Victoria Embankment Gardens Management Plan
2003-2008 Updated January 2007
Panel Beds at Victoria Embankment Gardens
1 Statue of Robert Raikes at the Savoy entrance
2 Contents Page
How to Get There 5 Plan of Victoria Embankment Gardens 6 Victoria Embankment Gardens Action Plan 7 Executive Summary 9
A Welcoming Place 13 Clean and Well Maintained 15 Conservation and Heritage 23 Marketing 29 Healthy, Safe and secure 31 Sustainability 35 Community Involvement 37 Management 39
List of Appendices Appendix 1 Judges Feedback for 2005/06 45 Appendix 2 Health and Safety Policy statement and sample Inspection 49 Form Appendix 3 Patrolling Attendance – Duties and Problems Encountered 57 Appendix 4 Environment Policy 59 Appendix 5 Maintenance Duties 61 Appendix 6 – Continental Landscapes Ltd. – Compliment / Complaint form 63 Appendix 7 Maintenance Request Form 64 Appendix 8 Incident Report Form 65 Appendix 9 – Contractors Proposals for Complying with the City Councils 67 Environmental Charter
Attachments Generic Tree Management Plan Habitat Survey and Protected Species Assessment September 2006 Example Ccopy of Contractors Last Annual Reprot. Example Copy of Contractors Monthly Report
3 4 How to Get there:
Site Address
Victoria Embankment Gardens Victoria Embankment London WC2N 6PB
By Car:
Access to the grounds is gained by two ways.
1. From Parliament Square proceed north along the Victoria Embankment until you get to the Hungerford Rail Bridge into Charing Cross mainline station. The entrance into the garden is 90 metres on the left (between the two bus stops).
2. From Trafalgar Square proceed south down Northumberland Avenue turn left where it meets the Victoria Embankment and proceed under the Hungerford Rail bridge. The entrance into the garden is 90 metres on the left (between the two bus stops).
By Underground or Mainline Rail:
1. The nearest underground station is Embankment. Leave the station on the Thames side of the station and turn left. The entrance to the garden is approximately 90 metres on the left.
2. The nearest mainline rail station is Charing Cross. Leave the station via the Villiers Street entrance. Proceed south down Villiers Street and the garden is on the left at the bottom end of Villiers Street.
5 6 Action Plan for Victoria Embankment Gardens:
Although it is intended that the action plan below will be carried out it is subject to the necessary funding being provided by the City Council.
Task: Work type: 2002 – 2005 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 Status The continuing use of native and other species in order that Biodiversity Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing the biodiversity of the parks and open spaces increases. The greater use of mulches Environmental Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Both general waste and green waste levels to be reduced Environmental Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Changes to future GM The vehicle fleet is to continue to be upgraded. Defensive Contract to advocate the use Environmental Driver training to reduce fuel use to continue of environmentally friendly vehicles The vehicle fleet is to continue to be upgraded. Defensive Environmental Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Driver training to reduce fuel use to continue The purchase of more environmentally friendly machinery to Environmental Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing continue Quiet Garden Planting – Planting will be provided to create an oasis of quiet in what is a noisy area caused by traffic on Horticultural Completed the Victoria Embankment and from the main area of the garden Mulching of Shrub borders Horticulture £2-3000 Ongoing Ongoing Roadside shrubbery to be upgraded Horticulture £5000 Flower Beds to receive organic matter Horticulture £1500 Ongoing Ongoing Seeding and returfing of worn out areas of grass Horticulture Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Re landscaping and Additional planting to the area around Horticulture £3500 the Quiet garden Tree pruning as per Tree Management plan Horticulture Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Replacement edging board to grass edges Horticulture £1000 ongoing Ongoing
7 Task: Work type: 2002 – 2005 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 Status Naturalising of autumn bulbs to the shrubbery’s Horticulture Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Quiet Garden Infrastructure - Changes are planned to pathways, steps and seating to meet the requirements of the Infrastructure Ongoing £10k Disability Discrimination Act. Works in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act have taken place during the winter months with handrails being installed to the sloping path up into the Quiet Garden Infrastructure Completed (formerly the Blind Garden) and also the steps leading down to Savoy Street entrance. Replacement of older benches with new ones with centre Infrastructure Completed arms to deter rough sleepers. Installation of additional CCTV Camera to cover northern end Infrastructure Completed of the garden completed autumn 2005. Installation of third pan and zoom camera to cover area of Infrastructure £10k grounds not in view of existing camera’s Information plaques to be provided for all the statues and monuments located within the garden area. Work to Infrastructure £15k commence on this project in 2006/07 financial year once new corporate identity guidelines are released. Revision of the statues leaflet to include history, features and facilities within the garden. This leaflet could then be made Marketing £5k available at local libraries and the City Councils One Stop Shops. Commissioned consultant to carry out recycling strategy See main body of survey. The consultants brief is to determine how much of the Management Plan under rubbish placed in litter bins can be recycled and advise on Environmental Completed Environmental Management how this could be achieved. The report is still awaited at the Systems. time of writing this.
8 Executive Statement and History of the Gardens
The Council enjoys a high reputation for the quality of its Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces.
During 2006 the City Council re-tendered the Grounds Maintenance contract. The new contract has higher levels of staffing, dedicated horticultural teams and a defined patrolling service.
The Council and the re-tendering team decided early on in the process that the Green Flag Standard should be at the heart of the new contract and that all its Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces should be maintained to this standard irrespective of whether they were to be entered for a Green Flag.
In general, what is required is the best horticultural practice; the creation, and maintenance of visually pleasing horticultural features, and the maintenance of rigorous standards of discipline, cleanliness and tidiness, despite the intensive levels of use.
Their primary function is as places of relaxation, enjoyment and beauty and the primary aims and objectives are that they shall be safe, clean and aesthetically pleasing. The City Council has ensured that a staff patrolling presence has been retained throughout all opening hours.
Westminster has more tourists, day visitors, and commuters than any other local authority in the country. The population increases to over a million during the day. It's open spaces include some of the most famous squares and gardens in the country. These and the landscaping in the streets have a back drop of over 12,000 listed buildings, again far in excess of any other local authority. Consequently these prestigious sites in the heart of London must be maintained to the highest possible standard.
Westminster Open Space Strategy
Over the last few years Westminster City Council has been developing an Open Space Strategy for the City based on a comprehensive study of all open space within the boundaries of the City. Extensive public consultation was undertaken during summer 2006 and the strategy document amended accordingly. The Westminster Open Space Strategy will be
9 formally adopted by the City Council following Cabinet approval in January 2007. It will act as a Supplementry Planning Document (SPD) as well as forming a framework for management and improvement of public open spaces across the City. The Strategy's Action Plan will be updated annually, capturing all improvements happening in open spaces in the City. It will also feed into the management of these spaces, and will guide the Management Plans for all the City’s Green Flag sites.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The City Council has always ensured that adequate funding is available to maintain the quality and the fabric of the gardens to high standards recognising the value of its open spaces. This Management Plans sets out how these high standards are being achieved, and the current management policies and proposals for the future. The primary aim is that the parks and gardens shall remain safe, clean and aesthetically pleasing places for their residents and the commuters and day visitors that come to Westminster in their millions every year, adding pressures and strains to the gardens which only an experienced trained parks team can manage. The plan sets out how they will remain places of relaxation, enjoyment and beauty.
10 HISTORY OF THE GARDENS
The painting above shows the York House Water Gate as it Would have appeared just after it was built.
The idea of a continuous embankment along the Thames appears to have been first originated by Sir Christopher Wren in 1666. The Metropolitan Board of Works was set up in 1855 and it’s Chief Engineer, Sir Joseph Bazalgette saw the Victoria Embankment come into fruition. The design of the gardens by Alexander McKenzie, Landscape Gardener was approved in 1870. The gardens were opened by Mr. W H Smith, MP on Saturday, 8 May 1875.
The garden became a popular place for erecting memorial statues.
In 1893 the LCC acquired the York Water Gate (listed Grade I) which was where the banks of the Thames came to before the Victoria Embankment was laid out. The garden is enclosed by late 20th century iron railings. The area was redesigned in mid-20th century after the bandstand was removed and replaced by what is, the open air theatre, seen today.
The history of the gardens is provided on the notice boards at the entrances.
11 12 A Welcoming Place
Summer lunch time “in the Park”
With nine entrances access to the gardens is easy. Of these access points seven are accessible to disabled users. The ones that are not accessible have accessible entrances within easy reach. There are notice boards at all entrances which contain information on the gardens including the history of the grounds.
The grounds are covered by CCTV cameras which assist the client and the contractor in managing the grounds by providing a visual record of any incidents that may happen. The system will be expanded as needs are identified.
There is adequate seating throughout in the form of bench seats and deckchairs in the bandstand area.
During the lunchtime period, on good days, we have estimated that there can be over 5,000 people using the gardens. During 2007/08 we intend to investigate the possibility of using people counters to validate the parks useage.
Also during the summer there are free concerts in the bandstand area
13 Patrolling presence From April 2007 we will have a uniformed patrol presence that is designed to ensure the parks users can easily identify patrol staff. A description of the duties they will undertake can be found in Healthy, Safe and Secure.
Additionally at Victoria Embankment Gardens they will play a central role in managing the concerts and other events that take place from time to time.
During the summer from May to late August there are lunchtime concerts in the bandstand. These are free to the parks users. Deckchairs are provided in the bandstand area for the parks users to sit on whilst watching the concerts.
Park users enjoying the grass areas as well as the benches
Throughout the garden there are benches for the use of the public and they can also use most of the grass areas to sit on during the summer months.
14 Clean and Well Maintained
The Gardens are maintained by contractors to a performance specification whereby tasks are carried out as required in accordance with sound horticultural and park management practices. A client park manager responsible for all parks and gardens in the south of the City manages through the contractor all horticultural, cleansing and patrolling aspects of the garden management. A client park manager, dealing with the infrastructure of all parks and gardens in the City, deals with repairs such as replacements and improvements to paths, railings, children's playgrounds and day to day repairs.
The followings details the basic requirements:
1. The regular maintenance to a high standard of lawn and grass areas; hedges; and other planted areas. 2. The planting, establishment and maintenance of bedding schemes. 3. The planting of new and replacement trees, shrubs, hedges, herbaceous perennials, bulbs and sowing seed of annuals, biennials and perennials at the times required. 4. Routine winter maintenance tasks such as leaf clearing and pruning. 5. The reinstatement as necessary of some grassed areas and shrubberies in special circumstances, e.g. following excavation by statutory undertakers or special events held in the locations. 6. Site security, the opening and closing of all sites and presence on site daily (including weekends) throughout the year to carry out patrolling duties and normal horticultural tasks such as watering as necessary, sweeping and the removal of rubbish. 7. Sweeping and keeping clean and weed free all paths, paved areas and hard surfacing. 8. Removal of all litter, leaves and arising from the sites to a tip of the contractors choice.
Sweeping and Cleaning The Contractor is required to clear all litter at least three times a day throughout the year and sometimes constantly to ensure the grounds remain a pleasant place to be. A list of the Maintenance Duties is shown at Appendix 10.
15 Required standard: • Sweeping is required at least daily and more often should this be required to maintain the grounds in a clean condition. • The City Councils Street Cleansing Contractor will remove bagged rubbish on a daily basis. • Litter bins emptied at leats 3 times a day and more if required • Loose litter to be removed as when required.
Graffiti Removal The City Council believes that to create an environment where users feel safe, secure and are not afraid to enter the garden it is necessary to remove all graffiti as it arises.
Required standard: • All Graffiti and Fly Posting must be removed immediately that it occurs • Graffiti removal where possible must be carried out using environmentally acceptable products that do not cause harm to either the operator or users of the gardens
The City Council has an anti graffiti and fly poster removal group who can be called upon if the GM contractor is unable to remove the graffiti.
A list of the Maintenance Duties are shown at Appendix 7.
HORTICULTURAL MANAAGEMENT:
Lawns Each year the lawns are overseeded where shade from the trees weakens the grasses using appropriate shade tolerant species and a system of cloching with horticultural fleece that enables the grasses to re-establish before the shade and drought of summer begins. A turf comprising shade species is being used and the height of the cut is adjusted accordingly.
16 Required standard: • All lawns will normally be cut weekly and to the height defined in the contract standard. • In adverse weather conditions all lawns will be maintained as directed by an A.O. This may require them to be left to grow longer and not be watered. • Each year the lawns will be overseeded where shade from the trees weakens the grasses using appropriate shade tolerant species and a system of cloching with horticultural fleece that enables the grasses to re-establish before the shade and drought of summer begins. • If turf is used it must comprise shade species and the height of the cut is adjusted accordingly.
Bedding Displays All displays are designed by the Park Manager with the contractor and his staff contributing to the design. Trials using non peat composts have taken place and we will continue to move away from the use of peat based composts where this is practical to do so. Not all plants will thrive in non peat based composts but our contractors and suppliers are working towards being able to supply at least 30% of bedding plants in peat free composts this year.
Roses, Shrubberies, Other Perennial Planting There is an ongoing programme of renewal and replanting of shrubberies, herbaceous and other perennial planting including naturalisation of bulbs and cyclamen. All nursery stock is inspected at the nurseries by the Parks Contract Managers to ensure the quality of the plants supplied to the City Councils Parks remains high.
17 Sunken Garden in springtime The Quiet Garden It was decided in the autumn of 2004 that the “Blind or Visually Impaired” garden was no longer viable in its current form given the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and that the time had come to consider its future. It was originally intended as an area where the blind and / or visually impaired could walk their guide dogs. This is now not happening and the area is used only as a cut through at lunchtimes when the gate onto Savoy Street is opened.
The proposal for this area involves the installation of new seating to discourage vagrants and rough sleepers from using the area. The borders around the garden will be planted with shrubs to shield out the noise from the main garden area and the surrounding roads. In addition the area will also be planted to give the area a woodland feel to help create a calming effect for users of the area during those parts of the day when the area is not used as a through route to and from Savoy Street.
18 An example of the type of summer bedding display
Maintenance of the Infrastructure
The infrastructure or 'built environment' is maintained and managed separately from the horticultural and grounds maintenance elements.
Day to day (re-active repairs) are carried out as and when required and are notified to the client using a Maintenance Request Form (Appendix 10) Lunch time concert Victoria Embankment Gardens Major works to areas such as pathways and buildings are normally met from the City Council's capital programme. Bids for funding take place annually which requires medium to large projects to be designed and costed a year in advance. Small to medium projects
19 (costing from £10k to £20k) are usually met from the Parks Minor Capital Works Program which is a rolling programme and currently has a budget of £80k for the whole of the Parks and Gardens.
Disability Discrimination Act The City Council has a positive attitude to ensuring compliance with the act and to this end has allocated Capital funding over the next three financial years to enable works to be carried out in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act to ensure equal access to all users of their Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces.
Victoria Embankment Garden complies in most respects with the Act. There are a number of instances where it does not but these will be dealt with under the program of works to be paid for from Capital funding over the next three years. There is a toilet for the disabled at the public conveniences at the entrance to the Gardens.
Benches, Deckchairs and the Donated Benches Scheme The garden has both Park Benches and in the summer deckchairs available for the use of the public. The deckchairs are allowed only in the bandstand area and are extremely popular with the parks users. We clean and teak oil the benches on a 3 to 4 year cycle and carry out repairs as and when required. We have started on a replacement programme for some of the older ones. The replacements have two centre arms.
Deck chairs are provided during the summer months in the bandstand area.
Donated Benches Scheme The City Council operates a scheme whereby users of the gardens and others can if they so wish donate benches to a garden. In the main benches are donated on behalf of someone who has died but we do get others donated for other reasons such as the appreciation of the beauty and special nature of the Gardens. The City Council runs this scheme at cost as it is considered that an asset is being gained that will benefit all users of the gardens.
20 CCTV System: The garden is covered by a number of CCTV camera’s designed to give us a view of all the major pathways throughout the garden. They have supplied video footage on a number of incidents since they were installed. During 2006 a third pan and zoom camera was added to the network to cover areas of the garden not covered previously. New camera’s will be added as necessary to ensure we have the maximum coverage of the grounds.
TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN A generic tree management plan is attached to this document detailing the City Councils approach to tree management throughout its Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces. It is intended in the coming years that this along with the Open Space Strategy be the basis of all management plans for the Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces located within the City Councils Boundaries.
21 22 Conservation and Heritage
Attached to the management plan is a Habitat Survey and Protected Species Assessment which was carried out in September 2006. Although this report is not specific to the garden as a whole Victoria Embankment Gardens is one of the sites that were surveyed.
BIODIVERSITY
Designated in 1995 as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation, Victoria Embankment Gardens supports a diversity of wildlife whilst also offering an attractive open space for its visitors. Although there is no site-specific wildlife management plan for this park, there are some good wildlife features for example, suitable habitat for nesting birds, cover for small mammals and flowering plants for feeding insects.
The trees are principally non-native, mainly London plane, with occasional horse-chestnut, tree-of-heaven, Indian bean-tree, laburnum and holly (native and ornamental varieties). Ivy provides not only ground cover but cladding to these trees, a feature of particular importance within Westminster's smaller, inner-city parks and squares as it provides ideal nesting habitat for birds. Blackbird, dunnock, woodpigeon, robin, blue tit, starling and mallard are known to be frequent visitors to the site.
The shrubbery shows great diversity of colour and form, with foliage plants such as caster oil plant, Eleagnus, ornamental hazel and elders as well as more traditional varieties such as spotted laurel, privet and box. There is also ornamental herbaceous planting beneath shrubs, a fern collection, a good range of berry sources including Mohania, holly and firethorn as well as a pond with some native, wetland plants.
A habitat survey and protected species assessment was carried at Victoria Embankment Gardens in September 2006 (report attached.)
As part of the ongoing review of the park management plan and in order to increase the value of this site for biodiversity, biodiversity objectives have been developed.
Objective 1: Maintain and enhance the cover and structural diversity of trees and shrubs Objective 2: Maintain and enhance the distribution of native flowering plants and shrubs
23 Objective 3: Maintain and enhance the ecological value of the north-belt of scattered trees Objective 4: Increase the volume of beneficial decaying wood Objective 5: Retain and increase the ivy cladding of trees and vertical structures Objective 6: Enhance the ecological value of the ponds Objective 7: Erect and maintain bird boxes
Taking Action in Partnership for Westminster’s Wildlife
The Westminster Biodiversity Partnership is a local partnership formed of organisations and individuals that have in common one underpinning objective: to ensure a healthy future for wildlife in Westminster.
The Partnership represents the interests of individuals and organisations and in turn, their commitment to the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) process in Westminster. Westminster City Council plays a central role as the lead authority on the BAP.
Members of the Westminster Biodiversity Partnership are now working together to give fresh momentum to the Westminster BAP, a document originally published in 2000, and will aim to provide further opportunities for Westminster’s residents and visitors to enjoy a green city rich in wildlife.
An updated Westminster Biodiversity Action Plan will see new projects for nature conservation developed in an effort to halt the further decline of habitats and species in Westminster.
A Partnership of more than forty participating members will be working together in 2007 to identify new biodiversity action for seven priority habitats and five priority species.
24 Priority habitats Priority species
Parks, Squares & Amenity Grassland * Bats * Churchyards & Cemeteries * Buttoned-snout moth * Built Structures * House sparrow * Standing Water * Tawny owl Tidal Thames Hedgehog * Private Gardens Veteran Trees & Decaying Wood *
The city council is working to maintain and enhance biodiversity as part of the design and management of its parks, squares, churchyards and cemeteries. The Habitat Action Plans and Species Action Plans of particular relevance to the aims and objectives of the Parks & Leisure Team are highlighted in the above table using an asterisk.
VICTORIA EMBANKMENT GARDENS STATUTES
All major statues and monuments are now cleaned on an annual basis. A rolling program for the cleaning of all statues and monuments was started some 4 years ago which has resulted in reducing cleaning and repair costs ensuring that all major statues and moments are inspected annually for any defects. By moving to an annual inspection and clean we have reduced the cost of maintaining all statutes and monuments.
The Gardens are rich in statutes and monuments to the good and the great. There are eight major statues and monuments.
1. York House Water Gate York Watergate is the point where people were landed after being rowed along the Thames. It ceased to perform this function when Sir Joseph Bazalgette built the main intercept sewer along the line of the Victoria Embankment thus reclaiming space from the marshy area of the Thames which was later used to create Victoria Embankment Gardens.
25 2. Robert Burns One of Scotland's best loved literary figures.
3. Sir Wilfred Lawson Sir Wilfred Lawson is/was an English Radical and MP who supported the disestablishment of the Church of England and abolition of the House of Lords.
4. Henry Fawcett Henry Fawcett's main claim to fame was that he established the Parcel Post and as an MP supported votes for women.
5. Lord Cheylesmore Memorial Sir Hubert Francis Eaton, Third Baron Cheylesmore claim to fame was as Mayor of Westminster and later Chairman of the London County Council from 1912-1913.
6. Robert Raikes Robert Raikes is credited with the founding of the first Sunday school. The statue was erected by the Sunday school teachers and pupils in 1880.
4. Imperial Camel Corps The Imperial Camel Corps was formed during the First world war and served in Egypt, Sinai and Palestine. The corps was made up of 2,800 British, Australian, New Zealand and Indian soldiers.
5. Sir Arthur Sullivan Sir Arthur Sullivan was a well known composer who for many years worked with W. S. Gilbert to create the series of operettas which included “The Mikado”
26 Robert Raikes (1735 –1811) Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900)
York House Water Gate Victoria Embankment Gardens
27 28 Marketing
MARKETING INFORMATION
Information is provided about the grounds on the notice boards at each entrance and information on the Bandstand performances is displayed in the display cases around the bandstand. Information about the Parks and Gardens in general is available from the City Councils web site.
In addition to the above there is a leaflet available detailing the information about each of the statues and monuments within the garden.
EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
It is necessary to provide opportunity for income generation from events without detracting from the main Aims of this Plan. The City Council provide the facilities for use for events and entertainment by the local community but do not actively seek to promote such use. The Parks Manager decides which events shall proceed and this is based on the ability of the gardens to withstand such use, the nature of the event and the views of local residents and users of the Gardens.
The gardens have a programme of concerts and entertainment at the open air bandstand area during the summer. All entertainment is self-financing, the City Council providing the facility a piano and staff presence and the Parks Manager books in the entertainment as requests for use of the Bandstand come in.
29 City Councils Web Site The Parks has its own page on the City Councils Web site which is used to convey information to the public about what is happening in relation to the Parks and Gardens as a whole
http://www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/landandpremises/parksandopenspaces/
30 Healthy, Safe and Secure
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STAFF AND USERS OF THE GARDEN
Systems are in place to ensure health and safety is always high on the agenda. A Health and Safety Folder is kept at the location. The City Council's Health and Safety Policy statement is shown at Appendix 2. Formal inspections are carried out by the contractor monthly to a programme of selected locations.
CCTV System: Victoria Embankment Gardens has a CCTV system in place to monitor activity around the grounds and where necessary provide evidence for prosecutions by the police or others. It is proposed that by the summer of 2007 all possible areas of the grounds will be covered in order to ensure that the users of the gardens can feel safe and secure whilst they accessing or using the parks facilities.
Staff Training and Welfare There must be an ongoing training programme of on the job training to develop the interest of gardens staff to go on to develop their career in horticulture and parks.
All staff must receive induction training in all aspects of the management of the gardens including health and safety, dealing with the public, incident reporting, use of machinery and so on. The City Council recognises the value of its front line staff and it is a requirement of the contractor to ensure staff training, facilities and welfare are up to acceptable standards.
Client Managers are required to attend training courses and to attend seminars and exhibitions as appropriate to keep their knowledge to the fore and to develop their full potential
Patrolling and attendance The City Council have always retained a staff presence at these gardens to deal with the multiplicity of anti-social acts, to deter vandalism which is very minor and to ensure that
31 nuisance and damage is prevented and repaired quickly when it happens. This patrolling presence is carried out in such a way as to be low key and so that the garden balances and meets the requirements of all sections of the community so far as is possible. They uphold the City Council's Byelaws for Public Open Spaces. These are currently under review and we await the response of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to the new draft Byelaws recently submitted. The Details of Duties and Problems Encountered are shown at Appendix 4.
The following standard of staffing is required:
1. During the summer there must be seven Patrol Staff on duty 2. In the winter five Patrol Staff are required.
They will have the following basic duties: 1. Opening and closing sites in line with the byelaws 2. Inspection of playgrounds prior to opening and completing inspections form 3. Walking the sites, and carrying out visual checks of the public gardens, 4. Reporting incidents and any defects and completing relevant forms 5. Upholding the Byelaws and liasing with police and others as necessary 6. Picking up any visible items of litter 7. Assisting members of the public with information about the site(s).
Duties are multi-functional and they deal with all aspects of the running of the grounds including patrolling, sweeping and cleaning.. The Details of Duties and Problems likely to be encountered are shown at Appendix 4.
There must be close liaison with the Community Police Officer where problems cannot be dealt with directly by the staff. All staff working in the Grounds attend Dealing With the Public training courses to learn how to handle difficult people without being injured. So far, there have been no serious assaults on staff. This system has been in place for many years.
It is a requirement that gardens staffs are permanent employees who are familiar with the intricacies of the Grounds and know the people who use them.
32 Rough Sleepers Because of the numbers of rough sleepers in the area around Victoria Embankment Gardens there must be close liaison with the Community Police Officer, homeless persons unit and others where problems cannot be dealt with directly by the staff.
Dealing with the public All staff working in the Gardens must attend Dealing With the Public training courses to learn how to handle difficult people without being injured. So far, there have been no serious assaults on staff. This system has been in place for many years. It is a requirement that gardens staff are permanent employees who are familiar with the intricacies of the garden and know the people who use them. See the extract from the Specification at Appendix 1.
33 34 Sustainability
During 2006 a “Go Green Board” headed up by the Cabinet Member for Street Environment was established within the council to oversee all aspects of greening the city.
The City Councils Environment Policy is shown at Appendix 4 and the contractors proposals for complying with the Environmental Policy are shown at Appendix 11.
Use of mulches As part of an on-going programme shrubbery’s were mulched during the Autumn and Winter period reducing the need for watering and assisting with soil improvement. The use of mulches will out of necessity increase due to the problems encountered in 2006 with low rainfall and the effects of climate change. Our contractors will be required to work with the client side to increase the use of mulches throughout the Park, Gardens and Open spaces and to actively participate in the production of compost from green waste generated on site (see below – Waste disposal)
Waste disposal It is the City Councils intention that by the end of 2007 all green waste from its Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces will be recycled within the boundaries of the city and returned to the Parks as compost or mulch. This will be achieved by building large composting facilities at a number of sites with smaller ones where this is possible at other sites throughout the city. A new composting facility has now been established at Victoria Embankment Gardens.
Water Recycling During 2006 a number of water butts where installed as an experiment. This as proved a success and starting in April 2007 this will be extended across the Parks and gardens wherever there are building that can supply adequate runoff from the roof. Victoria Embankment Gardens has three water butts that store the rain water from the roof of the office block.
35 Recycling of litter bin rubbish A study carried out into the composition of the rubbish deposited in the litter bins throughout the site was carried out in 2005. Although a fair proportion of it was recyclable the cost benefit analyses showed that the cost of purchasing special bins would far out way the amount saved on tipping as general or green waste. A trial using separate bins for paper, cans and green waste is being trialed at a number of high profile sites across the city.
Vehicle fleet From April 2007 the vehicles servicing the City Councils Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces will be required to meet as a minimum the Euro 4 standard. In fact the contractor in his tender submission has stated that his vehicle fleet will encompass not only the Euro 4 standard but also he will be using duel fuel and electric vehicles and also some of the patrol staff will be equipped with bicycles to further help reduce the unwanted carbon emissions and help to reduce the City Councils Carbon footprint.
Machinery The purchase of new machinery i.e. pedestrian lawn mowers, ride-on machines and leaf blowers once again offers the latest technology, reducing noise levels and harmful emissions.
The new grounds maintenance contract has set a maximum noise level for all machinery of 108 decibels and this includes leaf / litter blowers.
At a number of smaller sites the use of blowers has been banned completely and in addition where they are permitted, as at St. Johns Wood Church Grounds, the client side officers will be monitoring the noise levels and should it prove necessary instruct the contractor to reduce noise levels further or ban them completely.
Pesticides The City Council has restricted the use of pesticides to the absolute minimum. The new grounds maintenance contract requires that all cultural methods must have been tried and failed before pesticides can be used.
36 Community Involvement
City Councils Area Forums Area Forums take place four times a year across the six areas of the City including this area where residents will raise issues if they have any to raise. Generally there are few complaints or problems to do with the Gardens and conversely many compliments are received
In 1987 a user survey was carried out in the Gardens. Users of the Gardens are non residents, only 6% surveyed being local residents. The survey showed by far the most important use of the Gardens was relaxation and secondly, high standards of maintenance. The most important features were the open areas of lawn and open space and one in six offered flower beds as their favourite at Victoria Embankment Gardens.
In summary the conclusion was that most people come to the gardens to escape from stressful environments.
To ensure that the Gardens continue to provide the facilities most appreciated by the public, contractor’s staff collect the views of users on User Survey Forms periodically. Feedback is that the users continue to appreciate the facilities, the presence of staff on site and the high standards of maintenance/beauty of the Gardens.
Due to the location and nature of the area in which the garden is located there are no “friends” or user group.
At Victoria Embankment Gardens the main contacts are the police, the local business community and travelling concerts who appreciate the facilities available at the Bandstand and also the opportunity to use the facilities for special events.
37 38 Management
The Management of the grounds is undertaken as a joint venture between the client officers and the grounds maintenance contractor with the local community being consulted on major changes to the grounds or its facilities.
Client / Contractor relationship The management of the garden is split between the client officers and the grounds maintenance contractor as follows
1. The client officer oversees the overall management of the grounds including the strategic decision making and provision of new or improved facilities. The client officers also are responsible for seeking internal or external funding for new or improved facilities and the maintenance of the gardens assets.
2. The contractor is responsible for the day to day horticultural maintenance and security of the gardens. The current contractor is Vista Landscape Management Limited.
The contract requires that there is a partnership between the client officer and the grounds maintenance contractor to ensure that the grounds are maintained to the highest possible standard.
A structure plan is shown at the end of this section
Self Monitoring and the Contractor The contract is a self monitoring contract whereby the contractor monitor themselves. The contractor has achieved the quality standard ISO 9002.
Monthly Report There is a partnership between the City Council and the Contractor responsible for the Grounds Maintenance and Patrolling Services. A formal monitoring meeting is held monthly where the contractor’s performance is discussed. Here again ideas are shared, problems discussed and resolved and new initiatives and key issues are received. A. Items Affecting the Performance of the contract.
39 B. Items which may Improve the Performance of the contract. C. Items Affecting the Health and Safety of the contract. D. Proposals for New Work Practices the contractor may wish to Introduce. E. Staff that have received training during the month and details of training coming up during the next three months. F. Staff deployment, including the number of agency staff employed. G. Emergency call out arrangements for the month. H. Contacts made by the customer during the month - compliments and complaints. I. Staff that have been moved from a constantly manned site or group of sites.
A sample copy of the contractor report is attached as Appendix 12.:
Annual Report Each year the contractor submits in March an Annual Report for the year and Annual Plan for the forthcoming year.
The content of this Plan include: 1. How the service might be improved with reference to the main elements as appropriate. 2. Training report and plan. 3. Communication with staff of Health and Safety Issues. 4. Quality Systems. 5. Self monitoring.
A copy of the last Annual Report is attached as Appendix 11
Contract Performance Indicators The performance of the contract will be judged against the following criteria: 1. Complaints from members of the public 2. Compliments from members of the public 3. Number of outstanding works notices issued during the month and yearly, commencing 1 April each year.
40 4. The ability of the contractor to respond to outstanding works notices in a timely fashion to bring the areas back up to the contract standard. 5. Response to requests from the AO's by the contractor for information and for prices and to rectify quickly items communicated to the contractor verbally 6. The number of occasions the contractor fails to put right or there is a repeated failure to resolve key management issues 7. The health of the plants 8. The overall cleanliness of the gardens 9. Appearance of contractor's staff
41 Management of Southern Area
Head of Parks and Leisure
Principal Parks and Open Spaces Manager
Parks Manager (R&M) Parks Manager (South)
Corporate Property Operations Manager (Contractor)
Office Manager Contract Manager
Senior Supervisor Extra works
2 Supervisors Mobile Team Fitter Parks Victoria Embanment Gardens 1 chargehand 2 Supervisors 2 gardeners
5 Gardeners Patrol staff 9 Gardeners Patrol Staff 8 Park Attendants 14 Summer 16 Summer 10 winter 12 Winter
42 Appendices
Appendix 1 Judges Feedback for 2005/06 Appendix 2 Health and Safety Policy statement and sample Inspection Form Appendix 3 Patrolling Attendance – Duties and Problems Encountered Appendix 4 Environment Policy Appendix 5 Maintenance Duties Appendix 6 – Continental Landscapes Ltd. – Compliment / Complaint form Appendix 7 Maintenance Request Form Appendix 8 Incident Report Form Appendix 9 – Contractors Proposals for Complying with the City Councils Environmental Charter
43 44 APPENDIX 1 -Judges Feedback for 2005/06
Victoria Embankment Gardens City of Westminster Green Flag Award 2006/2007
Status - Pass Overall band score 80+
Desk Assessment Feedback Band score 25-30
Assessment Criteria Strengths Recommendations Presentation of A sound, concise document that is management plan accessible to all readers; clear and well structured with supporting information
Health, safety Well addressed and site specific with and security good policies in place
Maintenance Very high standards across all areas The installation of the re-cycled water of equipment, with good opportunities for staff to facilities will be yet another bonus for buildings and landscape continue training in horticulture & the site parks management
Litter, cleanliness, Very high standards yet again The experiment with recycling bins and vandalism considering the volume of pedestrian continues to be monitored and the traffic within and through the site; addressing of the waste management good policies in place across all sites will be beneficial
Environmental Much improved on last year with the Much of the aspirational work of last sustainability investment by the parks manager & year is now being practiced and contractors beginning to show fruit monitored on the ground; this must be monitored and reviewed for future refinement
Conservation of heritage Very high standards with the balance and nature being struck very well within the limited site area
Community A 'difficult' community to monitor or Hopefully, the Open Space Strategy involvement define but exceptionally well done audit will allow for a user survey to be across all areas completed to inform future management/maintenance procedures;
45 Assessment Criteria Strengths Recommendations possibly consider greater involvement of heritage conservation groups?
Marketing There is additional information Greater protection needs to be afforded available for current and prospective to the information/marketing material users that helps even the most casual to protect it from the elements and this user to understand the park should be considered in the signage review underway; also consider the up to date survey
Overall management Generally of a very high standard The management plan and practice are much better aligned than practice and procedure indicated last year; consideration needs to be given to additional forward planning for the site
Additional It was exceptionally encouraging to hear the commitment promoted by the City comments of Westminster in relation to the capital and revenue funding offered to all areas of the parks resource; it was exceptionally worrying to hear of the plans of the Mayor of London in relation to the redevelopment of the whole of the embankment area which, it seems, may mean the loss of this park
Field Assessment Feedback Band score 60-65
Assessment Criteria Strengths Recommendations A welcoming place A very popular park visited by a very The City of Westminster is currently wide variety of people from all walks reviewing and replacing its whole of life both locally, nationally and signage strategy; this should result in internationally with a wide range of a much improved set up across all facilities on offer for users. The free parks for next year. The disused access to lunchtime etc concerts from electronic equipment at the entrance international performers is adjacent the York Gate monument is outstanding. to be removed. The 'impact' of the new concession adjacent the bandstand needs to be monitored & assessed
Healthy, safe Constant CCTV surveilance is The system is such that it is hardly and secure essential in a park of this nature with noticeable and has established central such extended opening hours and such links for crime-reduction promotion. a broad cross-section of visitors.
Clean and Very high standards in all departments; The contractor ('Vista') have well maintained exceptionally clean and well established exceptional links with a maintained considering the number of particularly transient visitor visitors daily population and care must be taken when the contract comes up for renewal that the strengths that this company has are not overlooked when the maintenance contract is re- let (Spring 2007)
46 Assessment Criteria Strengths Recommendations Sustainability Generally sound policies and The park managers and the aspirations which are now coming to contractors must continue to progress the fore as the rewards from the all possible 'green' solutions within collaboration between contractor & the park; monitor & assess new client are being implemented and techniques & training skills etc. fulfilled; bedding schemes are re- designed innovatively annually with current best-practice initiatives included as standard operations (drought resistant planting etc.)
Conservation Excellent features and buildings The resolution of the issue relating to and heritage within a very limited space and there the tree and the collapsing wall must seems to be a better working be sought as a matter of urgency. relationship between English Heritage & the Parks team in relation to specific structures; high standards of maintenance. Community An exceptional approach to a very Last year's recommendation of an up involvement difficult and disparate local and to date survey of park users (footfall) general population continues to benefit may prove to be of value for the the park in all areas future management and maintenance regime within the park and act as part of the current Open Space Strategy audit across the City of Westminster
Marketing There are individual promotional The leaflets should be housed such leaflets available advertising the that they don't suffer from the various free concerts etc. available to exigencies of the weather and visitors perhaps this can be incorporated into the signage strategy currently being compiled; opposition to the Mayor's plans for re-development must be given strength by greater promotion of the park & its heritage value
Management Very high standards of management The management plan is accessible to and maintenance throughout; a tribute and understandable for all readers - to the staff and management the robustness will be tested if the contractors maintaining the park are not re-deployed after their contract ends in Spring 2007
Additional The management and maintenance standards within the park have risen even comments higher than at the time of the inspection last year; it is a pleasure to be able to recommend a Green Flag Award be granted once again in 2006; an exceptional site well-deserving of a GFA
47 48 Appendix 2 – Environment and Leisure Health and safety Policy
ENVIRONMENT & LEISURE DEPARTMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
“ It is our aim to achieve a level of excellence in managing Health and Safety above and beyond mere compliance with legal standards”
The above statement is taken from Westminster City Council’s general policy statement for the provision of health and safety. It specifies in clear terms the Councils commitment to providing services that are safe and without risks beyond the required minimum standard. The Environment and Leisure dept has a moral and legal duty to ensure the highest possible standards of health and safety are provided.
It is incumbent upon me as Chief Officer for the Environment and Leisure dept to ensure all service areas responsible to me co-ordinate their activities and resources with an aim to achieving the Council’s goal.
I expect contractors and external providers of Council services commissioned and operating on behalf of the Environment and Leisure dept to ensure their undertakings are provided to the same level of excellence.
As Chief Officer responsible for the Environment and Leisure dept I will ensure that:
• Systems are established, maintained and actively promoted amongst all staff for ensuring the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health.
• Systems are established, maintained and actively promoted amongst all staff for ensuring the safety and absence of risk in connection with the use, storage and transport of articles and substances.
• Systems are established, maintained and actively promoted amongst all staff for ensuring the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of the Environment and Leisure dept staff.
• Systems and procedures are developed, maintained and actively promoted amongst all staff for the continued maintenance in a safe condition of all workplaces under my control, and that this commitment is extended to include the maintenance of all means of access to and egress from those workplaces.
• Systems and procedures are actively promoted within the department for minimising the potential for harm, business interruption and financial loss resulting from the department’s undertakings.
• Systems and procedures are developed and actively promoted amongst all staff for the provision and maintenance of safe working environments that are without risks to health and are adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work.
• Systems and procedures are developed and actively promoted within the department concerning the selection and appointment of external organisations and bodies corporate in relation to the provision of goods, services and works. That defined systems and procedures establish provision for the active monitoring and review of the contracted organisations with regard to the provision of health and safety.
49 • Joint mechanisms and forums are established and developed for the purposes of keeping under review the aims and objectives of this policy statement.
• Adequate funding and resources are programmed and made available by me in pursuant of the aims and objectives of this policy.
• All staff at all levels will actively assist me to achieve the aims of this policy.
• Competent persons and advice are made available to all staff and managers in pursuant of the objectives of the department’s health and safety policy.
• The contents and objectives of the department’s health and safety policy are reviewed in accordance with the demands of changing legislation and business objectives. That such revisions and modifications are brought to the attention of all staff and those affected by its undertakings.
I am further committed to ensuring the Environment and Leisure department develops a positive health and safety culture throughout and pursues the highest standards of health and safety management.
I aim to promote the effective integration of health and safety into the everyday management of the department’s work, i.e. whenever changes to the organisations structure, accommodation, equipment and working systems are contemplated, the health and safety consequences will be carefully considered and appropriate action taken.
Individuals throughout the Environment and Leisure department, particularly management at supervisory level have defined and specific health and safety responsibilities. These responsibilities will form a significant and measurable part of their key objectives against which there overall work performance will be assessed. This will enable line managers to actively manage health and safety matters under their control.
My ultimate aim is to create a department in which accidents; injuries and loss are eliminated and good health promoted.
Individuals throughout the Environment and Leisure department will be made aware of their responsibilities through appropriate training. This will be provided by my Health and Safety Manager and where appropriate suitable external providers.
This policy details the organisational structure and arrangements for the effective management of health and safety throughout the Environment and Leisure department. The Environment and Leisure departmental structure and arrangements are appended to this policy statement. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Council’s Corporate Health and Safety Policy.
Director for Environment and Leisure
Date 01/ November 2005
50 DIRECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENT & LEISURE
The Director of Environment and Leisure will ensure:
• The production of annual plans and strategies detailing the Environment and Leisure dept’s health and safety objectives, inclusive of key tasks and targets.
• The provision of necessary funding and resources to maintain and improve health and safety standards within the Environment and Leisure dept when compiling annual budgets.
• The elimination of hazards and risks within their sphere of influence through a comprehensive programme of hazard identification and risk assessment.
• That all accidents, assaults, dangerous occurrences, occupational ill health, near misses and unplanned events are thoroughly investigated, recorded and promptly acted upon in line with the WCC policy for accident and incident investigation.
• The Environment and Leisure dept adheres to and complies with all corporate codes of practice, guidance and policies regarding the provision of health and safety.
• They remain abreast and are made aware of all changes in health and safety legislation, technical and authoritative guidance relative to their sphere of influence.
• Access to specialist health and safety advice where required.
• They maintain an overview of the business of the dept’s health and safety committee.
• They attend the dept’s health and safety committee and approve actions arising therefrom.
• An effective programme of health and safety surveillance for staff.
• The entire Environment and Leisure dept employee’s are provided with information concerning the council and dept’s health and safety policies, any relevant codes of safe working practice and procedures relevant to their undertakings.
• Employees at all levels within the Environment and Leisure dept receive the necessary information, instruction, training and supervision to enable them to undertake their duties in a safe manner.
• Health and safety responsibilities are incorporated into individual job descriptions.
• Employees at all levels within the Environment and Leisure dept are competent to undertake their duties.
• That systems and procedures exist for the review and modification of health and safety systems, policies, guidance and practices within the Environment and Leisure dept. That any modifications or amendments of such health and safety matters are brought to the attention of all Environment and Leisure dept staff.
• That the business activities and practice’s of the Environment and Leisure dept do not compromise or adversely affect the health and safety of the public, service users or visitors to premises under its control.
• Adequate arrangements and forums for discussions with the recognised Trade Union health and safety representatives for health and safety matters.
• Seek to develop and promote a positive health and safety culture within the Environment and Leisure dept.
• Set a good personal example.
51 HEADS OF ENVIRONMENT & LEISURE SERVICES
The Heads of Environment and Leisure Services will ensure:
• That Environment and Leisure staff in the service areas under their control are made aware of the contents of and understand the objectives of the Environment and Leisure dept’s health and safety policy.
• The provision of necessary funding and resources to maintain and improve health and safety standards within the service areas under their control.
• The elimination of hazards and risks within the service areas under their control through a comprehensive programme of hazard identification and risk management.
• Effective communication arrangements exist within the service areas under their control for the consideration and dissemination of health and safety information and advice.
• That all employees within the service areas under their control receive the necessary information, instruction, training and supervision to enable them to undertake their duties in a safe manner.
• The development of an annual plan with clear and measurable health and safety objectives for the service areas under their control.
• Employees in the service areas under their control are competent to undertake their duties.
• All accidents, assaults, dangerous occurrences, occupational ill health, near misses and unplanned events in the service areas under their control are thoroughly investigated, recorded and acted upon in line with WCC policy for accident and incident investigation.
• Employees in the service areas under their control have access to competent advice for health and safety matters.
• Adherence to and compliance with all corporate codes of practice, guidance and policies regarding the provision of health and safety.
• Health and Safety responsibilities within the service areas under their control are defined and understood by those within defined responsibilities.
• All works carried out in the service areas under their control are undertaken with due regard to the councils policies and standards for health and safety.
• Consult and co-operate with all recognised Trade Union health and safety representatives on appropriate health and safety matters.
• That business activities and working practice’s of the service area they are responsible for do not compromise or adversely affect the health and safety of the public, service users or visitors to premises under their control.
• Set a good personal example.
52 SERVICE MANAGERS IN ENVIRONMENT & LEISURE DEPT
All service managers in Environment and Leisure dept shall ensure:
• They read and understand the Environment and Leisure dept health and safety policy and ensure that its contents are brought to the attention of all staff under their control.
• They attend the appropriate health and safety training as directed/required by the Director of Environment and Leisure.
• All employees under their control receive the appropriate information, instruction, supervision and training required for them to undertake their duties safely.
• Risk assessments are carried out for all work activities and that all work activities and practices are conducted in a manner as to reduce, so far, as is reasonably practicable the risks.
• All employees under their control are trained in the health and safety requirements of their work and that all work is carried out in a safe manner.
• All work is carried out in accordance with the Environment and Leisure dept’s health and safety policy requirements.
• Adequate contingency arrangements are in place for each work activity and that employees are aware have and have received training in these procedures.
• All accidents, incidents, dangerous occurrences, near misses and occupational illness are investigated, recorded and reported in accordance with the WCC policy for accident and incident investigation.
• Adequate safety notices and information are displayed and provided for the attention of staff and visitors.
• All offices and workplaces under their control are laid out correctly and maintained in a manner free from risk for staff and visitors.
• Procedures exist for the isolation and recording/reporting of defective equipment.
• Workplaces under their control are adequately provided for in terms of welfare and first aid.
• Employees are provided with adequate Personal Protective Equipment and defined safe systems of working.
• They establish effective means for ensuring the maintenance and suitability of health and safety measures provided for the benefit of staff.
• Consult and co–operate with all recognised Trade Union health and safety representatives on appropriate health and safety matters.
• Prepare reports on health and safety matters appropriate to the service/s under their control.
• Ensure adequate health and safety advice and guidance is available to all staff in service areas under their control.
• Endeavour to establish at all levels within their sphere of influence an effective health and safety culture and an appreciation of the aims and objectives of the Transportation dept’s health and safety policy.
• Set a good personal objective.
53 STAFF IN ENVIRONMENT & LEISURE DEPARTMENT
Staff in the Environment and Leisure dept will ensure:
• They read and understand the Environment and Leisure dept health and safety policy.
• Conduct their work activities in a safe manner at all times, wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided.
• Act upon any instruction, order and/or request given in relation to their safety.
• Report to their management any accident, near miss or dangerous occurrence however small.
• Do not recklessly interfere with, misuse, alter or amend anything provided by management for their safety.
• Attend training courses and seminars as directed by management.
• They report to management any defective equipment, PPE or unsafe practices they become aware of with immediate effect.
• Do not circumvent, disregard or ignore any guidance, instructions and systems of working or practices provided for their safety by the Environment and Leisure dept.
• Promote the aims and objectives of the Environment and Leisure dept health and safety policy.
• Assist the Environment and Leisure dept by helping it achieve its health and safety objectives.
• Suggest safer procedures and set a good personal example.
54 Health and Safety Inspection Report City of Westminster Ref No 00001
Site: Contractors Representative- Signed: H&S Representative - Signed:
Date of Inspection Print Name: Print Name:
Messroom, Environment and Welfare: Priority Petrol / Chemical Storage: Priority
1. Are all lights Working Yes No 1. Are tools and Machinery stored away from mess facilities? Yes No 2. Are all heaters working and in a safe condition Yes No 2. Are inflammable or toxic chemicals safely stored and locked away? Yes No 3. Is all the other electrical equipment on site in a safe and serviceable condition Yes No 3. Are records kept of Chemicals stored? Yes No 4. Are there any items which could cause a trip, fall or may be dangerous Yes No 4. Are containers of chemicals, petrol and storage facilities correctly labelled? Yes No If yes list below: Fire Fighting Equipment:
1. Is the equipment correct for the type of fire likely at this location? Yes No 2. Is there a fire blanket provided in cooking areas? Yes No 3. Have staff been trained in the use of extinguishers and what actions to take 5. Are there washing facilities on this or an adjacent site? Yes No in the event of a fire? Yes No If on adjacent site specify: 4. Have extinguishers been checked in the last 12 months Yes No 6. Is there fresh drinking water on site: (Note: Drinking water must come Yes No Date: / / Directly from rising main and not from a tank). Children's Playgrounds: 7. Is floor covering in a safe condition (not worn or slippery)? Yes No 8. Is first aid available and is box correctly filled? Yes No 1. Is playground equipment in good visual order? Yes No 2. Is the surface of the playground in good visual order and kept clean? Yes No Horticultural Machinery: 3. Has the daily inspection sheet been completed?
1. Are all guards in place? Yes No Garden Working Area: 2. Have the Operatives been adequately trained on equipment being used? Yes No 3. Are maintenance records kept for each machine? Yes No 1. Do walls, fences and pathways show visible signs of damage? Yes No 4. Are all electrical leads/ plugs etc in good order? Yes No 2. Are there any obstructions or projections which could cause injury to 5. Have all generators been equipped with residual current Circuit Breakers? Yes No Council staff , contractors or the public. Yes No 3. Is dog fouling/litter a particular problem in the area. Yes No Protective Clothing: Other H&S items Found but not listed above: 1. Is protective clothing supplied where necessary and properly stored? Yes No 2. Is protective clothing being worn? Yes No
Health and Safety (Garden Folders):
1. Is there a Health and Safety (Garden folder) on site? Yes No 2. Does folder contain up to date information? Yes No
Top copy (white) - Parks Managers, 2nd copy (blue) - Contractor Rep., 3rd copy (Pink) - Safety Rep, 4th copy (green) - Staff Safety Adviser 55 56 APPENDIX 3 - PATROLLING AND ATTENDANCE DUTIES AND PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
The following is a list of some of the duties and problems that will be encountered when carrying out patrolling duties.
Duties 1. Upholding City Council's Byelaws for Public Open Spaces 2. Calling emergency services, police to deal with difficult situations 3. Inspecting lifebelts, replacing 4. Warning members of the public in breach of Byelaws, starting prosecutions, court appearances 5. Reporting/handing in stolen or lost items to the Police 6. Checking consents for access to gardens, filming and photography. 7. Crowd control at rallies. 8. Ensuring security and looking out for any suspicious packages. 9. Putting out deckchairs. 10. Administration of first aid. 11. Reporting water bursts. 12. Reporting hazards noted day to day or as may arise from Health and Safety Inspections. 13. Dealing with large numbers of foreign tourists entering the Gardens and cleaning up litter particularly from fast food outlets and take aways. 14. Attendance after school hours and in school holidays in parks to prevent misuse/abuse by children. 15. Dealing with crowds from Lords Cricket Ground in St. John's Chapel Grounds. 16. Preventing unruly youths playing football and drinking. 17. Control of lunch time crowds in Gardens by Oxford Street, Soho and Christchurch Gardens. 18. Preventing the gardens becoming a meeting place for undesirable groups such as vagrants and groups of drinkers by moving them on. 19. Reporting to Police incidences of bag snatchers. 20. Watching people who are potential troublemakers and preventing/deterring them from creating trouble. 21. Providing security when demonstrations are taking place. 22. Calling Police for assistance. 23. Relocating benches which have been carried into Shrubberies. 24. Checking play equipment daily. 25. Health and Safety checks. 26. Security of Mess room, cleanliness. 27. Reporting vandalism as it arises. 28. Ensuring consents for access to gardens by contractors carrying out work on adjacent buildings are complied with i.e. scaffolding properly stacked. 29. Reporting abuse of conditions for the use of parks. 30. Completion of accident and incident report forms. 31. Ensuring telephones are in working order. 32. Reporting damage to railings by cars. 33. Reporting trees in an unsafe condition, hanging branches etc. 34. Preparation for Royal Events at Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner. 35. Attendance at children’s playgrounds. 36. Giving advice to the public. 37. Giving local information and historical facts about sites. 38. Maintaining notice boards - putting up posters and removing at the correct time. 39. Taking deliveries of benches donated by the public. 40. Completion of Incident Report Forms. 41. Completion of Accident Report forms involving the public. 42. Attending community and prestigious events to ensure smooth running. 43. Dealing with public control at events and band performances. 44. Dealing with constant enquiries from tourists asking for direction and information. 45. Dealing with enquiries from tourists and other members of the public about plants in Gardens.
57 46. Public safety at band performances and events.
Problems
The following incidents are mainly covered by the Byelaws and have to be dealt with and prevented from happening.
1. Radios being played. 2. Dog fouling. 3. Cycling. 4. Vandalism. 5. Glue sniffing. 6. Drug abuse. 7. Alcoholic drinking parties and vagrancy. 8. Public conveniences - attendance to prevent use for sex purposes. 9. Flashers. 10. Prostitution. 11. Playing football among ornamental areas. 12. Marauding youths - fights. 13. Crowds at events damaging the gardens. 14. Begging. 15. Graffiti. 16. Selling. 17. People urinating in Gardens, defecating in shrubberies etc. 18. Unauthorised fly posting. 19. Homeless families B&B, abuse to gardens. 20. Drunken youths. 21. Vagrants/tourists sleeping in shrubberies and on benches at night. 22. Illegal entertainment - jugglers, singers, buskers. 23. People wading/washing in pools, fountains, drinking fountains. 24. Drug pushers - notifying Police. 25. People being pestered by vagrants. 26. Trespass from boating base in the form of illegal parking and stacking of boats and materials at Pimlico Gardens. 27. Abuse of no go areas in parks for dogs by members of the public taking in their dogs. 28. Conflict between school children and residents. 29. Mothers with young children, youths. Dealing with conflict at play areas. 30. Public playing games or trekking through areas of lawn planted with naturalised bulbs. 31. Abuse of Gardens next to schools by school children. 32. Problems of dealing with people who have got in and slept overnight at a Garden when opening in the morning. 33. People sleeping on benches preventing others sitting down. 34. Vehicles entering the Gardens without permission. 35. Overseeing gardens used for fire assembly points during fire drills from neighboring buildings. 36. The list is an indication only of the duties and problems that have to be dealt with and does not represent a complete list and the contractor shall deal with these and any others not listed as they arise.
58 APPENDIX 4 – Environment Policy WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT POLICY
The aim of this policy is to protect and improve the environment locally, nationally and globally by defining Westminster City Council’s commitment to becoming leaders in good environmental practice and innovation. Westminster City Council is committed to:
Environmental Law and Standards • Complying with all relevant environmental law, regulations and codes of good environmental practice.
Protecting and Improving the Environment • Preventing pollution of the environment through reducing resource consumption and minimising emissions and waste. • Continual improvement in environmental performance by setting and reviewing targets to meet the Environmental Objectives.
Assessment of Long Term Environmental Benefits • Ensuring environmental costs and benefits are included in the assessment of tenders.
Environmental Management of Contracts • Choosing environmentally sound works, goods and services. • Including environmental criteria in contract specifications. • Assessing environmental impacts as part of contract evaluation. • Managing contracts in ways that achieve good environmental practices and outcomes.
Environmental Awareness • Increasing environmental awareness of Westminster residents, businesses and visitors. • Fostering understanding and commitment to the Environment Policy by City Council employees and representatives.
Environmental Management • Implementing environmental management systems for communication and training. • Integrating environmental management systems with the City Council’s corporate procedures.
Environmental Information • Public environmental reporting and providing environmental information and advice.
Compliance with the Environment Policy Ensuring that staff, contractors, suppliers and visitors comply with the Environment Policy.
Approved by Councillor Simon Milton, Leader and Peter Rogers, Chief Executive Westminster City Council – October 2002
59 The Council’s Environmental Objectives are:
Air • Reduce air pollution • Minimise vehicle use, vehicle emissions and fuel consumption • Use and promote low or non-polluting methods of transport • Ensure clean air in buildings • Minimise activities that contribute to climate change, ozone layer depletion and acid rain
Water • Prevent water pollution • Reduce water consumption
Land & Habitats • Protect existing landscapes, open spaces, habitats and wildlife • Create new habitats and opportunities for wildlife • Manage activities to minimise their impact on biodiversity • Ensure that land is not contaminated
Built Environment • Minimise the impact on the environment of buildings, structures, highways and construction • Keep the City clean
Transport, Access & Mobility • Maximise accessibility and mobility with the minimum environmental impact
Energy • Minimise energy consumption • Use renewable energy sources
Noise • Prevent noise nuisance • Contain, control and reduce noise
Waste & Recovery • Reduce waste at source • Reuse and repair materials that cannot be reduced • Recycle materials that cannot be reused • Recover resources from waste
Resources & Materials • Minimise the use of materials • Purchase products with the least environmental impact • Use recycled products • Purchase timber and timber products from legal and sustainably managed sources
Approved by Councillor Simon Milton, Leader and Peter Rogers, Chief Executive Westminster City Council – October 2002
60 APPENDIX 5 – Maintenance Duties
1. Litter picking - at least three times a day and more frequently on some West End sites. 2. Path sweeping, hosing down and cleansing when public are not sitting on the benches. 3. Bench cleaning, repair, preservative treatment. 4. Sweeping children's playgrounds first thing in the morning and check area and equipment for any defects. 5. Ensuring rubbish is collected and removed to tip by transport. 6. Replacing/renewing wood chip safety play surfaces which has been strewn around the playground. 7. Emptying litter bins up to three times a day or more frequently on some West End sites and replacing bin liners. 8. Cleansing off vomit, human excrement, bird droppings and other noxious materials from garden areas footpaths and park furniture. 9. Reporting defects in footpath, repair and maintenance requirements as they arise on forms provided. 10. Toilet cleaning. 11. Cleaning mess facilities and stores. 12. Removal of fly tipping. 13. Replacement of consumable stores - soaps, towels, toilet rolls, light bulbs etc. in public conveniences and toilets. 14. Ensuring dog exercise areas are kept clean. 15. Removing dog faeces from paths, flower beds, lawns, shrubberies. 16. Quickly sweeping away bread deposits left by people feeding pigeons to discourage the birds. 17. Washing down statues, paving and treating with moss killer for Marshal Foch ceremonies at Lower Grosvenor Gardens. 18. Sweeping kickabout areas. 19. Cleaning shelters used as toilets by vagrants. 20. Dealing with stray dogs. 21. Sweeping up broken glass and smashed bottles. 22. Removing graffiti.
The list is an indication only of the environmental problems and duties that have to be dealt with and does not represent a complete list and the contractor shall deal with these and any others not listed as they arise.
61 62 APPENDIX 6 – CONTINENTAL LANSCAPES – COMPLIMENTS / COMPLAINTS FORM
63 APPENDIX 7 – REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE REQUEST FORM
Maintenance Request Form Reference No: To: Parks Contract Manager
Site: ...... Date: / /
The work detailed below is requested following an inspection as detailed (please tick appropriate box):
Client Site Inspection Reported by Contractor Health & Safety Inspection *
* If H&S Inspection attach H&S Insp. Rep. and fax immediately to Contract Manager (Maintenance)
Location and Description of Work Required:
Signed: ...... Date: / /
Print Name: ...... Designation: ......
Contractor: ………..……………………………………………………………………………………..
For Client Office use only: Priority: Date Received: ...... / ...... / ...... Carillion No:
Sent to Consultant / Contractor: ...... / ...... / ...... Cost: £
Health and Safety related: YES / NO Fee: £
Yellow Copy to Parks Contract Manager and White retained by Contractor
64 APPENDIX 8 – INCIDENT REPORT FORM Parks and Leisure Service Incident Report
Note - This form to be used only for reporting incidents to Client Managers Reference No:
Site: Contractor: Attendant: Location of incident on site: Date of Incident: Time of Incident: : am / pm Accident Report Completed: Yes / No Accident Report No:
Description of Actual Incident: (Do not include personal comments in the description of the Incident)
Signature of person making entry:
Witness Name and Address: (If more than one add a separate sheet)
Post Code: Tel No: (0 )
Emergency Services:
Police Called: Yes / No Called: am / pm Arrived: am / pm Police Station: Police Name & No: Crime No: Action taken by Police: Fire Called: Yes / No Called: am / pm Arrived: am / pm Action taken by Fire Brigade: Ambulance: Yes / No Called: am / pm Arrived: am / pm Action taken by Ambulance:
FOR CLIENT USE: Incident Report Received: ...... / ...... / ......
Action Taken by client:
Top (Yellow) copy to Client Manager within 48 hours of incident. Contractor to retain green copy. Note - If Incident is of a serious nature Fax top copy immediately to Client Managers.
65 66 Appendix 9 – Contractors Proposals for Complying with the City Councils Environment Charter
Environment Policy
We have an environmental policy that is adhered to on all contracts, the aim being to protect and improve the environment wherever possible. A copy is enclosed at Appendix ______. Where possible this will be reviewed along with our Green Charter to reflect the City Council's Environmental Charter. The following text outlines how we hope to achieve this.
We operate a 'Green Charter' policy, which is implemented on all contracts. This not only sets out our aims and achievements, but indicates how we should try to improve the environment through our work practices.
A copy of the current Green Charter is enclosed at Appendix ______As with all policies and procedures, this is continually assessed, modified and developed to ensure our impact on the environment is kept to a minimum.
Staff Training and Awareness
Whilst having an environmental policy sets out objectives, this can only be effective if it is implemented on our contracts. This requires all staff to be aware of its existence and how to achieve the objectives.
We do this is in several ways. When staff commence work with us, they are all given induction training that covers a range of topics of which our environmental policy and procedures is one.
This is further addressed by six monthly refresher training on site and by continual monitoring by our supervisory and management staff to ensure employees are complying with the policy.
Waste Management and Recycling
Proposals Introduction
As a large grounds maintenance company, we see it as our duty to protect the environment and to minimise the effect that our work may have on the environment. To this end, we have developed a Green Charter that is adapted company-wide and goes much further than simple waste management and disposal.
Turning to the issue of waste management, a grounds maintenance contract such as this one, produces large volumes of waste material throughout the year, all of which has to be dealt with in the most efficient and effective manner.
Continental Landscapes Limited is committed to waste recycling whenever feasible, because it not only reduces the high cost of waste disposal, but also is friendly to the environment.
In order to achieve this aim, it is our intention to implement the following strategy, which is already in operation on a number of similar sized contracts. We intend to:-
• Recycle all tree brash and shrub prunings by chipping and composting for a minimum period of six months and utilising the end product for mulching of shrub and rose beds and as a soil conditioner where feasible.
67 • Segregate tin cans and bottles for recycling through respective outlets.
• Use waste skips to dispose of rubbish and waste materials that cannot be recycled.
• Stack timber in suitable sections for re-use by appropriate timber merchants where it can be used for pulpwood or similar products.
• Shred waste paper collected from offices and send it via suitable recycling companies for re- use. Provision of collection boxes in offices will be utilised for this service.
• Collect plastic trays and pots from bedding plants and pass these on to suitable organisations for re-use rather than allowing them to be destroyed via landfill.
These functions will be co-ordinated and controlled via a central contract depot, which will be used for the segregation of materials and the establishment of separate bays for the storing and composting of the relevant products.
Waste skips will also be provided at this depot for disposal of material not suitable for recycling.
We have detailed the main areas where waste can be recycled, but there are further steps which can be taken, both to safely dispose of waste materials and to re-use items from the contract. Examples of these ideas are described in detail below.
1. Pesticides
As a Company, we advocate the use of CDA products to reduce the need to mix chemicals with water, which avoids user contamination and spillages. CDA methods also eliminate waste spray materials that result from over-mixing when using knapsacks, and this avoids the need to establish safe methods for disposal of such waste.
Empty containers from CDA spraying are stored safely on site and returned to the manufacturer for safe disposal, which again eliminates the risk of contamination at site. It is our policy not to burn or bury such waste containers.
2. Tree Stakes/Guards
During routine immature tree maintenance works, the removal of supporting stakes and protective tree guards is undertaken. Rather than disposing of such items to landfill sites, we carefully remove each item so that it can be used again, providing it is in good condition.
3. Scrap Metal, etc
Scrap metal, batteries and old machinery parts are disposed of through scrap metal merchants to ensure safe disposal and allow the possibility of recycling where appropriate.
4. Waste Oil
Waste oil is stored at our workshops in appropriate containers and passed to specialist companies who deal in reclaiming this product. This avoids contamination of landfill and watercourses.
The combination of these waste control methods, we feel, has a twofold advantage in that it allows materials to be recycled, thus reducing the demand on the environment, and it minimises the material having to be disposed of through landfill sites, which is a costly and finite resource.
Protection of Scarce Resources
68 Through our company Green Charter and the methods we employ on contracts, we endeavour to protect scarce resources and use environmentally friendly alternatives whenever possible. For example, we:-
• avoid the use of tropical hardwoods unless proven to be from sustainable forests. Such products would be used for seat repairs.
• use alternatives to peat based composts for bedding plants, shrubs and trees whenever feasible
• recycle and re-use products whenever possible to reduce the drain on resources, i.e. recycled paper
These steps are only a start, and need to be continually monitored and developed to ensure our work is as environmentally friendly as possible.
Noise Pollution
As detailed in the Green Charter, where possible we would seek to keep to a minimum the noise element of the company's operations. Where we carry out operations that by their very nature are particularly noisy, we would seek to carry out such operations at times that cause the least inconvenience.
Noise levels in society are increasing to an unacceptable level, and we raise the awareness of all members of staff on the problems of noise and the part they can play in reducing noise levels. This can be as simple as identifying immediately when a fault on an item of equipment occurs which increases the noise level, to not revving vehicle engines unnecessarily.
All machinery purchased is bought with consideration to factors such as noise pollution, all current tractors and lawnmowers (the majority of machinery) conform to the current mandatory requirements for tractors and lawnmowers.
Tractor operator directive 77/311/EEC Tractor bystander directive 74/151/EEC 'Lawnmower directive 84/538/EEC Lawnmower (operator's ear) directive. 88/181/EEC
In addition to this, the following working practices contribute to reducing noise pollution and these are enforced on all our contracts:-
6. Working in sensitive areas only at specific times of day to minimise disruption to the public. For instance, only operating adjacent to housing areas between the hours of 08.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, and avoiding weekend work unless it is an emergency.
7. Regular servicing and maintenance of all equipment.
8. Instructing and training staff in correct machinery operation. Avoiding over revving of an engine reduces noise output and is often unnecessary, the same amount of work being completed at a slower engine speed, e.g. this is applicable to strimmers, hedgecutters and ride-on mowers.
9. Ensuring all new equipment complies with EU regulations and has CE approval confirming it has met stringent guide-lines.
69 10. Instructing our staff in how to behave on site, not shouting and using personal radios. Likewise, not to operate vehicle radios at high volume regardless of where they may be.
The combination of these measures, along with regular review and upgrading as necessary, will ensure we minimise the effects our contract operation will have on the environment.
Air Pollution
As detailed in our Green Charter, where possible we seek to keep to a minimum the effect on air quality of our company's operations. Our vehicles and machines are bought following consideration of the effects on the environment of running such vehicles.
Continental Landscapes Limited has a policy of generally running commercial vehicles for four / seven years where practicable, and / or a limited annual mileage. Whilst this is an economic decision, it also ensures that we do not continue with old diesel engines that can cause air pollution.
We also comply with the following policy where feasible:-
• We use unleaded petrol engines on all petrol vehicles
• We use unleaded petrol in small machinery
• Where possible, diesel engines have been purchased in the past. This policy is currently under review in the light of recent findings regarding diesel engine pollution.
• We purchase small petrol machines fitted with catalytic converters where available, i.e. chainsaws and pedestrian rotary machines
Water Pollution
There are a number of measures that can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of water pollution that we already implement on existing contracts. Examples of these are:-
8. Only using CDA chemicals such as herbicides to avoid the need for mixing with water, not having to rinse out containers and not having to dispose of surplus spray mix. All of these operations provide the potential to contaminate water and CDA's are an effective way of avoiding this.
9. Correct storage of chemicals, fuels and oils using suitable storage units and tanks, e.g. chemsafes and diesel tanks with appropriate bund walls. Should there be a leakage from the containers, the units retain the spillage and prevent potential water contamination. It is also essential to locate the storage units away from watercourses and drains to avoid possible contamination.
10. If the unfortunate event of a chemical, oil or fuel spillage occurs, it is essential to have the correct absorbent materials available to deal quickly with the spill, and avoid contamination spread. Once the spill has been absorbed, all contaminated material is then placed in bags for safe disposal through licensed waste disposal contractors.
11. Waste oil is disposed of through appropriate companies that specialise in reclaiming such products. This eliminates the risk of the materials being sent through normal waste disposal channels.
12. From an environmentally friendly view point, the use of alternative methods to chemical
70 weed control can be implemented to reduce the use of herbicides and minimise the risk of water contamination, i.e. mulching of shrub, rose and flowerbeds, and the use of geotextile membranes in similar situations.
13. Where herbicides have to be used, contact or translocated products can be used instead of soil acting residuals, i.e. Glyphosate in place of Diuron. This avoids the possibility of leaching of the chemical into the watercourses.
14. Fertilisers of an organic nature rather than inorganic can be used to reduce the risk of nitrate leaching into the water.
These methods are a start to reducing water pollution, but as with all our systems, are continually monitored and reassessed to ensure they remain effective and up-to-date.
Environmentally Compatible Materials, Equipment and Vehicles
Many of the materials, methods of operation and equipment listed in the previous sections on noise, air and water pollution highlight those items compatible with the environment. To summarise, these are as follows:-
9. Vehicles and equipment will run on unleaded petrol or diesel and will not normally be more than seven years old.
10. Where possible, we use electric powered vehicles or those that run on LPG, but this is dependent on location and availability of the fuel source.
11. Herbicides will normally be non-residual and provide minimum risk to the environment, i.e. Round-up Pro Biactive.
12. Fertilisers, where possible, will be of an organic nature to minimise nitrate leaching.
13. Shrub and flower borders will be mulched, where permitted, to use this by-product in an environmentally friendly way at the same time reducing the use of herbicides.
14. Oils for machinery will be of a bio-degradable vegetable derivative to reduce pollution.
15. Any timber used will be from a renewable source 16. Where feasible, plants will be grown and supplied in peat free composts using alternative by-products such as bark or cocoa-shell.
The above list identifies systems which are in place now, and whilst not exhaustive, these systems are continually monitored for improvements whenever possible.
71 ATTACHMENTS
Generic Tree Management Plan Habitat Survey and Protected Species Assessment September 2006 Example Copy of Contractors Annual Reprot. Example Copy of Contractors Monthly Report
72 73 CITY OF WESTMINSTER
PARKS AND OPEN SPACES TREE MANAGEMENT POLICY
January 2006
Parks and Open Spaces Page 1 Tree Management Policy CONTENTS
1. Introduction Page 3
2. Aims Page 3
3. Strategic Objectives Page 3
4. General Management Objectives Page 4
Appendices:
1. Tree Risk Management Plan
2. Legal Background
3. Inspection and Reporting Procedures
4. Arboricultural Operations – Definition of Terms
Parks and Open Spaces Page 2 Tree Management Policy 1. Introduction
1.1. The City of Westminster lies at the heart of the nation’s capital and its parks and open spaces make a significant contribution to London’s reputation as one of the worlds greenest cities.
1.2. Trees are an integral and historic component of the urban landscape, where they contribute to local character, define a sense of place, help soften the built environment and thus contribute to our physical, cultural and spiritual well being. Large trees whether growing as individual specimens, or in groups, often comprise the largest natural component of the townscape, and therefore afford amenity to areas well beyond the boundary of the park, square or open space. In addition, the environmental benefits of urban trees – clean air, shade, screening, and their role in signifying the change in seasons and the passage of time are well understood.
1.3. But they may also pose risks, albeit very small, to persons and property. Therefore tree owners or managers need to identify situations where the risks may be significant and where harm to persons and property may be deemed foreseeable in the eyes of the law. While the presence of trees is generally welcomed it should be recognised also that trees may cause conflict. For example, excessive shading and the inconvenience of fallen leaves, and in rare cases trees may cause structural damage to adjacent properties.
1.4. It may take a century or more for some species to reach maturity and that therefore once removed they cannot readily be replaced. Thus as custodians of such a rich heritage comprising several thousands of trees, there is a duty to ensure that not only is our tree stock maintained to the highest standards but that, where appropriate, new trees are planted in order that future generations may also enjoy and derive benefit from a landscape populated by mature healthy trees.
1.5. The aim of this document is to provide a framework that will give guidance for the planning, management and maintenance trees in the City’s parks and open spaces.
2. Aims
2.1. To ensure that trees are managed, preserved and planted in accordance with the highest arboricultural standards, with regard to their contribution to amenity and the urban landscape, for both current and future generations.
3. Strategic Objectives
3.1 To manage the existing trees through best arboricultural practice to maximise amenity and landscape benefits.
Parks and Open Spaces Page 3 Tree Management Policy 3.2. To manage the existing trees through best arboricultural practice to minimise as far as reasonable practicable the likelihood of harm to persons and property.
3.3. To protect historic landscapes.
3.4. To protect, where possible, and to replace important tree features, including avenues, specimen and ancient trees.
3.5. To quantify the financial and human resources required to manage the City’s open spaces tree stock.
3.6. To provide outline management plans for the main open spaces sites ensuring that the management of trees is considered and integrated within the management strategy for parks and open spaces, the council’s Unitary Development Plan (or its updated equivalent) and the council’s corporate strategic aims.
3.7. To evaluate the effectiveness of the management plans through periodic review.
4. General Management Objectives
4.1. To inspect all trees within parks and open spaces on a regular basis by an appropriately qualified person.
4.2. To maintain trees to the highest arboricultural standards, and where appropriate, in accordance with a planned programme of works.
4.3. To identify and evaluate the age and species structure of the tree population with a view to strategic renewal programme over the long-term which maintains, as a minimum, current standards of amenity.
4.4. To plant species appropriate to the conditions and character of the site, and where appropriate of known provenance, and ensure that new tree planting does not reduce the value of the existing landscape.
4.5. To remove specimens which are considered to pose an unacceptable level of risk to persons and property, or where removal is justified to implement an agreed landscape plan, or the preservation of historic landscapes.
4.6. To maintain a database and records system for the inspection, maintenance and planting of trees in parks and open spaces.
4.7. To monitor and review all works that are carried out to ensure that the Strategic Objectives are met.
Parks and Open Spaces Page 4 Tree Management Policy APPENDIX 1.
TREE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
Undertake a survey of the City’s parks and open spaces to include the following:
Site Description
Brief outline of historical background Brief description of landscape features and setting
Topographical Site Survey
Location of all trees with trunk diameter of 75mm or more Height of all trees with trunk diameter of 75mm or more
Tree Survey
Record the following information: reference number species (common or scientific names, as appropriate) stem diameter in mm at 1.5m above ground level branch spread in metres taken at the four cardinal points age class (young, middle aged, mature, over-mature, veteran significant physiological defects (e.g. the presence of any significant cavities, fruiting bodies, dysfunctional wood, weak forks, etc. signifcant physical defects (e.g. significant deadwood, broken branches) significant surrounding features (e.g. buildings) past management if signifcant to safety or future management (e.g. pollarded trees) recommnedations for future maintenance works estimated remaining contribution in years (e.g. less than 10, 10-20, 20- 40, more than 40)
Brief description of tree population (e.g. species, age classes, condition)
Analysis of benefits/problems
Assessment of amenity provides by trees Assessment of any significant problems caused by trees
Parks and Open Spaces Page 5 Tree Management Policy Recommendations i) Recommended programme of maintenance works
Immediate/emergency – e.g. works to remove significant and immediate hazards
Annual – e.g. routine works such as removal of basal suckers, crown lifting over pathways, crown cleaning
Longer term – e.g. cyclical crown reduction ii) Planting programme in accordance with overall landscape management plan.
Parks and Open Spaces Page 6 Tree Management Policy APPENDIX 2.
LEGAL BACKGROUND
Landowners, including local authorities (LA) have a Duty of Care to take steps to prevent or minimise the risk of injury or damage to property caused by tree failure to those reasonably likely to be affected.
This duty arises from:
Occupiers’ Liability Act (1957 and 1984). Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) Highways Act (19980)
A duty can be said to be owned to a claimant if the following factors are present:
Foreseeability Proximity If it is reasonable to impose such a duty
The Civil liability of Negligence is likely to be found when there is an omission by the owner to take sufficient care of a tree, where it leads to foreseeable harm, thus the owner will be liable in negligence if:
The tree falls or sheds a branch Injury or harm is caused Injury or harm foreseeable The person injured (or whose property is harmed) is someone to who the tree owner had a duty of care The injury was caused by a breach of that duty
To avoid the liability of negligence the tree owner is required to take reasonable actions to protect from harm those who are reasonably likely to be affected from an event that can be reasonably foreseen. Thus the avoidance of liability does not require the complete elimination of risk, to do so would require the removal of all trees, but an assessment of risk and taking the appropriate action is required.
The Tree Risk Management Plan needs to demonstrate to a judge that the LA dispensed its duty with reasonable care and took appropriate action to protect those who are reasonably likely to be affected by LA owned trees. This requires the LA to manage its tree stock in a responsible and proactive way whereby the scope of inspection is defined and the recommended actions acted upon. Documentation must be present. The plan should integrate with emergency response plans, form part of LA policy, and be accepted and implemented at all levels within the LA if it is to be effective.
Parks and Open Spaces Page 7 Tree Management Policy APPENDIX 3.
TREE INSPECTION AND REPORTING PROCEDURES
Managing a healthy tree stock and minimising the risk of tree failure requires a strategy for assessing hazards and risks.
The risk of injury or damage occurring as a result of tree failure is dependent on the nature of the site and its intensity of usage. For example, a large tree falling onto a busy highway is much more likely to cause injury than a similar sized tree falling in remote woodland.
The potential for injury or damage depends of what is hit (the target), the size of the part of the tree, and the distance the part has fallen. On this basis, the potential severity of harm can be predicted within broad categories. For example, small twigs or newly planted trees are unlikely to cause harm, whereas a large branch or entire tree could cause injury or death or crush a car.
The probability that a target will be struck as a result of tree failure can range from extremely unlikely to a high degree of certainty depending on the length or time that the target is present within falling range. For example, buildings (stationary targets) are far more likely to be struck than a car travelling along a quite country road (moving target).
Unless the risk to targets is negligible there is a need to identify any tree defects or site conditions that could pose a potential risk. The urban nature of the City of Westminster means that all council owned trees pose at least some potential risk, and should therefore be inspected regularly by persons who are competent in the recognition and evaluation of defects and capable of identifying trees that require specialist assessment.
The Health and Safety Executive requires that an effective LA tree inspection system contains the following elements:
An inventory of tree stock
An overall assessment of risks from trees - i.e. assessment of failure potential the likely outcome of any such failure Risk assessments for individual trees based on their locations, species, age, and history of the tree. A system of regular proactive inspection of trees by a competent person, based on the risk assessment. A system for obtaining specialist assistance when an inspection reveals defects outside of the experience and knowledge of the tree inspector. A system to enable people to report damage to trees. A recording System
Parks and Open Spaces Page 8 Tree Management Policy Systems for Quantifying Risk
There are a number of systems in the marketplace but essentially they are variations on the assessment of the following factors to which a score is assigned:
The severity of each defect within the tree The size of the part of the tree that might fail due to the defect The nature and intensity of use of the potential target area
By adding the scores, an overall hazard rating is calculated for each tree. This rating includes both the hazard presented by the tree and the degree of risk presented by the probability of damage to persons or property.
Quantified risk assessment can be a useful tool in helping to set management priorities.
Visual Inspection System
Most types of hazard can be detected by regular inspection of the tree stock for external signs of decay, physical damage, growth-related defects and adverse site conditions. The purpose of which is to identify:
Trees that currently appear to present no significant hazard Trees showing identifiable hazards which may require, immediate or planned, remedial action Trees with suspected defects which require more detailed assessment
To ensure consistency and a reliability a tree inspection needs to be carried out systematically with each of the main parts of the tree – root stability, strength of the main stem, strength of the main branches, overall crown condition and mechanical balance being assessed in turn. The recording of any defects against a detailed checklist may be deemed appropriate in some circumstances.
Recording and Reporting
For general inspections an archive of survey forms or electronic data files must be kept. It must contain sufficient information to identify a particular specimen. This can be by address location, for example outside 23 Maida Vale, or by unique reference number which may be attached to an icon plotted onto a GIS plan and/or held within a database.
The range of information held on a specific specimen may vary according to the detail of management in formation required. But tree details will include the following:
Parks and Open Spaces Page 9 Tree Management Policy reference number species (common or scientific names, as appropriate) Age class (young, middle aged, mature, over-mature, veteran height in metres any significant defects any significant surrounding features (e.g. pedestrian crossing) any past works any future maintenance works
The following details may be included as and when deemed necessary:
Stem diameter in mm at 1.5m above ground level Branch spread in metres taken at the four cardinal points Height in metres of crown clearance above adjacent ground level Physiological condition e.g. the presence of any decay and physical defect Preliminary management recommendations, including further investigations of suspected defects that require more detailed assessment Estimated remaining contribution in years (e.g. less than 10, 10-20, 20- 40, more than 40)
Frequency of inspections
In locations to which the public has access trees should be inspected at regular intervals. There is no set frequency, but the generally accepted norm for inspecting street trees in the capital is once every three years1, and this has been accepted in case law as a reasonable inspection frequency.
However, it is important to maintain a flexible approach, and there may be circumstances where inspections regimes will be considerably less than three yearly. For example, it is good practice to inspect, for instability or damage, following severe winds. Or particular trees with particular symptoms may be inspected more frequently or at certain times of the year if need arises and it is appropriate to do so.
1 London Tree Officers Association
Parks and Open Spaces Page 10 Tree Management Policy APPENDIX 4.
ARBORICULTURAL OPERATIONS - DEFINITION OF TERMS
General Schedule Pruning
Check all cavities and bark wounds paying special attention to old pollard and reduction points. Defects, which cause the tree to be considered a hazard, should be reported to the Authorised Officer as soon as reasonably practicable and prior to the commencement of any further works.
All dead dying diseased wood, hazardous weak and crossing branches shall be removed In addition to the removal of dead or diseased wood, the crown should be cleared of stumps of broken or hanging branches, climbing plants (e.g. ivy), and foreign material (e.g. rope, wire, polythene).
Remove all basal suckers and epicormic growth on the trunk to 5.5 m and remove all weeds from the soil around the base of the tree equal to pavement level or the adjacent surface.
Lift canopies to 2.5 metres over footway and 5.5 metres over highway
Remove all weeds from tree planting pits.
Reduce all branches to allow approximately 2m clearance from adjacent property and street furniture. Truncated branches should always be avoided and branches should therefore be pruned back to secondary growth to leave a flowing branch line.
Formative Pruning
Formative pruning includes all operations listed under General Schedule pruning with an additional aim of producing a tree that in maturity will be free from major physical weaknesses and be of an aesthetically acceptable appearance. Therefore unwanted secondary leading shoots and potentially weak forks, crossing, dead, dying or weak branches should be removed, in addition thinning multiple stems from previous reductions, and shortening of specified branches may be required.
Crown clean
The removal of dead, dying, diseased, broken, crowded, weakly attached and low-vigour branches as well as climbing plants (e.g. ivy) and foreign material (e.g. rope, wire, polythene).
Parks and Open Spaces Page 11 Tree Management Policy Crown Reduction
A specified reduction in crown size. Branches should be cut back to appropriate side buds or branches to reduce the height and spread of a crown, whilst maintaining a flowing outline. On completion the shape of the crown should be well balanced and in character with the species concerned. Unless advised otherwise, minor ‘furnishing’ branches must be left within the crown.
Reducing re-growth back to old or previous reduction points
When it is specified that a tree is to be “reduced back to old reduction points”, it is expected that all growth should be removed back to such points. In cases where there is more than one visible line of old reduction points, regrowth shall be removed from the most recent of these only. All final cuts in these operations must be carried out using hand tools; thus leaving clean cuts at the appropriate branch collar, without leaving stubs or ‘flush cuts’. (If decay is discovered in the old reduction points, the Arboricultural Officer must be informed).
Reduction of Lateral Branches
Where specified, lateral branches of trees will be shortened by a specified amount up to 50% of their length back to appropriate side buds or branches. On completion, the shape of the crown should be well balanced with all branches blending into the new crown shape.
Crown Thinning
The removal of a small proportion of secondary and small live branch growth to produce uniform densities of foliage around an evenly spaced branch structure. Secondary growth is to be removed from throughout the whole crown, including branch ends and not just taken from the centre of the crown. Crown thinning includes crown cleaning and does not alter the overall size or shape of the tree.
Crown Lifting
The removal of branches or parts of branches or branch ends, to a specified height above ground level. Normally crown lifting for street trees is 2.5 over footway and 5.5m over the carriageway. Where trees are growing in grassed areas, or communal type areas, crown lifting should be carried out to 2.5m.
Parks and Open Spaces Page 12 Tree Management Policy Removal of epicormic growth
When specified, epicormic growth from buttress roots, base of main stem, main stem and branches should be removed. Root suckers should be cut back to the source root and not just level with the ground. All final cuts should be made level with the source branch, stem or root so as not to leave a stub (this will also include the removal of stubs from previous years).
The normal specification applied is the removal of epicormic growth from base and main stem to 1st main limb, or 5.5m. Removal of epicormic growth must be kept to a consistent height, taking into account the different type and size of trees on each site.
Re-pollarding
Unless otherwise specified, all one to three-year-old growth, including epicormic, should be removed from all parts of the tree.
Specific Branch Removal
Sectional removal of specific branches by size as directed within a works order or under supervision of the Authorised Officer.
Tree Felling
Sectional or clear felling of trees scheduled for removal. Every care must be taken to avoid damage to all surroundings, especially surfaces and under/over ground services, walls, railings, shrubs and garden plants.
Trees should be felled to leave a stump of 1250mm above ground level if the stump is not removed immediately. If the site cannot be left in a safe condition, for any reason, barriers should be used to cordon off the area in accordance the appropriate guidelines.
Stump Grinding
Cutting existing stump to ground level and grind this, buttress and main roots to 200mm below existing levels. Leave grindings consolidated and level over site of old stump removing excess materials to tip as necessary.
The Contractor shall excavate trial holes, conduct sufficient as necessary to determine the presence of underground plant, apparatus, or foreign bodies in or near to stumps to be ground.
The site shall be left in a safe condition. If it is not possible to temporarily or permanently reinstate the pit the soil must be level with the surrounding
Parks and Open Spaces Page 13 Tree Management Policy surfaces and a full size stake established firmly into the middle of the pit. If the site cannot be made safe from carrying out the above, barriers must be used to cordon of the area.
Parks and Open Spaces Page 14 Tree Management Policy Parks and Open Spaces, City of Westminster
Habitat Survey and Protected Species Assessment
September 2006
Prepared by Ecology Consultancy Ltd.
for Alan Scott Ecological Consultants Limited 76 Tankerville Road, London, SW16 5LP / 0171 928 9142 E-mail: [email protected]
working on behalf of London Conservation Services c/o London Wildlife Trust Skyline House 200 Union Street London SE1 0LW / 0171 928 9142 E-mail: [email protected] LONDON CONSERVATION SERVICES
London Conservation Services (LCS) is the wholly owned trading company of the London Wildlife Trust (LWT), which is the only charity working through the whole of Greater London to help London’s Wildlife. LWT is part of a nation-wide network of Wildlife Trusts and Urban Wildlife Groups, which work to promote wildlife, and is widely regarded as one of the foremost urban nature conservation organisations in the UK. As well as managing over 50 nature reserves in London, the Trust campaigns to save and improve greenspace, gives advice to local communities and schools, and works with Local Authorities and other organisations to make London a better place, not only for wildlife, but for people too.
LCS carries out work in most areas of nature conservation and wildlife management; such as practical habitat management, advice on management of wildlife, ecological surveys, environmental education and landscape design incorporating ecological improvements and safeguards. It is able to call on the wide range of expertise of the LWT staff and many other professional ecologists and free-lance professionals in the London Area and beyond.
LCS is managed by Alan Scott Ecological Consultants Limited. CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION...... 2 1.1 Background...... 2 1.2 Scope of this Report...... 2 1.3 Site Context and Status ...... 2
2 METHODOLOGY...... 5 2.1 Habitat Survey ...... 5 2.2 Protected Species Assessment ...... 5 2.3 Limitations ...... 6
3 SURVEY RESULTS...... 8 3.1 Biodiversity Action Plans ...... 8 3.2 Site Overview...... 8 3.3 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey ...... 11 Victoria Embankment Gardens...... 11 St Anne’s Church...... 13 Mount Street Gardens...... 14 St. John’s Wood Church Grounds ...... 16 Queen’s Park Gardens ...... 20 East Finchley Cemetery...... 22 3.4 Protected Species ...... 26
4EVALUATION...... 30
5 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 32 5.1 Conclusions...... 32
REFERENCES...... 36
APPENDIX 1: HABITAT MAPS...... 38
APPENDIX 2: PLANT SPECIES RECORDED...... 47
APPENDIX 3: PHOTOGRAPHS...... 54
APPENDIX 4: LEGISLATION, PLANNING POLICY AND BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLANS...... 58
1 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background London Conservation Services (LCS) was commissioned by Westminster City Council to undertake an Extended Phase 1 Survey of the following Parks:
• Victoria Embankment Gardens • St. Anne’s Church • Mount Street Gardens • St. John’s Wood Church Grounds • Queen’s Park Gardens • East Finchley (St. Marylebone) Cemetery
The purpose of this work was to enable each site to be evaluated for its wildlife interest, highlighting any areas or species of particular significance and identifying the presence of BAP habitats and species. Recommendations for more detailed Phase 2 surveys and suggestions for management and enhancement are also made.
1.2 Scope of this Report This report is based on a field survey using standard Phase 1 survey methodology (JNCC 1993). This approach is designed to identify broad habitat types at a site, to identify the potential of habitats to support protected species, and to assist in providing an overview of the ecological interest at a site. It is generally the most widely used and professionally recognised method for initial ecological site appraisal.
1.3 Site Context and Status With exception to East Finchley Cemetery (which is located in the London Borough of Barnet) all the sites are located within the City of Westminster, London. Details of their size and geographical location are included in Table1 below.
2 Table 1: Site Locations Site Name Approximate area OS Grid Reference Victoria Embankment Gardens 4.2 hectares TQ 304 805
Victoria Embankment Gardens are a linear series of small ornamental gardens and open spaces located on the north side of the River Thames. They fall between the main roads of the Thames Embankment, The Strand and Whitehall and are accessible by smaller roads from both sides. The surrounding area is dominated by large public buildings.
St. Anne’s Church 0.2 hectares TQ 296 809
St. Anne’s Church is located in the dense urban matrix of Soho, north of Piccadilly Circus. The site is accessible from Wardour Street, behind buildings fronting 53-61 Shaftesbury Avenue. The eastern side of the site is occupied by St. Anne’s Church.
Mount Street Gardens 0.5 hectares TQ 284 805
Mount Street Gardens is a historical small L-shaped enclosed public garden located in the Mayfair area It has three access points, two from Mount Street and one from South Audley Street.
St. John’s Wood Church Grounds 2.4 hectares TQ 271 829
The site is situated in St. John’s Wood, just west of Regent’s Park and north of the intersection of Wellington Road (A41) and St. John’s Wood Road (A5205). The site is surrounded by roads on all four sides, with St. John’s Wood High Street and Wellington Place forming the remaining boundaries.
Queen’s Park Gardens 1.2 hectares TQ 246 828
Queen’s Park Gardens is a public garden and recreational space located in the West Kilburn area. The park is accessible from the adjacent streets of Ilbert Street and Fourth Avenue. There clearly defined areas within the park, which include a dog exercising area, a children’s playground and a hard-standing sports pitch. The park is rectangular in shape and lies in an east-westerly orientation.
East Finchley Cemetery 17.5 hectares TQ 258 895
East Finchley (St. Marylebone) Cemetery is located in East Finchley, south of the intersection between East End Road (A504) and the North Circular Road (A406). The site is only accessible form East End Road and has a high brick wall along its entire boundary. The southern and western boundary is shared with Christ’s College, private allotments and a secondary school. A nursery is present to the north of the site with residential buildings and roads throughout the surrounding area.
St. John’s Wood Church Grounds is designated as a non-statutory Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I and is also a statutory Local Nature
3 Reserve. Victoria Embankment Gardens (which for the purpose of this survey includes Temple Gardens), Mount Street Gardens and East Finchley Cemetery are non-statutory Sites of Local Importance for Nature Conservation. In addition, East Finchley Cemetery is a Grade II listed English Heritage Site.
4 2 METHODOLOGY
2.1 Habitat Survey An extended Phase 1 habitat survey was conducted on 30th June 2006 at Victoria Embankment Gardens, Mount Street Gardens and St. Anne’s Church, with a follow up survey on 13th September 2006. Queens Park, St. Marylebone Cemetery and St. John’s Wood Church Grounds were surveyed on 3rd July 2006, with a follow up surveys on 14th and 18th September 2006. Habitats were described and mapped following standard Phase 1 survey methodology (JNCC 1993) as modified by the Greater London Habitat Survey (GLA 2002). Habitat plans for each site appear in Appendix 1, supported by photographs in Appendix 2.
The sites contained a high proportion of planted ornamental species due to their formal recreational use. The survey largely concentrated on semi-natural habitats and on wild or naturalised species. Whilst an attempt was made to record the most abundant and characteristic ornamental species, it should be noted that the species lists do not provide a detailed inventory of all of the ornamental species present. A full list of plant species identifiable at the site during this survey, along with an assessment of their abundance, made according to the DAFOR scale, appears in Appendix 3.
Detailed surveys of fauna were beyond the scope of the present study, but incidental records of any birds and other fauna encountered during the course of the habitat survey were compiled. Scientific names are given after the first mention of a species, thereafter, common names only are used. Nomenclature follows Stace (1997) for vascular plant species.
2.2 Protected Species Assessment The potential of the site to provide habitat for protected species was assessed using a combination of field observations, carried out at the same time as the habitat survey. The site was inspected for indications of the presence of protected species as follows:
5 • The presence of features such as trees with fissures, holes, loose bark and ivy, or evidence of bat droppings, prey remains or urine stains. • Scrub/grassland mosaic and potential hibernation sites for common reptiles. • Scrub, hedges, fields and woodland likely to support breeding birds. • Areas of permanently and/or temporarily wet ground likely to support amphibians and reptile species. • Habitat suitable for insects featured in local BAP plans were recorded if present.
The likelihood of occurrence is ranked as follows and relies on the current survey.
• Negligible – while presence cannot be absolutely discounted, the site includes very limited or poor quality habitat for are particular species or species group. No local returns from a data search, surrounding habitat considered unlikely to support wider populations of a species/species group. The site may also be outside or peripheral to known national range for a species, • Low – on-site habitat of poor to moderate quality for a given species/species group. Few or no returns from data search, but presence cannot be discounted on the basis of national distribution, nature of surrounding habitats, habitat fragmentation, recent on-site disturbance etc. • Medium – on-site habitat of moderate quality, providing most or all of the known key requirements of given species/species group. Local returns form the data search, within national distribution, suitable surrounding habitat. Factors limiting the likelihood of occurrence may include small habitat area, habitat severance, and disturbance. • High – on-site habitat of high quality for given a species/species group. Site within/peripheral to a national or regional stronghold. Good quality surrounding habitat and good connectivity. • Present – presence confirmed from the current survey or by recent, confirmed records.
2.3 Limitations It should be noted that whilst every effort has been made to provide a comprehensive description of the site, no investigation can ensure the complete
6 characterisation and prediction of the natural environment. This Phase 1 habitat survey does not constitute a full botanical survey or a Phase 2 pre-construction survey.
The principal source of information for this report was the field surveys, which were carried out in June, July and September 2006. This is during the middle and later stages of the plant growing season and therefore a reasonably comprehensive record of the variety of plant species associated with the site is provided. However, species with an early development phenology, such as spring flowering woodland plants, may have been under-recorded.
The protected species assessment provides a preliminary view of the likelihood of protected species occurring on the site, based on the suitability of the habitat, known distribution of the species in the local area provided in response to our enquiries and any direct evidence on the site. It should not be taken as providing a full and definitive survey of any protected species group. It is only valid at the time the survey was carried out. Additional surveys may be recommended if, on the basis of the preliminary assessment or during subsequent surveys, it is considered reasonably likely that other protected species may be present.
7 3 SURVEY RESULTS
3.1 Biodiversity Action Plans London Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) London BAPs relevant to the ecology of the sites are as follows (London Biodiversity Partnership, 2001);
• Woodland • Bats • Reptiles • House sparrow Passer domesticus • Stag beetle Lucanus cervus
Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) Westminster City Council LBAPs of potential relevance to the ecology of the sites are as follows (Westminster Biodiversity Partnership, 2000);
• Bats • House sparrow Passer domesticus • Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna • Holly blue butterfly Celastrina argiolus • Small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris • Tawny Owl Strix aluco • Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia • Small parks and garden squares
3.2 Site Overview
A summary description of the main habitat types and features for each site is given below.
Victoria Embankment Gardens - Areas A& B (Temple Gardens) Ornamental gardens linked by large amounts of concrete and pavement. The most westerly end of Area B is enclosed by iron railings and is inaccessible to the
8 public, containing planted, non-native evergreen shrubs with occasional mature trees and small areas of herbaceous planting.
Victoria Embankment Gardens - Areas C, D & E Three separate gardens that include areas of herbaceous planting, planted shrubbery, mature trees, amenity grass, hard-standing, buildings. Two ornamental ponds were present, the largest and most complicated in design was in Area C.
St. Anne’s Church Small open space to the west of St. Anne’s Church dissected by a central pathway. Central area is dominated by amenity grassland with beds of planted shrubbery along the site boundaries, mature trees along Wardour Street and a tall pleached hedgerow along the northern boundary. A raised area outside the church has further narrow beds of planted shrubbery, a small vegetable patch and ceramic tubs planted with horticultural stock.
Mount Street Gardens Open green space within dense urban area featuring mature trees standing in amenity grassland, herbaceous beds and planted shrubbery. A series of pathways divide up the areas of planted shrubbery which were densest in the south-west corner of the site. Small areas of herbaceous planting were dotted around the areas of planted shrubbery and an iron railing fence supported a trailing vine.
St. John’s Wood Church Grounds Mosaic of amenity grassland, herbaceous borders, native/non-native shrubs and scattered trees. Two small sections of less intensively managed secondary woodland were present to the east and west of the cemetery area and provided important, less disturbed areas, for wildlife. Other features included, ornamental grass and fern beds, clipped hedges and a wildlife hedgerow.
Queen’s Park Gardens Public area with hard-standing and pathways linking clearly defined sections. A planted hedge contained the entire area and there were both walls and fencing which served as dividers. The garden had a raised area to the east which was
9 covered in amenity grass and contained clumps of mature trees. The western end of the gardens had a small building, a play area and large areas of ornamental shrub planting with scattered trees. In the centre there was a hard-standing sports pitch. On the south side a disused playground contained both hard-standing and amenity grass and was currently inaccessible to the public.
East Finchley Cemetery The vast majority of the site is given over to semi-improved neutral grassland surrounding graves, with small amounts of amenity grassland. There are numerous non-native/native scattered trees, planted into the grassland to create a formal landscape. Scattered trees and scrub dominate the east and south boundary, forming woodland belts where cover is more continuous. Beds of planted shrubbery and small areas of tall-herb are also present.
10 3.3 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey
The habitats within each site are described separately below.
Victoria Embankment Gardens Planted Shrubbery and Scattered Trees The site was highly ornamental, with a framework of planted shrubbery and scattered specimen trees (see Photo 2). The planted species mix was moderately diverse containing a very high percentage of non-native species, many of which were evergreen. Scattered trees were dominated by mature London plane Platanus x hispanica, with occasional tree- of-heaven Alianthus altissima, walnut Juglans regia, magnolia species Magnolia sp., Indian bean tree Catalpa bignoides, horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, red oak Quercus rubra and false acacia Robinia pseudoacacia. Native trees and shrubs included holly Ilex aquifolium, hazel Corylus avellana, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, elder Sambucus nigra, whitebeam Sorbus aria and birch Betula spp.
Frequently planted evergreen shrubs were Oregon grape Mahonia sp., spotted laurel Aucuba japonica, oleaster species Eleagnus sp., spindle Euonymus sp. and holly Ilex sp. There was little structure connecting the shrubs with the mature trees, except for the occasional ivy-clad trunk (see Photo 4). Bare ground was abundant and there was negligible leaf litter. In area D there were two mature specimens of Indian bean trees which contained deep fissures.
Herbaceous Borders All herbaceous borders were planted with non-native annuals and perennials. These frequently surrounded statues and linear sunken borders for buildings and pathways (see Photo 1). Ornamental species frequently planted were hellebore species Helleborus sp., coral bell Heucera sanguinea, everlasting flower Helichrysum sp., bear’s-breeches Acanthus sp., garden geranium Pelargonium x hortorum, Indian shot plant Canna indica and New Zealand flax species Phormium sp. Some ground cover shrubs had been planted in areas under trees.
11 Ruderal Vegetation Ruderal vegetation (weed species) occurred in small scattered locations throughout the site, most notably where there were large amounts of bare ground between herbaceous planting. Overall, there were very few weeds, as the gardens were regularly maintained, however petty spurge Euphorbia peplus, common chickweed Stellaria media, smooth sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus, creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens and scentless mayweed Tripleurospermum inodorum occurred occasionally.
Amenity Grassland There were areas of amenity grassland throughout all compartments of this site (see Photo 3). This was typically a sown sward of hard-wearing, species-poor composition, with perennial rye grass Lolium perenne the dominant grass species. Daisy Bellis perennis, plantain species Plantago spp. and white clover Trifolium repens were regularly occurring grassland forb species. Other occasional species recorded were red fescue Festuca rubra, and false oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius. Small herbs such as creeping cinquefoil Potentilla reptans, dandelion species Taraxacum sp. and procumbent pearlwort Sagina procumbens occurred locally, often in clumps and in edge habitats.
Ornamental Pond There were two ornamental ponds within this site, both in Area C (see Target Note 2) There was no marginal vegetation but white water lily Nympha alba was present as an aquatic, together with an arrowhead species Sagittaria sp. One of the ponds contains large exotic fish species, most likely a carp species. Duckweed Lemna sp. also occurred in large quantities in one pond.
Hedges There were internal hedges within Area C (see Target Notes 1-3). Hedge species were box Buxus sempervirens, cherry laurel Prunus laurecerasus, yew Taxus baccata and common lime Tilia x europaea.
Target Notes TN1 Yew and pleached lime hedge at the eastern end of Area C. TN2 Cherry laurel hedge surrounding ornamental pond. TN3 Small box hedge
12 St Anne’s Church
Amenity Grassland Two blocks of amenity grassland were present on both sides of the central pathway (see Photo 6). These were dominated by perennial ryegrass with occasional to frequent amounts of red fescue, creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera, wall barley Hordeum murinum and annual meadow-grass Poa annua, the latter two being prevalent in disturbed areas. Grassland forbs included common chickweed, dandelion, daisy, greater plantain Plantago major and knotgrass Polygonum aviculare.
Scattered Trees A line of mature London plane trees were present along the western and southern edge of the site. A high pleached hedgerow of common lime provided a visual screen along the northern boundary (see Photo 8).
Planted Shrubbery Planted shrubbery was present in beds along the northern and southern edges of the site, in front of the church and in planters upon the raised area. Holly species were frequent, with Mexican orange bush Choisya ternata, twisted hazel Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, elder and Oregon grape occasional. Specimen plants included amongst others: oleander Nerium oleander, sweet bay Laurus nobilis and chusan palm Trachycarpus fortunei,
Herbaceous Beds Beds planted with herbaceous perennials and annuals were present in front of the raised area. These areas comprised species such as Christmas rose Helleborus niger, petunia Petunia x hybrida, columbine Aquilegia sp. and garden geranium.
Vegetable Patch A small area in the north-west corner of the site was reserved for vegetable production and included a variety of common herbs along with potatoes Solanum tuberosum and tomatoes Lycopersicon esculentum.
13 Mount Street Gardens
Planted Shrubbery and Scattered Trees There were scattered trees throughout this enclosed garden which was criss-crossed by pathways. The majority of the trees were planted in the amenity grassland, with very tall mature London planes dominating the central area. Other mature specimens included apple Malus sp., Prunus sp., dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Norway maple Acer platanoides, ash Fraxinus excelsior, Lombardy poplar Populus nigra ‘Italica’, silver wattle Acacia dealbata and corkscrew willow Salix matsudana `Tortuosa'.
The densest area of shrubs occurred in the western corner of the site. In this area there was mixture of evergreen and deciduous shrubs, with the evergreen ones more abundant. Frequently occurring ornamental shrub species were spotted laurel, Mexican orange bush, sweet bay, holly, Japanese aralia Fatsia japonica, skimmia Skimmia japonica, Camellia species Camellia sp., Oregon grape, evergreen spindle Euonymus japonica and Japanese maple Acer palmatum. The park was highly maintained and so very little leaf litter was allowed to accumulate. There were very few ground flora species amongst the shrubs.
Amenity Grassland There were several areas of amenity grassland within this public garden. The dominant grass species of this sown mixture was perennial ryegrass, but other grass species such as creeping bent and red fescue occurred occasionally. Creeping cinquefoil and greater plantain were locally abundant in clumps, and common chickweed, germander speedwell Veronica chamaedrys and creeping buttercup were all locally frequent.
Other occasional species in the grassland were self-heal Prunella vulgaris, common mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum, daisy and thyme-leaved speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia (a Westminster LBAP species - see Appendix 4E). Seedlings of ragwort Senecio jacobaea, creeping thistle and Canadian fleabane Conyza canadensis occurred where there was disturbance and on banks.
Herbaceous Borders There were very few planted borders of herbaceous plants within this garden. The plants were annual non-native species such as garden geraniums, marigold species Tagetes sp.
14 and everlasting flower Helichrysum sp. There was copious bare ground but very few ruderal species were present. There was a vine Vitis vinifera growing on a wrought iron fence adjacent to the path (see Target Note 1 on Mount Street Garden’s Habitat Plan in Appendix 1).
15 St. John’s Wood Church Grounds
Planted Shrubbery and Scattered Trees Excluding Compartments 1 & 2 (which are described separately below) planted shrubbery and scattered trees were common across the site, particularly in beds along St. John’s Wood High Street, Wellington Place, the northern end of Wellington Road and around the boundaries with the school. This habitat included locally abundant garden privet Ligustrum ovalifolium with frequent to occasional laurustinus Viburnum tinus, spotted laurel, Mexican orange bush, Portuguese laurel Prunus lusitanica, snowberry Symphoricarpos albus, pyracantha species Pyrancantha sp., cotoneaster species Cotoneaster sp. and Oregon grape. Other species included locally abundant London plane, frequent to occasional sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, elder, dogwood Cornus sanguinea, holly and white poplar Populus alba. Two mature ash trees were present in the northern corner of the site (see Target Note 6). Russian ivy Fallopia baldschuanica was locally abundant on railings along St. John’s Wood High Street (see Target Note 10 & Photo 10) and a short cypress hedge Cupressus sp. screened the school in the east corner of the site.
Compartment 1 Secondary woodland whose canopy was dominated by mature London Plane and pedunculate oak Quercus robur, some of which are cloaked in ivy, providing potential bat roosting and bird nesting habitat (see Photo 14 and Table 2 in Section 3.4). The understorey was well developed with dense shrubs and small trees, comprised of elder, hazel Corylus avellana, ash, butterfly bush Buddleja davidii, holm oak Quercus ilex, holly, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna (a Westminster LBAP species), field maple Acer campestre and sycamore, with a lot of ash regeneration. There was a high content of planted shrubbery around the edges and at the south-eastern end, where evergreen spindle, spotted laurel, holly species and rose species Rosa sp. were locally frequent.
The understorey was open in the central area, forming a small glade (see Photo 9 and Target Note 1) that was dominated by tall-herbs, including rosebay willowherb, cow parsley, common nettle and a Scot’s pine Pinus sylvestris sapling. Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and cowslip Primula vulgaris are also known to be present in the open glade of the woodland. Ground flora was dominated by ivy with locally
16 abundant common nettle, cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata and cow-parsley. Grey sedge Carex divulsa was locally abundant around the edge of the compartment.
Compartment 2 A small area of open woodland with a modified shrub layer and high level of disturbance. A bark path ran through the middle of the compartment with a mix of rough grassland, herbaceous perennials and planted shrubbery on both sides. Sycamore, pedunculate oak, beech and horse chestnut were occasional in the canopy with elder, hawthorn, dogwood species Cornus sp., holly, cotoneaster species, Oregon grape, oleaster species Elaeagnus sp., oak-leaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia and snowberry all frequent to locally abundant in the shrub layer, often in planted groups.
Scattered Trees With the possible exception of mature pedunculate oak, all trees had been planted. The dominant species was London plane, whilst other frequent species included horse chestnut, wild cherry Prunus avium, ash, holm oak and whitebeam. Pedunculate oak, beech Fagus sylvatica, rowan Sorbus aucuparia, white poplar, sycamore and hawthorn.were occasional. Other species included tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera and false acacia Robinia pseudoacacia.
Hedgerows A wildlife hedgerow was present along the western edge of Compartment 1 and was dominated by hawthorn and field maple with wild cherry, hazel and blackthorn Prunus spinosa occasional to frequent (see Target Note 2). Planted hedges included a New Zealand broadleaf Grisellinia littoralis, garden privet Ligustrum ovalifolium and beech (see Target Note 8i & 8ii). The northern boundary contained a line of London plane trees with camellia Camellia japonica and Rhododendron species Rhododendron sp. planted underneath (see Target Note 7).
Herbaceous Perennial Beds such as the formal beds in the southern end of the site were planted with standard horticultural stock including garden geranium, plantain lily Hosta sp., spurge species Euphorbia sp. and dahlia species Dahlia sp. The herbaceous border fronting the school building (see Target Note 11) was planted with a variety of perennials of value to
17 foraging invertebrates including goldenrod Solidago sp., ice plant Sedum spectabile, Michaelmas daisy Aster sp., flowering tobacco Nicotiana sp., penstemon species Penstemon sp., Japanese anemone Anemone japonica and montbretia Crocosmia crosmifolia. A bed of ornamental grasses (see Target Note 4) comprising species such as pampas grass Cortaderia selloiana and New Zealand flax Phormium tenax and a fern bed were present in the amenity grassland (see Target Note 5). A fence was planted with a variety of ornamental climbers, including star jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides, Armand’s clematis Clematis armandii, common morning glory Ipomaea purpurea and wisteria species Wisteria sp. (see Target Note 9).
Amenity Grassland Amenity grassland was dominated by perennial ryegrass with frequent to occasional red fescue, creeping bent and cock’s-foot. Annual meadow grass and wall barley occurred in disturbed areas. Creeping buttercup, germander speedwell, daisy, dandelion and broad- leaved plantain were common grassland forbs, with thyme-leaved speedwell (Westminster LBAP species) also present. Red fescue was locally dominant in the grass around the gravestones along Wellington Road, with a high bryophyte cover on the surface of the stones.
Semi-improved Neutral Grassland Rough grassland was present around the edge of Compartment 2. This included a mix of amenity grass species but perennial rye-grass was less prominent that elsewhere. Wood false-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum was also present here together with herbs such as yarrow, self-heal, knotgrass, bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, vetch species Vicia spp., herb-robert, ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare and red campion Silene dioica. Tall herb species included green alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens, common nettle, cow parsley, hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica and a crane’s-bill species Geranium sp.
Target Notes TN1 Area of tall-herb and scrub within Compartment 1. TN2 Wildlife hedgerow grading into planted shrubbery in south-east corner TN3 Compost bins and piles of brash and dead wood material TN4 Planted beds - ornamental grasses TN5 Planted beds - ferns
18 TN6 Two mature ash trees, one with roosting bat and breeding bird potential TN7 North boundary dominated by camellia and Rhododendron species. TN8 Planted hedges - TN8i dominated by New Zealand broadleaf and garden privet. TN8ii dominated by garden privet and beech. TN9 Fence planted with a variety of ornamental climbers. TN10 Russian vine growing on wrought iron railings along boundary of the site. TN11 Herbaceous perennials of value to invertebrates.
19 Queen’s Park Gardens Planted Shrubbery and Scattered Trees Areas of planted shrubbery occurred throughout, but mainly concentrated at each end of this rectangular site. There were also linear strips of shrub and ground cover planting along the borders between sections of the site. A hedge formed the western border and was planted on its inside with several mature ornamental tree species including Lawson’s cypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and a crab apple Malus sp. Rose species Rosa sp. occupied large areas of the shrub beds. Other commonly planted ornamental evergreen shrub species were firethorn, Oregon grape, barberry species Berberis sp., cotonoeaster, cultivated spindle Euonymus fortunei, shrub veronica Hebe sp., false holly species Osmanthus sp. and Mexican orange bush. Deciduous shrubs included white dogwood Cornus alba, snowberry, Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica and rose-of-sharon Hypericum calycinum.
There are few native species within the park area but elder, birch species Betula sp. and hawthorn (Westminster BAP species) occur occasionally. The shrub borders are highly maintained and frequently replanted so there is little or no leaf litter and copious bare ground. The only area where there is some structure linking the shrub layer to the more mature trees is in the ex-playground area. Mature London plane are scattered throughout the site. On the main raised area of amenity grass there are three clumps of ornamental trees. Two types of ornamental ash Fraxinus sp. and a small group of common lime trees are present.
Amenity Grassland The amenity grassland is a hard-wearing turf in which the dominant grass species is perennial ryegrass. This, together with white clover Trifolium repens and dandelion species, comprises the majority of the grassland. There is amenity grass in the playground area, the dog exercise area, the inaccessible ex-playground area, the raised area and also in sections bordering the planted areas. The raised area has the most diverse species composition with dove’s-foot crane’s-bill Geranium molle, yarrow, swinecress Coronopus sp., greater plantain, common chickweed and common mallow Malva sylvestris all present. Species such as scentless mayweed, broad-leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius, Canadian fleabane and shepherd’s purse Capsella bursa-pastoris occur on
20 the fence line that separates the raised area from the dog exercise area and in other disturbed areas,
Hard-standing and Buildings. There are significant areas of hard-standing within this site, including a recreational pitch, playground area and paths throughout the site linking the different areas. At the western end there is a small maintenance building on hard-standing that is inaccessible to the public, as is a former playground area to the east of the current playground.
Hedges A hedge runs around much of the site boundary. This has been planted with an equal mixture of hawthorn and beech Fagus sylvatica, with occasional field maple Acer campestre.
21 East Finchley Cemetery
Amenity Grassland Lawns around the cemetery entrance near to Building C and the more open grassland areas contained a closely cut and more heavily managed sward. This was dominated by perennial ryegrass with smaller amounts of creeping bent and red fescue. Grassland forbs included creeping buttercup, dandelion, white clover, germander speedwell, creeping cinquefoil, yarrow, self-heal, daisy and ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, with the moss Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus locally abundant. In more disturbed areas annual meadow grass, knotgrass, common chickweed and greater plantain were locally frequent. One area (see Target Note 12) had been recently sown with a standard amenity grassland seed mix.
Semi-improved Neutral Grassland Semi-improved neutral grassland covered much of the site. It was heavily managed and highly disturbed through repeated strimming, mowing and earth movement. Consequently, it was relatively species poor, containing ruderal species tolerant of disturbance. It had only localised areas with a more diverse range of grassland forbs. The sward was dominated by bulkier grasses such as smooth meadow grass Poa pratensis, cock’s-foot and false oat-grass Arrenatherum elatius, with rough meadow grass Poa trivialis, common couch Elytrigia repens, creeping bent, annual meadow-grass and perennial ryegrass occasional to frequent.
Grassland forbs included abundant ribwort plantain, daisy and creeping cinquefoil, with locally abundant autumn hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis and cat's-ear Hypochaeris radicata. Broad-leaved dock, bristly ox-tongue Picris echioides, ragwort Senecio jacobaea, dove’s-foot crane’s-bill, germander speedwell, red clover and white clover were all occasional to frequent within the sward. Less disturbed areas (see Target Note 13) contained a greater diversity of herbs including common sorrel Rumex acetosa, burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, thyme-leaved speedwell (a Westminster BAP species), lady’s bedstraw Galium verum and bird’s-foot-trefoil.
22 Graves Graves contained many of the species associated with disturbed areas of semi-improved neutral grassland, such as dandelion, annual meadow grass and common chickweed, along with carpets of creeping cinquefoil, biting stonecrop Sedum acre and other stonecrop species Sedum spp.
Secondary Woodland and Scrub This habitat was dominated by sycamore and ash, with frequent amounts of pedunculate oak, yew, holm oak and false-acacia. Elder, dog rose Rosa canina agg., hawthorn, English elm Ulmus procera (see Target Note 16) and blackthorn Prunus spinosa were occasional to frequent in the understorey. The understorey was highly ornamental in places and included planted evergreen spindle, garden privet, snowberry and box.
The ground flora was impoverished and dominated by ivy and bramble. Other species included garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata, cow parsley, hogweed, white dead-nettle Lamium album, nipplewort Lapsana communis, hedge woundwort, dandelion species, forget–me-not Myosotis sp., dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, green alkanet and hop Humulus lupulus.
Planted Shrubbery Planted shrubbery was frequent throughout the cemetery, with typical species including cotoneaster, firethorn, Portugeuse laurel Prunus lusitanica, lilac Syringa vulgaris, laurustinus Viburnum tinus, wall cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis, spotted laurel, cistus species Cistus spp. rhododendron species, hedge veronica and leatherleaf viburnum Viburnum rhytidophyllum.
Scattered Trees The site contained a wide range of specimen trees that had been planted in grassland and along avenues. Species included, amongst others, hybrid black poplar Populus x canadensis, silver lime Tilia tomentosa, London plane, horse chestnut (see Target Note 7- 9), sweet bay Laurus nobilis (see Target Note 1), strawberry tree Arbutus unedo, Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa, maidenhair tree Ginkgo biloba (see Photo 19), tulip tree, western red cedar Thuja plicata, pride-of-india Koelruteria paniculata, Indian bean tree and blue cedar Cedrus atlantica var. glauca. Mature pedunculate oak were
23 frequent across the Site, some of which are likely to pre-date parts of the cemetery (see Target Note 10)
Invasive Plant Species Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica was identified at three separate locations (see Target Note 4) during the Phase 1 survey. This species is highly invasive and as a result is listed under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to introduce the plant to the wild or to otherwise cause it to grow or spread there (see Appendix 4).
Hedges Avenues of Irish yew Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ were frequent across the site. A low beech hedge surrounded Soldiers Corner and a golden privet Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum’ hedge ran south of Remembrance Avenue (see Target Note 14).
Target Notes (TN) TN 1 Three large stools of coppiced sweet bay TN 2 Multi-stemmed ivy clad ash tree with potential for future coppicing. TN 3 Standing dead tree. TN 4 Areas of Japanese knotweed. TN 5 Dumping area for horticultural waste. TN 6 Area of suckering English elm and dense scrub. TN 7 Mature silver lime with roosting bat and breeding bird potential. TN 8 Mature horse chestnut with roosting bat and breeding bird potential. TN 9 Mature, ivy-clad London plane trees with roosting bat and breeding bird potential. TN 10 Mature oak with roosting bat and breeding bird potential. TN 11 Mature beech tree with roosting bat and breeding bird potential. TN 12 Area of recently sown amenity grassland. TN 13 Area of moderately species diverse semi-improved neutral grassland, with burnet saxifrage. TN 14 Low, planted hedgerows.
24 25 3.4 Protected Species The habitats at each site were evaluated as to their likelihood to provide sheltering, roosting, nesting and foraging habitat for the following protected species groups:
• Mammals, in particular bats • Breeding birds • Invertebrates • Reptiles • Amphibians
The results of the field survey are presented below and in Table 2. The relevant legislation and policies relating to protected species and habitats is set out in Appendix 4.
Other Fauna A variety of common bird species were recorded during the extended Phase 1 surveys, including magpie Pica pica, wren Troglodytes troglodytes, house sparrow Passer domesticus, blackbird Turdus merula, blue tit Parus caeruleus, feral pigeon Columba livia domest., great tit Parus major, robin Erithacus rubecula, wood pigeon Columba palumbus, carrion crow Corvus corone. Jay Garrulus glandarius was only recorded at East Finchley Cemetery, which also supports other woodland birds such as coal tit Parus ater, chiff-chaff Phylloscopus collybita, goldcrest Regulus regulus and great spotted
woodpecker Dendrocopos major. Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus are thought to breed occasionally here (Hewlett et al, 1997).
Speckled wood Pararge aegeria, comma Polygonia c-album and small white Pieris rapae butterflies were recorded. Grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis were common, especially at St. John’s Wood Church Grounds. Evidence of fox Vulpes vulpes was found at East Finchley cemetery. Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus is also likely to be present at some of the larger and less disturbed sites.
26 Table 2: Assessment of potential presence of species groups including protected, notifiable and BAP priority species and habitats at the six sites
Species Main legislation and policy Areas where presence Reason for consideration Likelihood of occurrence (see appendix 4) should be considered Bat Wildlife and Countryside Act Bat roosts potentially Areas of secondary woodland at St. LOW (HIGH for E. Finchley). Onsite habitat 1981 (as amended) Schedule present in buildings and John’s Wood and E. Finchley, ivy-clad features suitable for roosting bats include bat 5. Schedule 2 of the mature trees. Oak trees trees and trees with fissures that may boxes installed at St John’s Wood, buildings such Conservation (Natural have high potential as bat provide potential roost sites for bats as St. Anne’s Church bell tower (see Photo 7) and Habitats, & c.) Regulations roosts. across most sites. Variety of buildings of chapels at E. Finchley., mature ivy clad trees (see 1994 varied ages and structures throughout the Photo 4&14) and mature trees with entrance points sites, Tree lined avenues and hedges (see Photo 20). The majority of sites are small and provide potential commuting corridors in isolated therefore habitat connectivity is poor. denser urban areas and hedges, scrub, Factors that will decrease the potential for bat planted shrubbery, scattered trees and presence at the majority of sites are night-time woodland provide potential foraging lighting, high noise and vibration levels, pollution, habitat. use of pesticides and general urban disturbance. At East Finchley and St John’s Wood however the mosaic of habitats provides a potential variety of foraging opportunities for a range of species. E. Finchley is also much larger, connected to surrounding habitat and includes secondary woodland and a variety of mature trees. Bats are Westminster and London BAP species.
Breeding birds Wildlife and Countryside Act Scrub, woodland, hedges Elements of planted shrubbery, scattered MEDIUM/HIGH/PRESENT. The vegetation 1981 (as amended) and mature trees. trees and/or scrub present on all sites, present on-site supported common bird species suitable for breeding birds. East Finchley such as blackbird, blue tit, feral pigeon, robin, & St. John’s Wood Church Grounds have carrion crow and house sparrow. Mature London secondary woodland. plane trees were dominant at several sites, but provided limited internal nesting spaces (see Photo 5). A disused nest was present at St. Anne’s (photo 6). Nest boxes were present at St. Anne’s and St. John’s. St. John’s and E. Finchley were larger in area and had a greater variety of habitats with potential to support breeding birds, including
27 Species Main legislation and policy Areas where presence Reason for consideration Likelihood of occurrence (see appendix 4) should be considered mature trees with cracks and fissures (see Photo 20). House sparrow is a Westminster and London BAP species and on the BoCC Red List
Amphibians Great Crested Newt afforded Ponds and ephemerally Two small ornamental ponds at Victoria LOW. Ponds are largely unsuitable for breeding full protection under W& CA wet areas for breeding Embankment gardens. Secondary amphibians due to presence of fish and lack of 1981 (as amended) Wildlife sites. Woodland, hedges, woodland and rough grassland present at marginal vegetation. Maintenance programmes in and Countryside Act 1981 (as scrub, rock-piles, St John’s and East Finchley. Hedges all but St. John’s Wood Church Grounds and E. amended) Schedule 5. grassland etc. for present at all sites. Finchley means there is a lack of leaf litter for Schedule 2 of the terrestrial habitat. cover. Scrub and rough grassland present in St Conservation (Natural Johns and East Finchley, however at East.Finchley Habitats, & c.) Regulations there is no connectivity to potential off-site 1994. Common amphibians breeding ponds due to continuous surrounding afforded protection from sale wall. St. John’s Wood Church Grounds is only under Wildlife and surrounded by buildings and roads. Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Reptiles Wildlife and Countryside Act, Need a mosaic of habitat All sites have a mosaic of habitats, LOW (MEDIUM for St. John’s and E. Finchley) 1981 (as amended) Schedule types. Found among however only East Finchley and St John’s Areas of greatest interest associated with 5 (protection from killing, vegetation, sheltering have habitats that have the potential to woodland/scrub edge habitat at St. John’s and East injury and sale). under logs, rocks, support reptile populations. These areas Finchley. Relative size, isolation and predation compost heaps. Also in include a mix of scrub, tall herb, from pets at all sites except St. John’s and East open habitat for basking. grassland, woodland edge, hedgerows and Finchley will likely preclude the possibility of Edge habitats, compost areas which may potentially reptiles being present. On-site refugia, such as churchyards, railway provide habitats for common reptiles such compost piles of value to slow-worms are present embankments, heathland as slow-worms and common lizards. at St. John’s (see Photo 9) and East Finchley, with and hedgerows. slow worm reported in Compartment 1 at St. John’s. High maintenance of most sites has resulted in lack of leaf litter and invertebrates which provide food for reptiles.
28 Species Main legislation and policy Areas where presence Reason for consideration Likelihood of occurrence (see appendix 4) should be considered Invertebrates 69 spp. are protected by the Diverse range of habitats Planted shrubbery and scattered trees LOW (MEDIUM for St. John’s and East Wildlife and Countryside Act, provide foraging and present at all sites, with habitats at St. Finchley). Most of the sites have low potential 1981 (as amended), incl. 25 nesting opportunities, John’s and East Finchley being more because of maintenance programmes, low spp. of butterfly. including living and dead diverse and likely to support a greater diversity of habitats and surrounding dense urban wood material, leaf litter range of foraging and nesting matrix. St. John’s and East Finchley contain higher and nectar sources etc. invertebrates. levels of deadwood material and relatively undisturbed areas. Stag beetle is a UK and London BAP species. Holly blue and small skipper butterfly are Westminster LBAP species. Speckled Wood and comma butterflies recorded at E. Finchley.
NOXIOUS PLANTS Japanese Section 14 and Part II of Generally disturbed areas Japanese knotweed widespread in many LOW/ PRESENT. Found in three areas at East knotweed Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and tall- habitats, commonly found on disturbed Finchley, but lack of records for the remaining 5 and Countryside Act 1981 (as herb/grassland/scrub sites and old gardens. sites does not guarantee absence. amended) mosaics around woodland and stream/ditch edges.
29 4EVALUATION
In view of its ecological and educational value, St. John’s Wood Church Grounds has been designated as a statutory Local Nature Reserve under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. It is also a non-statutory Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I. Victoria Embankment Gardens, Mount Street Gardens and East Finchley Cemetery are non-statutory Sites of Local Importance for Nature Conservation.
Most of the habitats recorded at the sites are common and widespread in Greater London, and typical of parks and gardens in general. East Finchley Cemetery does however contain some areas of moderately species rich semi-improved neutral grassland which support species such as burnet saxifrage that are relatively uncommon. Areas of secondary woodland, an uncommon habitat in inner London and a BAP habitat, occur at St. John’s Wood Church Grounds and East Finchley Cemetery. The following BAP plant species were recorded during the survey: Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna (and hybrids with C. laevigata) – widespread and recorded from all of the sites except Queens Park and Mount Street Gardens. Thyme-leaved speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia, found in grassland at Mount Street Gardens, St. John’s Wood Church Grounds and East Finchley Cemetery.
All sites are considered to provide habitat for a range of breeding birds typical to urban areas. Of these the house sparrow is most notable as it has shown a rapid (>50%) decline in UK breeding populations over last 25 years and is on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC)1 and is a Westminster and London BAP species. In addition, East Finchley Cemetery provides habitat for a range of woodland birds including records for goldcrest, a bird which has shown a moderate decline 25-49% in UK breeding populations over last 25 years and which is on the BoCC Amber List (RSPB, 2002).
The extent and quality of breeding bird habitat is variable however. Victoria Embankment, St. Anne’s Church, Mount St. Gardens and Queens Park Gardens are
1 Birds of Conservation Concern are listed as either Green List (low concern), Amber List (medium concern) or Red List (high concern) (RSPB et al, 2002).
30 located in dense urban surroundings with higher levels of disturbance and contain only small areas of suitable cover. St. John’s Wood Church Grounds and East Finchley Cemetery contain relatively less disturbed habitat and a wider area and variety of foraging habitat, including secondary woodland.
St. John’s Wood Church Grounds and East Finchley Cemetery are considered to provide habitat suitable for common species of reptile. These include slow worm and, at East Finchley, possibly common lizard and grass snake. The remaining sites are too disturbed, are isolated from known populations and do not contain enough suitable habitat such as dense leaf litter, compost piles, refugia etc. due to maintenance programmes.
Both East Finchley and St. John’s Wood Church Grounds were considered to provide habitat suitable for foraging and roosting bats, although roosting at St. John’s Wood Church Grounds may be limited by its urban location. The setting of Victoria Embankment Gardens along the bank of the River Thames may make it attractive to commuting bats, but activity would be limited by light and noise pollution.
East Finchley Cemetery and St. John’s Wood Church Grounds were the sites considered as having greatest potential to support notable invertebrates. Remaining sites contained a high level of planted non-native material and were managed using maintenance programmes that avoided the accumulation of dead wood material and leaf litter and were likely to utilise pesticides. It is possible that stag beetle Lucanus cervus (a UK and London BAP species) may utilise dead wood at East Finchley Cemetery and St. John’s Wood Church Grounds. Holly blue (a Westminster LBAP species) may utilise holly, ivy, bramble and snowberry across all sites and small skipper (a Westminster LBAP species) may utilise any site where long grassland is allowed to grow.
31 5 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusions Mature scattered trees and scrub/planted shrubbery are key ecological features at all of the sites. Secondary woodland is an important feature at St. John’s Wood Church Grounds and East Finchley and areas of moderately species diverse semi-improved neutral grassland are an important feature at East Finchley Cemetery.
All of the sites have potential for ecological enhancement and some recommendations designed to achieve this are outlined below.
5.2 Recommendations Consideration should be given to including measures at the six sites that would enhance their value for wildlife over the current baseline conditions, potentially improving the site for Westminster and London BAP species and increasing the City’s natural and wildlife resources. These measures are now recognised in the planning process through the council’s Replacement Unitary Development Plan (see policies in Appendix 4 D/E).
Nesting bird habitat The most valuable areas for nesting birds in urban sites are those of dense cover away from disturbance. Additional planting could be undertaken at some of the sites to create such habitat. It is best practice to use British native stock and a list of reputable suppliers is available from http://www.floralocale.org.uk. Suitable native shrubs with nectar rich flowers and berries include hawthorn (Westminster LBAP species), blackthorn, wild rose and elder. Holly, spindle and dogwood are also recommended so as to provide potential egg laying habitat and food sources for holly blue butterflies (Westminster LBAP species).
The inclusion of bird nesting boxes on trees and walls covered in climbers or wall-trained shrubs could benefit a variety of common breeding birds. Boxes should be located out of direct sunlight, at least 2m or so above ground, facing south-east if possible, away from bird feeders and a discrete distance away from other nest boxes. Woodcrete bird boxes are recommended as they include a broad range of designs, are long-lasting compared to wooden boxes and insulate occupants from extremes of temperature and condensation.
32 Provision of tawny owl boxes (a Westminster BAP species) could be considered where there are mature trees and safety considerations allow.
In addition, on-site buildings could include specially designed features within their structure, for example to attract house sparrows (London BAP species). House sparrow boxes are usually erected on buildings in locations such as under eaves. The use of climbing plants to create green walls and provide vertical nesting habitat where space is limited is also recommended (see Building Green by Johnston & Newton, 1992 on GLA website http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/publications/environment.jsp).
Bats Woodcrete construction bat roosting boxes should be erected on trees and buildings at all of the sites. This will contribute to Westminster and London BAP objectives. Any future development proposals should consider the effects of artificial lighting on bats and light spillage onto potential foraging and roosting habitat should be limited.
Pond and wetland area Currently, apart from highly ornamental ponds at Victoria Embankment Gardens, there is no open water or wetland habitat within any of the six sites surveyed. This would be a valuable wildlife feature providing habitat for a range of wetland wildlife, including amphibians, invertebrates such as dragonflies and damselflies and common waterfowl such as moorhen Gallinula chloropus or mallard Anus platyrhynchus etc. The Water’s Edge is a key habitat in the Westminster BAP and the common darter dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum is a priority species. Surface water would also increase insect diversity and numbers, benefiting foraging bats (Westminster and London BAP species). The creation of a pond or wet area would therefore help to meet BAP objectives. Ponds are also an excellent educational resource for local schools.
Invertebrates Deadwood material was present at both St. John’s Wood Church Grounds and East Finchley Cemetery. It is recommended that the any woodchip and logs arising from any clearance works, are used to create piles within and at the edges of woodland at St. John’s Wood Church Grounds and East Finchley. The use of plants of known value to wildlife i.e. ‘wildlife planting’ could be utilised at all of the sites and would provide extra nectar
33 sources, seeds and pollen for foraging invertebrates and birds. Allowing grassland areas to develop as meadow areas (see below) would potentially benefit BAP species such as small skipper. This could be most usefully employed at East Finchley Cemetery but may also be appropriate on a smaller scale at some of the other sites.
Meadow Management Allowing some of the grassland areas at East Finchley Cemetery to develop as meadow areas would significantly enhance the biodiversity value of the site, both from a botanical perspective and for animals such as invertebrates, reptiles, foraging bats and certain bird species. The area with burnet saxifrage and other species in the south of the Cemetery is perhaps the most obvious choice for such management. It is recommended that the mowing here be relaxed for a few weeks in mid-summer to allow the plants to flower and set seed. However, the sward should not be allowed to get too rank, otherwise the more desirable species may disappear. Other less species diverse areas could be managed on a less intensive basis and it would be beneficial to manage some areas on rotation so that some areas of long grass habitat are retained each year for over-wintering invertebrates.
Hedges The majority of hedges are formal in style and comprised of non-native species. Informal hedges using a selection of native berry producing plants such as hawthorn (a Westminster BAP species) could be planted around site boundaries. This would provide foraging, cover and nesting habitat for breeding birds and invertebrates, improve habitat connectivity, provide screening and reduce dust and pollution levels within open green spaces in dense urban areas. The use of holly, spindle and dogwood in such hedges would potentially benefit the holly blue butterfly (a Westminster BAP species), especially if fruiting ivy (the alternate larval foodplant) was available close by.
Coppicing Re-coppicing of existing multi-stemmed trees at East Finchley Cemetery such as the sweet bay stools (see Target Note 1 & 2 on East Finchley Habitat Map) should be carried out on a rotational basis. The coppicing of other trees, such as ash, holm-oak, and oak could also be implemented in dense and entangled areas of secondary woodland, improving habitat and structural diversity.
34 Japanese Knotweed Japanese knotweed was recorded at three locations at East Finchley Cemetery. This is a very invasive plant that is capable of reproducing from small detached fragments of fresh stem and rhizome material. Under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, it is an offence to cause this plant to grow in the wild and any material should be disposed of under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990 (duty of care regulations). It is therefore recommended that the plant be eradicated following the guidance contained in the Environment Agency’s Code of Practice on the Management, Destruction and Disposal of Japanese Knotweed (Environment Agency, 2005). Any digging or vegetation clearance in the area around the plant should be undertaken with great caution in order to avoid accidental spread.
35 REFERENCES
Environment Agency. 2005. Japanese Knotweed. http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/
Greater London Authority. July 2002. Connecting with London’s Nature – the Mayor’s Biodiversity Strategy. GLA, London.
Greater London Authority. 2004. London Plan – Spatial Development Strategy For Greater London. GLA, London. 420pp.
Hewlett, J. Yarham, I & Curson, D. 1997. Nature Conservation In Barnet. Ecology Handbook 28. London Ecology Unit.
HM Government. 1994. Biodiversity – the UK Action Plan (Cm 2428) HMSO, London.
JNCC. 1993. Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey – A Technique for Environmental Audit. England Field Unit, Nature Conservancy Council. Reprinted by Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
Johnston, J. & Newton, J. 1992. Building Green – a guide to using plants on roofs, walls and pavements. London Ecology Unit. Downloadable from Greater London Authority (GLA) website. http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/publications/environment.jsp
London Biodiversity Partnership. 2001. The London Biodiversity Audit – Volume 2 of the London Biodiversity Action Plan. http://www.lbp.org.uk/03action.html.
RSPB et al. The Population Status of Birds in the UK. Birds of Conservation Concern: 2002 - 2007. http://www.bto.org/research/advice/index.htm
Stace, C. 1997. New Flora of the British Isles (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
UK Steering Group. 1995. Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report Volume 2: Action Plans. HMSO, London.
36 Westminster Biodiversity Partnership. 2000. Westminster Biodiversity Action Plan. http://www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/landandpremises/conservation/biodiversity/actionpl ans.cfm
Westminster City Council. 2005. Nature Conservation Strategy for Westminster. http://www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/landandpremises/conservation/biodiversity/upload/ 39515_1.pdf
37 APPENDIX 1: HABITAT MAPS
38 39 +
40 41 42 43 44 45 46 APPENDIX 2: PLANT SPECIES RECORDED
Plant species list for all six sites compiled from the combined records from the Extended Phase 1 field surveys, carried out on 30/05, 03/06, 14/09 & 18/09/2006.
Scientific nomenclature follows Stace (1997) for vascular plant species and Blockeel & Long (1998) for bryophyte species. Vascular plant common names follow the Botanical Society of the British Isles 2003 list, published on its web site, www.bsbi.org.uk. Please note that this plant species list was generated as part of a Phase 1 Habitat survey. It does not constitute a full botanical survey and should be read in conjunction with the associated Phase 1 report.
Abundance was estimated using the DAFOR scale as follows: D = dominant, A = abundant, F = frequent, O = occasional, R = rare, L = locally Qualifiers: p = planted e = edge f = footpath c = clumped t = tree y = young tree s = seedling/sapling w = water or wet area
Site Names are abbreviated as follows: V-Victoria Embankment Gardens, A-St Anne’s Garden, M-Mount Street Gardens, J- St. Johns Wood Nature Reserve, Q-Queens Park Garden, E-East Finchley Cemetery.
SITE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH QUALIFIER V A M J Q E Acacia dealbata Silver wattle R Acanthus sp. Bear’s-breeches LF p Acer campestre Field maple F/LA O t, y, p Acer palmatum Japanese maple R R p Acer platanoides Norway Maple R t Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore LA D t, y, s Acer sp. Maple F LF t, p, c Achillea millefolium Yarrow F R LF O Aesculus hippocastanum Horse-chestnut O O O t, p, y Agrostis capillaris Common bent R Agrostis stolonifera Creeping bent O O F F Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-heaven O R t, p Ajuga reptans Bugle R Alchemilla sp. Lady's-mantle R g Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard O F/LA c Anemone japonica Japanese anemone LF p, c Anthriscus sylvestris Cow parsley O/LA F c
47 SITE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH QUALIFIER V A M J Q E Aquilegia sp. Columbine R R p Arbutus unedo Strawberry-tree R R T, p Arrhenatherum elatius False oat-grass F F e Arum maculatum Lords-and-Ladies O Aster sp. Michalemas daisy LF p, c Aucuba japonica Spotted-laurel F F LF O p Ballota nigra Black horehound R Begonia sp. Begonia species LF p Bellis perennis Daisy F O O A F A Berberis spp. Barberry O F p Betula pendula Silver birch R t, y Betula sp. Birch R T Brachypodium sylvaticum Wood false brome LF Buddleja davidii Butterfly bush O Buxus sempervirens Box O p Callicarpa bodinieri Beautyberry R p Calystegia sepium Hedge bindweed O Camellia japonica Camellia LA Canna indica Indian shot plant LF p Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-purse O Cardamine hirsuta Hairy bitter-cress R Carex divulsa Grey sedge LA e Carex spp. Sedge species LF Carpinus betulus Hornbeam R y, p Catalpa bignonioides Indian bean tree F R T, p Cedrus atlantica var. glauca Blue cedar R t, p Cedrus deodara Deodar O t, p Cedrus libani Cedar-of-Lebanon O t, p Centaurea nigra Common knapweed O p Centaurea scabiosa Greater knapweed R p Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear R O Cercis siliquastrum Judas tree O t Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Lawsons cypress O Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay willowherb LA Chlorophytum comosum Spider plant O p Choisya ternata Mexican orange F O F LF O p Cirsium arvense Creeping thistle R R O e Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle O Clematis armandii Armand's clematis R p Convolvulus arvensis Field bindweed R Conyza canadensis Canadian fleabane R R O e Conyza sp. Fleabane species R e Cordyline australis New Zealand cabbage palm R p Cornus alba white dogwood R p
48 SITE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH QUALIFIER V A M J Q E Cornus sanguinea Common dogwood O p Cornus sp. Dogwood F O p Coronopus sp. Swine-cress LF Cortaderia selloana Pampas grass Corylus avellana Hazel R LF O p, y Corylus avellana 'Contorta' Contorted hazel O p Cotoneaster horizontalis Wall cotoneaster R R p Cotoneaster sp. Cotoneasters O/LFF R y Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn O R F/LD O T, y Crataegus sp. Hawthorn species R p Crocosmia crosmifolia Montbretia LF p, c Crocus sp. Crocus species LF p Cupressus macrocarpa Monterey cypress F t, p Cupressus sp. Cypress species LF p Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot A F Dahlia sp. Dahlia species LF p Daphne laureola Spurge laurel R p Dicksonia antartica Tree fern R p Dryopteris filix-mas Male-fern LF R p? Elaeagnus sp. Oleaster F LF R p Elytrigia repens Couch Euonymus europaeus Spindle R p? Euonymus fortunei Cultivated spindle R p Euonymus japonicus Evergreen spindle F F LA F/LA p, c Euonymus sp. Spindle species LF F Euphorbia sp. Spurge sp. LF p Euphorbia peplus Petty spurge R e Fagus sylvatica Beech O R t Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea' Purple beech O t Fallopia baldschuanica Russian ivy LA e Fallopia japonica Japanese knotweed O/LA Fatsia japonica Japan fatsia F F R p Festuca rubra Red fescue O F LF F/LA O e, c, s, t, y Fraxinus excelsior Ash R O LF A T Galium aparine Cleavers O Galium verum Lady's bedstraw R Geranium molle Dove's-foot crane's-bill LF O Geranium robertianum Herb-robert O Geranium sp. Crane's-bill species LF P Geum urbanum Wood avens F F Ginkgo biloba Maidenhair tree R t, p Glechoma hederacea Ground-ivy R Grisselinia littoralis New Zealand broadleaf R P Hebe sp. Hedge veronica R O P
49 SITE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH QUALIFIER V A M J Q E Hedera helix Ivy LD D Helleborus niger Christmas rose R LF P Helichrysum sp. Everlasting Flower LF P Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed O/LF Heuchera sanguinea Coral bells LF P Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog F Hordeum murinum Wall barley O O e, f Hosta sp. Plantain lily O p Humulus lupulus Hop F/LA e, c Hydrangea quercifolia Oak-leaf hydrangea LF p Hypericum calycinum Rose-of-sharon R R p Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear A/LD Ilex aquifolium English holly F/LA F O A t, y, s, p? Ilex spp. Holly species F O O t, p Ipomoea purpurea Common morning glory O p Juglans regia Walnut R t Koelruteria paniculata Pride-of-India LF c, y Lamium album White dead-nettle O e, c Lapsana communis Nipplewort O F e Laurus nobilis Sweet Bay R F O t, p Lemna sp. Duckweed LA w Leontodon autumnalis Autumn hawkbit R F/LA Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye daisy O p Ligustrum ovalifolium Garden privet O O/LA F p Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum' Golden privet R/LF Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip-tree R R t, p Lolium perenne Perennial rye-grass D D D D D D Lonicera japonica. Japanese honeysuckle R p Lotus corniculatus Common bird's-foot-trefoil O Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato LF p Magnolia sp. Magnolia O Mahonia sp Oregon grape F O F O F p Malus sp. Crab apple O O t Malva sp Mallow O O Mercurialis perennis Dog's mercury R/LF Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn redwood R O t, p Myosotis sp. Forget-me-not R/LF e Nandina domestica Nandina O p Nerium oleander Oleander O p Nympha alba White water lily R w Olea europaea Olive tree R p, e Osmanthus heterophylla False holly R R p Osmanthus x burkwoodii Osmanthus species R R p Oxalis corniculata Procumbent yellow sorrel O f, e
50 SITE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH QUALIFIER V A M J Q E Parthenocissus tricuspidata Boston ivy R Pelargonium x hortorum Garden geranium LF LF p, c Penstemon sp. Penstemon species LF p, c Pentaglottis sempervirens Green alkanet LA O/LF Persicaria maculosa Redshank LF Pertunia x hybrida Petunia LA Petasites fragrans Winter heliotrope R Philadelphus sp. Mock orange R F O/LF p, e Photinia x fraseri Photinia R p Phormium tenax New Zealand flax LO p Phyllitis scolopendrium Hart's-tongue fern R p? Picris echioides Bristly ox-tongue R O e Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage O/LF Pinus sp. Pine R t, p Pinus sylvestris Scots pine LF O t, s Pittosporum sp. Pittosporum species O R p Plantago lanceolata Ribwort plantain O O D Plantago major Greater plantain LF F LA LA O F f, e Platanus x hispanica London plane LA D A O t, y, p Poa annua Annual meadow-grass O R F e, f Poa pratensis Smooth meadow-grass O Poa trivialis Rough meadow-grass A Polygonatum x hybridum? Garden soloman's seal R p Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass R R LA O/LF e, f Populus alba White poplar O e Populus nigra 'italica' Lombardy poplar R t, p Populus sp. Poplar R t, p Populus tremula Aspen R R p, y Populus x canadensis Hybrid black-poplar O t, p Potentilla reptans Creeping cinquefoil LA LA R A c Potentilla sterilis Barren strawberry R c, p? Prunella vulgaris Selfheal O O F F c Prunus avium Wild cherry LF p Prunus cerasifera var pissardii Purple cherry plum R R t, p, y Prunus laurocerasus Cherry laurel F/LA O A y, e, p Prunus lusitanica Portugal laurel O R p Prunus sp. Cherry F O F R t Prunus spinosa Blackthorn O Pyracantha spp. Firethorns R O F O p Pyrus salicifolia Willow-leaved pear R R t, p Quercus cerris Turkey oak R t, p Quercus ilex Holm oak O F O t, y, p Quercus robur Pedunculate oak O O t, y, c Ranunculus repens Creeping buttercup O O F
51 SITE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH QUALIFIER V A M J Q E Rhododendron spp. Rhododendrons LA LF p Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus Moss O/LA Robinia pseudoacacia False-acacia O/LF R R O Rosa arvensis Field rose O p Rosa canina Dog-rose O e Rosa rugosa Japanese rose R p Rosa sp. Rose LF A LF e, p Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble A D Rumex acetosa Common sorrel O Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved dock O O O F e Ruscus sp. Butcher's broom O p Sagina procumbens Procumbent pearlwort R e Sagittaria sp. Arrowhead species R w Salix sp. Willow R t Sambucus nigra Elder R O F F Sedum acre Biting stonecrop O/LA Sedum sp. Stonecrop R Sedum spectabile Ice plant LF p Senecio jacobaea Common ragwort O R O e Senecio vulgaris Groundsel O Silene dioica Red campion F Skimmia japonica Skimmia F O Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet R Solanum nigrum Black nightshade R c Solanum tuberosum Potato LF p Solidago sp. Goldenrod LF p, c Sonchus oleraceus Smooth sow-thistle R LF e Sorbus aria Common whitebeam R LA LF t, p, c Sorbus aucuparia Rowan O R t, p, y Stachys officinalis Betony R p? Stachys sylvatica Hedge woundwort O O/LF Stellaria media Common chickweed O F/LA LF O O F/LA Symphoricarpos albus Snowberry LF O O O p, c Syringa vulgaris Lilac R O p Taraxacum sp. Dandelion O O R F A A Taxus baccata Yew R F t, y Taxus baccata var. fastigiata Irish yew Y F t, p, y Thuja plicata Western red-cedar O t, p Tilia tomentosa Silver lime R t, p Tilia x europaea Common lime O LF R O t, p, y Trachelospermum jasminoides Star jasmine R p Trachycarpus fortunei Chusan palm R p Trifolium pratense Red clover O
52 SITE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH QUALIFIER V A M J Q E Trifolium repens White clover O A F Tripleurospermum inodorum Scentless mayweed R O Ulmus procera English elm LF y Ulmus sp. Elm LF t Urtica dioica Common nettle R LA A e Veronica chamaedrys Germander speedwell O LF O F c Veronica persica Common field-speedwell O Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved speedwell O R O Viburnum lantana Wayfaring tree R p Viburnum rhytidophyllum Leatherleaf viburnum O R R p Viburnum tinus Laurustinus F F O p Vinca minor Lesser periwinkle LA p Vitis vinifera Vine R p Wisteria sp. Wisteria species R p
53 APPENDIX 3: PHOTOGRAPHS
Photo 1 - herbaceous beds and amenity grassland Photo 2 – scattered trees and scrub along Photo 3 - view east across amenity grassland in in Victoria Embankment Gardens (Area C) boundary of Victoria Embankment Gardens Victoria Embankment Gardens (Area E) (Area D)
Photo 4 - ivy-clad London plane in Photo 5 – London Plane boss in Photo 6 – bird nest and nest box in Photo 7 – open grilles in bell tower of Victoria Embankment Gardens Victoria Embankment Gardens pleached lime at St. Anne’s Garden. church at St. Anne’s Garden. (Area C) (Area D)
54 Photo 8 – central area of amenity grassland at Photo 9 – open area with tall-herb and compost Photo 10 – climbers on iron fence in St. John’s St. Anne’s Garden. area in St. John’s Wood Church Grounds Wood Church Grounds (Compartment 1)
Photo 10 – herbaceous perennials in formal Photo 11 – collected horticultural arisings from Photo 12 – central area of amenity grassland with bedding area in St. John’s Wood Church amenity grassland in St. John’s Wood Church scattered trees in St. John’s Wood Church Grounds Grounds Grounds
55 Photo 13 – gravestones along Wellington Rd. in Photo 14 - ivy-clad London plane along St. John’s Photo 15 – central area of mature London plane St. John’s Wood Church Grounds Wood High Street, St. John’s Wood Church in Mount Street Garden. Grounds
Photo 16 – view towards main area of scattered Photo 17 – inaccessible, ex-playground area in Photo 18 – raised amenity grassland with clumps trees and planted shrubbery in Mount Street Queen’s Park Garden. of trees in Queen’s Park Garden. Garden.
56 Photo 19 – specimen tree (maidenhair tree) Photo 20 – Cavities in mature ash at East Photo 21 – infilled stump along brick wall at East Finchley Cemetery Finchley Cemetery boundary at East Finchley Cemetery
Photo 22 – scattered trees and shrubs along Photo 23 – avenue of Irish yew at East Finchley boundary of East Finchley Cemetery Cemetery
57 APPENDIX 4: LEGISLATION, PLANNING POLICY AND BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLANS
Important notice: This section contains details of legislation and planning policy applicable in Britain only (i.e. not including the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or the Channel Islands) and is provided for general guidance only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, this section should not be relied upon as a definitive statement of the law.
A NATIONAL LEGISLATION
Wildlife in Britain receives protection under various legislation, including:
• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) • The Protection of Badgers Act (1992) • The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 • Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations (1994)
Habitats of regional or national importance are designated as statutory Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Other statutory designations applied for sites of international importance include Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Such sites are by definition also designated as SSSIs. In addition to statutorily protected sites, there are a range of non-statutory designations applied at a local level by local planning authorities. These are called Sites of Biological Importance (SBIs), Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs) or similar.
Species that are protected or otherwise regulated under this legislation and that are relevant to the six Westminster sites include:
• amphibians • reptiles • bats • birds • plants: invasive plant species • stag beetle
Amphibians and Reptiles All native herpetofauna are listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and receive some degree of protection. The sand lizard Lacerta agilis, smooth snake Coronella austriaca, natterjack toad Bufo calamita and great crested newt Triturus cristatus receive full protection under the Act, and are also protected under Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations, 1994 (Regulation 39). This prohibits the intentional killing, injuring or taking of animals; intentional disturbance whilst occupying a place used for shelter; the destruction of these places; and the sale of animals. The adder Vipera berus, grass snake Natrix natrix, common lizard Lacerta vivipara and slow-worm Anguis fragilis receive protection against deliberate killing, injuring and sale under subsections 9(1) and 9(5) of the act, whilst common frog Rana temporaria, common toad Bufo bufo, smooth newt Triturus vulgaris and palmate newt T. helveticus are protected from sale only.
58 Licences are only required for works affecting fully protected species of amphibian and reptile, but mitigation measures may be required to prevent the deliberate killing or injury of adder, grass snake, common lizard and slow worm.
Badger Badgers Meles meles receive protection under The Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 which makes it an offence to:
• wilfully kill, injure, take, possess or cruelly ill-treat a badger, or to attempt to do so; • intentionally or recklessly interfere with a sett by damaging or destroying it; • intentionally or recklessly obstruct access to, or any entrance of, a badger sett; or • disturb a badger when it is occupying a sett.
A badger sett is defined in the legislation as "any structure or place which displays signs indicating current use by a badger" and this also means seasonally used setts. Badgers within a sett cannot be disturbed or excluded except under licence from English Nature. Badgers could be disturbed by work near the sett even if there is no direct interference or damage to the sett. English Nature has issued guidelines on what constitutes a licensable activity.
Bats All species of bat are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) through their inclusion in Schedule 5. All bats are also included in Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations 1994. The Act and Regulations make it illegal to:
• intentionally or deliberately kill, injure or capture (take) bats; • deliberately disturb bats (whether in a roost or not); • damage, destroy or obstruct access to bat roosts; • possess or transport a bat or any other part of a bat, unless acquired legally; or • sell, barter or exchange bats or parts of bats.
If a bat roost is to be affected by development activities, a licence from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will need to be obtained to mitigate any detrimental effects.
Birds All birds, their eggs and nests are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). It is an offence to kill, injure or take any wild bird, or to take or destroy their eggs. It is also an offence to take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. Certain species including hobby receive additional special protection under Schedule 1 of the Act and under Annex 1 of the European Community Directive on the conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC).
Plants: Invasive plant species Certain species of plant, including Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica and giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum, are included in Section 14 and Part II of Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 making it an offence for them to be planted in the wild or otherwise caused to grow or spread in the wild.
59 Stag beetle The stag beetle is listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) which protects this beetle from being sold in the UK.
B NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY
Guidance on nature conservation is issued by the Government in the form of Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity & Geological Conservation (PPS9) and circular 06/2005 on biodiversity and the planning system. The key principles in this guidance include the aim that all planning decisions should prevent harm to biodiversity.
PPS9 offers the following guidance on Species and Habitats of Principal Importance for Biodiversity designated under section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (which generally comprise UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats species):
“Planning authorities should ensure that these species and habitats are protected from the adverse effects of development, where appropriate, by using planning conditions and obligations. Planning authorities should refuse permission where harm to the species or their habitats would result unless the need for and benefits of the development clearly outweigh that harm.”
PPS 9 also states that in the case of previously developed land or ‘wasteland’: “where such sites have significant biodiversity interest of recognised local importance, local planning authorities, together with developers, should aim to retain this interest or incorporate it into any development of the site.”
In general, planning authorities should also
“maximise opportunities for building in beneficial biodiversity features as part of good design … using planning obligations where appropriate.”
At the date of this report, best practice guidance on the interpretation of PPS9 is pending and due in spring 2006. Additional guidance regarding national planning policy and sites of local importance for conservation is also due to be published by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in 2006.
C LOCAL PLANNING POLICY
The Replacement Unitary Development Plan (RUDP) for Westminster includes the following policies from Chapter 9: Environment and Chapter 10: Urban Design and Conservation, relevant to the Site:
Policy Env 1: Sustainable and resource-efficient buildings 9.5 The City Council encourages developers to apply sustainable design principles. These principles include amongst others: aims to protect and create wildlife habitats and to use sustainable drainage systems.
Policy Env 4: Planting around and on buildings • The landscaping of forecourts, walls, entrance areas and grounds will be encouraged, where appropriate.
60 • Planting on flat surfaces and roofs on buildings will be encouraged subject to the need to maintain the amenities and the privacy of neighbouring occupiers, conservation area and listed buildings policies, and ensuring that views out of the Royal Parks are not compromised.
9.40 Planting on vertical surfaces such as on buildings and walls should be done in ways that recognise the value of these areas as habitats wildlife. Vertical habitats are one of the priorities in the Westminster Biodiversity Action Plan, referred to in policy ENV 17.
9.39 Where roof gardens or planted roofs are appropriate in design and amenity terms and meet the terms of policy ENV 13, the City Council will encourage their contribution towards Westminster’s wildlife habitats, particularly in areas of open space deficiency and of wildlife deficiency.
Policy Env 15: Public and private open space • Planning permission will not be granted for development on, or under public or private open space of amenity, recreational or nature conservation value, unless the development is essential and ancillary to maintaining or enhancing that land as valuable open space.
• Public and private open space, green and wildlife corridors, including watercourses, will be protected from development that would detract from their mainly green and open character or which would have an adverse effect on their nature conservation value.
Policy Env 16: Trees and shrubs • Planning permission will be refused for development likely to result in the loss of or damage to a tree which makes a significant contribution to the ecology, character or appearance of the area.
Policy Env 17: Nature conservation and biodiversity • Developers must take measures to ensure that protected species and their habitats are not harmed. • The City Council will protect and seek to enhance areas of designated nature conservation value and green corridors shown on Map 9.2 and the Proposals Map. Development likely to have an adverse effect on a Local Nature Reserve, or a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, or a green corridor will not be approved unless it can be demonstrated that there are reasons for the proposal that outweigh the need to safeguard the nature conservation value of the site. If such development is approved, mitigation will be required. • The City Council will welcome proposals that will enhance the potential for increasing habitat and wildlife in the areas of wildlife deficiency shown on map 9.2. • Developers will have to demonstrate that their proposals would either preserve or enhance the habitats and species protected in the Westminster and the National and London Biodiversity Action Plans. • The City Council will encourage: 1) landowners to plant and manage green spaces in ways that conserve and enhance wildlife value, and in particular plant native species of local provenance. 2) the retention of green spaces that provide wildlife corridors, such as planted rear gardens. 3) the provision in new developments of features for wildlife and to promote local biodiversity.
Policy Des 12: parks, gardens and squares
61 • Development on or under open spaces. Permission will not be given for development on or under those parks, landscaped spaces and public or private gardens, where the open spaces: (1) form an important element in the townscape, part of a planned estate or street layout (2) are characteristic features of conservation areas (3) provide the setting of a listed building (4) are of significant ecological value
The Nature Conservation Strategy For Westminster (2005) includes the following aims relevant to the site; • Protect, conserve and enhance habitats and features of nature conservation value in the City. • Enhance other wildlife habitats and create new opportunities for wildlife wherever possible. • Maximise educational opportunities and raise awareness of nature in an urban setting. • Promote biodiversity within the City and ensure that the wildlife resource is managed in a sustainable way as part of the City's Local Agenda 21 programme.
D UK BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
The UK BAP was initiated to comply with obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity 1992. It describes the UK’s biological resources and commits to developing detailed plans to conserve these recourses. The UK BAP comprises Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) and Species Action Plans (SAPs). In addition, local authorities promote habitat and species conservation at a regional level through development of Local BAPs (LBAPs).
E LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
The City of Westminster has the following Local BAPs that are relevant to the site:
• Small parks and garden squares • Hawthorn • Bats • House sparrow • Holly blue • Thyme-leaved speedwell • Tawny owl • Small skipper butterfly
62
CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
ANNUAL REPORT 2004/05 AND PLAN 2005/06 CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
CONTENTS PAGE
How the service might be improved
General statement Lawns Bedding Shrubs, roses and pre-annual planting Sweeping, clearing, removal of litter and leaves Patrolling and attendance
Training
Training report 2004/05 Training plans 2005/06
Communication with staff of Health and Safety issues
Risk Assessments Safety Operative Procedures (SOPs) Correct Operative Procedures (COPs) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
Quality systems
Investors in People ISO 9001:2000 Accreditation
Self monitoring
Progress towards ISO 14,000
Annex A – Newsletter, February 2005
Annex B – Health and Safety minutes, January 2005 CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
HOW THE SERVICE MIGHT BE IMPROVED
Over the five years of the contract the service has continued to perform to contract standards. The work force continues to be stable with very low turnover and we have a good working relationship with the client.
No defaults were issued during 2004/05 and only one Outstanding Works Order. Constant monitoring by Continental Landscapes Ltd has helped achieved this with liaison from the client. Work was completed to plan and in a satisfactory way, additional works were completed efficiently and on time.
We achieved numerous awards this year. The Green Flag was yet again awarded to St John’s Wood Church Grounds. We also gained major awards for the London Square completion: a bronze award for Porchester Square, a silver award for St Stephen’s and Violet Hill was highly commended.
The turnover of staff was very low due to staff having been very happy working for Continental Landscapes Ltd and Westminster Council, they are very motivated when carrying out their duties. Casual staff employed during the Stephen Parsons and Barry Haynes collecting the Plaque summer season request to from come back year after year. Those staff who do not meet the standard are not retained. We only employ gardeners who are dedicated and self motivated and carry out their job properly.
We continue to train new staff as part of their induction and on the job training. This includes risk assessments, Health and Safety, byelaws, opening and closing procedures, using machinery, manual handling, how to treat the public, dog awareness etc. We encourage staff to go on further training to obtain NVQ and City and Guild qualifications.
Communication is very good within the company. Our HQ produces a quarterly newsletter, Annex A is an example of the Continental Westminster newsletter. Staff are kept informed CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
through visits to sites by supervisory staff including the contract manager, phone calls and memos; training and get togethers. In 2005/06 we will continue to make sure our staff are happy and motivated in their work.
Lawns
Lawns continue to be improved by aerating, putting down of nutrients, overseeding bad areas with shaded seed mix, grass is cut to the correct height, irrigation, controlling weeds and moss. Two examples are works carried out at St John’s Wood Church Grounds and Paddington Street Garden where lawns were improved by scarifying and spiking, levelling with a top dressing mix and raked, and using pre germination fertiliser. The lawns were then reseeded and covered with protective covering. Where necessary returfing took place.
Improvement of lawns was also achieved by buying the best quality seeds, fertiliser and top dressing. Buying new machinery continues so that there is no reduction in the quality of cuts through old machines. We have put in place a programme for application of herbicide to control weeds and moss in lawns.
Irrigation took place on lawn areas during the dry summer season which kept the grass in a good condition.
St John’s Wood Church Grounds
Bedding
The summer and spring plants were overall satisfactory, there were a few minor problems with labelling. Plant deliveries were satisfactory which meant that all bedding was completed to time. CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
All beds were improved by adding nutrients and being properly cultivated, soil was incorporated with compost which kept weeds and leaves to a minimum. Dead heading was completed and bedding checked for pests and diseases. Irrigation took place during drought.
Porchester Square Garden
Shrubs, Roses and Pre-annual Planting
Through on the job training and NVQs we ensure that staff are competent in some plant and weed identification and we continue to train staff in this way. Due to this training by our own staff beds are prepared to a high standard and new staff know how to plant properly, prune and how to continue to maintain beds.
We continue to use Helmsman and Ronstar 2G pre-emergence granule chemicals that can be used on early established shrubs to help control Bindweed and other weeds. We also use Caseron G on established shrubs.
Old shrubs have been replaced with new varieties, this helps to improve the quality of the shrub beds. For example the small islands at Warrington and Strathearn have been completely revamped. The client has continued to ask us to mulch large areas which helped add nutrients and suppress weeds.
Normal pruning was carried out to schedule to give a better appearance to the beds.
On-the-job training for new recruits continues, by our own experienced staff. This includes correct pruning methods, identification of weeds, dead plants and some minor diseases. We are still looking at other methods of training to enhance the performance of the workforce. CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
Bedding being unloaded at St John’s Wood Church Grounds
Sweeping, cleaning, removal of litter and leaves
We have not had any problems with removal of litter and sweeping on manned and unmanned sites. Supervisors and I continue to monitor all sites. The mobile team continue to improve.
Leaves were cleared from all areas to schedule.
A powerful jet spray continues to be successful in helping to remove graffiti, cleaning hard surfaces, washing down furniture and machinery.
All twelve sites now have tonne bags to encourage recycling. Waste also continues to be recycled using the compost heap. Other means of collecting green waste are being investigated. CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
Recycling bin
One tonne recycling bag
Patrolling and attendance
Patrolling and attendance have continued to perform to contract specifications with no problems whatsoever. The procedures currently in place are successful and are monitored regularly to ensure that there are no problems. We continue to inform staff on a regular basis that once sites are locked they must walk around the site once again to double check that no-one is still on site. A supervisor is on duty at all times and attendants are encouraged to speak to the supervisor if they have any problems. Staff have been informed that if a member of the public will not leave at closing time the supervisor must be told first and the police if necessary. We emphasise that all gates must be open and closed to byelaw standards. CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
All staff are clearly recognised by their company uniform, raining is given on dealing with the public, first aid and checking playground equipment for minor faults.
Sylvester Ryan patrolling at Tamplin Mews Garden CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
TRAINING REPORT 2004/05 AND TRAINING PLAN 2005/06
I have based the attached spreadsheets on those staff who are only permanent all year round (ie not those who are employed on a casual basis for April-October only).
Training Report 2004/05
This spreadsheet gives a list of all staff and those trained in a relevant area. A number system has been deployed to suggest that:
0 – need training 1 - started training 2 - partially trained 3 - fully trained na – not applicable
There have not been many staff changes during the year. “On the job” training has been given throughout the year and will take place for those newer staff.
Training Plan 2005/06
Short courses and on-the-job training
This plan relates to short courses and on-the-job training. A mark has been made for those staff who it is thought should attend training in a certain area.
Day Release
Staff will be given a list of day release courses around London. The plan shows staff who might benefit from day release.
Ray Taylor Jnr having come first in a Health and Safety competition during his City and Guilds course CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF ON HEALTH AND SAFETY
As part of staff induction all staff are given information concerning Health and Safety via on- the-job and short course training, Induction Pack and oral briefings. Health and Safety, SOP and Risk Assessment folders are held on all sites in the mess office. All folders are updated regularly. All Risk Assessments are assessed every six months and this was carried out during 2004/05. Staff are instructed to read all Risk Assessments and sign to confirm they have read and understood the contents. If staff do not understand the content they are encouraged to speak to their supervisors who will check to ensure that staff are sure of their Health and Safety responsibilities.
Any issues raised are addressed by myself and the supervisors by investigating the issue. If the problem is minor (eg protective clothing, faulty machinery etc) this can be corrected by ourselves. If the problem is a major issue (eg paving stone missing, broken swing etc) we will then raise a repair and maintenance (R&M) sheet, which is given to the client. These continue to be identified in the weekly client reports.
Regular working party meetings are held and minuted. A copy of the January 2005 minutes is at Annex B.
A list of risk assessments, SOPs (Safe Operative Procedures), COPs (Correct Operatives Procedures) and COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations relevant to the contract are attached.
George & Dragon roundabout CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
RISK ASSESSMENTS
1. Refuelling of vehicles with LPG 2. Salt spreading 3. Cleaning shrub beds 4. Tree planting 5. Grass cutting using pedestrian operated reciprocating bladed mower 6. Hedge cutting using tower scaffold 7. Grass cutting using pedestrian mower 8. Grass cutting using Kabota/John Deere ride-on machine 9. Use of self-propelled ride-on grass mower with grass box collector 10. Hedge cutting 11. Sisis Aerator/Fine turf machine 12. Scarifies used to remove dead grass, fine turf 13. Refuelling vehicles 14. Verge edging 15. Using hand held petrol hedge trimmer 16. Use of petrol strimmer/cord line 17. Use of strimmer (petrol)/blade fitted 18. Use of self-propelled ride-on rotary mower 19. Tractor/Harrow 20. Tractor/Rotary unit 21. Use of Trolley Jack 22. Shrub bed maintenance 23. Mobile attendants/bin emptying 24. Static attendant/sport/toilet cleaning 25. Flower bed maintenance 26. General hand tools 27. Loading ramps 28. Working near water 29. Noise 30. Manual Handling 31. Petroleum Spirit from store 32. Ladders/steps 33. Abrasive wheels 34. Portable water pressure cleaner 35. Diesel/gas oil 36. Hook on and hook off procedures for trailers 37. Knapsack sprayers 38. Flymo/Hover Mowers 39. Cultivations 40. Pedestrian roller/fine turf 41. Water Bowsers 42. Top soiling 43. Grass seeding turfing 44. Application of fertilisers CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
SOPs (Safe Operative Procedures)
1. Health and Safety Policy Statement 2. Responsibilities 3. First aid 4. First aid - poisoning by pesticides 5. Fire safety 6. Electrical safety 7. Discovery collection and disposal of needles, syringes or sharps from public areas 8. Needles and sharps - safe use and disposal 9. Storage of highly flammable liquids 10. Disposal of unwanted approved pesticides and containers 11. Selection and maintenance of personal protective equipment for use with approved pesticides 12. Manual handling 13. Leptospirosis (Wells Disease) 14. Knapsack sprayers 15. Motor gasoline 16. Diesel fuel/gas oil 17. Noise 18. Control of infection in maintenance and gardening operations 19. The provision and use of work equipment 20. Working near water 21. The use of wood preservatives 22. Use of rotary and front mowers 23. Lawn mowers - cylinder and hover 24. Hook on and hook off procedures for trailers and towed units 25. Portable steam and water pressure type cleaners 26. Strimmers/brush cutters 27. Cultivators 28. Ladders - general 29. Step ladders and trestles 30. Hand tools 31. Tree planting 32. Passenger vehicles/company cars 33. Use of tractors 34. Abrasive wheels 35. Chain saws 36. Personal protective equipment in industry CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
COPs (Correct Operatives Procedures)
Children’s Playground Equipment Cylinder Mowers and Other Pedestrian Controlled Equipment Disposal of Hypodermic Needles Emergency Tree Works Fire Fighting First Aid Guidance Hand Held Blowers Hedge Trimmers (2 stroke) Hours of Work Ladders, Step Ladders and Trestles Manual Handling Noise at Work Operation and Use of Horticultural light machine Workshop Patrolling and Maintaining the Canalside Walk Rotary Mowers Safe Storage and Handling of Petroleum Spirit/Diesel Oil Strimmers Use of Pesticides CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations
Active Chemical Product Name Maff No
Dichlobenil Caseron G 06854 06855 Dichlorophen Super Mosstox 05339 Diuron MSS Diuron 50 fl 07160 Glyphosate Round up Pro Biactive 06954 Glyphosate Roundup Biactive 06941 Isoxaben Flexidor 125 05104 Metaldehyde PBI Slug Pellets 02611 Pirimicarb Rapid 06848 Isobutanol/Buty/Acetate/ 3M Graffiti STain Remover - Petroleum Distillates Hydrochloric Acid Feb Brick and Slab Cleaner - Orthophospheric Fizz Foam - Methyl Pyrollidone WACS Graf. - (Graffiti Remover) Diuron Freeway 06047 Oxadiazon carbetamine/ Helmsman 09934 Diflufenican Oxadiazon Ronstar 26 06492 Imidacloprid Provado Vine Wheevil 09960 Carbendazim Doff 07159 CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
QUALITY SYSTEMS
Investors in People
Continental Landscapes Ltd are still working towards achieving Investment in People. The first phase has been completed but the second phase is still to be started. Investment in People will take at least 5 years to obtain and might not be achieved during this contract.
Warrington TI
ISO 9000 Accreditation
Since Continental Landscapes Ltd updated the Quality Assurance to ISO 9001: 2000 in January 2003 all sites were successfully audited in 2004.
Continental have put forward a further 12 sites for audit in 2005 these being Barrow in Furness, Bristol, Burton on Trent, Gloucester, Greenhand, Head Office, Hull, Livington, Poole, Westminster, Wisbech and Worthing. Two further internal auditors were trained in Quality Assurance in 2004.
All manuals and procedures continue to be updated as required.
Maida Vale Planter CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
SELF MONITORING
The contract continued to improve with the aid of our self monitoring systems. As with last year we only received one outstanding work notice, and no defaults. This could not have been done without the dedication or motivation of all the staff and the client. A good working relationship with the client continues and we have formal and informal meetings to discuss matters.
Continental Landscapes Ltd continues to self monitor all sites and all supervisory staff also self monitor. Non manned sites are monitored more closely than manned sites to ensure they are kept to specification standards. We have continued to hold meetings between myself and supervisory staff to discuss issues and problems arising.
Staff have continued to use their work programme which has improved the performance of the contract. Staff are also encouraged to use their own initiative, but know the supervisors are always on hand if they need them, with training provided to staff where required.
I have reviewed the system we use and at the moment there is no reason to change the method of self monitoring.
I believe our self monitoring along with the client’s have helped towards winning awards in the London Garden Squares Competition 2004 and the Green Flag for St John’s Wood Church Grounds. We also received a number of compliments from members of the public and in particular visitors to Westminster. There have been more compliments than complaints.
Fred Proudfoot and Barry Haynes checking plants at St John’s Wood Church Grounds CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
PROGRESSING TOWARDS ISO 14000
There is no change from last year. Continental has rewritten their Environmental Policy and are still in the process of changing their procedures to reflect the requirements of EMAS. There are no plans to have Continental’s system externally accredited at present.
We continue to use the LGP fuel use vehicle and friendly city diesel, which helps the environment.
Instead of using only chemicals to control weeds other methods continue to be used, for example hoeing and the use of mulching materials.
Composting continued to be carried out at St John’s Wood Church Ground and compost bins for recycling were placed on other sites. It is essential that we compost the majority of our waste. Tonne bags have been placed on all twelve manned parks and once they are full they are emptied into the lorry and taken down to the tip as green waste. Waste includes all grass clippings, leaves, and other recyclable material. A record is kept each month on how much green waste we dispose of.
Recycling of garden waste, St John’s Wood Church Ground
The contents from the empty bay has already been used as mulch in St John’s Wood Garden
CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
Continental working for Westminster City Council February 2005 Edition 37
A message from the Editor Welcome to a new year and I am extremely happy to be working with such excellent teams. We all deserve a pat on the back for our achievements, everyone contributed to the good feedback we had on all contracts last year. Because of our dedication and commitment the Parks contract has been extended by another two years, until March 2007 - David.
Staff matters
• Staff who left during the last four months: A Gonzalez, Marcus Bandoni, Pavel Cechak, Georgina Rhode and Daniel Towler.
• Welcome to: Colin Gawthorne and Lulzim Markuvkaj, and welcome back to Wallace Eates.
• Staff recognition awards – Apologies, I am still trying to find new types of award so there are no staff awards this issue – David.
Congratulation wishes
Belated birthday congratulations in January and February to: Stephen Parsons and Louise Wilde
Birthday congratulations in March and April to: Kim Treharne, Steve Mills, Les Scales and Peter Vaz.
And anyone else we might have left off the list by mistake. CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
Achievements during 2004 – by Mary Hickman
Westminster had an excellent year during 2004.
London Squares Garden competition – Porchester Square achieved the bronze plaque for best Large Public Square in the London Squares Competition. St Stephen’s Garden won the silver certificate for the second year in the Small Public Square category and Violet Hill was highly commended.
Green Flag Award – St John’s Wood Church Grounds did very well winning a Green Flag for the second year in succession.
Parliament Square – Despite various problems at Parliament Square including our resident protester, demonstrations, rallies and the hunting protests, swift remedial works have ensured that the square always looks well maintained, resulting in staff and management achieving 100% assessment from The Greater London Authority. In line with The Greater London Authority green waste strategy, Trafalgar Square’s 2004 Christmas tree was mulched and used at Parliament Square, the deputy mayor was in attendance.
Continental Westminster arranged the floral display on Horse Guards Parade for the State Visit of the President of South Korea.
I would just like to add that Wellington Road Estate took the 1st prize in Westminster in Bloom 2004, Category 7 for the best kept housing estate garden. Well done everyone – David. CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
WORDSEARCH
Things seen and used in our gardens
TFRENAPSFDECKCHAIRSRI SK YLOUMQLS IUTNXZTPOCUFLUB UEARZRWXRSBUPCQYBV I MTSC STLYKDSWUHGK IGNBQYV I HTR EDLRVPHDBECESEABDDARWYS MHOKAGLR I AGBLOWERHULBLQ WIPDNFCAJRAOKUONSBEOCYU PHESNQOBLSEJGWMCSRRQDWI AHSTLEFMTZEMNVEHFMOB I LR BSFDKANURAKESGLPBULBSER RACALCWRKWBHOEESERWKWSE MKNBHLANGSERMNYLDI AZ I EL YSXRR I OKMEALUKB IDP I ANKS GVROSTOVNOLYOAZOI TRNGUL EVCOGPDRAGWLQKHFNSTWSCH DERMLZWUNFDECPLUGOSTSDR PNAUZTVEXO I JRTOBYTELMAC UTS I RXWTNOEG I PBELFQREDN
Find the following words in the wordsearch above:
BROOM LAWNMOWER BLOWER RAKE BENCH SHRUBS BULBS SQUIRRELS BEDDING SWINGS DECKCHAIRS SPADE FORK PIGEON HOE
Created by Tom Dawson
CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
MONITORING MEETING: CONTRACTOR'S REPORT: JULY 2005
The contract continued to perform to the required standard most of the time. The problem arose with a few staff not completely their daily tasks, for example upholding the dog byelaws and litter collection – this has now been rectified. We have also received compliments concerning the excellent upkeep of our gardens. The work on Harrow Road OS should now be complete with the clearance of unwanted shrubs on the canal wall. It looks much better with the open view. Will continue to monitor Harrow Road OS. Additional work is being completed to schedule. Normal maintenance continues.
Items Affecting the Performance of the Contract
¾ Staff not carrying out correct procedures and not obeying instructions from supervisors.
Items which may Improve the Performance of the Contract
¾ Supervisors and staff carry out the proper procedures. ¾ Continuing spot checks and litter checks on non-manned sites. ¾ Continuous meetings with supervisors and staff. ¾ Increase training and awareness. ¾ Recycling of green waste. ¾ Ensure staff enforce byelaws.
Items Affecting the Health and Safety of the Contract
¾ Health & Safety checks took place at St John’s Wood Church Grounds, Paddington Street and Marylebone Parish Church. No major items found to be at H & S risk. ¾ Health and Safety Working Party meeting took place 21st July.
Proposals for New Work Practices
¾ Continue to generate as much green waste as possible. ¾ More detailed inspection of sites.
Staff training
¾ Courses are being planned in: fire safety, chemical application and dealing with the public.
1 of 4 CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
Staff deployment
July June May
Michael Blake (P) Michael Blake (P) Michael Blake (P) ¾ Norfolk Square + Marek Slodkowski (P) + Marek Slodkowski (P) + Marek Slodkowski (P)
¾ Paddington St Brendan Mullen (P) Brendan Mullen (P) Brendan Mullen (P + Shkelzen Hasmujaj (P) + Shkelzen Hasmujaj (P) + Shkelzen Hasmujaj(P)
Anouska Bradford (P) Anouska Bradford (P) Anouska Bradford(P) ¾ Paddington Green + Kvetoslava Hadova (S) + Kvetoslava Hadova (S) + Kvetoslava Hadova(S)
¾ Rembrandt Garden Gocho Ivanov (P) Gocho Ivanov (P) Gocho Ivanov (P) + Kaye Turner (S) + Kaye Turner (S) + Kaye Turner (S)
Mark Devonport (P) Mark Devonport (P) Mark Devonport (P) ¾ St Stephens + Pablo Blazquez (S) (1) + vacant + vacant
¾ Porchester Garden Stephen Parsons (P) Stephen Parsons (P) Stephen Parsons (P) + Jose Colominas (S) + Jose Colominas (S) + Jose Colominas (S)
Valentin Paizan (P) Valentin Paizan (P) Valentin Paizan (P) ¾ Queens Park + Josef Hada (S) + Senior Hasmujaj (S) + Csaba Zagoni (S)
¾ Tamplin Mews Sylvester Ryan (P) Sylvester Ryan (P) Sylvester Ryan (P) + Felix Felix (P) + Felix Felix (P) + Felix Felix (P)
Les Scales (P) Les Scales (P) Les Scales (P) ¾ St Johns Wood + Ray Taylor Jnr (P) + Ray Taylor Jnr (P) + Ray Taylor Jnr (P)
¾ Broadley Street Arshed Mahmood (P) Arshed Mahmood (P) Arshed Mahmood (P) + Jansen Peters (S) + Jansen Peters (S) + Jansen Peters (S)
Senior Hasmujaj (S) Oskar Hope (S) (2) Oskar Hope (S) ¾ Westbourne Green OS + vacant + Josef Hada (S) + Josef Hada (S)
¾ Violet Hill Timmy Byrne (P) Timmy Byrne (P) Timmy Byrne (P) + Chris Bennett (S) + Chris Bennett (S) + Chris Bennett (S)
¾ Mobile/Additional Work Team Adriatic Hasmujaj (P) Adriatic Hasmujaj (P) Adriatic Hasmujaj (P) Fred Proudfoot (P) Fred Proudfoot (P) Fred Proudfoot (P) Chris Merlin (P) Chris Merlin (P) Chris Merlin (P)
¾ Senior Contract Manager David Whitlock (P) David Whitlock (P) David Whitlock (P) ¾ Contract Manager Stephen Mills (P) Stephen Mills (P) Stephen Mills (P) ¾ Office Manager Mary Hickman (P) Mary Hickman (P) Mary Hickman (P) ¾ Supervisors Kim Treharne (P) Kim Treharne (P) Kim Treharne (P) Arto Talvilahti (P) Arto Talvilahti (P) Arto Talvilahti (P) Tom Dawson (P) Tom Dawson (P) Tom Dawson (P)
(P) = Permanent Staff (S) = Seasonal Staff
2 of 4 CONTINENTAL LANDSCAPES LTD working in partnership with Westminster City Council
(1) New seasonal staff (2) Left
¾ 0 permanent member of staff left in July. ¾ 32 permanent staff in post during July. ¾ 0 agency staff employed during July.
Emergency Call out arrangements
Either David Whitlock, Steve Mills or Arto Talvilahti.
Compliments and complaints
Compliments
• Compliment from St John's Wood Preparation School on the friendliness and helpfulness of staff at St John's Wood Garden. • Compliment from member of the public on the upkeep of the garden and staff at St John's Wood Garden.
Complaints
• Complaint from member of the public concerning staff at Westbourne Green OS not carrying out proper duties.
Parks Waste Tonnage Statistics
During July the amount of waste collected and taken to the tip was 6.6 tonnes of general waste and 8.2 tonnes of green waste. Recycled waste at St John’s Wood was 1 tonne.
3 of 4