communities create useful surveys which help communities understand how people use their local green spaces and what they would like for them. For example, one group conducted a major school survey to determine the areas that cause the most fear. They discovered that the underpass caused the most feelings of lack of safety. They used this data to create a fun quiz for their school assembly.
10
Creating fun engaging resources for the local community
One group created an interactive quiz which raised awareness about their local green space. I
11
Helping run conferences
The Toolkit is great at helping groups take part in, or run, their own conferences. One group presented at a climate schools conference, developing an interactive presentation to engage all delegates at the conference.
12
Helping run literary evenings
The Toolkit shows how communities can run events like 'Book Nights' or reading groups. For example, one group got in contact with the people who ran the local library and asked to present their poems to them and the local community. The local people asked them lots of questions about the project, and they were able to answer them very fully. It was a good experience to feel their interest and curiosity. They invited them back to do more events. It was a great connection to make.
As you can see, communities have had a great time bringing our very own ParkLife Project to life...
...but everyone's journey is different! You'll have opportunities to plan and execute different types of events, and conduct different types of creative research depending on what your park needs. Ready to find out more?
