- Local communities encouraged to apply for pocket parks plus
grants from today
- Up to £15,000 available to build new ‘pocket parks’ and up to
£25,000 available for renovating existing parks
Green-fingered communities across England can bid for a share of
£1 million fund from today (5 December 2018) to help develop
their own ‘pocket parks’.
Pocket parks are small plots of land, often about the size of a
tennis court, and mostly seen in urban spaces. They provide a
green oasis which can help improve the physical and mental health
of the communities using them.
Existing pocket parks are used for everything from a quiet escape
from busy city life to physical exercise, growing vegetables,
children’s play and community events.
Parks and Green Spaces Minister said:
Green spaces offer people a sanctuary away from the hustle and
bustle of life to relax, keep healthy, learn about nature or
spend time together with loved ones.
Not all communities enjoy access to an abundance of usable
space, while some existing parks might need a bit of TLC to
bring them back to life. The pocket parks plus fund will help
local people to create and maintain small oases that they can
take pride in and benefit from for years to come.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
welcomes grant applications for the creation of innovative as
well as traditional pocket parks.
The first Pocket Parks
programme was launched in February 2016.
Pocket parks are defined for this programme as a piece of land of
up to 0.4 hectares, although many are around 0.02 hectares – the
size of a tennis court.
Each pocket park will be an individual space tailored to the
needs of the local area by the community group which has applied
for the grant.
To apply, read the prospectus and
download an application form. Return the completed form
to pocketparkplus@communities.gov.uk.
Applications must be received by 5pm on Friday 25 January 2019.
