Background
Iffley fields residents and local stakeholders have been working with the Oxford City Council to improve the recreation/play area on Meadow Lane and now want to work with the NaturEffect CIC bringing their experience of co-curated public green spaces – wild garden design for the benefit of people and the environment. Each NaturEscape is unique, inviting and inclusive, and is co-created with and reflects the ideas and effort of the community it serves. A project group has been established to take this work forward with working groups, workdays and community events happening over the summer and autumn of 2024.
What is the site like now?
The site is a publicly accessible play area close to SS Mary and John Primary School on Meadow Lane. It is bordered by a Skate Park and playing fields and close to Aston’s Eyot nature reserve. The site currently is a fairly random collection of play equipment installed and managed by Oxford City Council, some trees and undulating grass and earth areas. The border at the back is high panel wooden fencing which is subject to graffiti. A new fence installed by the council has incorporated a small area of trees that increases the woodland space. There is work to be done with dangerous metal fencing that has grown into the trees to the rear of the site on the right near the skate board fence in what is a unappealing area..Could say more here
What will the site be like as a Naturescape?
A lot of work has already been done by local people and the City Council to upgrade the play equipment, improve boundaries and to gather views from a wide range of stakeholders about what they want to see in the area.
The area will now be further developed as a NaturEscape – becoming more of a home for groups that support outdoor play, exploration, and interaction with natural elements such as water, fire and vegetation. New planting and features will be developed to improve the existing garden, bringing biodiversity, colour and social connection. We want to use systemic Routes to Resilience organisational design principles using Head, Heart, Hands:
Head knowledge ideas, wisdom – clear information , noticeboards, signage about place, plants, air space for reflection, ideas, pollinators AIR. Planting features for ideas, structure,
Heart social and emotional connection – social areas, fire circle, seating, FIRE and WATER pond or other water feature – solar fountain? Planting for senses, emotions, healing and relaxation
Hands/Body health/resources – shelter building, loose parts, sandpit, foraging – composting, EARTH. Planting for food, nourishment
Flow – pathways, connecting the zones and creating discovery journeys through the space with planting for colour, joy, playfulness, wellbeing and engagement
Community Engagement
The same principles will be reflected in the way the community works together to design, create and use the space:
Head – Learning together – eg about species living in the garden, medicinal herbs, skillshare
Heart – social occasions – fire circles, singing, festivals (also working on relationships)
Hands – working parties to take care of the site, feasts, (stewardship)
