1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Leeds
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
St Ann's Mills Pocket Park
Short description of the intervention
Used by a skip hire company until 2016, this riverside Pocket Park will link other fragmented green spaces and routes. Once the rubble is cleared a level riverside walkway will be created that is accessible to walkers, runners, cyclists and wheelchair users. Invasive plants will be removed and new soil mounds will add shape to the land and act as places where native plants can grow. Self-seeded trees will be thinned out and the best allowed to grow on. Once complete the path through it will form part of the sustainable travel network in the upper Aire valley. (1)
Address

Saint Annes Mills Commercial Rd
Leeds
LS5 3AE
United Kingdom

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Industrial
Previous derelict area
Website of the intervention
http://kvp.org.uk/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2015
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2016
End date of the intervention
unknown
Present stage of the intervention
Unknown
Goals of the intervention
- Create a new public park and visitor centre with Leeds City Council. By actively managing the park the Kirkstall Valley Park group aims to promote social inclusion, health and wellbeing and education in an enjoyable setting.
- New visitor centre would provide interactive displays, and promote informed discussion of climate change and global environmental issues.
- There will be opportunities for walking, cycling, running, canoeing, fishing, bird watching, community food production and a wide range of sports and outdoor activities in a largely traffic-free environment.
-Investment in new paths and footbridges would greatly improve access to the valley for communities on both sides of the river and create sustainable off-road routes linking the Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve, Armley Mills Industrial Museum, Hollybush Farm, Kirkstall Abbey and Museum, Rodley Reserve, other public entertainment and sports facilities.
-It would bring together wildlife and environmental groups in their work. (6)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Implementation activities
An area of land on the riverside near the Kirkstall Morrisons store at Kirkstall Valley Park was used to create St Ann’s Mills Pocket Park. (2) Members of Armley Forum heard last in September 2015 of a potential project asking residents living in the Kirkstall, Armley and Bramley & Stanningley wards what they would like to see happen that would help them connect with their green spaces. The project gained the support of four environmental organisations at Conservation Volunteers at Hollybush, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Groundwork and Leeds Council. Plans to create a pocket park and pedestrian footbridge in Kirkstall were submitted by local councillor John Illingworth in 2016. (4)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Maintenance and management of urban nature
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Vegetation Type
Other
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
There will be opportunities for walking, cycling, running, canoeing, fishing, bird watching, community food production and a wide range of sports and outdoor activities in a largely traffic-free environment. Investment in new paths and footbridges would greatly improve access to the valley for communities on both sides of the river and create sustainable off-road routes linking the Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve, Armley Mills Industrial Museum, Hollybush Farm, Kirkstall Abbey and Museum, Rodley Reserve, other public entertainment and sports facilities. It would bring together wildlife and environmental groups in their work. (6)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Playgrounds
Sports areas and equipment
Viewing and outlook points
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
It was one of five Leeds community groups to have been awarded a share of a £1.5 million Government fund to transform neglected urban spaces into ‘pocket parks.’ (3) Leeds City Council’s Inner West Community Committee match-funded the £10,000 received from the Department for Communities and Local Government to fund the project. The Council worked in partnership with both The Conservation Volunteers at Hollybush and Groundwork in the development of the site. (2)
Key actors - initiating organization
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Other
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Private sector or company
Public space owned by the city
Other
Please specify other land owner
About half of the additional land is already in Council ownership while the remainder is in a variety private hands (8)
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Please specify other landowner
About half of the additional land is already in Council ownership while the remainder is in a variety private hands (8)
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
Funding was provided in line with the government’s manifesto commitment to deliver pocket parks across the UK. The plan aimed to protect and build "small areas of inviting public space where people can enjoy relief from the hustle and bustle of city streets". (12)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
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
Unknown
Please specify other vegetation type
Unknown.
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
The funding for the project was announced by Communities secretary Greg Clark to benefit urban areas with few green spaces, delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment to deliver pocket parks across the UK, including many in Leeds. (1)
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
€22000
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)
Approximately £20,000 (2, 10) (€22000)

Leeds City Council’s Inner West Community Committee match-funded the £10,000 received from the Department for Communities and Local Government to fund the project. (2) It was one of five Leeds community groups to have been awarded a share of a £1.5 million Government fund to transform neglected urban spaces into ‘pocket parks.’ (3, 10)
Source(s) of funding
Public national budget
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
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 densification model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Social
Economic innovation
Governance innovation
Please specify social innovation
The project was financed as part of a funding scheme to benefit urban areas with few green spaces, delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment to deliver pocket parks across the UK. (1, 12) It was one of five Leeds community groups to have been awarded a share of a £1.5 million Government fund to transform neglected urban spaces into ‘pocket parks.’ (3)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Description of environmental benefits
Expected impacts based on the following information about planned activities:
Create a new public park and visitor centre with Leeds City Council (6)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Education
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Description of social and cultural benefits
Expected impacts based on the following information about planned activities:
- Create a new public park and visitor centre with Leeds City Council, by actively managing the park the Kirkstall Valley Park group aims to promote social inclusion, health and wellbeing and education in an enjoyable setting.
- New visitor centre would provide interactive displays, and promote informed discussion of climate change and global environmental issues. - There will be opportunities for walking, cycling, running, canoeing, fishing, bird watching, community food production and a wide range of sports and outdoor activities in a largely traffic-free environment.
- Investment in new paths and footbridges would greatly improve access to the valley for communities on both sides of the river and create sustainable off-road routes linking the Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve, Armley Mills Industrial Museum, Hollybush Farm, Kirkstall Abbey and Museum, Rodley Reserve, other public entertainment and sports facilities. It would bring together wildlife and environmental groups in their work. (6)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Indicators
Unknown
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Unknown
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Uknown as of 8 October 2020
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
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
No evidence in public records
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
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
(1) Green light given to over 80 pocket parks
(2) New £20,000 pocket park near Kirkstall Morrisons
(3) New ‘pocket parks’ to boost recreation in Leeds
(4) Kirkstall pocket park plans submitted
(5) Kirkstall Valley: Have your say on improving parks and green spaces
(6) Kirkstall Valley: Councillor proposes new public park and visitor centre
(7) Kirkstall Eco Education Park
(8) A new Public Park in the Kirkstall Valley
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
(9) Application 16/03597/FU: Laying out of a public footpath along the River Aire, at land adjoining St. Ann’s Mills, Kirkstall (2.44 MB) 2.44 MB
(10) Community Committee Update Report (317.45 KB) 317.45 KB
(11) Composite Board Meeting Minutes (78.96 KB) 78.96 KB
(12) Conservative Manifesto (2.42 MB) 2.42 MB
List of references
(1) Department for Communities and Local Government. (2016). Green light given to over 80 pocket parks. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-light-given-to-over-80-pocket-parks [Accessed 8 October 2020]
(2) West Leeds Dispatch. (2016). New £20,000 pocket park near Kirkstall Morrisons. http://westleedsdispatch.com/st-anns-mills-pocket-park-kirkstall/ [Accessed 8 October 2020]
(3) Yorkshire Evening Post. (2016). New ‘pocket parks’ to boost recreation in Leeds. [Website unavailable in 2020]
(4) West Leeds Dispatch. (2016). Kirkstall pocket park plans submitted. http://westleedsdispatch.com/kirkstall-pocket-park-plans-submitted/ [Accessed 8 October 2020]
(5) West Leeds Dispatch. (2015). Kirkstall Valley: Have your say on improving parks and green spaces. http://westleedsdispatch.com/kirkstall-valley-have-your-say-on-improving-parks-and-green-spaces/ [Accessed 8 October 2020]
(6) West Leeds Dispatch. (2015). Kirkstall Valley: Councillor proposes new public park and visitor centre. http://westleedsdispatch.com/kirkstall-valley-councillor-proposes-new-public-park-and-visitor-centre/ [Accessed 8 October 2020]
(7) [no author]. (2015). Kirkstall Eco Education Park. https://kirkstallecoeducation.wordpress.com/ [Accessed 8 October 2020]
(8) Kirkstall Valley Park. [no date]. A new Public Park in the Kirkstall Valley. http://kvp.org.uk/aboutkvp.htm [Accessed 8 October 2020]
(9) Edwards, Richard. (2016). Application 16/03597/FU: Laying out of a public footpath along the River Aire, at land adjoining St. Ann’s Mills, Kirkstall, Leeds. Leeds. Leeds City Council. [Document attached]
(10) Geary, Sarah. (2015). Community Committee Update Report. Leeds. Leeds City Council. [Document attached]
(11) Illingworth, John. (2016). Kirkstall Neighbourhood Forum Board Meetings 27 January – 23 March 2016. [Document attached]
(12) Conservative Party. (2015). THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY MANIFESTO 2015. [Document attached]
(13) Kirkstall Valley Development Trust (2020) About. https://www.kvdt.org.uk/about/ [Accessed 8 October 2020]
Interview
Attachment Size
Leeds St Ann's Mills Pocket Park Interview (16.17 KB) 16.17 KB
Interview comments
I have contacted John Illingworth as the project's initiator and local Councillor asking what can be seen in the interview attached file.
Comments and notes
Additional insights
This project is part of a wider project of what Cllr Illingworth is hoping to put together in what he calls the ‘Kirkstall Valley Park’. It would be the largest public recreational project in Leeds for over 70 years, comparable in size with Roundhay Park, Middleton Park or Hyde Park in central London. The idea revolves around a 100 hectare area ranging from Kirkstall Abbey and St Ann’s Mills through to Cardigan Fields. The area consists of woods, grass and water including the canal, river, Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve and about ten hectares of agricultural land. The plans have been floating around or the past six or seven years – but Cllr Illingworth now hopes to kick on a gear and start to make things happen on the proposals. (4) These plans have since been extensively covered and researched by others including Leeds Beckett University. (7)

Most available information only refers to plans and no indication of completion is found, so it still may be in the planning stages.

One reference mentions: By early 2020 we hope to have agreed a development plan with the City Council, and over the next two years we will develop the business plan (13)
Pictures of the NBS
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Public Images
Plan for the area
https://www.kvdt.org.uk/about/