News / Bristol Parks Forum
New foundation to help safeguard future of Bristol’s parks
The vital importance of Bristol’s parks has never been more keenly felt than when the threat of funding cuts recently hung over their future.
Back in May, deputy mayor Asher Craig called for a need to find innovative solutions to safeguard the city’s public green spaces, as she vowed to retain free access to all in the midst of a funding reductions that saw the budget slashed by £2.8m to £1.6m.
Now, Bristol City Council and Bath & North East Somerset Council are joining forces to develop a Parks Foundation, with the aim of increasing community involvement, seeking alternative funding streams, enhancing parks and making them more sustainable.
is needed now More than ever
The two councils have jointly been awarded almost £200,000 by innovation foundation Nesta, as part of its Rethinking Parks programme.
And while this may seem like a drop in the ocean compared to the amount cut from the parks budget in Bristol alone, those backing the foundation say it is an opportunity to widen involvement and raise funds for the spaces, which will remain under council ownership.
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Asher Craig says this is an exciting opportunity
“We are really excited about the potential to create an independent charitable body that can help add value to support parks across Bristol and Bath,” said Craig.
“This project is still at a very early stage, but we hope that working with a range of partners will really benefit all our publicly-owned parks and green spaces that play a vital role in the city’s health and wellbeing.
“We are working hard to find sustainable solutions for the future of the parks service, and we want to continue to ensure everyone in Bristol has access to good quality, attractive and enjoyable parks and green spaces throughout the city.”
Parks are vital for the health and well being of people in Bristol
A parks foundation is a non-profit organisation that supports a specific park or a group of parks, with time, expertise and privately-raised funds.
Some of the aims will include:
- Allowing residents, visitors, community organisations and businesses to support improvements and activities in parks.
- Enabling public donations, including legacies.
- Applying for grants.
- Encouraging and facilitating more volunteering in public green spaces.
Rob Acton Campbell, secretary of the Bristol Parks Forum, welcomed the news, saying: “This is a great opportunity to increase community involvement in parks and to raise funds through sources not available to the two councils.
“We look forward to being a part of this project.”
Queen Square plays host to Bristol Harbour Festival each year
Partners in the project include; The Natural History Consortium, Bristol Parks Forum, Bournemouth Parks Foundation, Quartet Community Foundation and Bristol Green Capital Partnership.
The project will build on, and learn from, the work of the Bournemouth Parks Foundation – the pioneering foundation that was supported by Rethinking Parks in 2014.
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