Land
Groundwork Solent is experienced in providing professional landscape services and design to community groups, housing associations, local businesses, and schools for nearly ten years. Our landscape work includes feasibility studies, sketch schemes, planning applications, contract administration and budget control for works on site. All our projects involve consultation of all affected parties in the design process and are we highly experienced in various consultation methods and exploring every opportunity for community participation.
Examples
Thornhill Park, Southampton
Working closely with Thornhill Plus You and Southampton City Council, Groundwork Solent has led an extensive consultation exercise with local residents and groups concerning improvements to Thornhill Park.
From this consultation, we were able to determine the priorities of local residents and users of the park, which included improving visibility and natural surveillance, improving the existing network of pathways, redesigning and providing new adventure play facilities, designing out and tackling anti-social behaviour and improving horticultural design through the creation of wild flower meadows.
Groundwork has secured £105,000 from Thornhill Plus You to implement Phase 1 of this project, which saw improvements to the park’s pathways, natural visibility and lighting. Works started in April 2007, and were completed in June 2007.
Groundwork has also secured £67,000 from Veolia Environmental Trust towards play area improvements as part of Phase 2 improvements.
Phase 2 improvements are expected to begin on July 7th 2008, as the existing play equipment is removed. The current Aerial Runway will remain in position at present, however on completion of other works will be moved to a new location in the adjacent wooded area. Rebuilding work will commence in early August and is expected to take between six and eight weeks to complete.
Mansel Park, Southampton
In 2004, Southampton City Council undertook a major consultation with local residents to ascertain the views of residents regarding a range of improvement options for Mansel Park. From this consultation a masterplan for Mansel Park was created, and over the last couple of years, a wide range of improvements have been carried out, including the creation of a boggy play area, the refurbishment of a traditional play area, and various access enhancements.
Groundwork Solent was commissioned to design, fund and implement a new multi-use games area, and in May 2006 successfully secured over £75,000 from Barclays Spaces for Sport. In addition £15,000 has been secured from the Outer Shirley Regeneration.
Groundwork Solent began works on the multi-use games area in July 2006, and it was completed in September 2006
In addition to Barclays Spaces for Sport capital funding, a further £20,000 has been secured from Barclays enabling the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Youth Options to deliver a range of coaching opportunities at the site over three years.
Alver Valley Country Park, Gosport
The Alver Valley near Gosport consists 240 hectares of former landfill, which is now being transformed into a new woodland park. Part of the existing wooded river valley is designated SSSI and with extensive reed beds, is rich in birds, insects and mammals.
Groundwork Solent and Gosport Borough Council have worked with local people to create a masterplan, and with funding from Onyx, RMC, Forestry Commission, Countryside Agency and English Nature is creating a spectacular woodland park in the urban fringe. It will be a wonderful place for visitors and residents alike and particularly for children to play, but the improvements will also enhance and protect the wildlife. Once this plan is implemented the park will see over £500,000 worth of improvements including the installation of access routes and boardwalks. Work has already begun with over 12,000 trees planted and the installation of a BMX track.
4 Portland Buildings
Stoke Road Gosport
Hampshire PO12 1JH
T 023 9261 7020
F 023 9242 0418
E gosport@groundwork.org.uk