SEEN (Sustainable Environmental Education Network) is a Chester-based initiative which is playing an active role in the Parks for People funding bid.
Children visiting the park for a SEEN
project
SEEN specialises in involving schoolchildren in local regeneration projects. Run by a Steering Group of planning, design and education professionals drawn from local authority and private practice, its main aims are to:
- enable children and young people to contribute to decision-making about local places and issues
- connect young people with key decision-makers and planners, including officers and councillors
- stimulate children’s interest in the wider environment of Chester District by providing a real context for their learning
- empower children to make tangible contributions to meaningful projects
SEEN projects are designed to enhance pupils learning by providing teachers with a wealth of opportunities to stimulate children’s natural curiosity, enthusiasm and imagination.
Through SEEN initiatives, children and young people from different backgrounds are sharing their likes, dislikes, aspirations and general views on Grosvenor Park and these will be used to inform plans for the park’s long-term future. The youngsters involved with the Grosvenor Park project are making an impressive contribution by indicating a knowledgeable insight into many features that they found attractive as well as highlighting important concerns such as graffiti and litter, which are concerns that reflect the issues that the council wants to address. One of the projects which has given an insight into the views of children was the ‘My Space … Grosvenor Park’ exhibition, which featured photographs of Grosvenor Park captured by a group of budding photographers. Sixteen children, aged 8 to 12 took part in the project which highlighted their likes and dislikes of the park.
Children working on their SEEN project
Involving people from the local community is a major focus of the Grosvenor Park bid and students from Dorin Park School, Overleigh St. Mary’s Primary School and Queen’s Park High School have also taken part in activities to help the council understand the needs of different age groups and backgrounds.
For more information about the SEEN initiative go to: http://www.chester.gov.uk/seen/
