Pupils from Hill Mead Primary School took part Goldsmiths University’s “Park life” project to carry out their own research on how to improve Brockwell Park as well as suggesting ways Lambeth Council could boost climate and sustainability measures at the park.
The council will adopt some of the measures around flood prevention and introducing more drainage as part of the Soak Up Lambeth programme.
The project was delivered by a pair of social enterprises – Volunteers for the Future and I Have a Voice – who led the young people to develop their creative and problem-solving skills by designing different options for the park and presenting their ideas in different formats, such as drawing maps, building models and creating videos.
In January, the students went to Brockwell Park to observe and explore, and then to survey park users on what they enjoy about Brockwell and how they think it could be improved.
They also gained an understanding of how SuDS could improve the drainage and biodiversity of the park, alleviating flooding and making it more pleasant for everyone during all months of the year.
The pupils used this research to develop suggestions for ways to enhance Brockwell Park, as well as designing leaflets so they could share these ideas with the local community.
The pupils invited Lambeth council’s deputy leader Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, as well as councillors Donatus Anyanwu and Scarlett O’Hara, to listen to their suggestions this month.
Cllr Chowdhury, cabinet member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: “The pupils at Hill Mead Primary School have been working incredibly hard to think about how they could suggest actual improvements to Brockwell Park.
“They had three clear suggestions for us: create more biodiversity and habitats for wildlife, have separate places for people to play and walk their dogs, and to introduce more drainage to stop the park getting too muddy when it rains heavily.
“Their work was truly impressive, and they were really interested in how Brockwell Park can be improved by introducing measures to prevent flooding or what we can do to support the wildlife who live there.
“We will keep the pupils’ work in mind when we consider further enhancements to Brockwell Park and we really value their contribution.”
Read more about the Parklife project by Goldsmiths University on Dr Francis Gilbert’s Blog.
Schools interested in participating in the project can contact sustainability@lambeth.gov.uk
