Milton Gardens

What happened next exceeded our expectations. The Balmoral Community Centre generously presented us with a £300 cheque; Folk Like Us (FLU) contributed their raffle proceeds; and within a year, the Local Co-op Fund raised an incredible £4,055. Thanks to this support, new bins were installed by the council — complete with plaques to thank those who contributed. We had made a tangible difference — and it felt amazing. With unrestricted funds remaining, the door was open for even bigger improvements.

During this time, we also decided on a name for our project: A Better Space. We knew we needed a logo to match our vision. Julia (Parent Champion) led the logo design process, gathering ideas through team conversations. SAVS (Roger) helped us bring these ideas to life digitally, and the final design was chosen collectively.

Over the following year, more love and creativity were poured into Milton Gardens. With ongoing support from Make Southend Sparkle and the Parks Team, we met local artist Dave Taylor — who, fittingly, was the original sculptor of the park’s statues. We discussed adding new sculptures, and through Parent Forum discussions, it was decided that a zebra and a ladybird would join the park. While these were being created, we also cleaned and repainted the existing statues ourselves.

We continued to hold regular litter picks, using these events to connect with park users and hear directly from the community about what improvements they would like to see. The Parks Team also supported us by cutting back hedges and responding to feedback shared at regular meetings.

Through Pat Sampson (S.H.I.P – Southchurch Hall Inspirational Parkers), we were inspired by the transformation of Southchurch Hall Gardens, learning how community involvement could breathe new life into local parks. Pat became a valued supporter and mentor for A Better Space.

The Engagement Team (Hayley), supported by Anthony (SAVS), encouraged consistent communication with the Parks Team. I vividly remember a meeting held right in the park, complete with chairs and hot drinks — a simple but powerful reminder that local voices matter. As a result of these conversations, damaged equipment (such as mushroom tops) was replaced, new equipment was installed, and although budget constraints meant that the play area flooring couldn’t be fully replaced, necessary repairs were carried out. It was a testament to the power of community-led advocacy.

Our ideas continued to grow. We proposed interactive, educational signage to enhance outdoor learning at Milton Gardens. This led to the installation of three boards:

– Look and Listen (local birds)

– Tree Detectives (tree leaves, seeds, and flowers)

– Hide and Seek (insects and butterflies)

Building on our momentum, we secured further funding from Essex Community Foundation to develop a neglected corner of the trail into a child-friendly learning area. Once again, we collaborated with Dave Taylor, who created a stunning butterfly-shaped bug hotel. The Parks Team supported this vision with the installation of child-size stools and new planting around the bug hotel.

Identifying Milton Gardens as a “hidden” park with no signage, we initiated a mosaic project. With Hayley’s support, Dave Taylor ran workshops with Parent Champions and their children to create two mosaics for the entrance pillars. The designs — featuring children’s handprints, nature themes, a rainbow heart, and a golden key — beautifully captured the spirit of the park. (The golden key was inspired by the park’s treasure chest and children’s imaginative stories about it.)

One of the final projects we introduced was a series of interactive stepping stones, incorporating learning elements. Julia led the design process, gathering ideas from families who used Milton Gardens and the Avenue Baptist Playgroup nearby. The stepping stones have now been created, and installation planning with the Parks Team is underway.