The Social World of Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces: A Community History Project

Lead Research Organisation: University of Nottingham
Department Name: History

Abstract

The main economic and societal impacts will be in the Nottingham region, largely realised through the vehicle of the partner organisations. The research will help forge complementary regional partnerships between the two universities and with Nottingham City Council and local heritage organisations who, with the wider community, will be the main non-academic beneficiaries of the project.

For the partner organisations it will facilitate hands-on experience of research, engagement with a rich field of knowledge, and create opportunities for knowledge exchange. Participants in a Gateway to Nature Framework project conference (which encourages involvement in green and nature-related activities for vulnerable members of the community) held in Nottingham in October 2012, stated that they were partly inspired by the historic ethos of Nottingham's green spaces. The project aims to capitalise on such community-led initiatives to raise awareness of the historic importance of green spaces and their surrounding communities, challenging both local people and visitors to the city to value and utilise them even more for recreation, education, research and scholarship. Through the development of networks and exchange of experiences it hopes to ameliorate tensions between preservation, heritage and community demands such as those demonstrated recently when one group concerned with preserving the Forest's heritage clashed with community groups wanting improved sports facilities.

The City Council faces many challenges managing and preserving Nottingham's historic green spaces which are used by diverse groups with different needs and expectations. It will benefit from the project in two ways. First, the project will build on and expand existing relationships with community groups and improve communication. Second, as part of a programme to promote understanding of Nottingham's historic green spaces, and inspire interest in their varied history, the project will provide a context for understanding the diverse landscapes including the planting schemes, the original buildings and the other structures, and how they are used. In a period of financial austerity and local government budget reductions, it will provide a useful source of information and inspiration for the work of gardeners, rangers and other parks staff, who are active in the friends groups, and aid the landscape-gardening, planting and management of Nottingham green spaces.

For local communities and local cultural consciousness, the project will enhance the sense of belonging and well-being implied in connecting the city with its green spaces, and provide the urban community with a cultural resource. For the wider community, the project will contribute to the regeneration ambitions of Nottingham City Council which rely on the active participation of local and regional leaders in the public and private sector. Overtures to these leaders to discuss the results of the project will secure lasting impact because of their resulting contribution to city planning and policy making. As well as providing the benefits of new knowledge for the wider community, it will create potential for economic benefit in the region through tourism. By placing Nottingham's Victorian parks, gardens, cemeteries and public walks into the context of the city's industrial and urban history, the intention is to build on and link to the city's wider regeneration strategy, which links directly to its tourism and heritage strategy, including regeneration of the Castle Quarter; Professor Beckett is a member of the working group preparing a major HLF bid for this area.

In these various ways, the project will have an impact among conservationists, heritage and museum specialists, local history enthusiasts, and people interested in the wider aspects of landscape design, conservation and history, not least some of the thousands of contemporary users of historic green spaces.

Planned Impact

The main economic and societal impacts will be in the Nottingham region, largely realised through the vehicle of the partner organisations. The research will help forge complementary regional partnerships between the two universities, Nottingham City Council and local heritage organisations. For Nottingham and Derby Universities it will extend the reach of their public engagement in community history research. For the partner organisations it will facilitate hands-on experience of research, engagement with a rich field of knowledge, and create opportunities for knowledge exchange.

The City Council faces many challenges managing and preserving Nottingham's historic green spaces which are used by diverse groups with different needs and expectations. Recently the Friends of the Forest have clashed with community groups wanting improved sports facilities. In itself this demonstrates the tensions between preservation, heritage and community demands. Yet there are many encouraging signs that parks and open spaces are appreciated by the local urban community. Participants in a Gateway to Nature Framework project conference in Nottingham in October 2012, for instance, which encourages involvement in green and nature related activities for vulnerable members of the community, stated that they were partly inspired by the historic ethos of Nottingham's green spaces. The project aims to capitalise on such community-led initiatives in order to raise awareness of the historic importance of green spaces and their surrounding communities, challenging both local people and visitors to the city to value and utilise them even more both for recreation, education, research and scholarship. For local communities and local cultural consciousness, the project will enhance the sense of belonging, and well-being implied in connecting the city with its green spaces, providing the urban community with a cultural resource.

By embedding knowledge and the development of the history of the green spaces formed at enclosure, the project will provide a context for understanding the varied landscapes including the planting schemes, the original buildings and the other structures. In a period of financial austerity and local government budget reductions, it will provide a useful source of information and inspiration for the work of gardeners, rangers and other parks staff, who are active in the friends groups, with their landscape-gardening, planting and management of Nottingham green spaces. As well as providing the benefits of new knowledge for the wider community, it will create potential for economic benefit in the region through tourism. By placing Nottingham's Victorian parks, gardens, cemeteries and public walks into the context of the city's industrial and urban history, the intention is to build on and link to the city's wider regeneration strategy. This links directly to its tourism and heritage strategy, including regeneration of the Castle Quarter; Professor Beckett is a member of the working group preparing a major HLF bid for this area. The project will be part of a wider programme designed to promote understanding of Nottingham's historic green spaces, and to inspire interest in their varied history, development, including the care of historic trees and changing community usage. The wider regeneration ambitions of Nottingham City Council rely on the active participation of local and regional leaders in the public and private sector. Overtures to these leaders to discuss the results of the project will secure lasting impact because of resulting contribution to city planning and policy making. In these various ways, the project will have an impact well beyond the academic community among conservationists, heritage and museum specialists, local history enthusiasts, and people interested in the wider aspects of landscape design, conservation and history, not least some of the thousands of contemporary users of historic green spaces.
 
Title Breathing Spaces 
Description This play was commissioned for the Green Spaces project. Written by experienced community playwright, Andy Barrett from Excavate, it was based on the research carried out by both the academic project team and community partners during the original Green Spaces project (2013-14). It was performed by community players drawn from youth drama and amateur dramatic groups. It was staged on five occasions in the green spaces that were the subject of the play, to significant audiences; approximate figures are: i. Queen's Walk: 60 ii. The Forest: 60 iii. Victoria Park: 45 iv. Arboretum (two performances) 12 noon: 95 4pm: 135 
Type Of Art Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact Play script has been published and made available for use by other groups. 
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/images-from-breathing-spaces-our-community-play/
 
Title Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces 'talking heads' films 
Description These 10 videos were commissioned for the Green Spaces project. Written by experienced community playwright, Andy Barrett from Excavate, and edited and filmed by Sam Derby Cooper. The films were based on the research carried out by both the academic project team and community partners during the original Green Spaces project (2013-14). Following on from the development of the Breathing Spaces play, each video featured a different character from a different period in history explaining to camera the importance of the parks and green spaces for them. Some of these characters appeared in the play, some not. Each character was performed by a volunteer performer, a mixture of those who performed in the show and others. The 10 videos were performed by local actors. The videos were first shown as part of the project exhibition during August 2016 and remain available via the project website 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact Films were shown during the project's Exhibition at the Local Studies Library, are now available from the project's website and will be used at appropriate future events, e.g. the Dept. History's 'History Festival' in April 2017 
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/the-ten-films-for-breathing-spaces/
 
Description 1. Co-produced archival research, and preparation for co-authored publications, expected in 2015-16. The research fellows worked with, and advised and trained, community groups at Nottinghamshire Archives and at Nottingham Local Studies Library. The research results are now being collated for publication. Interactive discussion via website: www.ng-spaces.org.uk This is still being updated, and further findings will be posted.
2. The value of reaching out to, and working with, local community partners, to create new networks both informally and through the Nottingham Contemporary event held on 18 January. Presentations were made both by team members and also by individuals, and individuals on behalf of community groups. A feedback session was held at the end of the day which pointed to a new way of thinking about the green spaces on the part of the community groups, notably on the issue of the contestation of space.
3. Unexpected but distinctive linkages with local community groups, particularly Green Activists, with local history enthusiasts who came to appreciate the degree of common interest they had in researching historic green spaces.
4. Bringing together of an academic audience and community group members in a conference held at the University of Nottingham on 10 January 2014. Papers were presented by academics from various universities, and large audience of non-academic researchers from the local community groups both attended and engaged in discussion. The linkage between the two groups worked better than we had anticipated and showed important synergies between community groups researching and working at the local level and academic specialists.
Exploitation Route Information prepared for and submitted to Nottingham City Council for information panels in the Arboretum.
The website was created and maintained throughout the project, and has been extended for at least one year beyond its official close in February 2014: www.ng-spaces.org.uk
A number of publications are in preparation as a result of activities on the project, in which an academic or a research fellow is working with a community group or individual to co-produce publications.
Follow-on funding proposal for a dissemination project targeted at a non-academic audience particularly the BME communities who lived adjacent to the green spaces which have been part of the initial project. To include a day school, youth group drama workshop and videos, permanent and temporary exhibitions and exhibition materials.
Sectors Leisure Activities

including Sports

Recreation and Tourism

Culture

Heritage

Museums and Collections

URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk
 
Description We worked with a number of local community groups who had been struggling to focus their work, and were unsure of sources, archives, and other material that might help them to understand the historical context of the world of Nottingham's green spaces, and to carry forward their own research.
First Year Of Impact 2013
Sector Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

 
Description Follow-on Funding for Impact and Engagement
Amount £92,467 (GBP)
Funding ID AH/N006402/1 
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2016 
End 09/2016
 
Description Why Are West Indians? 
Organisation WAWI Group
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Funding, project development, access to Centre's network
Collaborator Contribution The partner conducted the research and delivered the project outputs.
Impact The Centre supported the group as it researched the history of Caribbean involvement in the First World War and curated an exhibition of relevant material.
Start Year 2016
 
Description 100 Strangers Photographic Project 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact During the Arboretum Discovery event on 31 July, Dr Judith Mills was approached by an amateur photographer taking part in the "100 Strangers" photographic project. Her photograph was taken and posted on a Flickr website, together with a summary of the Green Spaces project, including links to the project's website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/28322878564/
 
Description 14th Annual Inclosure Walk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Annual Inclosure Walk is organised by The Friends of The Forest. It is a 5- mile guided walk which visits many of the parks and walks created by Nottingham's 1845 Enclosure Act. Dr Judith Mills was invited by the organiser to 'start' the walk and together with Dr Jonathan Coope, gave short presentations at each of 10 stops along the way, explaining some of the history behind the creation and changing use of the green space.
The aim was to improve understanding of the history of Nottingham's earliest green spaces to a general audience. It was attended by members of the public of all ages. The audience included Paddy Tipping Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Tom Huggon, Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire, both supporters of public access to open spaces.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/14th-annual-inclosure-walk-3-july-2016/
 
Description AHRC Connected Communities Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Jonathan Coope participated in the symposium on 'Utopias, Futures and Temporalities: critical considerations for social change', held at Bristol Zoo, 19-20 May 2015. Coope specifically organised a round table: 'How might the traditions of therapeutic communities and greencare inform our re visioning of social futures?'. Other participants included Dr Lucy Sargisson, Professor of Utopian Studies (Nottingham), Dr Rex Haig, NHS Consultant Psychiatrist' and Dr Neil Chadborn, Research Fellow at CLAHRC (NHS/University of Nottingham)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://connected-communities.org/index.php/news/first-call-symposium-on-utopias-futures-social-chan...
 
Description Annual Anniversary of the Opening of Nottingham Arboretum 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact This was the third occasion that the Green Spaces project has been asked to support this annual celebration. Paul Elliott gave a talk The Greening of Nottingham 1840-1880 which explained the town council's commitment to tree planting during the 19th century. The Arboretum is the 'jewel in the crown' of this endeavour, but the Council also ensure that trees were a focus for the other green spaces created by the 1845 Enclosure Act. This enthusiasm spilt over into 'street trees' and tree planting in private gardens. Paul's talk was followed by a brief presentation by Judith Mills on the follow-on project's public engagement activities.
The very wet weather meant that the audience was smaller than normal. It comprised members of the Friends of the Arboretum, Parks Dept staff and two of the City Council's tree officers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/18-may-2016-anniversary-of-opening-of-the-arboretum/
 
Description Arboretum Discovery Trail 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This is designed as a 'fun' activity which would encourage children and their parents to explore areas of the Arboretum which they otherwise might not visit. It takes the form of a quiz which takes the participants on a walk around the Arboretum, answering questions about the trees, statues, aviaries and other landmarks.
Participation on the day (31st July) was disappointingly low, but immediate, verbal feedback included comments such as "

Several people took away the question sheets as an activity they could do at a later time, with grandchildren. Verbal reports show that this has happened. Copies of the trail were also available throughout the project's public exhibition and again copies were taken away by members of the public.
An electronic copy was sent to the Park Rangers to use and has been uploaded to the Project's website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/how-well-do-you-know-the-arboretum/
 
Description Breathing Spaces 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This play was commissioned for the Green Spaces project. Written by experienced community playwright, Andy Barrett from Excavate, it was based on the research carried out by both the academic project team and community partners during the original Green Spaces project (2013-14). It was performed by community players drawn from youth drama and amateur dramatic groups. It was staged on five occasions in the green spaces that were the subject of the play, to significant audiences; approximate figures are:
i. Queen's Walk: 60
ii. The Forest: 60
iii. Victoria Park: 45
iv. Arboretum (two performances)
12 noon: 95
4pm: 135
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/images-from-breathing-spaces-our-community-play/
 
Description Breathing Spaces - 10 short films 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact These 10 videos were commissioned for the Green Spaces project. Written by experienced community playwright, Andy Barrett from Excavate, and edited and filmed by Sam Derby Cooper. The films were based on the research carried out by both the academic project team and community partners during the original Green Spaces project (2013-14).

Following on from the development of the Breathing Spaces play, each video featured a different character from a different period in history explaining to camera the importance of the parks and green spaces for them. Some of these characters appeared in the play, some not.

Each character was performed by a volunteer performer, a mixture of those who performed in the show and others.

The 10 videos were performed by local actors. The videos
were first shown as part of the project exhibition during August 2016 and remain available via the project website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/the-ten-films-for-breathing-spaces/
 
Description Community Radio Station interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Paul Elliott, Co-I, was interview for one hour on Dawn Radio, a local radio station which mainly addresses the local Muslim community, about the Green Spaces project, how they could help, and how they might view the green spaces close to the places in which they live.

Impossible to be sure with a radio interview.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Creative writing workshop and frieze making for primary school children 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact The aim was to introduce young children in the area to some of the history associated with their local parks,
The workshops also helped to promote the project's activities, especially Breathing Spaces.

Organised by creative writing tutor and lecturer Angela Foxwood, 30 children from a local primary school attended a workshop. The workshop began with a brief history lesson about how the appearance of Nottingham has changed over the past 300 years, with particular attention paid to the enclosure of earlier green spaces and the establishment and preservation of Nottingham's historical green spaces as a result of the 1845 Enclosure Act.

The school children were then shown a selection of photographs and paintings of Nottingham's parks through the ages. These images were used as prompts for them to write short poems or other short pieces of imaginative writing inspired by the images and the history of the parks.

Many of the poems/writings were selected and added, along with the images and a timeline to create a large tapestry. This tapestry was then included as part of the project's public exhibition in Nottingham Local Studies Library during August 2016.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Enclosure Tree Trail leaflet 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Prof Paul Elliott worked with a City Council Open Spaces Development Officer and Park Rangers, and Dr. Graham Pearce, volunteer with Friends of The Arboretum and expert on trees, to write and design a walks leaflet. This takes the reader/walker through the main green spaces created by the 1845 Enclosure Act, highlighting the most important or interesting trees along the way.
The aim was to raise awareness of the importance of the Enclosure Act in creating the green environment of the City. 2000 copies have been printed and will be reprinted when more are needed; it is also available electronically, so it will leave a legacy beyond the life of the project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/enclosure-parks-tree-trail-leaflet-published/
 
Description Exhibition 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a two-day event organised by the Department of History, University of Nottingham. The target audiences were staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students and others interested in the work of the Department. The project's contribution to the event was an exhibition comprising the project 'pull-up' banner and photographs. The ten Breathing Spaces 'talking-heads' videos ran on a continuous loop on both days, and Dr Judith Mills gave a talk on the first day.
Tree trail leaflets, book marks and other literature about Nottingham's Green Spaces provided by the City Council were available for visitors to take away.
The 'Tree Trail' leaflets and book marks were handed out to the talk audience and attention drawn to the Project's website address (on bookmark) as a source for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk
 
Description Exhibition: Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces Exhibition was held in the public exhibition space in the Nottingham Central Library, adjacent to the Local Studies Library. It ran from 3-30 August 2016. It was officially opened by Paddy Tipping, Police Commissioner for Nottinghamshire.
The exhibition comprised
• a series of illustrated panels describing the creation and use of Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces
• two panels illustrating some of the project's engagement activities
• display cases holding related artefacts from the Local Studies Library collection
• ten short 'talking-heads' films featuring characters (e.g. park keeper, war widow, sportsman) who related aspects of the history of the green spaces.
In parallel there were talks by project members (Paul Elliott and Jonathan Coope), a children's games workshop, and a workshop specifically for services users of Framework's Nature in Mind programme. The project team also gave presentations to the Nottinghamshire Local History Associations 'Angel Row Forum' event which was held in the exhibition space.
Interest in the exhibition resulted in a 20 minute interview on Radio Nottingham, a double-page spread in the Nottingham Post and several requests for talks to local history or community groups.
A digital version of the exhibition has now been created and is available on the project website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/new-online-exhibition-now-available/
 
Description History and Archaeology Fair 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The History Fair is organised by the University of Nottingham Museum. Over 60 local history and archaeology organisations had stalls. The fair was open to the general public and all ages. The aim was to raise awareness of our project and promote its activities, in particular the play and the exhibition.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/local-history-and-archaeology-fair-9-july-2016/
 
Description Interview on Radio Nottingham 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 10 minute interview with Mark Dennision, 9.50 on Thursday 14 July, to promote Breathing Spaces.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Lecture 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Professor John Beckett, PI, gave the monthly lecture (in June 2017) to the Beeston and District Local History Society, on the subject of Green Spaces in Beeston. This was an invited lecture following interest among group members who had attended both the Community Play (June/July 2016) and the Green Spaces Exhibition (August 2016). It was prepared using similar material to the main Nottingham Green Spaces project, and will eventually be published.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk
 
Description Lecture 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Following the project's display at the Greater Nottinghamshire Local History Fair in May 2016, Dr Judith Mills, research fellow, was invited to speak to the Farnsfield History Society on the 'Creation of Nottingham's History Green Spaces', with a particular emphasis on The [Nottingham] Arboretum.
'Tree Trail' leaflets and book marks were handed out and attention drawn to the Project's website address (on bookmark) as a source for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk
 
Description Lecture: Historiography of Victorian Urban Public Parks, Paxton 150 International Conference, Sheffield, September 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Questions and discussion followed the lecture.

Correspondence subsequently.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Lecture: Public Parks during the First World War, Quad Arts Centre, Derby, 27 May 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Post-lecture discussion

Audience inspired to visit local parks.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Making Workshop for school children 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Organised by Ali Bakewell, Production Manager, for Breathing Spaces, twenty five Year 2 and twenty five Year 4 children from a local primary school attended one of two workshops. Each workshop began with an introduction to the words 'Arboretum' and 'Aviary'. This was followed by an explanation (suited to the age group) of why Nottingham had an Arboretum. The class then talked about the range of trees and the type of birds kept in the Arboretum which involved a discussion about continents.
Afterwards the children cut out and decorated some cardboard birds. Some children took their work home, but others donated it to the project and it was hung in one of the Aviaries while Breathing Spaces was being performed.
The aim was to introduce young children in the area to some of the history associated with their local parks, and also raise awareness amongst teachers of these potential educational resources. The workshops also helped to promote the project's activities, especially the specially commissioned play, Breathing Spaces.
Overall, the workshops touched on several National Curriculum areas.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/making-workshop/
 
Description Mental Health Seminar, 8 July 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Jonathan Coope attended a seminar entitled 'Recovery, Hope and Conviviality: mental health in three communities', and the University of Nottingham, on 8 July 2015. It was hosted by Professor Nick Manner and Dr Gary Winship, as part of a series of seminars building towards a alrge psycho-social funding proposal in partnership with KCL, Goldsmith's College, and UCLan. The series is funded by SIH (Foundation for Sociology of Health and Illness).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description NCCPE Engage Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The NCCPE Annual Conference brings together representatives from Universities and other institutions and some community-based groups to learn about public engagement initiatives from the UK through plenary sessions, workshops, exhibitions and discussions.
Judith Mills attended the conference on behalf of the Green Spaces project as part of her professional development. The project had submitted a proposal for an interactive workshop about our work but this was unsuccessful. She was , however, able to take part in informal discussions to describe the work of the project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Nottingham's Green Spaces: Controversies and contestation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This invited public lecture by Dr Jonathan Coope was given as part of a programme of events and talks about Nottingham's public green and open spaces organised by and hosted at St Ann's Allotments, Nottingham during Heritage Open Weekend.

The audience of approximately 15 people were members of the general public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Nottinghamshire Local History Association "Angel Row Forum" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This workshop was organised with one of the project's Partner organisations, Nottinghamshire Local History Association, as part of their regular 'Angle Row Forum' series. Members of the project team gave short presentations about the project's work then showed some of the videos produced by the project. This was followed by a Q&A session. After the workshop, project team members also answered questions on an individual basis.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://nlha.org.uk/event/nottingham-green-spaces-project-finding-new-ways-talk-history-angel-row-his...
 
Description Open Spaces Forum at Loxley House 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The Open Spaces Forum is a formally constituted body whose aim is to promote, protect, conserve and enhance the open spaces within the City of Nottingham. It is convened by the City Council's Parks and Open Spaces but comprises representatives of voluntary groups (e.g. Friends) and organisations involved with the City's parks, walks and other spaces. It meets 4 times a year to learn about Council plans for the parks and raise concerns and promotes a range of events through its own social media outlets, e.g. https://www.facebook.com/NottinghamOpenSpacesForum/
Dr Judith Mills gave a presentation to the Forum about the Nottingham Green Spaces project. The aim was to inform a wider group of interested parties about the work of the project and solicit support for the public events. Forum members were enthusiastic about the plans and have supported the project through advertising events.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Parklands in Wartime: Nottingham's parks in WW1 and WW2 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This public lecture by Dr Jonathan Coope was given as part of the programme associated with the project's public exhibition in Nottingham Local Studies Library. The audience of approximately 30 people was a mixture of local historians and the general public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Presentation on British Parks in World War I to the Garden History Museum, Lambeth, London, November 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Led to a discussion and feedback.

Various forms of post talk enquiry.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Press release to local media 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Press release promoting the project's public engagement activities, circulated to local media including radio, TV and newspapers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Primary School Workshop: Whitemoor (session 1) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact The Centre Co-ordinator delivered an interactive session on the FWW to primary school pupils
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Project Website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Project website to promote and attract local audiences to the public events and to disseminate research findings more widely. According to Google Analytics, the website was viewed by 3285 different users during 2017. Of these 29 per cent were from outside of the UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2017
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk
 
Description Project website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This project website had a number of functions. First it published easily accessible, non-academic reports of some of the findings of the original research project to make them more widely available. Its second function was to advertise the engagement activities of the follow-on project and thirdly it reported on those activities to further promote the work. Contents include a digital version of the project exhibition and links to the 10 'talking-heads' videos commissioned, illustrations. It was linked to Twitter so that every new entry created a new Twitter feed.

According to Google Analytics the website was visiting by people in several countries including Spain, Germany, USA and Australia
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk
 
Description Radio Interview: Alan Clifford Show 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Responding to a press release and email contact, Professor Elliott and Dr Judith Mills gave a pre-recorded interview to Alan Clifford, presenter of Radio Nottingham's weekday afternoon show (12-4pm). The interview took place in the project's exhibition at the Local Studies Library and discussed some of the display panels. It was broadcast on 17 August 2017 between 2 and 2.30pm, and was available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Re-launch event of Nottingham City Council's £5.1 million redevelopment of The Forest 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact Stall at event for interested people to drop by, find out more about the research, add their names to the contact list, and generally discover more of what was going on.

People came and looked at exhibits, asked questions, and discussed with us how they could be involved.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Following the project's display at the Greater Nottinghamshire Local History Fair in May 2016, Dr Judith Mills was invited to speak to the Nottinghamshire Family History Society which meets on a regular basis in Nottinghamshire Archives.
The 'Tree Trail' leaflets and book marks were handed out and attention drawn to the Project's website address (on bookmark) as a source for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk
 
Description Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Following a visit by one of the Group's members to the Green Spaces Exhibition held at the Nottingham Local Studies Library in August 2016, Dr Judith Mills was invited to speak to the Nottingham Wives' Group. This is a group of Christian women drawn from across the county.
The 'Tree Trail' leaflets and book marks were handed out and attention drawn to the Project's website address (on bookmark) as a source for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk
 
Description Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Questions and discussion lasting 30+minutes

Group to arrange visit to village discussed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Talk and Walk: The Forest and The Arboretum 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact This was a collaborative event with Nature in Mind and The Friends of The Arboretum. Nature in Mind is a programme run by Framework Housing Association that supports people with mental health problems, and promotes well-being and recovery, through engagement with nature-related activities in Nottingham city. The day began with an informal discussion about the history of The Forest and The Arboretum: why they exist, how they have been used; how they have changed, illustrated by numerous pictures, maps and book illustrations. This was followed by a guided tour of The Arboretum, led by Dr Graham Pearce, a volunteer with the Friends of the Arboretum and an expert on trees.
It was attended by about 12 people from Framework who were a mix of staff, volunteers and service-users. The service-users completed a feedback form, issued by Framework, which assessed how their mood and confidence had been altered by the day's events.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/talk-and-walk-the-forest-and-arboretum/
 
Description Talk to Burton Joyce and Bulcote Local History Society "Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Judith Mills had been invited by the Burton Joyce and Bulcote Local History Society to give a presentation to its members as the first of its winter programme of talks. There were approximately 50 members present.
Judith gave an illustrated talk entitled "Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces" which outlined the reasons for the Enclosure Act, the process by which the type and location of each was decided (e.g. why there are public walks, why there is an Arboretum) and controversial issues such as charging for entry to the Arboretum, the social problems of gambling and drunkenness, and where to locate the Church of England cemetery. The talk was followed by a short question and answer session.
Informal feedback received afterwards included "excellent talk" and an appreciation of "the depth of the research".
Judith was approached afterwards about giving a similar presentation to the Lowdham History Society, and was asked about the annual Inclosure Walk organised by the Friends of the Forest - one of the project's community partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Talk to Burton Joyce and Bulcote Local History Society "Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Some of the members of the Friends of Moore Ponds Wood had attended the project exhibition and came to some of the talks. Judith Mills was invited give a presentation to its members.

Judith gave an illustrated talk entitled "Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces" which outlined the reasons for the Enclosure Act, the process by which the type and location of each was decided (e.g. why there are public walks, why there is an Arboretum) and controversial issues such as charging for entry to the Arboretum, the social problems of gambling and drunkenness, and where to locate the Church of England cemetery. The talk was followed by a short question and answer session.
The Friends expressed interest in having a guided tour of The Arboretum contact details have been provided.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011,2016
 
Description Talk to Nottinghamshire Local History Association Day School 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Nottinghamshire Local History Association was a 'Nottingham Green Spaces Dissemination Project ' Project Partner. Dr Judith Mills was invited by NLHA to give a talk at its 'Gardens of Delight' Day School in October 2017.
The talk was well received and resulted in an invitation to speak to the Retford History Society in September 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://nlha.org.uk/event/nlha-october-2017-day-school/
 
Description Talk to a Local History group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Following the project's display at the Great Nottinghamshire Local History Fair in May 2016, Judith Mills was invited to speak to the Society on the 'Creation of Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces', with a particular emphasis on The Nottingham Arboretum.
The 'Tree Trail' leaflets and book marks were handed out and attention drawn to the Project's website address (on bookmark) as a source for further information.
The was followed by a visit to the Arboretum organised by the Friends of the Arboretum. Judith Mills acted as liaison between the two groups.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk
 
Description Talk/Tour of the Church (Rock) Cemetery, Nottingham 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This tour of the Cemetery was part of a 3-day visit to Nottinghamshire, arranged by Dr Will Bowden, Dept. Archaeology, University of Nottingham on behalf of the Caster Roman Project group. The two central cemeteries (General and Church) were part of the Green Spaces in nineteenth century Nottingham.

The group was given a short talk about why the cemetery was needed, problems encountered in finding an appropriate site and work involved in its creation. We then toured the cemetery, including being given access to the cave system which is normally not accessible.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/
 
Description The Social World of Nottingham's Green Spaces 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Invited presentation to Mapperley and Sherwood local history group and several other residents of the old people's home where the event was hosted. The purpose of the activity was to update this history group on the activities of the dissemination project (as they had been a community co-partner of the earlier 2014 Social World of Nottingham's Green Spaces project).

NOTE: several members of MASH kindly offered to help out as stewards for several performances of Breathing Spaces, the play specially commissioned for the project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description The Social World of Nottingham's Green Spaces - a community co-production dissemination project 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This invited presentation constituted one part of an afternoon of activities to celebrate research work of interest or relevance to the Centre for Social Futures at Nottingham's Institute of Mental Health. Of particular interest to participants were the example shown of a successful dissemination project and our engagement with vulnerable adults (via collaboration with Framework) and the relevance of health and wellbeing aspects of public green spaces.

Note: on basis of this talk, JC appointed to Expert Scrutiny Panel of Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award application 'Hope and Public Mental Health: a Study of Three Local Community Populations'; 205466/Z/16/Z, £622,373
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Travelling Exhibition Banners 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A series of 'pull-up' banners were created at the beginning of the project which have been used as a temporary exhibition. They have been used at History Fairs, project meetings, talks to societies and other events. They are now on permanent loan to Nottingham City Council's parks department. Some are now on show on The Forest and at Queen's Walk; two will be displayed at The Arboretum once refurbishment work has been completed. A further banner will be on show at Wollaton Park, which though not one of the spaces created by the 1845 Enclosure Act and therefore not studied as part of the project, is a very popular tourist destination thus reaching an even wider audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.ng-spaces.org.uk/green-spaces-project-at-the-nottinghamshire-local-history-and-archaeolog...
 
Description Utopian Studies Society, Newcastle, 4 July 2015 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Jonathan Coope attended this conference, the 16th International Conference, 'Utopia and the end of the City', on 4 July 2015. He gave a paper, 'Ecopsychology and its psychological critique of urban industrilaism'. He will be submitting a version of his paper for publication in Utopiean Studies.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://conferences.ncl.ac.uk/utopianstudies/programme/USS%202015%20Abstracts%2029%2006%2015.pdf
 
Description Victorian Children's Games 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact There were three 'Victorian Children's Games' sessions, two associated with performances of Breathing Spaces (a play commissioned by the project) and one associated with the project's public exhibition, Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces. The purpose was to engage with children in a way that encouraged them to find out more about how parks were used in the past and the type of activities that were available to children in the Victorian period. Although advertised in the same way as the play and exhibition, the events, unfortunately, did not attract as many people as hoped. The appeal was very broad, with adult enjoying the activity as much, if not more, than children.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Where are Nottingham's original Victorian public parks? Nottingham Post 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Responding to a press release and email contact, journalist J H Lewis wrote an article on Nottingham's Historic Green Spaces which was published in the Nottingham Post on 9 August 2016, and posted on the paper's website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.nottinghampost.com/where-are-nottingham-s-original-victorian-public-parks/story-29597888-...
 
Description Workshop for Framework Service Users 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact This workshop was organised specifically for Framework Housing Association's 'Nature in Mind' programme which aids people recovering from mental health and addiction problems. It took place as part of the project's public exhibition programme of events. In addition to the exhibition displays and videos, a recently retired Local Studies Librarian (Dorothy Ritchie) and Green Spaces project volunteer had arranged for a selection of books and maps to be available. The workshop was attended by 8 service users, one volunteer and one member of staff. Following a short introductory talk by Dr Judith Mills, they watched the short videos and then spent time looking at the books, maps and other material. Judith Mills and Dorothy Ritchie answered questions either from the group or individually.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016