We are a group of Hutchison residents supported by the Council and Edible Estates who have embarked on a project to look at how greenspace in Hutchison can be best managed.
We want to preserve and improve the greenspaces that make Hutchison a beautiful place to live, and make the most of them to support wellbeing, recreation and play. For example, we are interested in setting up a community garden in Hutchison as a place where folk can come together to grow fruit and veg, have community meals etc.
Our next event is :-
Community Participative Design Exercise.
11am to 3pm Sunday 21st July
Slateford Green Community Centre
On the 26th January 2019, Edible Estates were invited by Cllr Gavin Corbett to deliver a short community participative design exercise with residents of Hutchison. Twenty residents attended the event.
The exercise drew out valuable information of the priorities, concerns and dreams of local residents with regards to the management of local greenspace/public realm. It found that there is demand for residents to be involved in the management of greenspace, and interest in creating a Hutchison Community Greenspace Association as a forum for further discussion & development.
The participants were asked about Hutchison : “What You Like?”, “What You Don’t Like?” and “What Would You Like To Have?”. The summarised findings are shown below.
Top 5 Things We Like
1 – Tree Lined Streets
2 – Lots of Greenspaces
3 – Wildlife / Birds
4 – Sense of Community
5 – Fresh Air
Top 5 Things We Don’t Like
1 – Dog Fouling
2 – Litter
3 – Lack of benches / picnic tables
4 – Not enough biodiversity
5 – Seadecking / Tarmacing
Top Ten Ideas To Improve Hutchison Greenspace / Public Realm
1 – A Community Garden
2 – Opportunities to grow fruit and vegetables.
3 – Improvements to greenspace around Cycle Path
4 – Area set aside for dog walkers (with high fence and poo bins)
5 – Greater biodiversity / wildlife (specific locations highlighted)
6 – Community Days (litter picking)
7 – Fenced greenspace opened up
8 – Community Cafe / Shop
9 – Community composting facilities
10 – More seating / picnic tables for rest and relaxation
