The Green Infrastructure (GI) Tool Kit was developed by the former Green Infrastructure Community Development Worker, Jane Campion, at Northants ACRE, in partnership with The River Nene Regional Park (RNRP), and has been designed for communities to use when identifying and planning a Green Space project and applying for funding. 

The tool kit is aimed at Parish Councils, community groups, schools, and any one who is, or who wants to be, actively involved in developing, protecting and increasing access to the green spaces within their community in order to enhance the local environment. It could be incorporated into Parish Plans and Village Design Statements, used as a pre-survey for BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers), The Wildlife Trust, or Pocket Parks, or even as part of a school project. The versatility of the tool kit allows it to be used as a stand-alone document, as part of a larger project or master planning exercise, or in a workshop context depending on the nature of the project. The loose-leaf design also means that you can select the most relevant information as well as adding your own to create a highly useable, useful and updateable resource. 

The tool kit, born in response to a recognised need, is clearly laid out and easy to use following a 9-step process in 4 sections: 

Section 1: The Green Space Tool Kit

A step-by-step, loose-leaf approach covering 9 steps, which include:

1. Identify your green space
2. Map your green space
3. Assess your green space
4. Community consultation
5. Project aims and objectives
6. Project development
7. Project management
8. Evaluation
9. What happens next 

Section 2: Getting Started

Can be used in support of Section 1 offering practical guidance and background information to help you identify your green space area, develop the project idea and involve the local community. 

Section 3: Project examples

Case studies of three Green Space projects developed by community groups 

Section 4: Useful contacts and resources

Contact details for specialists within the sector and useful documents 

Click here to download a copy of the toolkit

If you require further information, help or support on any environmental project, please contact Northamptonshire ACRE on 01604 765 888 or acre@northantsacre.org.uk