Watermans Park - Community Garden

This survey closed on 14 March 2024, an update will be available shortly which will summarise the findings.

This survey has concluded.

Your views, comments and feedback are greatly requested regarding this consideration. The shared outcome of local community opinion will help determine the final design of the community garden, and demonstrate support so the FoWP can apply for grant funding.

The FoWP's vision is to create a beautiful space in the park that promotes health, wellbeing, sustainability, and community friendships.

The aim of the garden is to:

• Help social integration through interaction and inclusion
• Develop partnerships and networks with local schools, organisations, businesses and the Council
• Increase environmental awareness through gardening and growing skills
• Offer enjoyable green, open spaces in a sustainable, accessible and adaptable area
• Focus on sustainability of programmes and initiatives over the longer term

Some benefits of community gardening include:

• Providing important habitats for wildlife
• Creating opportunities for community growing to support local charities
• Workshops for school children and adults to promote greater understanding, new skills and inclusion all-year round
• Increased social interactions and community cohesion
• Improving residents’ and visitors’ physical and mental health
• Enhancing the park’s status as a destination space

The community garden could include:

• An open area; not fenced and/or gated
• Accessibility for all
• An outdoor planting area boasting raised beds and tubs for planting
• Encouraging vertical planting, use of pergolas, and flower beds
• Informal seating for everyone visiting to enjoy the garden
• Space for artworks, or heritage assets from the river to be displayed
• A potential mosaic / artwork to be incorporated into the pavement
• Compost, wormery, insect hotels, water storage, tools storage