Community led GBI toolkit

The first step is to talk with as many different groups and individuals as possible from a diverse range of backgrounds. This might include neighbours, community groups, young people, places of education, Town and Community Councils, and local businesses. These conversations will help shape the type of space people are interested in and the facilities required for them to access the space.

You can find contact details for your local Town and Community Council.

Note that community consultation is an ongoing, evolving process and could highlight opposing views. It is important to record all views and respect people's opinions even if they differ from your own or the initial vision of the project.

Regardless, everyone's right to be heard should be respected.

Once the initial consultation has been completed and interest has been identified, you will need to set up a Core Group of people who are willing to work towards the creation of the
space together.

It may be helpful to assign roles based on each person's individual skillset such as chair, secretary, community engagement lead, and treasurer. However, some groups may find it more useful to have a less formal structure.

The Resource Centre has a number of resources on how to ensure a group runs well.

Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Service can also support you in setting up a local organisation.

It is important to begin gathering evidence which will support your project. For example, if there is a needs assessment which has already highlighted the need for a specific asset that you are planning to deliver, or you could conduct your own needs assessment.

You could also look for data published by Carmarthenshire County Council such as provision of the public open space, play space, or a GBI assessment.

Your local Town or Community Council may also have relevant information on a specific asset, particularly at a local level.

When combined, this information could help with funding and planning applications, and may form a part of the management pion for the project.

Any meetings or consultations held with members of the community either formally or informally should also be recorded.

Next, you will need to conduct further community consultation to refine ideas for the site and, if you haven't done so already, identify suitable land. For further information and guidance on effective community engagement, visit My Community.

When coming up with ideas for the site, it is important to remember the needs of the community alongside how it may support the wider environment. As discussed on the following page, possible ideas may include:

• Community Growing Space
  
• Sensory Garden
  
• Fruit Orchard
  
• Allotments

 

Community Growing Space

A community growing space can be a great opportunity to bring people together to grow fresh produce that has a low carbon footprint. Some community growing spaces also offer workshops or training days on relevant topics, such as cooking classes or natural building, which can provide additional opportunities for socialisation and education.

Social Farms and Gardens have a resource pack on Community Growing.

A growing pack may also be available from Keep Wales Tidy.

 

Sensory Garden

A sensory garden is a greenspace that is designed to focus on the five senses as a method of connecting people with nature. Sensory gardens can be both relaxing and stimulating spaces for communities to enjoy including children and those with additional needs.

The following resources may be useful if you are considering a sensory garden:

• Gardeners World - How to Create a Sensory Garden
• Sensory Trust - Sensory Gardens Planning

 

Fruit Orchard

Fruit orchards can provide fresh, locally grown fruit for the community and provide a relatively low maintenance opportunity. Carmarthenshire, particularly the Tywi Valley, was once a County known for its fruit production and new orchards can help preserve this heritage.

Keeps Wales Tidy has resources and funded packages available for not-for-profit groups to help you get started.

Orchards are a hotpot for biodiversity, supporting a wider range of wildlife. Additionally, they can be combined with other land uses such as play areas, sports fields, and amenity spaces amongst residential housing.

 

Allotment

Allotment sites offer an opportunity for individuals and groups to rent plots to grow their own produce. They can be a great asset to bring people together over a shared interest in gardening, improve well being and promote healthier lifestyles.

Allotments can be run privately, by community groups and charities, Town or Councils and Local Authorities.

The following resources may be useful if you are considering setting up a local allotment site:

• National Allotment Society
• Welsh Government - Community Growing Guidance

 

 

Once you have on idea of the kind of space you want to create, it is important to find a site that suits your needs as best as possible. You may look into:

• Publicly owned land which may be eligible for community asset transfer or lease.
• Land owned by charities or religious groups.
• Privately owned land to rent or purchase.

Please see Obtaining a Space for further guidance on identifying and obtaining land.

Once you have found and secured an appropriate site, you need to make sure that you understand the following features which will support the design process:

• The size, shape and topography of the site will inform the design layout. Google Earth can help map this.
• It is vital that you understand the permeability of the site and identify areas which may be at risk of flooding.
  This will include outlining the drainage and surface water run-off direction.
• Being aware of the soil and geological landscape of the site will help to inform whether the land is suitable for the proposed use.
• Understanding previous site uses will help you identify if there are any risks of pollution/contamination. Soil testing can be a useful method of highlighting risks which can then be mitigated against.
• Invasive species could cause significant issues, so it is important to be aware of any from the beginning. The Non-Native Species Secretariat provides resources which may be helpful in managing any identified invasive species

It is important to remember that you are unlikely to find a 'perfect' site. You may need to adapt to certain challenges or conditions that you cannot change. For example, there may be challenges with noise due to proximity to a highway. Whilst this may an important asset through public transport links, it may be difficult for others and could require mitigation to ensure everybody's safety.