On Thursday 22nd May 2025, the ESS Expo team had the privilege of spending the day with Groundwork West Midlands, exploring the transformative power of green spaces within Coventry’s local communities. This visit was part of ESS Expo's ongoing collaboration with Groundwork UK, aiming to showcase the real-world impact of the Green Ticket initiative from ESS Expo 2024. We were met at Coventry station by Ray Nash of Groundwork UK, who led us towards our first site of the day.

A Warm Welcome at WEETEC

Our day began at 10:30am at the Willenhall Education, Employment & Training Centre (WEETEC), where we were welcomed by Joanne Elward and Michelle Brodie of Groundwork West Midlands. Over coffee and introductions, we learned about the centre’s pivotal role in community development through education and green initiatives. The garden at WEETEC, a vibrant patchwork of raised beds and budding life, functions as more than just a horticultural haven - it’s designed to be a place for learning, connection, and renewal for local residents; offering space for people to connect with nature, and create opportunities for young people to take part in something positive by channelling their energy into constructive, pro-social activities.

   

Pathways to Progress

From WEETEC, we walked with Jo and Ray across a field destined to become a new MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area): a future hub for physical activity and socialising. Along the way, we discussed the challenges facing Coventry’s residents and how green infrastructure can play a key role in addressing them. We paused to view a river project currently in development, highlighting the ecological restoration efforts Groundwork is spearheading across the region.

                      

The Alan Higgs Centre and Community Connections

Then, guided by Melissa Underwood, we toured the “People’s Patch” - a dynamic community garden, skatepark, and pond space undergoing vital rejuvenation, adjacent to The Alan Higgs Leisure Centre.

This area embodies Groundwork’s mission to empower local people through sustainable development. Melissa spoke passionately about the power of green spaces to transform young lives. By giving youths a role in both enjoying and maintaining gardens, ponds, and recreational outdoor areas such as these, these spaces offer a sense of purpose and a positive alternative to antisocial behaviour. They become places where young people can connect, develop skills, and take pride in their surroundings: the very definition of community.

She also emphasised the broader impact of the site, from promoting Biodiversity Net Gain to delivering real social value. These efforts, supported by funds from Green Tickets at ESS Expo 2024, show how environmental and community goals can certainly thrive together.

Lunch at the Alan Higgs Centre Café provided an opportunity to reflect on the morning’s insights and energise for the afternoon ahead.

   

Getting Hands-On

Rolling up our sleeves, it was time for the ESS Expo team to get to work. We helped clear the garden, planted cheerful rows of sunflowers, and collaborated with local volunteers to build a "dead hedge" around the pond area - a creative and sustainable barrier made from repurposed tree branches, enabling children to view the habitat safely. This hands-on experience was both rewarding and humbling, reminding us that community and nature flourish best when nurtured together (and that some of the team need to brush up on their gardening skills!).

   

Growing Together

This visit underscored the value of collaboration between business and community-focused environmental initiatives. Groundwork West Midlands is doing vital work to ensure that green spaces are not a luxury, but a shared resource for health, happiness, and resilience.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ray Nash from Groundwork UK for coordinating the visit, and to Jo, Michelle, and Melissa for their inspiring leadership on the ground. The ESS Expo team left Coventry feeling humbled, hopeful, and even more committed to supporting green innovation that puts people first.
 

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About

About ESS Expo: Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS Expo) is a leading platform that brings together professionals, innovators, and thought leaders in the environmental services industry and across sustainability and net-zero. The expo provides a unique opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration to address current and future environmental challenges.

About Groundwork: Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: www.groundwork.org.uk