Our Mission
Who we are
The Friends of St Giles Hill are a group of local people committed to maintaining and improving the park at St Giles Hill for the benefit of residents and visitors. We are establishing the Friends as a Charitable Incorporated Corporation, which will allow us to take out insurance to cover volunteers working in the park, as well as raise and spend funds for park projects in cooperation with the City Council.
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The Friends comprises a Board of Trustees, chaired by local resident and noted horticulturalist Harry Mycock. Other members include residents of St Giles Hill and surrounding areas and former and current City and County Councillors representing the area. More here.
Our Objectives
​Our objectives include:
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To promote the public health and well-being of Hampshire residents through exercise, recreation and social meetings.
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To maintain and improve St Giles Hill Park as an attractive and uplifting experience accessible to all visitors.
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To ensure the Park continues to provide a visually satisfying landscape setting for the City of Winchester.
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To provide opportunities for local residents, friends and supporters to volunteer and become involved in their local community.
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To improve and maintain the Park as a biodiverse and nature friendly environment.
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To raise funds to assist in meeting the costs of maintenance, restoration and new improvement projects.​
How we work
In 2023, Winchester City Council agreed a new five-year management plan for St Giles Hill Park that sets out what needs to be done to maintain and improve the Park over the five years to 2028.
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The Friends will work collaboratively with the Council, local residents and other partner organisations to support the plan in the coming years, while also proposing and agreeing further improvement projects that might be undertaken with volunteer support.
In time, the Friends, in conjunction with the City Council, may also consider selecting one or two more ambitious schemes for which additional funding is required, and seek to mobilise the resources needed to bring these forward. Examples of such schemes are contained in the new Park Management Plan.
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In all its work, the Friends will cooperate closely with the local authorities and with local partners, including the Friends of St Giles Hill Graveyard, the City of Winchester Trust, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the Hampshire Gardens Trust.
