Hampshire and the South East

As a Hampshire based charity, Groundwork engages in a variety of projects outside its core south Hampshire area of operation. In addition we look to work with other Trusts in the region and with Groundwork South East to ensure a coordinated approach when developing new projects and fund raising.

Below is a selection of projects Groundwork Solent is working on in Hampshire

Brighton Office
Eco Park
Alleywise (Winchester)
Knowle Park Country Park
Brighton Spots vs Stripes

Brighton Office Opens

At long last our Brighton based team have an office space to call their own! From 1st of September you can pop in or write to the team at:

Room 11
The Executive Centre
Towerpoint 44
North Road
Brighton
BN1 1YR

Here you will find Duncan Blinkhorn, Community Events Co-ordinator and our growing Brighton based team.

Grand Opening of Eco-Park

One of the butterfly beds in its early stages Saunders Park is a 4.2-acre plot between Hollingdean Road and the A270. It’s a handy spot for local families, but the area was run down and the green space was woefully under-used.

Thanks to Groundwork’s partnership with Marks and Spencer through the Greener Living Spaces scheme, which donates money collected from people paying for their plastic bags, this has all changed. On 29th August 2010, the park had it's Grand Opening.

The park now has raised flower beds made from recycled timber which the community can use to plant their own fruit and vegetables (the blueberry and raspberry plants are already in full fruit). Bike racks, bird boxes and an educational ‘info trail’ around the park have been installed, as well as a bee-friendly garden. Brighton Permaculture trust has donated a fruit orchard to the site, planted by local school children. The main garden includes a butterfly garden, a nature pond, bog garden, living willow dome shelter and picnic tables and benches made from recycled wood.

New bench installed M&S staff, children from local primary school, Coombe Road, and many members of the local community have come together to make the project happen – digging, planting, weeding and watering and the newly formed Friends of Group plans to keep this momentum going.

Beth Chapman, Development Officer for Groundwork in Brighton, said: “This is a great opportunity to provide the communities surrounding Saunders Park with a unique new outdoor learning environment.

“We hope the new eco-park will be a big hit with local residents – both children and adults – and provide them with ideas on how they can all use open spaces to reduce the impact of climate change.”

Alleywise

Groundwork is working with the residents' group Alleywise to bring back into use alleys at the back of 150 houses in Winchester that have fallen into disrepair to the point of rendering them unusable. Preliminary work on this project has involved a feasibility study, including potential physical improvements to the alleyways, ways of improving access, and researching similar projects in other areas to find best practice and possible funding sources for physical works.

Following the initial study, Groundwork is looking to work with the Alleywise group to consult residents in the area and prepare designs for and implement the alley way improvements.

Knowle Park Country Park

Groundwork Solent worked with Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Council to consult with the local community and raise funds to develop the Knowle Park Country Park. Following consultation events with the local schools as well as special events at the site and at the villages carol service, with an overwhelmingly positive response, Groundwork Solent were able to assist in the funding applications.

The bids were sucessful and the park was opened by Charlie Dimmock on Saturday 9th April 11. The new facilities include, a wildlife sanctuary, ponds, a footbridge and viewing platform, 7,000 trees planted, and a children's play area installed. More information can be found on the council's website.