The Friendly bench is a friendly space for the whole community, where everyone is welcome, based outside Ancaster Court, in Broadfield Lane, Boston.
What is Thriving Environments?
We run a number of important environmental programmes across Boston including The Friendly Bench, Boston Green Volunteers, Naturehood and RiverCare Litter Picks.
These programmes are funded and supported by various local and national charities, organisations and suppliers and help us to create community gardens, carry out litter picks, and provide activities for the local community.
Working With the Community
We work with various organisations such as The Young People’s Learning Provision, the Men’s Shed and the Thomas Middlecott Academy to get involved in regular environmental improvement projects.
We couldn’t deliver our projects without the support of so many local organisations including; Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, RSPB Frampton Marsh, Boston Borough Council, Transported, Boston Rowing Club, RiverCare/Keep Britain Tidy and Boston in Bloom.
We work with local residents, and everyone is welcome to attend all of our community events. Activities are suitable for all ages and gloves and tools are provided.
You can find the latest information on our website and our social media channels, so you can see what is going on and if interested, to also get involved.
If local people want to pick up litter in their own neighbourhood, we can supply them with litter picking equipment and support.
Some of the work we have helped with within the community can be seen on the map below. Select a hotspot for more information.
The Friendly Bench
Geoff Moulder Community Garden
A welcoming and sensory space where the local community can grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, and learn new skills.
Central Park and Surrounding Areas
Central Park, Centenary Methodist Church, Fountain Lane, St Botolph's Community Garden, planting flowers and shrubs, weeding and bug boxes, etc.
Pilgrims Patch
Maintaining the area next to John Adams Way, by weeding, tidying, planting flowers and shrubs.
Scott House
Scott House offers community based day services for people with disabilities who are eligible for Adult Social Care and they help to weed, plant flowers and shrubs, litter pick and build bug houses, bird boxes, etc. around Boston town centre.
Boston Green Volunteers
Helping to maintain and clean up litter in the green areas around Boston town centre and weed and plant flowers and shrubs.
RiverCare Litter Picks
We organise regular litter picks including along the River Witham and the Tidal Haven and everyone is welcome to come along and get involved.
Funding and Support
We have been delighted to receive funding from Boston Big Local and grants from BTAC Small Grant Scheme, Asda Foundation and Shine Lincolnshire.
We also receive donations of pallets from South Lincs Pallets which we use to make our bug hotels, and Boston Men’s Shed have been making us bird, bug and bat box kits and roofs for our bug hotels.
"Our Thriving Environments team Jackie and Leanne are at the heart of our community programmes."
We are extremely grateful for all the donations we receive and any time that people take to volunteer and support our programmes.
If you want to find out more about any of our programmes, or if you would like to offer any donations, or to simply get involved, use the Programme contact information further down this page.
Current Thriving Environments Programmes
The Friendly Bench Boston
The 'Friendly Bench' is a friendly space for the whole community, where everyone is welcome, based outside Ancaster Court, in Broadfield Lane, Boston. We hold monthly events at the Friendly Bench when everyone is welcome to come along and make new friends.
Past events include a history talk, dementia awareness, planting, The King’s Coronation celebration event, Marie Curie charity event, the Men’s Shed, the RSPB Big Bird Count and Curo-Lincs therapy dogs.
We have been pleased to welcome various guests such as Singing for Fun, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, children from Carlton Road Primary School, Boston History Tours, students from Boston College and others. There is always a warm welcome, tea and cake, and events are free to attend.
We are proud to have partnered with The Friendly Bench, a charity focused on bringing people together in the local community. Our partnership has enabled us to provide a space for people of all ages to come together, share skills, form friendships, and build connections through a variety of community-led activities and events.
We are committed to supporting the Friendly Bench’s mission to create a stronger and more inclusive community.
Boston Green Volunteers
The Boston Green Volunteers meet up to help maintain and clean up litter in the green areas around Boston town centre.
We litter pick, weed and plant to improve our local environment and our group meets every Tuesday or Friday, 10:00am to 12noon and everybody is welcome.
If you would like to join us please contact Leanne on 07506 717998 or Jackie on 07576 316818 or by following this link to the Boston Green Volunteers Facebook page for all the latest information on meeting dates and times, as these can sometimes be weather dependent.
Naturehood
Naturehood encourages people to get involved in improving the Boston area’s wildlife habitats; developing a number of Naturehood sites across Boston.
We work very closely with Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to develop public areas including Central Park, Pilgrims Patch, The Centenary Methodist Church, Scott House, the community garden behind St. Boltoph’s Church and the Geoff Moulder Community Garden.
At these sites we have built bug hotels, bird boxes, planted wildflowers and built log piles. In addition, we have worked with the Cubs, Sure Start Children’s Centres, local schools and organisations to help them improve their own sites for wildlife and we attend community events to work with local people.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have provided us with expert advice on what we can do to support wildlife including how to introduce the right species of plant, and how to manage sites thereafter.
We have held a number of events with Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to increase public awareness of the importance of protecting local wildlife. By working together, Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have been able to make a positive impact on the conservation of local wildlife.
RiverCare Litter Picks
We work with RiverCare (Keep Britain Tidy/Anglian Water) to improve our important riverbanks and surrounding areas by carrying out litter picks.
We organise regular litter picks including along the River Witham and the Tidal Haven and everyone is welcome to come along and get involved.