Two community park cafes to open end of May

The Parks Foundation charity will be opening community cafés at Redhill Park and Boscombe Chine Gardens on Saturday 27^th May, just in time for half-term fun.

These sites were previously operated by BCP Council until October 2022.

Our charity already operates a community park café at Winton Recreation Ground where customers are served yummy coffee, homemade cake, and a light lunch. The café is a hub for the community, offering free family-friendly nature-based activities, knit & natter, board game and carers groups to support local residents, as well as offering volunteering opportunities.

Cathi Farrer, Chief Executive Officer at The Parks Foundation said, “We can’t wait to expand our work in community parks by opening these cafés at Redhill Park and Boscombe Chine Gardens.

“These cafés will become a hub for the community, and we’d love to work with other local charities and community groups for them to host their activities in them.

“We’ve seen the difference opening the café has made at Winton Recreation Ground, where police callouts have reduced by 44% since the café opened in 2019.

“All our produce is locally sourced using local businesses such as Websters Butchers in Winton and Berry’s Cakes in Lymington, and is served alongside organic, sustainable coffee.

“All profits from the cafés will help to improve parks and open spaces across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, so people can enjoy a brew knowing they’ll be helping their local parks too.”

The Redhill Park Café will be open all year round, initially seven days a week over the summer months, from 9:30 – 17:00. The paddling pool will also be open from Saturday 27^th May, operated by BCP Council. An opening launch event will be held on Wednesday 31^st May at 16:30, where local residents are encouraged to come by for some complimentary tea and cake and hear about the plans for the café.

The Boscombe Chine Gardens Café will be open every day over the summer months, from 9:30 – 17:00, with mini golf on offer to keep the whole family entertained.

We have further plans to open a community park café in Alexandra Park, Parkstone, in spring 2024, following our success in gaining £130,000 to refurbish the pavilion.

The new cafés will offer volunteering opportunities, and really need local residents to support them to ensure their success. The Parks Foundation welcomes all members of the community who are interested in volunteering to get in touch and find out more. Volunteering can be as often as a couple of times a week to once a month, and full training is provided.

If you’re interested in volunteering at the cafés, please contact us at: info@parksfoundation.org.uk, call us 01202 143724, or pop into the cafés for a chat.

For further information, click here.

Published May 2023