The Parks Foundation

What The Parks Foundation does

The Parks Foundation is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1159939) founded in January 2015 and headquartered in Bournemouth, Dorset, that enhances urban parks and green spaces across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council area. It was established as the UK's first Parks Foundation through NESTA's Rethinking Parks Programme, in response to ongoing reductions in local authority parks budgets, and operates independently of BCP Council while working in close partnership with it.

Its core portfolio centres on the Green Heart Parks project, a collaborative initiative transforming 14 urban parks, complemented by a set of community-facing programmes: Parks in Mind (ecotherapy and wellbeing activities delivered to 120+ GP-referred participants and 150+ sessions annually), Ranger Work Experience for 16–25 year-olds, Garden For Nature educational guides, Park Yoga (up to 250 attendees per week), the Nature Neighbourhoods climate-action project, the Woodland Walk Nature Reserve, and a rescue aviary housing nearly 200 tropical birds. The foundation runs four community cafés (Alexandra Park, Boscombe Chine Gardens, Redhill Park, Winton Park) plus the Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre, whose profits are reinvested into park improvements. Underlying technology is light: live-streaming wildlife cameras at Hengistbury Head and Winton Recreation Ground, contactless tap-to-give donation units prototyped with Goodbox under Nesta funding, and standard third-party platforms (MailChimp, Eventbrite, CAF Donate, SurveyMonkey) for marketing, ticketing and donations.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit structure combining individual donations, institutional grants (notably from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, National Trust, MHCLG, People's Postcode Lottery and Nesta), corporate partnerships, and trading income from community cafés and Boscombe mini golf (adults £8.50, under 16s £6.50, family £27.50). The foundation states 85 pence per pound donated goes directly to park improvements and is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. Reach spans 450+ parks and green spaces with over 2,500 hectares managed, although active programmes concentrate in roughly 20 parks. Leadership includes CEO John Hanson, Programme Manager Stephen Concar, and a Board of Trustees covering conservation, finance, HR and senior parks operations expertise (notably Michael Rowland, Head of Park Operations at The Royal Parks, who re-joined in 2025).

Name

The Parks Foundation

Legal name

The Parks Foundation

Website

https://parksfoundation.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Parks Foundation is a UK-registered charity enhancing parks across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. It delivers ecotherapy, conservation programmes, four community cafés, and skills training, funded by donations, grants, and café profits reinvested into local parks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Parks & Green Spaces Charity

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH), National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Urban park enhancement
• Community wellbeing programmes
• Ecotherapy outdoor activities
• Community cafe operations
• Park conservation charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Bournemouth, Dorset

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate support, and fundraising campaigns. The foundation is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and 85% of donations go directly to park improvements.
2. Community Café Operations: Profits from community cafés at Alexandra Park, Boscombe Chine Gardens, Redhill Park, and Winton Recreation Ground are reinvested into park enhancements.
3. Grants and Lottery Funding: Funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, Public Health Dorset, and other institutional funders for specific projects.
4. Mini Golf and Activities: Revenue from mini golf at Boscombe Chine Gardens Café at £8.50 adults, £6.50 under 16s, family packages at £27.50.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Parks Foundation is an independent registered charity that enhances parks and green spaces across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. It delivers nature-based wellbeing and education programmes (Parks in Mind, Ranger Work Experience, Park Yoga, Garden For Nature), runs the Green Heart Parks project transforming 14 urban parks, and operates four community cafés and the Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre whose profits are reinvested into local parks. The charity is funded primarily by donations, grants and lottery awards.

Product overview

The Parks Foundation is a charity operating a portfolio of interconnected environmental and community-focused programmes across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole. Its core offering centres on the Green Heart Parks initiative, which transforms 14 urban parks through physical improvements and nature-based activities, complemented by the Parks in Mind therapeutic programme delivering health and wellbeing activities. Supporting these are five community cafés (Alexandra Park, Boscombe Chine Gardens, Redhill Park, Winton Park) and the Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre, all serving as community hubs generating funds for park enhancement. Additional programmes include the Ranger Work Experience for young adults, Garden For Nature educational guides, live Wildlife Cameras, Park Yoga sessions, the Nature Neighbourhoods climate action project, Woodland Walk Nature Reserve, the Welly Banks clothing initiative, and the Bournemouth Aviary. The portfolio functions as a unified ecosystem of park enhancement, community engagement, health and wellbeing, environmental education, and volunteering opportunities, unified by the charity's mission to bring people and nature together.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Parks in Mind: An ecotherapy programme providing fun nature conservation and outdoor activities to improve health and wellbeing
• Green Heart Parks
• Young Adult Ranger Programme
• Garden For Nature
• GreenFingers
• Future Parks Project
• Nature Recovery Project

Products and services

• Green Heart Parks Two-year collaborative project transforming 14 urban parks across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole through physical improvements, nature-based activities and community empowerment, for local residents and park users.
• Parks in Mind Free ecotherapy programme delivering nature conservation, green exercise, arts and confidence-building workshops in Bournemouth's parks for health-referred individuals and wellbeing seekers.
• Ranger Work Experience (Young Adult Ranger Programme) Free environmental skills programme for 16-25 year olds offering ranger work experience sessions covering park maintenance, species surveys and woodworking in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole parks.
• Garden For Nature Free educational programme and guides on welcoming wildlife to gardens and outdoor spaces, covering ponds, wildflowers, pollinators, bird boxes, hedgehogs, composting and tree planting.
• Wildlife Cameras Live-streaming wildlife camera system featuring barn owls, herons, kestrels and bird feeders at Hengistbury Head and Winton Recreation Ground, streaming 365 days a year for public viewing.
• Community Cafés (Alexandra Park, Boscombe Chine Gardens, Redhill Park and Winton Park) Four community cafés serving coffee, cakes, ice cream and light meals in Alexandra Park (Poole), Boscombe Chine Gardens, Redhill Park and Winton Recreation Ground (Bournemouth), with all profits reinvested into park enhancements. Boscombe also offers mini golf with tiered admission.
• Mini Golf at Boscombe Chine Gardens Pay-as-you-go themed 'nature stations' mini golf course at Boscombe Chine Gardens, priced at £8.50 adults, £6.50 under 16s, £6.50 over 65s, £7.50 students, free for under 3s and carers, with a £27.50 family package.
• Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre Visitor centre at the Stour Valley Nature Reserve open daily with a wildlife garden, medicinal plant garden, wildflower meadow and pond dipping sessions for the local community and visitors.
• Nature Neighbourhoods UK-wide collaboration with the National Trust, WWF and RSPB, running in West Howe and Kinson, helping communities tackle climate change through nature-based activities and community garden support.
• Woodland Walk Nature Reserve New nature reserve in Boscombe featuring a shaded woodland walk, seating, sculptures, sensory garden, pond and nature trail, created as part of the Towns Fund regeneration of Boscombe.
• Park Yoga Free outdoor yoga and Tai Chi sessions held at Bournemouth Central Gardens, The Quomps Christchurch, Poole Park and Shelley Park, suitable for all levels including beginners.
• Welly Banks Free-to-take outdoor clothing initiative providing waterproofs and wellies at Alexandra Park Café and Redhill Park Café so community members can enjoy parks in all weather.
• Bournemouth's Aviary Rescue aviary in Bournemouth's Lower Gardens providing sanctuary for nearly 200 homeless tropical birds, run entirely by volunteers and funded by donations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of donations go directly to improving local parks
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BCP CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Working partnership with BCP Council for parks management and enhancement. The foundation works closely with but is independent from the council, focusing on raising funds for improvements beyond routine maintenance.
• Public Health DorsetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth partner supporting Parks in Mind wellbeing programmes and community health initiatives. Co-funder of Green Heart Parks project.
• WWFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Nature Neighbourhoods UK-wide project alongside National Trust and RSPB, aiming to help communities tackle climate change at neighbourhood level.
• RSPBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Nature Neighbourhoods project, working to increase biodiversity and community engagement with nature.
• Skills & Learning Adult Community EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to promote adult learning and progress people into courses for independence, work, and leisure through Parks in Mind activities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-parks-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Parks Foundation