Nailsworth Crescent in Merstham has new picnic benches, planting and an enclosed area for small dogs, 'Paws in the Park', chosen and partly built by residents.

The green at Nailsworth Crescent in Merstham has new picnic benches, fresh planting and an enclosed exercise area for small dogs, and some of the residents who asked for them helped put the benches together.

Raven Housing Trust, the Redhill-based housing association behind the project, says the changes were shaped by what its tenants told it they wanted from the space. The dog area has been given a name, “Paws in the Park”.

The work was unveiled at a community fun day on the green in August, with free activities, refreshments and a raffle.

Residents chose it, then helped build it

According to Raven, local people influenced “everything from the installation of new picnic benches to the creation of the enclosed dog exercise area”. Some then worked alongside Raven’s housing officers for Merstham in the run-up to the fun day, helping to assemble the picnic benches, and helped again with the preparations on the day itself.

Angela Stirrat, a housing officer at Raven, said:

“From the outset, we wanted our customers to help shape how this space could be improved, so we asked for their ideas and worked together to bring them to life. The new seating and dog exercise area reflect what local customers told us they wanted from the space.

“It’s been fantastic to see customers getting involved every step of the way, from helping to prepare the area to supporting the event itself. We hope these improvements will give people more opportunities to spend time outdoors, get to know their neighbours and enjoy where they live.”

A resident with a wheeled walker leads a small dog across the grass at Nailsworth Crescent, with children playing and a Raven Housing Trust gazebo behind
A resident with a small dog crossing the green during the fun day. Photo: supplied by Raven Housing Trust

Raven says the improvements were meant to give people more reasons to spend time outdoors and get to know their neighbours, and that the project is part of its wider work with tenants on shared spaces.

Who Raven is

Raven Housing Trust is a not-for-profit registered housing provider. It manages around 7,000 rented and shared ownership homes across the South East, according to the trust, and builds new affordable housing as well as running community-led projects on its estates.

What it means for you

  • If you live near Nailsworth Crescent: the picnic benches and planting are on the green now, and small dogs have their own fenced space to run in.
  • If you are a Raven tenant elsewhere in the borough and want something similar for your own patch, the trust’s housing officers are the people to ask; this project started with residents’ ideas. Contact details are on ravenht.org.uk.

Elsewhere in Merstham, the 3G pitch at Merstham FC is due to be finished this month.

Raven Housing Trust sent us this story. Got news from your street, club or school? Send us your news.