Technical Resources

Greenspaces, parks, gardens, and streets have become even more important to us as venues for social activities, sports, youth work and cultural evets and learning. With a lot of “normal” venues closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, local organisations have looked for new ways of bringing local people together outdoors safely and creating a much-needed sense of community.

The Technical Resources note covers some of the things you need to think about and infrastructure that may be needed to support activities happening outside in parks, greenspaces, education and health estate grounds - including: location, risk assessments, shelter, toilets, hand-washing and lighting.

Download: Technical resource sheet

---

Better Outside Ideas Source Book

We engaged erz landscape architects to gather examples and good practice from across Scotland. The Better Outside Ideas Source Book has quick, cheap and simple examples from £5 per person, through to more ambitious projects which would require professional support and planning. Whether you are thinking about shelter, seating, lighting or planting, we hope you will find something in the colourful Ideas Source Book to inspire you.

Download: Better Outside Ideas Source Book

---

Low-cost shelter design guide

Mayfield and Easthouses Development Trust (MAEDT) and Social Farms and Gardens Scotland have worked together to develop a low-cost open-source design for a shelter. The work is part of the “Green Hub” pilot at the Pavilion garden engaging the community in gardening and social activities and raising awareness of climate change action.

The garden needed the shelter to be able to host activities for a variety of local community groups including schools and playgroups who seek to move some activities outdoors to remain operational but require some form of outdoor shelter to be able to plan irrespective of rain, wind or shine!

The basic idea is to try to incorporate keeping people dry and out of the wind with something relatively flexible that could be moved and could be added to over time (modular) It is sturdy to withstand the Scottish weather, but a team of volunteers is able to move it.

This is basic design idea for a mobile, multipurpose outdoor shelter with see through roof and removable sides. The materials used are suggestions that all could be substituted to suit needs and specifications.

Download: Shelter  build guide - overview | Shelter build guide – step by step

---

Remember to always check the most recent Scottish Government guidance and advice when planning activities and events outside.

Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting work on Better outside - using our spaces more 

​