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Friends of Radipole Park & Gardens

The Friends Group was set up in June 2006. The primary aim of the group is to work in partnership with Weymouth Town Council to preserve the benefits of Radipole Park for the community.

The park covers an area from Coronation Crescent down to the edge of the Jubilee Retail Park and is enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life. It is one of the few remaining green areas in Weymouth.

We have the following five aims:

Work in partnership with the landowners, Weymouth Town Council, in the development and management of Radipole Park and Gardens.
Encouraging local residents to use the Park and Gardens more and to take an active interest in its upkeep.
Help the local authority to raise substantial funding for the enhancement of the Park and Gardens.
Carry out practical projects to enhance the Park and Gardens and its environs.
With the Council, work towards ‘Green Flag’ status for the Park and Gardens and to maintain that standard to secure the Park and Gardens long term, for future generations to enjoy.

The committee is chaired by Mike Goulden and the Secretary and Historian is Sue Hogben.

The Successful Heritage Lottery’s Parks for People Grant

In conjunction with Weymouth Town Council Parks Team, the Friends sought funding from the Heritage Lottery’s Parks for People Grant. The Heritage Lottery funding is awarded to conserve heritage, promote the history of an open space and preserve treasured green spaces.

We are delighted to say that the funding was achieved, with the planned scope of the Friends’ bid including the following:

Looking at installing new drainage on the playing field
Developing a bog garden
Promoting the history of the gardens by installing noticeboards and producing leaflets
Improving the play area by updating the equipment and installing water jets
Adding a café and toilets
Resurfacing games courts and path network
Renewing fencing around courts
Increasing the shrub, plant and tree stock
Creating a sensory garden
Creating a strong community identity.

Sensory Garden Project

The new Sensory garden was created with £26,000 raised by the Friends group, as match funding for the Lottery Bid. It was constructed and is being maintained by the Friends and volunteers and a picnic bench with space for a wheelchair was kindly donated by Accomplish Care. Right from its opening it has been well used, not only by visitors and various groups, but the wildlife also appreciate its offerings.

The Sensory Gardens offer the perfect place to sit and relax, or to enjoy the planted borders and raised beds. A hidden gem of the Sensory Gardens is the ‘secret fairy door trail’, which is enjoyed by the many children who visit.

New committee members needed

The Friends are also seeking new committee members prepared to help with fundraising events. So if you have a skill we can use and a desire to improve this local treasure we would love to hear from you.

To discuss further, please email hello@radipolepark.co.uk

Community orchard comes into fruit!

The Friends helped to create Weymouth’s first community fruit orchard on the playing field at Radipole Park Drive.

This project came about following a very generous donation of £500 from a committee member, Denis Williams. Working with Weymouth Town Council’s Parks Section, it was decided that the money would contribute towards creating an orchard that the community not only helped to plant but can also be enjoyed by picking the fruit.

On top of the original donation, the Friends Group invested £500 to the project and the Council undertook all the preparatory work. The group also approached the Woodland Trust who provided a number of Whips to produce a protective hedgerow alongside the trees.

Bird box building

Younger members of the community braved a cold February day in Radipole Gardens to build bird boxes. The RSPB supplied the bird box kits and there are now 13 new nest boxes up in the gardens.

Join the group

Membership costs £10 per household for a lifetime membership. If you’d like to join the group, please use contact the contact details below.