THG (Thelma Hulbert Gallery) announced today that their outside space has been successfully designated as a ‘Pocket Park’, one of 87 created nationally by the government.

These Pocket Parks mean that more than 80 urban spaces across the country will be transformed into green oases for everyone to use, thanks to a share of a £1.5 million dedicated fund, announced this week by Communities Secretary Greg Clark.

Pocket parks are defined for this programme as a piece of land of up to 0.4 hectares, although many are only the size of a tennis court.

Communities Minister, Marcus Jones, said:

“Parks are gateways to the great outdoors providing direct contact with nature. This funding will allow neglected areas to be transformed into vital community assets for our towns and cities across the country.

The successful community groups awarded funding all came up with incredibly inventive ideas to improve the quality of local life and we cannot wait to see the end results.”

East Devon District Council’s Culture Champion, Councillor John O’Leary, commented:

“This grant of £12,260 has contributed significantly to the garden regeneration project which has also received numerous other grants from local charitable trusts such as the Mullins and Battishorne Trusts, The Northbrook Community Trust, Ernest Cook Trust, AONB East Devon, Devon County Council as well as private donations.

This all helps Thelma Hulbert Gallery to achieve their aim of creating a pocket park in the town centre, thriving with wildlife, fruit trees and local wild flowers to engage the whole community.”

Angela Blackwell, THG Curator said:

“We are so proud to be one of the 87 designated Pocket Parks.  This means that THG can expand its thriving Learning Programme into the outside space. We are collaborating with East Devon District Council’s Countryside Team and Honiton’s Children’s Centre to deliver a fun-packed programme of family workshops this Spring to take place in the Pocket Park”.

To celebrate the new development of the garden, THG will launch a new exhibition this weekend.  Soil Culture : Young Shoots (27 February – 9 April) explores the secret word of soil in collaboration with CCANW (Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World).

The inauguration of the Pocket Park will take place on Friday 13 May,  5-9pm with an exciting programme of activities, music and refreshments, coordinating with the national Museums At Night festival.

If you are interested in donating to this project, all funds will be put towards planting, seating, activities and workshops. Please contact Emma Molony emolony@eastdevon.gov.uk