Peterborough Central Park is a rare green space in a diverse urban community, but in recent years it has lost some of its vibrancy.
When funding for formal flower bed management was withdrawn, patches of bare earth appeared across the park, leaving fewer habitats for pollinators and diminishing its visual appeal.
For many local residents with limited access to green space, the park’s decline had real consequences. Revitalising it became essential – not just to support wildlife, but to create a welcoming place that nurtures community wellbeing.
Friends of Peterborough Central Park (FoCP) set up a project to increase biodiversity in the park. They set out to create wildflower meadow areas and pollinator-friendly perennials, which require less water and are more resilient to the dry summers that the area has experienced in recent years.
And, as project lead, Steve Harknett from Friends of Peterborough Central Park said, it was loud and clear that “people wanted flowers. They wanted to see something attractive in the park.”
