With housing developments growing year on year, the development of Kingswood was losing vital open green spaces. In 2016, the vision to create a special place for the benefit of the community to enjoy and explore was high on the agenda for Kingswood Residents Association (KRA).
KRA received numerous complaints about the area at the top end of Kesteven Way/Wawne Road stating that it was an eye sore and needed tidying up.
After speaking to a number of people, we was made aware of a community group called Foredyke Protectors who had previously created a vision and plan for developing the area but due to a lack of volunteers, it had struggled to continue. With support from Hull City Council’s area team and Kings Park Councillors, we found the plans and looked to see whether it was viable for KRA to undertake the work.
We consulted with local residents to seek opinions and ideas and was successful in obtaining funding from the ward budget to help clear the area.
Additional funding was sourced and the vision was finalised amongst the committee.
Phase 2 of the works were completed in September 2017. The area was completely cleared with paths installed. The mound was cultivated with a centrepiece seating platform and fingerpost pointing to other local areas of parkland.
We also organised a community tree planting event, with free trees from the Woodland Trust and Jacksons, unfortunately, the majority of these trees did not survive.
A late addition to the area was a Labyrinth designed by Kingswood Vicar Rev Ben Norton. The space is designed to provide a discrete place of spiritual reflection.
We have also installed a number of wooden chainsaw carvings commissioned from the Man At Skidby. These were selected to be in keeping with the nature found within the Foredyke area.
We recently held a bulb planting event with Broadacre Primary School which was extremely successful.
And what a change it has made to the area!
To celebrate the Hull City of Culture year 2017, the team enlisted the help of local school children from Broadacre Primary, Kingswood Parks Primary, Northcott Academy and Kingswood Academy to create their own designs which where then created into one piece of artwork.
Kingswood Parks Northcott Academy Broadacre Primary Kingswood Academy
If you would like to get involved with the Foredyke Green project, please email kingswoodra@gmail.com.