A North Staffordshire community organisation exploring the benefits of bamboo for people and the planet is seeking land in Newcastle-under-Lyme to create a new sustainable park.
Brilliant Bamboo, founded in 2023 by Gemma Thomas, is looking for a brownfield site or field of up to one acre where it can establish its second bamboo "parklet."
From Concrete to Canopy
The organisation launched its first project in July last year on a disused concrete area behind the Sainsbury’s car park in Stoke town centre. What was once a neglected space has been transformed into a vibrant hub hosting:
- Community workshops
- Corporate away days
- Large-scale events (including circus performances)
While the Stoke site uses over 400 bamboo plants in moveable planters, the proposed Newcastle site would allow bamboo to be planted directly into the ground. This shift enables longer-term research into the environmental impact of the plant.
Why Bamboo?
The project aims to explore how bamboo can contribute to urban sustainability and wellbeing. Key benefits include:
- Carbon Absorption: Bamboo is incredibly efficient at sequestering carbon.
- Oxygen Production: It produces significantly more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.
- Urban Biodiversity: Creating green lungs in "grey" spaces to support local wildlife.
- Timber Alternative: Highlighting sustainable materials for the future.
“Over the past six months, we’ve seen how a neglected, grey space can be transformed into something joyful, welcoming and full of life. Our Stoke parklet has become a place where people come together, slow down and reconnect with nature.
“We’re now keen to bring that same sense of possibility to Newcastle. We’re specifically looking for land that isn’t currently being used. If any landowners, businesses or organisations think they could help, we’d love to start a conversation.”
— Gemma Thomas, Founder of Brilliant Bamboo
Funding and Contact
The Newcastle parklet will be supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) through Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
Landowners, businesses, or organisations with a suitable plot of land (up to one acre) featuring public access are encouraged to reach out.
- Contact: Gemma Thomas
- Email: gemma@brilliantbamboo.co.uk
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