Open Manor Project

The Open Manor Project is a local community project running from 2025 – 2026, supported by Green Estate and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. The project explores the past, present and future of Manor Castle Ward.

Find our more about the project background, the approach and questions asked, the members and partners, the output and any upcoming events.

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Project background

In October 2025, 12 members of the local community came together as a community co-design team to uncover the stories that have shaped the past and present of Manor Castle Ward and resident dreams for the future.

Over the last year we have met monthly at Green Estate, getting to know each other and sharing what is special to everyone in our local area.

As a group, we have carried out creative workshops, focusing on participatory mapping, forest bathing and urban archive collaging, and community-led fieldwork, including film making, junk journalling, community conversations and interviews. All of which have been accompanied by sharing food together!

Key themes that have emerged from our work include:

Creating visible places of welcome at Green Estate

Building relationships between diverse groups and ages of local people

Supporting the development of community skills and groups through growing connections with our urban nature (animals, plants and food)

Improving communications across the ward so people feel included and know what’s going on

In response we have co-designed and delivered a series of pilot events, including community meals, to better signpost visible spaces of welcome at Green Estate and grow connections between people, celebrating the diverse local community stories and experiences.

The work we have done so far is just the start of our journey. But we hope by sharing what we have done and what uncovered so far, it will inspire others to join us to shape a new Shared

Our Project Approach and Questions

Throughout our work we have been open about what could emerge for group members and the wider community, both in terms of priorities for the area and the role Green Estate and other organisations could play in supporting these to grow and flourish.

Our project has been responsive and adaptive to community needs, taking an inquiry-led approach to refine the list of things that we care about in our community and neighbourhoods into targeted recommendations – or a blueprint for change.

Questions that have shaped our work are as follows:

Group questions for Community Fieldwork exploring the Past and Present

What are social stories that have shaped experiences of Manor Castle or Green Estate? For example, what are the stories of people in the community, including yourself, your friends and neighbours or family, and what is it that people care about most and why?
What are environmental stories that have shaped experiences of Manor Castle or Green Estate? For example, what do you notice in the local landscape, parks, streets or green spaces, and what does this tell you about the changing ecology or nature of our local area?
What are economic stories that have shaped experiences of Manor Castle or Green Estate? For example, what new developments are there in the area, where can you see less investment or that new investment is needed, and why do you think this is important?

Group questions for Future Hopes and Dreams

What stood out in terms of past, present and future community priorities?
How might we focus on future potential in relation to these?
How can Green Estate help us to realise this future potential?
How might we as a group work together with Green Estate to bring this future closer?
How can other community partners help us to realise this future?
How might we as a group work together with local partners?
Who else should we be including in our future work in 2026?

Our Group Members and Project Partners

Group members

Our 12 members alongside our facilitators and community partners

Group facilitators

Alice Jones
Al Mathers

Partners in our Journey

Community partners who helped us bring together our team

Diane Cairns (MCDT)
Tereiza Rostas (Welcoming Cultures)
Roz Davies and Sarah Slowther (Green Estate)

Expert support documenting our journey

Martin Heaton (University of Sheffield)

Creative session facilitators

Participatory mapping: Steven Forrest (Hull University)
Forest bathing: Helen Todd (Unfurling)
Story collaging: Junia Mortimer (Urban Institute, University of Sheffield + Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil)

Community meals