Our story
Maes Gwenfrewi is a former bowling green in Aberystwyth town, which was taken over by us, Aberystwyth Town Council, a few years ago. The green turf could not withstand the wear and tear from heavy use, so a rope maze was installed. While it was well intentioned, the reality was that the rope maze wasn't popular with local people and its upkeep soon became problematic.
We knew that the park had potential to be a real hub for the community, so we applied for – and were awarded with - a 'Challenge for Nature' grant to transform the area into a biodiverse town centre park.
It was a particularly exciting project because we planted 30 new trees, introduced wildflower meadows and provided spaces for community food growing. We also improved access to the park, installing new fencing and gates which can be locked if required (to negate anti-social behaviour), and created an area that can serve as an informal amphitheatre for seasonal performances or meetings.
Our vision is that the space becomes a haven for wildlife and becomes a much-loved park, used by all members of the community as a play area, a place to hold outdoor meetings and a food growing space.
Our advice
We were able to make our idea a reality thanks to a full 'Challenge For Nature' grant, which enabled us to achieve in one year that which would have taken several years. If you're doing a grant application, make sure you plan everything out well in advance as it will really help you formulate a strong bid.
We've designed the park around what we know the community wants, so doing research in advance is crucial. We noted the problems we encountered in the park, such as dog damage and anti-social behaviour, and tried to design them out with robust infrastructure and raised beds. It is important to listen to what local people have to say and to work together.
Manage expectations – when you ask a community for input, you're going to get a lot of feedback and as great as that is, the likelihood is that you won't be able to achieve what everyone wants. With that in mind, it's important to manage expectations by communicating what you can and can't do. As much as you'd like to, you can't please everyone, so be prepared for that.
You should also offset problems from the outset. For us, that's been about making sure the park can't be a magnet for anti-social behaviour or littering. Through the new design, we've done our best to offset these potential issues.
Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the increase in local biodiversity; the number of thriving new trees; the amount of local food grown and enjoyed; and how the space brings our community together in different ways.
