At High Hazels in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, the focus of the Green Spaces project has been on the involvement of local residents. High Hazels – a neighbourhood of 87 properties, managed by Places for People – has a higher than average unemployment level. The green spaces project is part of an ongoing programme of community involvement to create a better neighbourhood.

The project is set to transform a small field at the centre of the community into an attractive green space that can be used by local families. A proportion of the Big Lottery grant was used to employ a part-time Community Development Officer for 18 months to work with residents to ensure the new space is influenced and supported by the community.

A number of events have been held where people have been given the opportunity to have their say on how the space should be used. These included an event to explore natural materials on the site, including plants, bales of straw, piping and other materials. To help them visualise what the space could look like, residents were taken on a trip to Sheffield to see a park that has been transformed using money from the Big Lottery. This proved to be very worthwhile and led to a final design for the space being agreed.

It is hoped that this involvement will act as springboard for strengthening ties within the community. The recruitment of a Community Development Officer has not only helped to get the green spaces project off the ground, it has also led to a number of positive changes such as an empty community house being put back into use and the enrolment of local 'community champions' who are keen to work with Places for People to make their neighbourhood a better place to live.

Work on the green space at High Hazels is due for completion in June 2010, but the Community Development Officer will be in place running activities on the space until November 2010.