The best starting point is to have a discussion with local friends, neighbours and other park users about the site. This will help you judge whether your concerns and hopes for the area are shared and supported by others.

Widespread support for starting a friends group to improve your local park or green space will give you confidence and credibility when you approach us.

Your group will find that there are many people in the local community who have an opinion about the park or green space in question. Part of the work of a friends group is to take on these views and opinions and relay them back into the development and management plans for the park. The more representative your group is of the whole community the greater credibility you will achieve.

Advertise an informal gathering where interested members of the community can come together to get a feel for what the group aims to do. By actively promoting the group throughout the local area, you could increase membership numbers, and this will also ensure that all sectors of the community know of your existence.