Snaprails Park is a 3.5 hectare park in Sandhurst that is owned by Bracknell Forest Council. The site includes open grassy areas, a stream and pond, children’s play area and picnic benches and provides an important recreation area as well as a through-route for many local residents.
In late 2001, local residents and representatives from Sandhurst Town Council approached the Borough Council to seek closer cooperation in the park’s management. With a strong determination amongst local people to raise the park’s standards, this was a real opportunity to create a new way forward for Snaprails Park.
The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) is one of the National Lottery good causes and a substantial funder of community led projects especially where there are environmental improvements. One such grant is called the Doorstep Greens Grant, which is administered by the Countryside Agency. The scheme aims to enable local communities across England to transform existing green spaces to meet their needs - further information is available from the Countryside Agency website.
The Doorstep Greens project started by finding out what local people wanted from Snaprails Park and getting people actively involved in its future. A draft design was drawn up by a landscape architect working in association with the Snaprails Residents Association.
Work began at the park in late 2003 and was completed during summer 2005. Large areas of brush and scrub were cleared, grass areas re-seeded, information boards put in place and a new children’s play area installed.
The park was officially re-dedicated as a Doorstep Green on 10 August 2005 and is now a bustling local oasis.
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