Future Parks
Last updated 27 August 2025
Developing a sustainable parks service for the 21st century
In 2019 BCP Council, in partnership with The Parks Foundation, was one of only nine places across the UK selected to take part in the 3-year Future Parks Accelerator (FPA) programme which puts green spaces at the heart of local communities, helping local authorities to transform their green space, repurposing it for the 21st century.
The programme brought with it a share of £6.2 million of FPA funding, and £5 million worth of support from experts in conservation, fundraising, volunteering and park management. This allowed us the opportunity to explore long-term strategies for improving and maintaining greenspaces, and ultimately, working closely with The Parks Foundation, to develop “A sustainable parks service for the 21st century”.
We also developed an aspirational new Green Infrastucture Strategy (2022-2031) with a clear vision for the future of our parks and green spaces based on increasing the functionality of spaces as natural health centres and green living rooms, rewilding urban green spaces, and promoting nature-based solutions to help adapt to a changing climate.
The strategy sets out a framework for green infrastructure planning and delivery by BCP Council and its partners over the next decade – all documentation is available at BCP Council | Green Infrasturcture Strategy
Future Parks Accelerator (2019-2022) is a collaboration between the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Trust, backed by investment from and the former Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Jaz’s Green Journey
Working with nature to make BCP a healthy, resilient, green and world class place
Our journey to a sustainable parks service:
Revitalising Community Parks
Pilot Parks
In the first year of the Future Parks Accelerator (FPA) programme, and working in partnership with independent local charity The Parks Foundation, three BCP ‘Pilot Parks’ were selected for their untapped potential to explore long-term strategies and test ideas for the future management, funding and improvement of green spaces.
Those parks were Winton Recreation Ground in Bournemouth, Watermans Park in Christchurch and Alexandra Park in Poole.
We explored ways of increasing biodiversity and inspiring local residents about the environment. We also examined ways in which we can successfully bring urban community parks to life through, for example, access improvements, events & activities, community gardens, and reimagining an existing park café – ensuring the local community were engaged throughout the process.
The work and achievements of the three Pilot Parks has been condensed into an infographic – download the Pilot Parks report 2021-22
Our Pilot Parks video
Pilot Park project successes and how the they have fed into an expanded new Nature Recovery project
- Visit The Parks Foundation | Future Parks project for details of improvements made at each of the Pilot Parks
Nature Recovery project 2022-2023
Transforming 11 urban parks to enhance their potential for wildlife and inspire local residents into nature
Building on their work in the three Pilot Parks, in August 2021 The Parks Foundation secured a further £224,000 from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, enabling the selection of a further eight parks, with the aim of creating a nature recovery network across our local area. The eight additional parks are:
- Branksome Recreation Ground, Haskells Recreation Ground, Jumpers Common, Kinson Manor Playing Fields, Muscliff Park, Pelhams Park, Slades Farm and Strouden Park.
These additional parks were chosen based on Dorset’s Ecological Networks: green spaces which have the highest potential to create a nature recovery network across our conurbation.
With community involvement Nature Recovery plans have been created for these parks; physical improvements have been carried out and local people of all ages have been engaging with inspiring activities to connect with nature.
- Further details and plans for each of the parks at The Parks Foundation | Nature Recovery
Green Heart Parks
A model for revitalising community parks
Through our experience with the Pilot Parks & Nature Recovery projects, we came to understand how community open spaces can thrive when we work in partnership on the co-management of our community parks, where:
- BCP Council continues with its current level of maintenance, and
- The Parks Foundation provides additional benefits including fundraising, nature education, biodiversity improvements and café management;
- Whilst ensuring that the local community are fully engaged in the process.
As a result, in March 2023 a legal agreement was drawn up between The Parks Foundation and BCP Council so we can work closely together and be transparent in our decision making – more at BCP Council | How we manage our green spaces
Having secured almost £750,000 of funding* in spring 2023 The Parks Foundation & BCP Council set to work on The Green Heart Parks project, a collaborative 2-year phase of transformational changes within 13 urban parks across the BCP area, including:
in Poole – Alexandra Park, Branksome Recreation Ground, Sherborn Crescent Open Space & Turlin Moor Recreation Ground
in Christchurch – Mudeford Woods & Watermans Park, and
in Bournemouth – Boscombe Chine Gardens, Moore Avenue, Muscliffe Park, Pelhams Park, Redhill Park, Seafield Gardens, Slades Farm & Winton Recreation Ground.
*Read about the funding at BCP Projects | Funding secured for Green Heart Parks project
The project aims to improve biodiversity, engage and inspire residents with the nature on their doorstep, encourage community growing, and break down barriers for non-park users. The parks were chosen based on their size, proximity to a densely populated area or an area of deprivation, as well as their potential for biodiversity improvements and community growing. Some of them were also Nature Recovery project parks (see above), and we are delighted to continue our work with them as a Green Heart Park.
Discover details of the proposals developed for each of the Green Heart Parks at The Parks Foundation | Green Heart Parks
The Green Heart model
This model synthesises all we learned through and since the FPA programme. We have confidence and belief in our model; we know the difference it will make to both people and wildlife, and that continual collection of data about park use, satisfaction and changes in demand will help create spaces that communities can cherish now and into the future.
– download the model infographic (PDF).
Greenspace Initiatives
Future Parks Rethinking the future of BCP's parks and green spaces
Give to parks, nature and green space Be a force for nature in BCP
Let it grow Managing our grass areas for people and for nature
The Nature Pledge & Garden for Nature Helping nature at home, school or at work
Greenspace strategies, plans & reports Investing in nature recovery, healthy living & climate change resilience
The Stour Valley partnership Working together on a landscape-scale project
The Parks Foundation
We work with The Parks Foundation, an independent charity, on nature-based community-building projects & events in many BCP parks and green spaces.