Trees, Tech and Transformation: Work Starts on Pasley Pocket Park in Stoke

Pasley Pocket Park has been shaped as what organisers describe as “living infrastructure” — a space that works on three levels:

●        Enhancing local parks and supporting community wellbeing

●        Creating year-round habitat for pollinators and wildlife

●        Using new technology to measure environmental change and deepen understanding of public spaces

Through remote sensing technology, the site will monitor air quality, soil health and moisture levels, with longer-term ambitions to track insect activity. Data will feed into a publicly accessible dashboard, allowing residents to see real-time environmental readings from their own neighbourhood.

Crucially, this project is entirely resident-led, drawing on the professional expertise of working families living in the area in horticulture, human behaviour engineering, and communications to deliver high‑quality environmental projects with strong community involvement.

They are responsible for the creation and upkeep of the Village Square Garden in Stoke Village, the Christmas Tree and decorations throughout the village, and the hanging baskets that brighten the high street in summer. To support this new development, Plymouth Tree Project ran a consultation with local residents to collect their feedback, and neighbours have even helped proofread the new signs.

The project has been made possible thanks to funding from the Bupa Foundation’s Green Community Grants, match‑funded by the National Trust and Plymouth City Council’s Green Communities project, with additional support from Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest. Through their close links with Plymouth Tree People, 17 trees have been donated, alongside support to maintain the space for the next three years. Local councillors Tom Briars‑Delve and Sally Cresswell have also provided funding to extend the project to include wildflower seeding on Blockhouse Park’s northern bank.

Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change at Plymouth City Council said “I’ve been blown away by what the Stoke in Bloom team have already achieved across this neighbourhood. Sally and I hope this community grant will help bring a burst of colour for communities and wildlife to enjoy in Blockhouse Park.”

Earlier this month, project leads visited the University of Plymouth’s environmental technology labs, part of the Centre for Marine Autonomy, to explore satellite‑linked systems and review baseline environmental data for the site. The aim is to test design assumptions against real‑world readings and strengthen future community green projects across the city.

With strong volunteer momentum and growing community backing, organisers say the timing is right to invest in long-term environmental infrastructure that is shaped and maintained by residents themselves. The tree will be the first to be planted at the end of February, but there will be several chances to join in, from rose planting and wildflower sowing to nature counts guided by the expertise of the Green Communities team.  You can keep up to date with Stoke in Bloom’s volunteer planting days, events and progress with the Pocket Park throughout this spring on their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Pasley Pocket Park shows how even the smallest urban spaces can become shared, data-informed green infrastructure - built by residents, for residents.