A Play Area and Green Oasis in the Town Centre

Project proposal:

This project will turn the southwest section of the churchyard into a play area and a welcoming, restful space for the general public. This will be achieved by clearing the space and resurfacing the ground. It will create a green oasis in the town centre and improve the mental wellbeing of local people. Opening up the space would bring out the historic building out of its shell and enhance the city centre.

The space to be created would be used both by the children’s after-school club and the members of the public . We will plant new flowers, while preserving some of the existing wild flowers. Such an attractive environment would foster cleanliness and discourage casual waste disposal in the area. 

This work fits in the local priority, Public Spaces and Buildings. The churchyard is a recognised public space by Newham Council.

UPDATE: 23.5.23

The project is completed and people living locally in Forest gate, including families and children have started to use the space. 

The work began with the putting up of screen to shield the public from the work, clearing all the ground, removing most of the gravestones, re-laying the stones hat still had legible writings on them, and thus making the areas usable by the public

Local people now attend social events here at the premises. The latest of this was events marking the Coronation of King Charles III. See the attached photos.

In addition, children attending the B-Stars After School Club based at Emmanuel Church now play in the space made available by this project. Other members of the public now feel able to come into the ground because it is more welcoming.

More people now wander into the premises to take personal and group photographs because it is a pleasant environment. This is something we did not see before the work was done.

We have received a number of volunteers through Alison Mitchell, the volunteers coordinator at Newham Local Authority. We also now have some gardeners who would help maintain the ground. This will give the local people involved the opportunity to use their gardening skills.

We are also working closely with Newham Local Authority Green Keepers who help to maintain the ground.