1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Greater Nottingham
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Highfields Park restoration
Short description of the intervention
The restoration of Highfields Park was completed in Summer 2018 with path repairs and tree works to be carried out in winter 2018 to 2019. The five-year development journey of returning Highfields park to its former glory has included two rounds of public consultation. The views of park users and project partners such as the University of Nottingham, the UK's Environment Agency and the Highfields Park User Group identified a strong desire to see the park restored and improved (ref. 1), including improvements on heritage features such as historic walls, bridges and the old Boating Lake Ticket Office (ref. 2). In total, this project aimed to repair unused structures of the park including walled gardens, gardener’s cottages and historic halls and houses, converting them into volunteer and training centers, event spaces and community facilities (ref. 3). Highfields Park also provides valuable scrub and woodland habitat for breeding birds such as robin, sparrow and blue tit. The additional diversity of habitats provides important foraging and breeding opportunities for invertebrates and mammals. (Ref 4)
Address

Tennis Centre (Stop UN08), Nottingham NG7 2AG, UK
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (-1.188571 52.936944)
POINT (-1.200625 52.933032)
POINT (-1.195502 52.936539)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/highfieldspark
Total area
210000.00m²
NBS area
210000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/highfieldspark
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2016
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2016
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
Note: The announcement of funding which was awarded for the restoration of the park marks the culmination of a five-year development journey. (Ref. 1)
Goals of the intervention
“The restoration project has been designed to align with the targets of HLF and BIG's Parks for People programme and therefore has the following key aims:
Restore existing buildings, infrastructure and horticultural features restored; The heritage of the park will be better interpreted and explained; Restoration works present an opportunity to educate people about the park; Park Ranger/Lakeside led activities to educate users; Park Ranger-led volunteer activities to support site maintenance including engagement with University of Nottingham, students and businesses; The park will be restored to its former glory and will engage/involve more people enjoying the benefits of the green space; Environmental impacts will be reduced; Lake to be de-silted, contaminated silt removed and biodiversity potential thereby improved.” (Ref. 1, 2)
Quantitative targets
“Highfields Park serves a surrounding 88 937 city residential properties which lie within the 5km city boundary buffer zone around the park. This equates to an estimated 210 000 residents out of the city's population of 300 800. In addition the park serves residents from neighbouring local authority boundaries and wider Nottinghamshire.” (Ref. 4)
Monitoring indicators defined
Ref 4:
Number of residents served by the park
residents served out of the city's total population
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Water management (SDG 6)
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social cohesion
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect native species
Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Means for conservation governance
Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
Raise public awareness
Public engagement
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Public engagement
Implementation activities
“The restoration work which will include: Restoring buildings, park infrastructure, horticultural landscape and features; Creating a new adventure golf area; Improving putting greens; De-silting the lake and carrying out improvements to the waterside boating area; Creating new croquet lawns from the existing bowling greens.” (Ref. 1, 2)
Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Knowledge creation and awareness raising
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Green playgrounds and school grounds
Other
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Community gardens and allotments
Horticulture
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Other
Please specify "other urban green space connected to grey infrastructure"
Creating a new adventure golf area; Improving putting greens; Creating new croquet lawns from the existing bowling greens.” (Ref. 1, 2)
Please specify "other blue area"
De-silting the lake and carrying out improvements to the waterside boating area (Ref 1, 2)
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
restoration of horticultural landscape and features (Ref 1, 2)
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Other
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Adventure Golf
Boating Lake (Seasonal)
Croquet
"Disability" Access
Dogs Welcome (On leads in designated areas)
Events - If you would like to run an event in this park, please visit our Outdoor Event Bookings page
Parking
Public Transport
Ice Cream Concession
Pavilion Café and Gallery Café at Lakeside Arts Center
(ref. 7)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café)
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Other
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Recreation
Social and community interactions
Other
Please specify "other regulating service"
Lake to be de-silted, contaminated silt removed (Ref 1, 2)
Please specify "other cultural service"
Environmental education :educate people about the park; Park Ranger/Lakeside led activities to educate users. Park Ranger led volunteer activities to support site maintenance including engagement with University of Nottingham, students and businesses; (Ref 1,2)
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Non-government organisation/Civil Society
Researchers/University
Citizens or community groups
Marginalized groups
Marginalized groups
People with functional diversities
Please specify other local relevant strategy
Highfields Park Activity Plan (ref. 4)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Researchers, university
Citizens or community groups
Social enterprise
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Nottingham City Council (the Highfields Park Leisure Trust which manages the site and which the NCC is the sole Trustee of) with project partners such as the University of Nottingham, the UK's Environment Agency and the Highfields Park User Group. Support also comes from Nottingham Croquet Club (NCC). (Ref. 1) Funding made available through the NCC, an NGO (money has been awarded through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) Parks for People programme) and the Highfields Park Leisure Trust. (Ref 1). The University of Nottingham also provided financial support for the project. (Ref. 1)
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Private foundation/trust
Researchers/university
District/neighbourhood association
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Private foundation/trust
Researchers/university
Citizens or community group
District/neighbourhood association
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Co-management/Joint management
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
HLF’s report State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to Risk which revealed that the UK’s public parks are at serious risk of decline unless innovative ways of funding and maintaining them are found. (Ref. 3)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
‘Breathing Space’ – Strategic Framework for the Management of Nottingham’s Open and Green Spaces 2010-2020 (ref. 1)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Environmental regulation
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
‘Breathing Space’ – Strategic Framework for the Management of Nottingham’s Open and Green Spaces 2010-2020 (ref. 1)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Other
Please specify other vegetation type
horticultural landscape and features; Creating a new adventure golf area; Improving putting greens; Creating new croquet lawns from the existing bowling greens.” (Ref. 1, 2)
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Funding made available through the NCC (money has been awarded through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) Parks for People programme); the Highfields Park Leisure Trust. (Ref 1)
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
A fund / grant
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Already in place
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Funding through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) Parks for People programme: £4.5m (around 5 million EUR) project (part of a £20.6 million Lottery funding for public parks). (Ref. 5, 3) Also, the University of Nottingham will provide financial support for the project. (Ref. 1)
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Private Foundation/Trust
Other
Please specify other source of funding
the University of Nottingham provided financial support for the project. (Ref. 1)
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Donations
Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Business models
Green health model
Green education model
Please specify other environmental impact
- Desilting the lake (ref. 7)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Social
Cultural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Creating a new adventure golf area; Improving putting greens (Ref 1, 2) Creating new croquet lawns from the existing bowling greens.” (Ref. 1, 2)
Please specify social innovation
Recreational (visiting the park) and educational, e.g. opportunity to educate people about the park. (Ref. 1)
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
“Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said: “Following the successful use of Lottery funding to develop Nottingham’s Forest Recreation Ground, I am delighted to see further investment in Nottingham’s open and green spaces.” (Ref. 1)
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Increased protection of threatened species
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Other
Description of environmental benefits
- Desilting the lake (ref. 7)
- Highfields provides valuable scrub and woodland habitat for breeding birds such as robin, sparrow and blue tit. The additional diversity of habitats provides important foraging and breeding opportunities for invertebrates and mammals. (Ref 4) The Tottle Brook runs through Highfields Park, providing a complimentary wetland habitat to compliment the open water of Highfields Lake. Highfields Lake is one of the largest water bodies in the City of Nottingham and The Highfields Fault is registered as a Site of Special Geological Interest (ref. 4)
- extension of the original 'fish pond' to form the existing Boating Lake (ref. 7)
- putting greens created (ref. 4)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Please specify other socio-cultural impact
- park has access for people of functional diversities/"disability" Access (ref. 7)
- Park Ranger-led activities, events and volunteering (ref. 7)
- places to 'play': - important to physical and mental health and provide a place to play, connect with nature and spend time with our families (ref. 6)
-installation of a unique public arts centre presenting an eclectic programme of music, dance, theatre, visual art and family events all year round alongside (ref. 4)
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Improved mental health
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Other
Please specify other environmental justice issue
- park has access for people of functional diversities/"disability" Access (ref. 7)
Description of social and cultural benefits
- Highfields is a destination park with a range of high quality attractions which offers opportunities to visitors from both the city and wider county to experience and enjoy and has both multi faceted on site features and facilities of which conservation , preservation and heritage is considered a priority. For these reasons Highfields Park has been designated under the City's hierarchy as a destination park with a 5 km access buffer and above 70% quality standards (ref. 4)
- The park has strong accessibility links serving local residents who use its footpaths, bowling and putting greens, croquet lawn and the boating lake. Notably the putting green and boating lake are the only existing ones within our city's parks. The park already serves the many students and international visitors that the university itself attracts to the site. Also located on the Highfields site is the Lakeside Arts Centre and cafe, a unique public arts centre presenting an eclectic programme of music, dance, theatre, visual art and family events all year round alongside (ref. 4)
- park has access for people of functional diversities/"disability" Access (ref. 7)
- Park Ranger-led activities, events and volunteering (ref. 7)
- important to physical and mental health and provide a place to play, connect with nature and spend time with our families (ref. 6)
“Highfields Park serves a surrounding 88 937 city residential properties which lie within the 5km city boundary buffer zone around the park. This equates to an estimated 210 000 residents out of the city's population of 300 800. In addition the park serves residents from neighbouring local authority boundaries and wider Nottinghamshire.” (Ref. 4)
-Consultation on the restoration proposals has provided an opportunity to ask people about their knowledge of the site’s history; Park Ranger led volunteer activities to support site maintenance including engagement with University of Nottingham, students and businesses (Ref 1, 2)

expected results:
"....identified a strong desire to see the park restored and improved (ref. 1), including improvements on heritage features such as historic walls, bridges and the old Boating Lake Ticket Office (ref. 2). In total, this project aimed to repair unused structures of the park including walled gardens, gardener’s cottages and historic halls and houses, converting them into volunteer and training centers, event spaces and community facilities (ref. 3).

Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
number of city residential properties served by the park (ref. 1 and 2)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Water management (SDG 6)
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social cohesion
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Improving mental health
Improving physical health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Work for rehabilitation (e.g. for mental health, prisoners, older people)
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Positive distribution of NBS benefits
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Project information was updated on 18 July 2020. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, university of Nottingham campuses and facilities are only accessible to critical workers and students who cannot return home (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/coronavirus/) although there's no information available on the impacts of pandemic on NBS area.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Conduct a baseline survey before and after NBS implementation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Questionnaire surveys / online surveys
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
https://committee.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/documents/s9165/Highfields_stage2_Appen…
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Link to monitoring/evaluation reports
http://committee.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/documents/s9165/Highfields_stage2_Append…
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Interview
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
'User surveys' were conducted in 2012, 296 valid on-site interviews were obtained. (Ref. 4) ; culmination of a five-year development journey which has included two rounds of public consultation. (Ref 1)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Yes
Please specify
culmination of a five-year development journey which has included two rounds of public consultation. (Ref 1)
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Yes
Please specify
culmination of a five-year development journey which has included two rounds of public consultation. (Ref 1)
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 1
Ref. 2
Ref. 3
Ref. 4
Ref. 5
List of references
1. Heritage Lottery Fund. (2015). Lottery funding in place to improve Highfields Park. Available at: https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/news/lottery-funding-place-improve-highfields-park (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
2. University of Nottingham. (2015). Successful funding bid to improve Highfields Park. Blog Post. Available at: https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/newsroom/2015/01/07/successful-funding-bid-to-improve-highfields-park/ (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
3. ProLandscaper. (2015). £20.6m Lottery boost for public parks. Available at: https://www.prolandscapermagazine.com/20-6m-lottery-boost-public-parks/ (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
4. Nottingham City Council. (n.d.). Appendix 3: Highfields Park Activity Plan Outline Structure. Documents. Available at: https://committee.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/documents/s9165/Highfields_stage2_Appendix3.pdf (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
5. BBC News. (2015). Highfields Park to be restored in £4.5m project. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-30698559 (Accessed: 17 July 2020)
6. WbWire. (2018). Highfields Park reopens this week after £4.8 million restoration. West Bridgford Wire. Available at: https://westbridgfordwire.com/highfields-park-reopens-this-week-after-4-8-million-restoration/ (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
7. Nottingham City Council. (n.d.). Highfields Park. Available at: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/HighfieldsPark (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
Additional comments
Justification for the selection of scale (section 3) : In addition the park serves residents from neighbouring local authority boundaries and wider Nottinghamshire” (ref. 4)
Comments and notes
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/highfields_park_nottingham_ref_1.jpg
Public Images
Highfields park restoration
Highfields park restoration
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/business/firm-help-transform-highfields-park-429284
Highfields park restoration
Highfields park restoration
https://i2-prod.nottinghampost.com/incoming/article228361.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200b/32933576JPG.jpg
Highfields park restoration
Highfields park restoration
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnottstv.com%2F4-8-million-highfields-park-restoration-gets-underway%2F&psig=AOvVaw3qnTCksfmMLi9UbAmJHkHc&ust=1597792869763000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIDNvrqwo-sCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAP
Highfields park restoration
Highfields park restoration
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwestbridgfordwire.com%2Fhighfields-park-reopens-this-week-after-4-8-million-restoration%2F%23%3A~%3Atext%3DHighfields%2520Park%2520Nottingham%2520%25C2%25A9%2520westbridgfordwire.com&psig=AOvVaw3qnTCksfmMLi9UbAmJHkHc&ust=1597792869763000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIDNvrqwo-sCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAV