Public spaces across Birmingham are being given a new lease of life thanks to a collaboration between the National Trust, Birmingham City Council and local communities.
During March, four new ‘Pocket Parks’ are being created from underused spaces in Nechells, Balsall Heath, Tyseley and Hay Mills to provide places for residents to play, meet, cultivate plants or simply sit to enjoy nature and the outdoors.
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the initiative which began in 2023 has already transformed several underused outdoor areas into vibrant “Pocket Parks” – small but impactful green spaces designed and planted with the people who will use them.
This year the project continues, working with four community groups in East Birmingham to create urban green spaces for the benefit of local people. The Birmingham Pocket Parks project has received £200,000 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, as well as additional funding from the National Trust.
The National Trust has been working in recent years to improve access to nature in urban areas, partnering with local organisations and community groups to increase the amount and quality of green spaces, bringing benefits to both people and nature. The Pocket Parks project is the latest in a series of work in Birmingham which has included creating pop-up blossom gardens and planting a symbolic ring of blossom along the number 11 bus route.
Alex Morton, Project Manager for the National Trust, said: “It’s been a privilege to work alongside local groups in realising their ambitions to bring more nature to their area and the people who live there. Working with both communities and Birmingham City Council, it’s been great to see how partnership working can get residents involved in nature and growing, creating spaces for everyone to enjoy. We’re excited for more people to help with planting their Pocket Park in the coming weeks and seeing their ideas come to life.”
Community groups are involved at every stage of the process of creating their local Pocket Park, taking part in design workshops with landscape and horticultural professionals, participating in the creation and planting of the parks as well as being given responsibility for the ongoing stewardship and maintenance of the space. By working closely with residents from the start, the project fosters a strong sense of community ownership, ensuring these parks will be cherished and cared for long into the future.
The 2025 Pocket Park project is being supported by Rudge Wood Horticulture CIC, who have been working alongside the community groups to design and create their Pocket Parks, as well as delivering learning activities to provide confidence and skills to look after them in the future.
The newest Pocket Parks to open in the city are located in the Wards of Tyseley and Hay Mills, Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East, and Nechells. Four community groups were selected to collaborate on the co-creation of a Pocket Park: the 260th Birmingham Scout Group; Khawateen Creative Minds – a community gardening and arts group; the Friends of Seven Streets Park and the Friends of North Nechells Parks.
Councillor Majid Mahmood, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The Pocket Parks project in Birmingham plays a pivotal role in enhancing urban biodiversity and community well-being.
“By bringing together local communities to co-create small green spaces within densely populated areas, the project not only provides accessible recreational areas but also supports local wildlife habitats.
“These pocket parks contribute directly to Birmingham’s City of Nature 25-year plan by promoting sustainability, improving air quality, and fostering a sense of community pride and engagement in environmental stewardship. They also serve as vital green corridors, connecting neighbourhoods and increasing urban resilience to climate change impacts.”
Work on the new Pocket Parks began in September 2024 with workshops with each group to develop design ideas, culminating in the final project builds this spring, where local volunteers can be a part of the creation of their Pocket Park, painting fencing and benches, and planting shrubs, trees and flowers.
The 260th Birmingham Scout Group has now completed their Pocket Park, coming together during February half-term to plant up the space.
Sue Weake, the Scout group leader said: “We were able to involve the young people from the start of the process, taking on board their ideas of what they wanted to see the end project look like. This gave them ownership, teaching them to respect and ultimately take care of their park.”
The East Birmingham Pocket Parks are due to open by the end of March, followed by community launch events.