Norfolk Square Group
Brighton, UK
The Norfolk Square Group is focussed on making Norfolk Square, an inner city pocket park, a safe beautiful place for the whole community to enjoy. This involves regular gardening sessions and social events involving the whole community. We have built a shed in the square which is a place for volunteers to meet up as well as where we keep our tools. The shed was funded by donations from local people and businesses, as well as a Council Shared Prosperity Grant. The group arranges a variety of free-to-all community events throughout the year. These involve local residents, chlldren and some of the marginalised people who use the square. In one of the most densely populated communities in Britain, where many don't have access to gardens or outside space, all are welcome to use the garden, help in its maintenance and help plan activities. We attract users and volunteers with 2 notice-boards, use of social media and a newsletter sent to 2000 local households and businesses. We also attract interest as we garden at our weekly garden sessions. We rely on sponsorship from local people and businesses to maintain our equipment, ongoing costs and planting. We have also installed 3 new benches in the last few years with plans for another one this year. We organise a Christmas party, open to all, in a local pub where a is raffle held, with donations from local businesses. We also involve local artists in works displayed in the square, including significant sculptures. We garden to sound environmental principles, have fund-raised for 2 large rain-water butts and host an active composting group. We are regularly assessed by Britain in Bloom who recently rated the work we do as "Outstanding", with a score of 39/40 for community involvement. We have bug hotels, bird and squirrel feeders, and a sink for birds to drink and bathe in. We have an ethos of continuous improvement in both our gardening and in our involvement with the local community.
What we've received