Local Spaces: Open Minds Inspirational ideas for managing lowland commons and other green spaces An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Published by the Chilterns Conservation Board in March 2015 Local Spaces: Open Minds Inspirational ideas for managing lowland commons and other green spaces o CONSERVATION BOARD HITCHIN The M1 Chilterns Area of DUNSTABLE LUTON Outstanding Natural AYLESBURY Beauty TRING HARPENDEN WENDOVER HEMEL BERKHAMSTED HEMPSTEAD PRINCES RISBOROUGH CHESHAM M25 CHINNOR M40 M1 STOKENCHURCH AMERSHAM CHORLEYWOOD WATLINGTON HIGH BENSON WYCOMBE BEACONSFIELD MARLOW WALLINGFORD M40 N River Thames M25 0 5 10 km HENLEY-ON-THAMES GORING M4 0 6 miles M4 READING Acknowledgements The Chilterns Conservation Board is grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their financial support from 2011 to 2015 which made the Chilterns Commons Project possible. We are also grateful to the project's 18 other financial partners, including the Chiltern Society. Finally, we would like to pay special tribute to Rachel Sanderson who guided the project throughout and to Glyn Kuhn whose contribution in time and design expertise helped to ensure the completion of the publication. Photographs: Front cover main image – Children at Swyncombe Downs by Chris Smith Back cover main image – Sledging on Peppard Common by Clive Ormonde Small images from top to bottom – Children at home in nature by Alistair Will Hazel dormouse courtesy of redorbit.com Orange hawkweed by Clive Ormonde Grazing herd, Brill Common by Roger Stone Discovering trees on a local nature reserve by Alistair Will Local Spaces: Open Minds Determining and setting out a future for key areas of open space, like the 200 commons Preface scattered across the Chilterns, is essential, but a daunting challenge for any individual. However, commons and open spaces are areas for collective action. Whilst many people will recognize their value and importance, that does not make the task of securing a sustainable future for them any easier. The value of such places can be quantified in many ways; it might be their importance for health activities such as walking, riding or cycling, or more peaceful activities such as enjoying fresh air. The cultural and historical importance of these places has been explored in the companion book – Our Common Heritage. The biodiversity value of these places is well known but none of these attributes alone will ensure that these dispersed areas remain 'local open spaces'. Moreover, if you add all of these together you would not reach their true value. Imagine, if you can, that they are not there, and instead a housing estate or enclosed farmland or even an industrial estate takes their place. What would you have lost? Don't worry, this is not going to happen as legislation protects commons – but, more importantly, the people who have read and acted on the ideas set out in this book will ensure that commons and other local spaces remain open, used and treasured for generations to come. This set of reports looks to the future and provides a refreshing look at how commons and open spaces can be enjoyed, treasured and valued. But it goes further than that because it offers some real insight into the key challenges facing commons across the south of England which are no longer in agricultural management. Each report encourages us to have an open mind about these local spaces, not to preserve them as they are, or as we think they should be, but to make them the centre of a thriving and buzzing community; places to explore and be creative, to bring meaning to our increasingly sedentary lives. Such places should not be managed from afar by people who have little or no local connection, nor lack the funds for management because of constraints on the public purse because the vital knowledge, skills, creativeness and determination all exist within the Chilterns. The overall theme of the five reports is to bring a new meaning to these local spaces by extending the current experiences and showing what might be possible. Local spaces, like the 200 commons in the Chilterns, have survived many struggles and perils, and they still need to. The challenges for the 21st century in areas like the Chilterns is neglect, not abandonment, because these places are 'used' and in many ways 'valued'. However, the management they receive is often not local enough or sufficiently linked in to the life of the community. They are shared spaces and this requires us to work alongside other people in our community – and that is a very good thing with many benefits. Natural The first report, Natural Neighbourhoods, sets out on this journey by using examples from Neighbourhoods across the country of specific programmes that can help communities develop new ideas to help all take ownership of local spaces in a positive way. This rethink around local spaces is especially important for those with poor health and low levels of social interaction as they benefit most from access to high quality local open spaces. Where these interactions take place, the results can be transformative. In the past, common land has kept those most in need alive and provided a backbone to society. There is no reason why it should not do so again. Local Spaces: Open Minds Page 1 Nature’s In Nature's Classrooms, Alistair Will sets out a challenge to all. While there is a great deal Classrooms of opportunity to be outdoors, much of this activity is organised and many do little informal exercise. Local spaces, especially commons, provide an excellent alternative classroom. The report explores potential for science and nature, as well as art, history and geography. But it need not stop there as there is no reason why maths, physics and even philosophy could not feature as well. Local open spaces are a great place for projects that often combine a range of subjects under one topic, as the case studies show, especially the discussion on barriers and 'making things happen'. A good start is to know if you have a local open space and, if so, what is on or in your local space so, if someone asks you, you are able to give an informed reply. Open Doors The use of local spaces for recreation might sound obvious, but it would be a mistake to skip over the Open Doors report by Vicky Myers. Why, when we say that we value being in the natural environment more than ever, do we have the lowest physical and mental health? Because people are less sure of what they are 'permitted' to do, connecting and promoting recreational activity has been a core thrust of the Chilterns Commons Project. This can be easily replicated as it makes sense to join up cycle routes with bike hire companies and to provide maps of various walking routes on line or via phone apps. Areas like the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and commons in particular, will always be popular and that is a good thing; working together to enhance our enjoyment across all generations is crucial. Changing In her second report, Changing Environments, Vicky Myers looks at the state of the natural Environments environment and sets out a very convincing case as to the way the commons in the Chilterns need to be managed for nature. The climate is changing and nature, like us, needs to do adapt. However, much past human activity acts as a barrier so we need to think of these open spaces as part of a wider natural network. There is an important message here for local government and community groups as well as for us as individuals – nature needs room to breathe. Monitoring open spaces for a range of species (butterflies, newts or bumblebees) is a good indicator of the high value areas, and these are often commons. Profit or Loss In the final report, Profit or Loss, Victoria Edwards assesses the issue of funding the management of open spaces. As the other reports have made clear, management is critical to their future but it is also true that management costs in both resources and time. Finding suitable monetary arrangements to re-invest in them is therefore important. The wide range of ideas presented should be considered carefully by all. Valuing an open space according to its true worth means that people will pay if they can see that the money is re- invested back into the site management. Vigilant and persuasive people acting on behalf of the site will also make sure that any new development or similar activity has appropriate mitigation, and the open spaces within the Chilterns provide a good environment for this to take place. All of these reports, written by national experts in their respective fields, have the same aim – to re-invigorate those living in the Chilterns and further afield to think and act positively about the local spaces around them. These open spaces, especially the commons, may be small and spread widely throughout the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but that means they are closer to their local communities and collectively are more important. For them to stay important, people need to value them, not just use them, and act to enhance them. To find out how, read on and then enjoy them all the more. Christopher Short Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire and Chairman of the Foundation for Common Land Local Spaces: Open Minds Page 2 Local Spaces - Natural Neighbourhoods Duncan Mackay Ideas to help communities create healthier, happier, greener places close to where people live through traditional common land principles and the creation of new commons. Introduction: Places of human habitation within or adjacent to the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) come in all shapes and sizes from remote rural hamlets to large urban areas.