Rafford Village Hall Playfield Co-Participatory Envisioning Day

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO AMBER WEATHER WARNING

from the 23rd of November 2024 to the 11th of January 2025

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Join us on Saturday January 11th, 2025 from 11am to 3.30pm for an exciting community event at Rafford Village Hall.

We're hosting the Rafford Village Hall Playfield Co-Participatory Envisioning Day, bringing together local residents and regular Village Hall users to enhance our outdoor area. This hands-on workshop will foster creativity and collaboration as we envision a more vibrant and inviting space for all ages. Drop-ins welcomed anytime.

Local students at university branch of the Glasgow School of Art in Forres will possibly provide aids throughout the session. This creative approach will serve as a dynamic record of our brainstorming process, bringing our ideas to life and providing a tangible reference for future development stages.

Amy Neville and Karen Collins from Rafford's Naturally Useful will be sharing sharing examples and collaborating with the community to identify optimal designs and locations for a living willow structure. This natural, living sculpture will provide a cosy and inspiring space for relaxation and play. Under the expert guidance of Naturally Useful, the community will plant and maintain this unique feature on 25th and 26th January 2025, adding a sustainable element to our Village Hall's garden for years to come.

What To Bring:

• Your creative ideas and innovative input
• Local knowledge about the Village Hall's playfield
• Enthusiasm for community development and sustainable practices
• A willingness to collaborate and share diverse perspectives

What To Expect:

• A collaborative environment fostering open dialogue and idea-sharing
• Professional guidance and inspiration from local experts
• An opportunity to actively shape the future of our shared community outdoor space
• Innovative design techniques to capture and prioritise our collective ideas

Event Schedule:

THE BIG PICTURE (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM)

Immerse yourself in our dynamic, co-creative visioning session for Rafford's community garden. We'll utilise an approximate map of the current outdoor area, complete with thought-provoking prompts to generate innovative ideas. Our focus will include the children's garden, play equipment, the living willow structure, and the existing football pitch.

Let your imagination soar as we explore additional features for our community space. Consider the possibilities of:

• A fully equipped community picnic area
• A vibrant farmers' market location
• A flourishing orchard
• A state-of-the-art community greenhouse
• A local food processing shed
• A star-gazing observatory dome
• A pollinator-friendly regenerative flower meadow
• A tranquil garden with meditation pathways
• And more....

Together, we'll walk the field and discuss the challenges and benefits of each idea, considering wellbeing, health and safety aspects. This comprehensive approach ensures our future design will meet the diverse needs of our community while fostering a sense of shared ownership.

LUNCH (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM) PLANT-BASED SOUP

FEEDBACK SESSION (2:00 PM - 3:30 PM)

Unable to attend the morning session? No worries! We welcome you to our afternoon drop-in. You'll have the chance to view the ideas generated earlier and contribute your own thoughts to the evolving design. We will finalise the design and location for our Naturally Useful living willow area to be planted in January. Your input is invaluable, ensuring that our community space truly represents the diverse needs of Rafford Village and our Village Hall & Field user community.

Will there be other opportunities for community members to voice their opinions?

Yes, there will be additional follow-up events, surveys, and volunteer opportunities in the near future. This is Rafford's Village Hall and playfield, so everyone's voice matters in its evolution!

We need you! Let's work together to create a space that everyone can enjoy! Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference in our community. See you there!

Who will be facilitating the workshop? Leading the workshop will be Isabella Guerrini de Claire of Burgie Lodge (Forres), an experienced Workshop Facilitator, Landscape Designer and Regenerative Sustainability Advisor. Isabella is also the Project Coordinator for Rafford's Growing Roots project, bringing her expertise and passion for sustainable practices to the event and the project. Lisa Wolff, project manager of Rafford's Growing Roots and volunteer on the Rafford Village Hall Committee, will assist with the event.

Who is the workshop for? The workshop is open to all residents of Rafford, including families, children, and community members who utilise the outdoor space for various activities such as children's playgrounds, dog walking, picnics, walking meditation, gardening, and foraging events.

What can participants expect? Workshop participants will have the opportunity to collaborate and co-create an outdoor space that caters to the unique needs of the community. The event will be interactive and guided to ensure that every voice is heard. It will also offer a wonderful chance to reconnect with the natural environment and foster a sense of shared connection within the community.

What should attendees bring? All the necessary materials for the co-creation process will be provided. However, since the event is organised as a potluck, attendees are encouraged to bring gluten-free and vegetarian/vegan food to share during the brief lunch break. A simple soup or salad would be greatly appreciated.

This event is part of the "Rafford's Growing Roots Project" and is free of charge thanks to generous funding by the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund with Moray Council. Residents of Rafford or Moray are the target audience of this grant-funded initiative; therefore, completing all fields when booking is required to secure your spot.

This event is free. The Rafford's Growing Roots project places great importance on involving and engaging members of the local community in the nature and roots of our village; however, anyone from Moray who uses the hall field is welcome to attend.

Please note: While this event is free, we appreciate donations. Your contributions will fund the design and creation of future events, particularly the development of a community outdoor space.

Charity Details:

Rafford Village Public Hall, SC015233
Registered charity from 01 June 1990

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Rafford Village Hall, Rafford Village Hall, Rafford, United Kingdom