At the time of conception of this plan, the state of the UK’s environment and biodiversity is less than desirable. Baseline assessments following two decades of environmental monitoring since the initial convention of biological diversity (1992), as part of the Millennium ecosystem assessment (2000); show the significant extent of decline. Natural green infrastructure has dropped below 10% and 93% of Britain’s woodlands are considered in poor ecological condition. The need for radical action is ever more pressing. New international strategies stemming from the UN’s Eco-system services framework, have paved the way for national governance to prioritise the environment in new developments. Of particular interest to Garon Park is to ensure a 10% increase in species abundance and a movement toward 30% natural green infrastructure. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy is the mode of delivery for local authorities, assembling knowledge, skills and the finest information and data available will be made possible by responsible authorities providing local leadership.
The Norman Garon Trust land represents the final frontier of natural green infrastructure on the fringe of the city’s urban spawl. It is our duty as stewards of the land to protect this area and make it a haven for wildlife, supporting both the natural world and the community’s health and wellbeing. The next closest greenspace(s) of a similar size and function is some 5 miles away at Belfairs Park, or 4 miles away at Gunners Park, both managed under the Essex Wildlife Trust.
In a recent survey conducted with our site users, we discovered that many people were concerned about the negative impact of climate change and although people are aware of key terminology such as; biodiversity, Ecosystem services, National park and nature reserve, very few use these terms regularly. Those that are aware of the site’s conservation efforts, made some positive comments and stated that more publications and development of specific areas for nature, would help to encourage further engagement in the park’s biodiversity and conservation efforts. Garon Park’s dedication to promoting environmental awareness and supporting biodiversity, rings through it’s multifaceted green infrastructure plan. The main challenge is the very nature of the site, although offering extensive facilities to support health and wellbeing, it is set up for amenity usage and finding the balance between this and meeting the 30% natural green infrastructure target is a tall order. However, it can be realised by harnessing the local ecological network, creating corridors along boundaries, in the form of hedgerows, and ecological focus areas in the form of woodland copses and wildflower meadows.
These ambitious goals will not be possible without the tireless efforts of our dedicated team of volunteers. They are instrumental to the day-to-day tasks that are required to maintain our conservation features, engage in mass participation surveying to monitor our impact, grow the very food they eat for lunches and support our events that promote environmental awareness. Celebrating their work is of up most priority.
This also creates significant opportunity to support mental health in the local area, as actively participating in nature has profound benefits to mental health. Disconnect with nature is a significant driver of mental health decline in the UK and we have seen firsthand, through our work experience programmes, a shift in peoples outlook following engagement in the many environmental based projects on site. This is particularly important when considering the lack of greenspace for our young people, where in Southend, some 50% of primary schools have little or no access to greenspace, which has shown to also have a detrimental impact on cognitive development. Garon Park with its extensive grounds, can support this lack of provision.
Greenspace has many health benefits, from clean air to clean water, aesthetic value and sense of place, among many more. A loss in this fantastic resource within cities such as Southend would be detrimental to both the environment and the people that reside here. This is why Wellbeing at Garon Park’s green infrastructure plan is so important. Future developments will see the plan’s expansion across the whole of Norman Garon Trust land, working in partnership with other organisations such as the Golf club, to create a centre of excellence for conservation in Southend.
Wellbeing At Garon Park (WBGP), run by the Garon Park Community Interest Company (the CIC), describes itself as a charitable incorporated organisation ‘with the purpose of providing sustainable facilities that can be used to improve local health and wellbeing, as well as enhancing the beauty, biodiversity and environmental value of the 30-acre Garon Park site in Southend on Sea.’
As part of fulfilling this purpose, it is necessary that the CIC takes measures to both reduce the harms of its site’s management and built environment as well as maximising the ecological value of its remaining land through carbon storage and sequestration in a way that is consistent with providing for its other functions.
This report suggests that while the CIC has made significant steps to minimise its environmental harms, these are not currently at the level required to suggest the site is carbon neutral. Indirect emissions in the form of transport emissions associated with the site by far constitute its largest environmental harm. In addition to improvements relating to efficiency and waste, reducing the site’s environmental harms can be aided by the introduction of a solar array across the site which could allow for on-site annual electricity production of approximately 137,000kWh.
This report also demonstrates the site’s value as a carbon store, and suggests there will be embellished sequestration potential in the future owing to the ongoing maturing of higher value wildlife currently being established.
One of our core objectives is to support and enhance biodiversity. We do this through our conservation plan and through promoting environmental awareness in the local area. One of the most important components to delivering an effective conservation plan is to understand and record environmental impact and one of the most effective ways of doing this is to monitor biodiversity, looking for an increase or a shift in species composition and diversity.
This is not an easy task with such a small team as we have. As such we are developing and implementing a mass participation style monitoring programme that will simultaneously record our impact as well as promoting environmental awareness in the local community.
One species is particularly important to us, the Shrill Carder bee, which is classified endangered but has been sighted in and around the Southend area, with limited distribution across the UK.
This represents an opportunity for us to promote habitat and forage for this species and other invertebrates. Mass participation surveying is becoming a valuable tool in a new wave of citizen science aimed at significantly reducing the cost and resource needs of important scientific study such as species surveying. We are developing some site-specific training material for participants to follow (Click this link).
We will set up a series of monitoring stations around the site that will each have a bug hotel (built by volunteers) to monitor invertebrates such as beetles and artificial cover objects to monitor reptiles.
We would like to purchase a couple of dedicated tablets for surveying that we can load all of the material on to as well as a platform to record findings.
Pollinating invertebrates such as bees and wasps, require the development a Bee Walk and we have been working with the British Bumblebee Conservation Trust, to create an effective transect that our volunteers can walk to monitor bees etc and we can link into their Bee walk Programme. This project will tie in with our new info boards and enable quick access to material, give details about species and other features on the site.
At the time of conception of this plan, the state of the UK’s environment and biodiversity is less than desirable. Baseline assessments following two decades of environmental monitoring since the initial convention of biological diversity (1992), as part of the Millennium ecosystem assessment (2000); show the significant extent of decline. Natural green infrastructure has dropped below 10% and 93% of Britain’s woodlands are considered in poor ecological condition. The need for radical action is ever more pressing. New international strategies stemming from the UN’s Eco-system services framework, have paved the way for national governance to prioritise the environment in new developments. Of particular interest to Garon Park is to ensure a 10% increase in species abundance and a movement toward 30% natural green infrastructure. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy is the mode of delivery for local authorities, assembling knowledge, skills and the finest information and data available will be made possible by responsible authorities providing local leadership.
The Norman Garon Trust land represents the final frontier of natural green infrastructure on the fringe of the city’s urban spawl. It is our duty as stewards of the land to protect this area and make it a haven for wildlife, supporting both the natural world and the community’s health and wellbeing. The next closest greenspace(s) of a similar size and function is some 5 miles away at Belfairs Park, or 4 miles away at Gunners Park, both managed under the Essex Wildlife Trust.
In a recent survey conducted with our site users, we discovered that many people were concerned about the negative impact of climate change and although people are aware of key terminology such as; biodiversity, Ecosystem services, National park and nature reserve, very few use these terms regularly. Those that are aware of the site’s conservation efforts, made some positive comments and stated that more publications and development of specific areas for nature, would help to encourage further engagement in the park’s biodiversity and conservation efforts. Garon Park’s dedication to promoting environmental awareness and supporting biodiversity, rings through it’s multifaceted green infrastructure plan. The main challenge is the very nature of the site, although offering extensive facilities to support health and wellbeing, it is set up for amenity usage and finding the balance between this and meeting the 30% natural green infrastructure target is a tall order. However, it can be realised by harnessing the local ecological network, creating corridors along boundaries, in the form of hedgerows, and ecological focus areas in the form of woodland copses and wildflower meadows.
These ambitious goals will not be possible without the tireless efforts of our dedicated team of volunteers. They are instrumental to the day-to-day tasks that are required to maintain our conservation features, engage in mass participation surveying to monitor our impact, grow the very food they eat for lunches and support our events that promote environmental awareness. Celebrating their work is of up most priority.
This also creates significant opportunity to support mental health in the local area, as actively participating in nature has profound benefits to mental health. Disconnect with nature is a significant driver of mental health decline in the UK and we have seen firsthand, through our work experience programmes, a shift in peoples outlook following engagement in the many environmental based projects on site. This is particularly important when considering the lack of greenspace for our young people, where in Southend, some 50% of primary schools have little or no access to greenspace, which has shown to also have a detrimental impact on cognitive development. Garon Park with its extensive grounds, can support this lack of provision.
Greenspace has many health benefits, from clean air to clean water, aesthetic value and sense of place, among many more. A loss in this fantastic resource within cities such as Southend would be detrimental to both the environment and the people that reside here. This is why Wellbeing at Garon Park’s green infrastructure plan is so important. Future developments will see the plan’s expansion across the whole of Norman Garon Trust land, working in partnership with other organisations such as the Golf club, to create a centre of excellence for conservation in Southend.
Wellbeing At Garon Park (WBGP), run by the Garon Park Community Interest Company (the CIC), describes itself as a charitable incorporated organisation ‘with the purpose of providing sustainable facilities that can be used to improve local health and wellbeing, as well as enhancing the beauty, biodiversity and environmental value of the 30-acre Garon Park site in Southend on Sea.’
As part of fulfilling this purpose, it is necessary that the CIC takes measures to both reduce the harms of its site’s management and built environment as well as maximising the ecological value of its remaining land through carbon storage and sequestration in a way that is consistent with providing for its other functions.
This report suggests that while the CIC has made significant steps to minimise its environmental harms, these are not currently at the level required to suggest the site is carbon neutral. Indirect emissions in the form of transport emissions associated with the site by far constitute its largest environmental harm. In addition to improvements relating to efficiency and waste, reducing the site’s environmental harms can be aided by the introduction of a solar array across the site which could allow for on-site annual electricity production of approximately 137,000kWh.
This report also demonstrates the site’s value as a carbon store, and suggests there will be embellished sequestration potential in the future owing to the ongoing maturing of higher value wildlife currently being established.
One of our core objectives is to support and enhance biodiversity. We do this through our conservation plan and through promoting environmental awareness in the local area. One of the most important components to delivering an effective conservation plan is to understand and record environmental impact and one of the most effective ways of doing this is to monitor biodiversity, looking for an increase or a shift in species composition and diversity.
This is not an easy task with such a small team as we have. As such we are developing and implementing a mass participation style monitoring programme that will simultaneously record our impact as well as promoting environmental awareness in the local community.
One species is particularly important to us, the Shrill Carder bee, which is classified endangered but has been sighted in and around the Southend area, with limited distribution across the UK.
This represents an opportunity for us to promote habitat and forage for this species and other invertebrates. Mass participation surveying is becoming a valuable tool in a new wave of citizen science aimed at significantly reducing the cost and resource needs of important scientific study such as species surveying. We are developing some site-specific training material for participants to follow (Click this link).
We will set up a series of monitoring stations around the site that will each have a bug hotel (built by volunteers) to monitor invertebrates such as beetles and artificial cover objects to monitor reptiles.
We would like to purchase a couple of dedicated tablets for surveying that we can load all of the material on to as well as a platform to record findings.
Pollinating invertebrates such as bees and wasps, require the development a Bee Walk and we have been working with the British Bumblebee Conservation Trust, to create an effective transect that our volunteers can walk to monitor bees etc and we can link into their Bee walk Programme. This project will tie in with our new info boards and enable quick access to material, give details about species and other features on the site.
Entrepreneur / Philanthropist
Clive was born in St Lukes Ward and has lived in Southend all of his life. Clive attended Southend High for Boys and Westminster College and is qualified in business management and is Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality FIH. Clive has an entrepreneurial background and started his own hospitality company in 1984, which he sold in 2004.
In 2007 Clive started Livingstone Tanzania Trust a poverty alleviation charity in Tanzania which concentrates on children and education and to date have completely built / refurbished 9 schools and bought feeding, hygiene and menstrual programmes to the whole district – 35 schools – over 22,500 primary students a day. (www.livingstonetanzaniatrust.com).
In 2013 Clive had the idea to start a community health and wellbeing programme at Garon Park and with the help of Philip Tolhurst of Norman Garon Trust the first steps were taken in 2014
Clive is the day-to-day site Director
Retired
Born at home in Ambleside Drive in Kursaal Ward, I have lived in Southend all my life, attending Greenways Infants and Juniors, and Southend High for Boys.
Retiring early after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018, I worked for Lloyds Bank for 37 years.
I have always sought to be involved in voluntarily supporting our community, using my skills as best I could. I was Musical Director at Shoeburyness Baptist Church for over 30 years and variously Treasurer, Captain and Chairman of Thorpe Bay LTC for 25 years.
Having retired and then with more time on my hands, I was delighted to become involved with Wellbeing at Garon Park and help in developing and maintaining their facilities to improve the Health and Wellbeing of all residents of Southend and particularly, those more vulnerable, who are so often overlooked by the “system”
Christine Wyatt, a Trustee of Wellbeing at Garon Park is a business women with 30+ years corporate experience of establishing, leading and operating global and local businesses. Most recently she created and developed a successful arts and crafts teaching business in Southend on Sea, helping hundreds of people learn, develop and enjoy new artistic skills. She joined Wellbeing at Garon Park, focused on the ‘arts and crafts’ brief as we see that as a core part of the overall set of facilities and offerings we are building to support community wellbeing.
The Charity’s Objectives as stated in our Constitution
To assist charities and charitable bodies working for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Borough of Southend on Sea and surrounding areas by providing and maintaining secure and private facilities:
a) to promote and protect the good physical, mental and sensory health of the residents; and/or
b) for the recreation or other leisure time occupation of those residents who have need of such facilities by reason of their health, infirmity or disablement in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life.
Purpose
Wellbeing At Garon Park
Develop & maintain facilities to support Health & Wellbeing activities at Garon Park
Co-ordinate the booking of facilities at the Garon Park site
Co-ordinate the volunteer force supporting the Garon Park site
Community groups
Organise activities to make the best use of the facilities at Garon Park
Set goals for Health & Wellbeing outcomes and monitor progress
Manage community group membership and activities
Care
We will provide sustainable facilities that improve local health and wellbeing outcomes via self-help
We will act as a catylyst for the local community to enhance pride, resilience and self-sufficiency
We will ensure that we protect and enhance the local ecology and environment of the Garon Park site
We will provide creative solutions that meet local community needs and deliver value for money
Compassion
We will support community self-help to sustain physical, mental or emotional wellbeing
We will be sensitive to and act upon the stated needs of the local community
We will show perseverance, patience, tolerance, warmth and resolve
We will act in an altruistic way
Integrity
We will reflect the principles and objectives of the wellbeing@garonpark charity in what we do
We will act with respect, honesty, truthfulness and accuracy
We will behave in an ethical way
We will ensure that we are seen as dependable and reliable in our relationships
Co-operation
We will act for the common good and mutual benefit of the local community and the groups that represent it
We will partner with other groups and organisations where we can achieve a better outcome
We will show fairness, justice and courtesy to others
We will act in a rational, realistic and flexible way
Care
We will provide sustainable facilities that improve local health and wellbeing outcomes via self-help
We will act as a catylyst for the local community to enhance pride, resilience and self-sufficiency
We will ensure that we protect and enhance the local ecology and environment of the Garon Park site
We will provide creative solutions that meet local community needs and deliver value for money
Compassion
We will support community self-help to sustain physical, mental or emotional wellbeing
We will be sensitive to and act upon the stated needs of the local community
We will show perseverance, patience, tolerance, warmth and resolve
We will act in an altruistic way
Integrity
We will reflect the principles and objectives of the wellbeing@garonpark charity in what we do
We will act with respect, honesty, truthfulness and accuracy
We will behave in an ethical way
We will ensure that we are seen as dependable and reliable in our relationships
Co-operation
We will act for the common good and mutual benefit of the local community and the groups that represent it
We will partner with other groups and organisations where we can achieve a better outcome
We will show fairness, justice and courtesy to others
We will act in a rational, realistic and flexible way
All of our Social Programmes are designed to use the natural attractions of the Garon Park site for the benefit of the local community. We aim to be proactive and focused on social need and the agility of our decision making and our policies, means that we can model specific or more general scenarios for our partners extremely quickly.
We have a whole suit of programmes resulting from the traumas of lockdown which are now operating for use by our partners to address current needs in the community, with some of the principal ones explained below:
In2Volunteering – Programmes based on confidence building and socialising, then moving into consistency, planning and responsibility inc. general training in areas such as H&S, First Aid etc.
In2Work – Programmes based on confidence building and Socialising, then moving into consistency, planning and responsibility inc. general training in areas such as H&S, First Aid etc. Within this we offer specific work ready training courses e.g. computer skills, and introduce people to jobs club and planning for employment.
In2School – We have been successfully running courses for since 2022 designed around social, emotional and mental issues all aimed at keeping students in school. Our courses include – Tutoring, 1:1 and Family situations.
Youth Programme – As part of our commitment to youth we are developing a model to offer local youth safe pathways where they can thrive and flourish and have a voice and influence. We currently have around 7000 youth visits to site every month across all of the site’s activities and we aim to drive this up to 12000- 15000 by the end of 2025, led by our capital and capacity building programmes.
Our partners operate a vast range of activities from Mother and Baby groups, yoga, therapeutic art, fitness for the over 70’s etc etc
While using the council run football facilities at Priory Park one Sunday morning, Clive Shiret reflected on just how poor the facilities were – the changing rooms were decrepit and dirty, no showers and water dribbling out of leaky taps, exactly as they had been 40 years earlier when he first played a match there, and the pitch was very poorly maintained, exactly as it had been 40 years earlier.
Clive reflected on what in his view should be provided for the community and determined that he had the right skill sets and experience to create something that better fitted the obvious need.
Clive realised that the ambition should be bold and imagined the comprehensive sustainable community facility at Garon Park we see today and took the outline plan to Philip Tolhurst, the then Chair of the Norman Garon Trust who owned the site. Philip supported the idea in principle and Clive then set about making it become a reality both physically and financially.
Garon Park Community Interest Company is incorporated with the aim of making the facility a long term, sustainable ‘go to’ destination for team sport and community wellbeing, a place where local community groups can flourish.
In July 2015 Garon Park Community Interest Company licences 32 acres of land from The Norman Garon Trust (NGT). GP CIC rents pitches to Old Southendian Football Club, Old Southendian and Southchurch Cricket Club and Essex Cricket. The site becomes financially sustainable.
An independent, consultant led Baseline Survey is carried out which looks at communities in the local area, in particular those that are registered as most deprived. This was then compared to facilities that the Government and Local Authority should provide and the result was a Gap Analysis which GP CIC used as the basis of a community consultation, which informed the design of the Vitality Park and emphasised the positive impacts fresh air and outdoor exercise has on health and wellbeing.
Wellbeing At Garon Park is set up as a small constituted charity.
In June Wellbeing At Garon Park is registered as a CIO, with the purpose of improving the physical and mental health of the people of Southend.
The Wellbeing at Garon Park Board set to work on establishing their strategy and 5-year plans and a funding strategy is developed, with the priority being to secure funding for a 1 km wellbeing trail
Wellbeing At Garon Park host their first community event, an Easter Fun Day attracting over 3000 people.
Garon Park CIC signs 35 year lease with NGT
GPCIC secures funding for a 3G pitch from The FA Facilities Fund / Premier League.
The Community Bond is launched and is successful
GP CIC starts construction of a brand new floodlit 3G football Pitch
WBGP secures funding for the Garon Park Shed and a second hand portacabin is purchased and refurbished by volunteers
Funding is secured from National Lottery, Veolia Environmental Trust and Southend City Council for the Wellbeing Trail in the Vitality Park
January – fully equipped Garon Park Shed opens to the local community
Lockdown closes GP to the general public; however, socially distanced work continues behind the gates enabling facilities to be ready to welcome guests as soon as lockdown restrictions are lifted
By 2020 over 4000 trees and hedgerow whips have been planted at Garon Park, amounting to 0.75 km of hedgerow.
Construction of the 1km Wellbeing Trail is completed
Site Development Manager, Community Engagement Officer, Operations Manager and Commercial Development Manager are appointed
Work begins on creating the Garon Park Herbie man
Stage 2 of the Vitality Park project is completed, with the outdoor gym, playground equipment, seating areas being installed, and the community garden is established.
Population released from lockdown measures – 3G pitch reopens to the community.
Wellbeing At Garon Park are selected to run the HAF – Holiday Activity and Feeding Programme for local children
James Duddridge MP visits Garon Park and gives his support to the project
Wellbeing at Garon Park host their first hugely successful Christmas Community Event for local community groups
The GP Community Orchard is planted with heritage fruit trees in January 2022 by over 100 people from local families, schools and community groups
Community fridge donated by St Edmunds Community Hall to support in the provision of meals for volunteers and local groups
GP CIC / WBGP awarded the Government funded Community Regeneration Fund project – launch highly successful In2Volunteering / In2Work initiatives.
Garon Park welcomes the local community to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee together. Over 1500 attend a fantastic community event. Funded by the Lottery
The Festival Cricket Ground is renamed The Peter Butler Oval in memory of one of our strongest supporters.
By April 2022 we had topped 220,000 visitors to Garon Park since April 2021, 16560 being Wellbeing At Garon Park visitors
Work on the nature school project is complete and the Hive Nature School, funded by local business Hivedome Ltd, is officially opened by Southend Mayor, Margaret Borton. The logo for the nature school is designed by a pupil from Hinguar School and is brought to life by a Design Student from the University.
The Garon Park Community Shed is officially opened by Mayor Margaret Borton
Garon Park CIC/Wellbeing at Garon Park establish partnerships onsite with Steps Ahead to run the Nature School and The Fitness Shack to run the PT/Fitness sessions on site
Wellbeing at Garon Park takes delivery of a community minibus thanks to match funding from St Edmunds Community Hall
Community Meals/Friendship Groups begin, working in partnership with Welcome to the UK bringing migrant families to Garon Park to enjoy a meal together and to build friendships
Pilot family offer to EHCP students / parent at a local school. Establish Educational Hub 4 Children and Parents (EH4CP)
SUCET make Garon Park their permanent home
Garon Park Youth Club is established after a successful pilot with over 250 young people registering in the first 4 weeks. The club continues to go from strength to strength.
A pilot project working in partnership with Sutton House Academy providing support for disengaged young people is a huge success and paves the way for future collaboration
Alisha Threadgold completes her business apprenticeship as our first apprentice.
In2Work and In2Volunteering programmes go from strength to strength thanks to UKSPF Programme funding success
By spring 2023 a further 6000 trees and hedgerow whips are planted at Garon Park, working with 120 employees of NatWest bank, bringing us up to 2km of hedgerow.
The Kings Coronation Community Event is held over 2 days at Garon Park to celebrate the Kings Accession to the throne and to celebrate The Big Help Out, highlighting the importance of local volunteers and volunteering opportunities. Over 1500 attendees.
A ‘tree of trees’ is planted to commemorate the Queens Jubilee. Garon Park is hugely honoured to be chosen to receive this tree by Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, HM The Lord Lieutenant. The tree is one of eight in Essex, donated from the Queen’s gardens to help form the Queens Canopy.
A Pergola of Memories is established at Garon Park with the support of volunteers and local businesses.
Garon Park are awarded the prestigious Community Green Flag Accreditation
The Garon Park Storytelling Chair is unveiled at Garon Park. Designed by local school children and crafted by the talented Garon Park Shed volunteers from locally sourced Oak.
The Vitality Park is officially opened by Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst HM The Lord Lieutenant of Essex
The SUCET Education Centre is officially opened and Mrs Linley Butler, Trustee of EASST who financed the centre, with Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst HM The Lord Lieutenant of Essex in attendance.
Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst HM The Lord Lieutenant of Essex and Mrs Linley Butler plant the WBGP Friendship tree in the Vitality Park
The Vitality Centre is opened to provide indoor space for EC4HP groups
Anna Firth MP visits Garon Park
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Charity Number: 1178841 | Address: Cricket Pavilion, Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex SS2 4FA
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