Resources for Open Space Projects
Downloads from other organisations
CABE: It's our space: a guide for community groups working to improve public space
A guide to help anyone involved in a public space project for the first time. Providing examples of out door spaces designed and created by community groups, highlighting the pros and cons of each project.
CABE: Spaceshaper Users Guide
A practical toolkit for use by anyone to measure the quality of public space before investing time and money in improving it. It includes practical steps for planning a spaceshaper workshop in the community.
CABE: What would you do with this space? Involving young people in the design and care of urban spaces
The report aims to provide a practical guide for including young people in the design and management of public spaces, setting out the importance of this and providing guidance on how to involve young people through 14 case studies.
Living Streets: Reclaim your streets
This toolkit outlines in detail the process of engaging with your local community to assess and improve streets for the pedestrian, on the basis that the local community are the local experts
Play England: Design For play: a guide to creating successful play spaces
This report sets out a comprehensive guide to designing, commissioning and developing place spaces. Detailed design considerations are covered according to the design process and procurement of a designer is covered in detail. Case studies are provided, further reading and a glossary of terms
Sensory Trust: Inclusive play
This summary guide provides an overview for inclusive design of children's play areas, identifying who the space should be designed for and issues that may arise during the design process.
Useful Links
Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
A charity which supports, represents and promotes community-managed farms, gardens, allotments and other green spaces. The Federation works with community groups to help empower local people of all ages and to make a positive impact on the environment
www.farmgarden.org.uk
Fields in Trust
Dedicated to protecting and improving outdoor sports and play spaces in the UK. The Trust undertakes campaigns to protect existing spaces and create new ones and provides tools to help communities do the same
www.fieldsintrust.org
Green Space
A registered charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. The website has a dedicated section for communities, with a host of useful resources including particularly useful toolkits in the community resources section and case studies
www.green-space.org.uk
The Landscape Institute
An educational charity and chartered body responsible for protecting, conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for the benefit of the public. The Institute champions well-designed and well-managed urban and rural landscapes and provides policy and information free of charge
Living Streets
A national charity which challenges authorities to improve local streets and public spaces to make them clean, safe and less traffic-dominated. Living Streets organises campaigns such as Walk to Work/School week.
www.livingstreets.org.uk
The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardens
National representative body for the allotment movement in the UK. This members co-operative provides advice and information to members with allotments or home gardens
www.nsalg.org.uk
Neighbourhoods Green
Aims to highlight the importance of green spaces for the residents of social housing, and to raise the quality of their design, management and safe use within social housing providers. Website provides case studies and publications free to download
www.neighbourhoodsgreen.org.uk/
Playful Communities
This website is a resource for local communities who wish to develop or improve a play space in their local area. It covers engagement, design, funding and process issues in a clear and accessible manner
www.playfulcommunities.org.uk
We had an excellent day and the places we visited were amazingly close to what we are trying to create here in Stockwell. I am grateful for your acute interest in what we have to say
Can I once again thank Glass-House for all their help and interest. You are an excellent organisation – and the staff are lovely as well!”
The training experience was extremely enjoyable and very informative. We have come away with a design which we feel we can put into reality and the training was probably the best I have attended.
The course was excellent and I can't thank you and Glass-House enough for the support you've given us, it has made all the difference to the way we look at the project."
