I was very inspired by the Schmorp chronicles so I’m attempting something similar! Both in terms of how I’m titling the posts, aaaand what I’m doing!

I live on a street that used to have a play park for kids, but it was shut down due to disrepair. Now the council has given some guy with pigeons permission to keep his pigeons there. Honestly, that’s pretty cool that he has pigeons, but I do often despair that there’s not a play park for my daughter when there used to be one before we moved here! And before she existed. She’s 8 months old and currently trying to steal my laptop as I write this.

There’s no good greenspace in a short walk’s radius here as a result of the whole pigeon thing. Also, I love community improvement, people organising, and just in general DOING. I am one of the few lucky people who has identified a purpose in life prior to being too old to do anything about it, and it’s that. So… why not hit two birds with one stone (not pigeons) and fix the lack of public play- and green-space with my most loved passion?

I found a map today of derelict and vacant land in Scotland (where I live) and there are spots on that map very near me! Also, since that map was made, I’ve identified other potential spots just by living here. I’m hopeful that there’s space for this space I want. It’s here if you’re interested: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/192d9f7b2fb5436a89042b5af7544d9d/

I also found a resource by the Highlands and Island Enterprise (hey, that’s local to me in the Highlands!) about how a community can form a social enterprise and acquire land. You can ALSO find it, if you want, here: https://www.hie.co.uk/support/browse-all-support-services/support-for-community-organisations/community-assets/ten-steps-to-community-ownership/

So today I’m making lists of people who I know want more greenspace (amongst my friends for now), lists of businesses and local councillors to contact, lists of plans and resources and ideas… many lists.

I go on holiday in less than a week, and then I’m back home two weeks later, and that’s go time. Once I’m back, I can start contacting people to gain more info and guidance and in general kick this into gear.

For now, I’m absorbing knowledge. I am so excited.