1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Reading
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Oxford Road Community Garden (ORCG)
Short description of the intervention
Offord Road community garden is a place for the residents of West Reading (i.e. those who live, work, go to school in the area). Reading Borough Council set up the community garden (i.e. the green space) at the Oxford Road end of Western Elms Avenue through a grant called ‘Section 106’ (thus giving the site back to the community in 1996). (Ref. 1, 2, 7)
Address

Western Elms Avenue
Reading
RG30 2AL
United Kingdom

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Building
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
Retail store
Website of the intervention
http://www.orcg.org.uk
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
1996
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
1996
End date of the intervention
1996
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The garden site came about when the developers built the retail stores which now house McDonalds, Dreams and Lidl stores. The site was given back to the community under a grant called "Section 106" and has been in existence since 1996. (Ref. 1)
Goals of the intervention
Turning the site into the ‘green oasis’ it is today for the local residents, workers and schools in West Reading to use. (Ref. 1, 3) The garden was created to provide more green space in the Oxford Road area and to provide a range of facilities including allotment plots for vegetable growing. (Ref. 7)
Quantitative targets
10 plots to grow vegetables. (Ref. 2)
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of plots to grow vegetables
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Conversion of former industrial areas
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Effective management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Economic development: agriculture
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable production
Implementation activities
Work has been going on since 1996, e.g. members of the Battle Globe group and local residents built a pond and started the site with shrubs and laying of the vegetable plots. (Ref. 1)
Thus: a pond, a wildlife area, open lawn space, shaded corners and some small allotments make up the majority of the garden. (Ref. 3)
The ORCG (community) group maintains and promotes a community garden for the benefit of local residents, with a programme of events and activities. They regularly organise activities as part of the annual Rescue event and encourage local participation. In 2010, grants enabled the group to plant trees and shrubs as part of RESCUE 2010 event. (Ref. 4)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Other
Community gardens and allotments
Allotments
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Please specify "other parks or (semi)natural urban green area"
Open lawn space (Ref. 3)
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
10
Vegetation Type
Grass
Trees
Flower beds
Garden beds
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Amenities offered by the NBS
Unknown
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Recreation
Social and community interactions
Other
Please specify "other cultural service"
Offers events and activities for the local communities/residents. (Ref. 4)
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Reading Borough Council set up the community garden; the site was given back to the community under a grant called "Section 106". (Ref. 1, 2) The site was developed over the years by members of the Battle GLOBE group and local residents. The newly formed constitution of "Friends of Oxford Road Community Garden" which still remains within the group called GLOBE as part of the alliance TREGA, continues the work in the site. (Ref. 1)
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
The site was transformed into a green space (e.g. holding allotment plots) in response to a grant called ‘section 106’ (Planning Obligations for new development) in 1996. (Ref. 1, 2, 7)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning guidance
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Reading's Biodiversity action plan (which includes using e.g. allotments to establish and enhance wildlife habitats). (Ref. 9)
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Biodiversity strategy or plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The ORCG is part of the Reading Neighbourhood Network (which aims to e.g. increase level of community activity, and has a climate change campaign to promote the council's initiatives). (Ref. 5)
Also, ORCG is a member of GREN (Greater Reading Environmental Network), focusing on environmental, planning and conservation issues in the Greater Reading area. (Ref. 7, 8)
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
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
No
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
No
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
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)
In 2010 (part of RESCUE 2010 event) 150 GBP (around 160 EUR) where awarded through Reading Borough Council's 'Green Grant', previous assistance from Reading Borough Council include annual grant and community grant of 160 GBP (around 170 EUR). (Ref. 4) Also, there is a small membership fee (e.g. to get a key to the allotment site). (Ref. 6)
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Other
Please specify other source of funding
Membership fees. (Ref. 6)
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Membership or entrance fees
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Business models
Local stewardship model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Social
Cultural innovation
Please specify social innovation
The ORCG (community) group maintains and promotes a community garden for the benefit of local residents, with a programme of events and activities. They regularly organise activities as part of the annual Rescue event and encourage local participation. (Ref. 4)
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is completely new without connections to previous initiative(s)
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The site was turned into a green space area for e.g. allotments in 1996 through a grant called ‘Section 106’ (by the Reading Borough Council). (Ref. 1, 7)
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased number of species present
Enhanced support of pollination
Restoration of derelict areas
Description of environmental benefits
1. The project has increased the number of green spaces within the city. 2. Different kinds of vegetables are grown in the place by the gardeners, who also support in enhancing the pollination. (Ref. 1, 3 )
Economic impacts
Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Description of economic benefits
Residents are given plots to grow their own food. (Ref. 1)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased access to healthy/affordable food
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Education
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Description of social and cultural benefits
1. The garden has increased social interaction and cohesion among the users, making the place a very welcoming one. 2. It has improved the knowledge of the residents about local nature and agriculture. 3. It also helped the users to have access to healthy food. 4. In addition, the garden is used as a place for small gathering, events and a place for relaxation. (Ref. 1, 4)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Number of allotment plots to grow vegetables, events organized. (Ref. 2, 4, 7)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Increased access to healthy food for humans and/or animals
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
The garden is currently closed. (Ref. 5)
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Focus groups
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
No
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
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
Focus Group
Submission of monitoring data (citizen observation)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Yes
Please specify
The garden is monitored by the residents. They organize meetings and discuss potential improvements. (Ref. 5)
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Yes
Please specify
The garden is monitored by the residents. They organize meetings and discuss potential improvements and take necessary measures. (Ref. 5)
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 1
Ref. 2
Ref. 3
Ref. 4
Ref. 5
Ref. 6
List of references
Ref. 1. ORCG (n.d.) History. Oxford Road Community Garden. Available at: http://www.orcg.org.uk/p/history.html. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 2. Get Reading (2013) Oxford Road Community Garden barbecue. Reading Borough Council. Local News. Available at: https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/oxford-road-community-garden-barbecue-4211475. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 3. RVA (n.d.) Oxford Road Community Garden (ORCG). Organisations. Reading Voluntary Acion. Available at: http://rva.org.uk/organisation/oxfordroadcommunityg/. Accessed on 13th September, 2020. .
Ref. 4. Reading Council (2006) The Reading Biodiversity action plan. 2005-2015. Available at: http://www.reading.gov.uk/media/5972/Reading-Biodiversity-Action-Plan/pdf/Reading_BAP_February_062.pdf. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 5. RNN (n.d.) Climate Change campaign. Reading Neighbourhood Network. Available at: http://rgneighbours.net/climate-change/. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Ref. 6. ORCG (n.d.) Membership - the rules. Oxford Road Community Garden. Available at: http://www.orcg.org.uk/p/membership.html. Accessed on 13th September, 2020.
Comments and notes
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/orcg_ref_1.jpg
Public Images
Oxford Road Community Garden in Reading (2017)
Oxford Road Community Garden in Reading (2017)
Ricky Josey (Chair of the Oxford Road Community Garden), retrieved 08/10/2018