Open Spaces
Open Space is supported across Leeds through ownership of land for public enjoyment, but also by the award of grants to local groups who are working to provide and maintain public open space.
This can include support for “Friends of” groups, community gardens, community orchards and such like. Grant have been given to provide equipment costs, improvements, restoration, maintenance and volunteer activities.
Recent recipients of grants supporting open space include:
Friends of Roundhay Park
Hyde Park Source
Shadwell Park
Grant awarded £5000 in 2019
"The new equipment and safety flooring in the park were installed at the end of July, the committee have received very positive feedback and the park has been busy every sunny day since, with lots of families enjoying the new play equipment.
I witnessed an elderly lady with her walking stick and grandson for support using the new path, for the first time ever she was able to walk around the perimeter of the football pitch. I have also observed children having lots of fun using the path on balance bikes, scooters and peddle bikes.
The wetland area has given the children lots of opportunities to enjoy the water, some striping down to their underwear to have a paddle when the days have been hot. The new park has been so popular I have seen lots of families in the park that didn’t use it before and it is going to be used for a charity fun run at the end of October."
Alison Ford. (Chair of Shadwell Playground Campaign)
Friends of Roundhay Park
By Sara Dawson, Vice Chair ad Trustee of Friends of Roundhay Park
Our motto at Friends of Roundhay Park is to keep the park beautiful for everyone. We are a non-for-profit charity and all the money we raise goes back into the work we do in the park.
We are committed to the long term success of Roundhay Park as a major attraction for visitors and work closely with the Leeds City Council on the provision and improvement of facilities, such as the play areas and the tennis courts. In 2018 we raised £160,000k to replace the Lakeside Playground - a popular playground.
In 2021 we launched a new sensory garden opposite Tropical World; this was made possible by a grant from Wades Charity. The money donated enabled us to design an interactive garden that would provide a beautiful space for children and adults to enjoy while visiting the park.
The new garden boasts a striking willow tunnel and den, raised beds filled with herbs, a winding path, a 500-piece rock snake (made by local children during lockdown) and more than 50 plants and herb varieties. It is also now a completely accessible space for prams and wheelchair users.
Everyone at FoRP would like to thank Wades Charity for helping turn our vision for a sensory garden into a reality.
