Meersbrook Park Users Trust (MPUT) was established in 1998 in response to the above concerns about the park expressed by local people. The group consists of local Meersbrook residents and park users. Local councillors, youth workers, police, school representatives and Sheffield City Council (SCC) Parks & Countryside Department regularly attend meetings. MPUT’s meetings are open to the public and held bi-monthly.
We are approximately 25 volunteers who are involved in different ways.
Our Work
The activities of MPUT are closely aligned to our key aims. Working with SCC, various local community groups and Sheffield Parks and Countryside Services, we have a solid track record of success in these areas. Specific activities and achievements are detailed below:
• Regeneration of derelict walled garden in partnership with Heeley City Farm workers into an active community garden using funds secured from seed fund money and the learning and skills council. This facility is used on a regular basis for new deal clients and horticultural training through Heeley City Farm. There is well attended weekly volunteer gardening days and during this time members of the public can enter and use the garden. We organise and host 10 themed events in the walled gardens that are open to the public. These special events including an art day, apple day, easter hunt day, mothers day event, the annual garden party and a herb day. During the regeneration period we have constructed a South American green house, made a herb garden, Japanese garden and the rose garden. Our long term aim is to open this garden to the public daily as currently there needs to be volunteers present when it is open.
• Setting up of 2 weekly volunteer days that maintain the garden. 2 weekly outdoor playgroups for preschool aged children. 1 weekly school (Meersbrook bank (200 children) session where a class of children come and grow vegetables. Regular larger visits from the second local school Carfield (700 children). Heeley city farm organise a weekly mental health group to use the garden for the day.
• The replacement of the playground equipment and installation of new safety surface using funds secured from Living Spaces, Section 106, Graves Charitable Trust, Sheffield Town Trust and Sheffield City Trust and local donations.
• The installation of a youth shelter using funds secured from Awards for All and Police ABC.
• The installation of a skate bowl using funds secured from Barclays Spaces for Sport, BTCV Awards for All, Section 106.
• Renovation of the derelict Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) initially built in 1959. This project was completed in September 2011. We secured money from Community Spaces, Sheffield Town Trust, Graves Charitable Trust, Section 106 and local fund-raising events including our annual Santa Dash.