Since March 2020, Stretford Public Hall has managed a pocket park — a small area of public greenspace next to the hall.
The park is looked after by a team of dedicated volunteer gardeners who meet weekly to tend the site. Thanks to initial funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), we carried out landscaping work, added a seating area with benches, and planted eight heritage fruit trees. Each year, we sow a wildflower meadow around the trees to support pollinators and bring seasonal colour.
In 2022, our pocket park was awarded Level 4 ‘Thriving’ in the RHS In Your Neighbourhood Awards. The judges described it as:
“A delightful pocket park to the side that leads to the subway — a lovely surprise, planted with wildflowers, herbaceous plants and heritage fruit trees to great effect!”
We’re on a mission to create a more wildlife-friendly space that can also host our outdoor events. In 2024, we replaced six car parking spaces with new planting beds and planted eight more trees. With the help of our local community and a corporate volunteer team from CHEP, we added over 1,000 plants and shrubs to the space.
This project has been generously supported by the Bupa Green Grant, the GMCA Greenspaces Fund, the Aviva Community Fund, the Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund, and over 100 individuals who donated to our crowdfunder.
Our gardening club meets every Tuesday from 10:00–12:00 to care for both the pocket park and the new car park beds. Everyone is welcome to drop in and lend a hand — tools, guidance, and friendly chat are always provided by our regulars!
If you’d like to get involved, please contact Kaf, our volunteer coordinator:
katherine@stretfordpublichall.org.uk