Swakeleys Park Management Plan 2012 – 2020
Green Spaces Team
London Borough of Hillingdon Green Flag Award winner 2012, 2013, 2014
Swakeleys Park Management Plan
Table of Contents
Page 1. Site Summary 3
Map 1-Key Features of Swakeleys Park 5 Map 2- Location of Ickenham ward in London 6
2. History 7
3. Ecology 7
4. Recreational facilities 8
5. Management arrangements; community contacts 9
6. Vision for Swakeleys Park 9
7. Site Aims and Objectives 10
8. Management Actions and Maintenance Plan 19
9. Appendices
Appendix A: Introduction to the London Borough of 22 Hillingdon
Appendix B: Marketing analysis and plan 23
Appendix C: Jubilee Garden 25
Appendix D: Commitment to Green Flags 26
Appendix E: Events and Marketing materials 27
Appendix F: Green Spaces Team structure 29
Appendix G: Tree Survey 30
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1. Site Summary
Details
Site Name Swakeleys Park
Address (Main Entrance) Swakeleys Drive, Ickenham (vehicles and pedestrians)
Additional entrances a. Junction of The Avenue and Milton Road (vehicles and pedestrians) b. Swakeleys Road (near the junction with Thornhill Road) at the bridge over the River Pinn (pedestrians only) Postcode UB10 8SH
Ownership London Borough of Hillingdon
Name of Lead Officer Andy Boeckstaens
Lead Officer’s contact details Green Spaces Team Civic Centre 4W/08 High St, Uxbridge Middlesex, UB8 1UW Phone: 01895 250456 Fax: 01895 250646 Email: [email protected]
Description:
Swakeleys Park is a site mainly used for recreation but enjoyed by all for its surroundings; it incorporates a beautiful lake and overlooks the historic, magnificent Jacobean Swakeleys House (which does not form part of the park). The park boasts a variety of interesting features including:
A Large, open grass areas A well-used children’s playground Many mature trees Wild areas and woodland A lakeside walk with stunning views of Swakeleys House Tennis courts A small dog-free zone The Celandine Route runs through the park. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Garden
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Transport and access:
Limited free parking is available near the entrance on Swakeleys Drive and there is a small car park near the tennis courts at the entrance on The Avenue. On-street parking is also available on Swakeleys Drive, Thornhill Road, Halford Road and Milton Road. There is a level pedestrian (and wheelchair-accessible) path and cycle path linking Swakeleys Drive and The Avenue, and wheelchair-accessible stopping- points along the way. Railway access is available via Ickenham Station (London Underground Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines), which is about half a mile away from the entrance in The Avenue. Hillingdon Station, on the same lines, is three-quarters of a mile from the Swakeleys Drive entrance. These stations provide access to central London in about 45 minutes. Local buses serve the Swakeleys Drive entrance to the park, providing links to Uxbridge and other nearby towns including Ruislip, Harefield and Eastcote.
The park contains many areas of wide open space
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1.2 Key Features of Swakeleys Park
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1.3 Location:
Swakeleys Park is located in the west London Borough of Hillingdon (see Appendix A for description), in the ward of Ickenham (see Map 3, below).
Location of Ickenham in London
Swakeleys Park is approximately: 16 miles from the centre of London 7 miles from Heathrow airport 1 mile from the M40 3 miles from M25 6 miles from the M4
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2. History:
The area that is now Swakeleys Park is a small part of the former Swakeleys Estate, which covered 429 acres (a substantial part of the current Ickenham area). Very roughly this was the area currently bounded by the A40, Swakeleys Road and Long Lane. Until the turn of the 20th century, it was an extremely rural area, the focus of which was the magnificent Jacobean mansion Swakeleys House, which still stands today just beyond the eastern boundary of the park. In 1901 (when Ickenham had just 329 residents!) the Swakeleys Estate was rented by Arthur Gilbey, and it remained under the control of the Gilbey family until 1921. At that point, the estate was put up for sale, by auction in small lots. Swakeleys House was bought by Richard Cross and Frank Stedman who laid out new roads in the vicinity including Swakeleys Drive, Court Road, Milton Road, Ivy House Road and The Avenue. Cross and Stedman sold the house and immediate grounds to Humphrey Talbot, who refurbished it and sold it to the Sports Association of The Foreign Office 1927. In the meantime, Cross was bought out by Stedman, who entered into an agreement with Uxbridge Urban District Council in 1924. In 1929, the part of the Swakeleys Estate that became Swakeleys Park was conveyed to the council, to be preserved as public open space. The park has therefore remained in public ownership and under the management of the local authority – in various guises - for the last 80 years.
3. Ecology:
Swakeleys Park forms part of a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, Borough Grade II. This means that there would be significant loss to the borough in biodiversity, were this site to be lost.
It is a relatively flat area consisting of large areas of amenity grassland interspersed with sections of scrub and woodland. The southern end includes a wildlife meadow which is very valuable for pollinators.
The river also perform an important function as linear habitats, which connect different parts of the site and allow plants, insects and birds to move easily around Swakeleys Park and further. These habitats are also of high value because they are within a heavily populated area.
The following principal habitats can be recognised within the site, as follows:
Amenity grassland Scrub Woodland Tall herbs Scattered Trees Running water
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Fauna:
Although no formal fauna survey has been conducted at Swakeleys Park, the following species are commonly seen in the local area:
Avifauna Great Spotted Woodpecker House Sparrow Green Woodpecker Hedge Sparrow Song Thrush Black Bird Parakeet Robin Starlings Blue Tit Crow Great Tit Wood Pigeon Mallard Pigeon Coot Jay Magpie Wren Gold Finch Gold Crest Green Finch Pied Wagtail Moorhen Canada Goose Swan
Mammals Fox Rats Hedgehog Mice Bats Deer
Insects Butterflies Bees Wasps
Amphibians Frogs Toads
Flora:
A partial tree survey was undertaken at Swakeleys Park during early 2011. This is shown in Appendix G.
4. Recreational Facilities:
Swakeleys Park offers a good mixture of recreational opportunities. There are two excellent tennis courts, a children’s playground, a large open area for informal play and relaxation, a formal lakeside path offering spectacular views of Swakeleys House and an informal path (part of the Celandine Route) through woodland and alongside the river. All of these facilities are free of charge, with unrestricted access.
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5. Management Arrangements:
Swakeleys Park is managed by the London Borough of Hillingdon’s Green Spaces Team (see Appendix A for Green Spaces Structure) The borough’s in-house grounds maintenance team carry out grounds maintenance, with scheduled work based on the summary in more detail below. The Borough’s Green Spaces Area Officer also leads enhancement work at the site with assistance from the grounds maintenance team, contractors, Park Officers, colleagues in the Green Spaces Team, volunteers and other people, as appropriate.
Community Contacts:
Ickenham Residents Association (IRA): [email protected]
St Giles Church [email protected]
Street Champions Individual residents River Pinn Volunteers Friends of Swakeleys Park
6. Vision for Swakeleys Park
Our vision for Swakeleys Park is to maintain it as a pleasant place for the people of Ickenham and its visitors to enjoy, and make improvements where possible. The park is in two rather different sections: one is traditional open space with recreational facilities; the other is a more natural area of suburban woodland where wildlife thrives.
We seek to: Preserve the natural and wilder areas of the park. Ensure that there is appropriate provision for recreation. Design the maintenance of the grounds to match the needs of the park and its visitors. Ensure that the park is accessible for all to enjoy. Enhance the existing facilities to improve visitors’ experience. Encourage a closer working relationship with park users and local people. Ensure effective management of the lake and surrounds, to prevent silt build- up.
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7. Site Aims and Objectives
Main Aims
1. Create and maintain a welcoming site 2. Ensure the site is healthy, safe and secure 3. Ensure the site is clean and well maintained 4. Ensure sustainable management of resources 5. Appropriate management of conservation and heritage features 6. Encourage community involvement 7. Ensure effective marketing of the facility 8. Implement effective management strategies
7.1 Create and maintain a welcoming site
There are several entrances to this park, with the main entrances being on The Avenue at the north end and on Swakeleys Drive at the south. These entrances have signage which includes a map, general site information and contact information.
The site is very varied, allowing visitors to see woodland, walk beside a river and a lake, enjoy tennis and play in the playground or on the large open areas.
Objectives 1. Maintain footpaths as necessary. 2. Install and maintain new interpretive signage. 3. Maintain furniture and equipment 4. Maintain gates and signs.
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7.2 Ensure the site is healthy, safe and secure
Healthy Play areas and the tennis courts are inspected weekly by the council’s Park Officers, and independent inspections are undertaken by external contractors on four occasions per year. In addition an independent annual inspection also takes place. The weekly inspections by Park Officers frequently result in direct and immediate action being taken to overcome any problems that are found (e.g. broken glass will be removed there and then). Any defects that require a follow-up are reported to the area officer who arranges the necessary repairs. If the equipment is found to be in an unsafe condition, it will be decommissioned immediately effect.
Park Officers are seen here clearing litter after the weekend Safe and Secure
Although the park is very busy at times (it is a popular cut-through and route to school), it does not generally suffer from vandalism or anti-social behaviour. This may be due to regular visits by Park Officers, who deal with day-to-day incidents and liaise with park users.
Objectives 1. To remove litter regularly and have sound arrangements to clear fly tipping and graffiti quickly. 2. Continue to implement Health and Safety policies. 3. Ensure that those who use the park are made aware of.
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7.3 Ensure the site is clean and well maintained
Swakeleys Park is maintained primarily by the grounds maintenance team. Work is carried out in line with a specification that provides clear definition of the standards and quantity of work required. Park Officers also contribute by reporting any maintenance needed and carrying out work that is not accounted for by the grounds maintenance contract.
The site has a number of litterbins, sited within the grounds, which assist in maintaining the area in a clean condition. The litterbins are emptied on two occasions per week. Litter is also removed from grass areas immediately prior to mowing and planted areas prior to maintenance.
The guidelines as to allowing dogs within parks and open spaces are covered by the byelaws. Park Officers do, however, advise dog owners of their responsibility when visiting the park, and they, and other council officers, are empowered to issue dog fouling tickets in line with the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996. Dog bins are currently emptied, by our contractor, on a weekly basis.
Although the present arrangements mean that Swakeleys Park is kept clean, tidy and presentable, further improvements are possible. Several areas of vegetation to the south of the playground need to be thinned out. An area of dense vegetation in front of the park lodge near the entrance in The Avenue has been restored - primarily by the volunteers’ group - to an area of semi-formality. Self-set vegetation, brambles and other items have been removed.
Objectives 1. Continue with current maintenance arrangements. 2. Enhance maintenance regimes where practical. 3. Carry through a programme of improvements.
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During the winter, it is imperative that paths are clear of fallen leaves.
7.4 Ensure sustainable management of resources
The London Borough of Hillingdon is aware of the need to minimise adverse impact on the environment, and agrees with the principles of waste minimisation as defined in Local Agenda 21. LBH, therefore, actively pursues ways of delivering sustainable development and ensuring environmental sustainability is a vital part of this. The Council has signed up to the peat charter, and discourages the use of peat-based products in its horticultural work. The use of pesticides and herbicides at Swakeleys Parks is kept to a minimum. Therefore, other methods of pest control are used, and, where possible, non-herbicidal weed control is carried out. Where they are used, herbicides are applied as spot treatment rather than blanket sprayed, and all operatives are trained and certified for that particular operation.
All green waste created by the maintenance teams is taken to the borough’s green waste facility for recycling. The borough’s term tree maintenance contractor also recycles tree work arisings. This meets our objective involving waste minimisation. This also encourages efficient use of resources as, where possible; contractors are also encouraged to reuse green waste, for example as mulch. Where possible, any plants planted are drought tolerant so that the need for watering is minimised. When working with River Pinn volunteers, standing dead wood is left where appropriate and wildlife habitats are created. The grass in the wet area has been left long to promote evapotranspiration. The contractor also has sustainability targets and is looking at ways to reduce the use of carbon fuels.
It is most important that we are seen to ‘practice what we preach’ and maintain high standards of sustainable management that demonstrate our awareness of environmental, conservation and resource issues. We therefore seek to actively research and promote new initiatives in the field of sustainable resource management.
The London Borough of Hillingdon released a draft Climate Strategy for consultation in December 2008. This can be found at: http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/media/pdf/j/j/Climate_ch ange_consultation_complete.pdf
This was formally adopted in April 2009 and its policies are embedded in site management processes.
Objectives 1. Continue to promote waste minimisation. 2. Plan long-term management for all features of the playing fields. 3. Ensure efficient use of resources. 4. Develop and promote resource conservation and sustainable development. 5. Continue to minimise the application of pesticides. 6. Where possible encourage the use of physical / cultural forms of weed control.
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7. Continue to recycle and re-use organic matter as mulches, soil ameliorants, and for other uses.
7.5 Appropriate management of conservation and heritage features
A partial assessment of the trees on site has been undertaken (Appendix C) to produce a schedule of works to return the tree stock to optimum condition.
The park is home to much interesting flora and fauna, and an ecological survey will be undertaken to identify exactly what species are present in order to effect necessary management changes.
There is an area on site which lends itself to wildlife conservation. It is at the north side of the park, near the tennis courts, between The Avenue and Swakeleys Road, bounded by the River Pinn. This large area of woodland and scrub is a haven for invertebrates and avifauna.
The river needs to be cleaned and maintained
Objectives 1. Conserve landscape features and improve as necessary. 2. Conserve existing boundaries. 3. Initiate programme of phased tree maintenance in line with survey findings. 4. Undertake a base-line ecological survey.
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The lakeside has benefited from coppicing, opening up greatly improved views of the stately home
Park officers remove vegetation and chip it on site
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7.6 Encourage community involvement
The LBH community strategy outlines seven goals for improving the quality of life of the community. Proposed actions taken towards achieving the goal of ‘a clean and attractive borough’ includes involving the community in improving standards of green spaces. The strategy can be accessed at:http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/media/pdf/s/t/comm_strat_0515.pdf
A group of local volunteers normally meets at the park every month and works with council officers on specific improvement projects. Most of these have concentrated on wildlife and conservation (for example to install bird boxes and to clean the river) but the group is also involved with general maintenance and litter-picking. It is intended to expand the range of volunteers to include schoolchildren from Vyners School (which is very close by) and engage them in a wider range of activities that match their interests. The park is used by hundreds of children from the school each day, if only as a convenient route to and from school.
A group of children are planting snowdrops and bluebells
The local authority is encouraging these groups to form a forum that will be consulted and involved in the management and development of the park in the future. The Leader of the Council is the ward member for Ickenham and very supportive of improvements to the park and its application for the Green Flag Award. Nevertheless there is no formal Friends group and there appears to be little will amongst volunteer groups to establish one.
The Ickenham Residents Association has therefore acted as the focus and catalyst within the community to galvanise activity.
Objectives 1. Improve joint working with local voluntary groups. 2. Further promotion of the site to schools, youth, community and conservation groups.
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Volunteers in action in the woodland
Students from Uxbridge College and Blue Sky working together
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7.7 Ensure effective marketing of the facility
Swakeleys Park is featured in the borough-wide, general leaflet on green spaces. The booklet is available for download at: www.hillingdon.gov.uk/media/pdf/7/b/gs_booklet.pdf and the map is available online at http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=7725.
The site’s management plan is available online through the council’s web pages, making it accessible to all. In order to ensure that people are aware of what is going on in the park, it is essential that a supply of information is available throughout the year. This information will be presented in a variety of different ways through leaflets, notice boards and also on the council’s web site. The Information will promote understanding and awareness of the park and stimulate interest in visiting it. The sign boards at the entrances to the park further enhance marketing. When appropriate, LBH staff introduce themselves to visitors and make themselves available to answer questions and queries about the park.
Objectives 1. Preparation of interpretative materials for the park.
Implement effective management strategies
The park has been owned and managed by what is now The London Borough of Hillingdon since 1930. However, it fell into disrepair in the 80s and 90s as did many of London’s open spaces when, due to restrictions in funding, upkeep and management was not well organised. Now, the LBH Green Spaces team is responsible for this and is committed to continue improving the site and making it a special one. The staff structure (in Appendix F) outlines how this works. The grounds maintenance team carries out most of the routine maintenance work. The Park Officers, under the charge of the Green Spaces Officer, are responsible for day-to-day management. Additionally, the park’s management benefits from the involvement of workers from Blue Sky (an organisation that provides work for former prisoners), volunteers from Uxbridge College, and local volunteers keen to make a difference in the park. The Green Flag assessment process itself ensures further enhancement, as it is a means for review of the management and will be used to encourage new thinking and to guide dynamic and adaptable management.
Objectives 1. Use sustainable management strategies and methods. 2. Carry out regular reviews of all management operations and projects. 3. Identify potential sources of appropriate funding.
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8. Management Actions and Enhancement Projects
Swakeleys Park is managed by the London Borough of Hillingdon’s Green Spaces Team.
Grounds maintenance is carried out by the borough’s maintenance team (from January 2013, this function came back “in-house” after many years of using contractors). The grounds maintenance team carries out most of the routine maintenance work including maintaining amenity grass, formal hedge, tree lifting, Jubilee garden and children's playground. The Green Spaces Area Officer checks the quality of completed works and make sure that standards required by the Council are achieved. In order to implement the best possible grounds maintenance regime, ensuring that work is carried out to a high and consistent standard, grounds maintenance activities on site are reviewed by Green Spaces Area Officer and Ground Maintenance Manager.
Formal areas of the site are managed as amenity grassland by ground maintenance team. It is normally cut: Once during March Once during November Twice during each month in between
The grass is litter-picked prior to cutting. The grass cuttings are not collected or removed from such large areas as this would greatly increase the cost of mowing.
Laural and hawthorn hedges are pruned once a year on a scheduled basis, usually during the period July-October. We aim to avoid, wherever possible to cutting of hedges during the bird nesting season.
Friends of Swakeleys Park are keen to make a difference to the park alongside the paid workforce. In addition to the regular maintenance of the site, the following actions shall be undertaken on an ongoing basis:
Regular cleaning regime to remove litter Ensure that park users are made aware of the byelaws when necessary Encourage park users to value the park Enhance maintenance regimes where practical Encourage greater involvement of park users Promote waste minimisation Minimise the use of pesticides Encourage the use of cultural forms of weed control Recycle and re-use organic matter generated on site for soil-ameliorants, mulches, etc Develop and promote resource conservation and sustainable development Produce a phased and costed schedule for tree works Carry out regular reviews of all management operations and projects Identify new sources of funding.
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Enhancement Projects
Project: Alleviate flooding in the park
Summary: Installation of three drainage channels from the open space to the River Pinn.
Rationale: Parts of the park have been seriously flooded in recent years.
Constraints: Ground conditions/bad weather
Who will do The council's term contractors it?
Budget £21,000 Estimate:
Status Completion expected mid-February 2015
Project: Tree management
Summary: The re-survey the conditions of the trees around the park and woods
Rationale: To ensure that the trees are properly managed to ensure safety, long-term sustainability, and maximise their attractiveness.
Constraints: Officer time
Who will do Tree officer it?
Budget £1000 Estimate:
Status Awaiting funding
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9.Appendices
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Appendix A
Introduction to the London Borough of Hillingdon Description Hillingdon, situated on the western edge of Greater London, is the second largest London borough, covering a total area of about 42 square miles. It is just 14 miles from central London and bounded by the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey and the London Boroughs of Hounslow, Ealing and Harrow. Hillingdon is home to Heathrow, the world's busiest airport that caters for more than 60 million passengers a year. The borough has eight leisure centres and 2 pools, 17 libraries, two theatres and over 170 green spaces including Ruislip Woods Natural Nature Reserve and Lido.
History
The London Borough of Hillingdon was one of the 32 London Boroughs created by the London Government Act 1963. It was formed by the amalgamation of the Borough of Uxbridge and the Urban Districts of Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip/Northwood and Yiewsley and West Drayton. The new borough came into existence on April 1, 1965 when the new council started work. As well as taking on the work of the four previous district authorities the council became responsible for local services such as education, libraries and the children's services. These had previously been run by the Middlesex County Council, which ceased to exist on April 1 1965. Hillingdon's purpose-built Civic Centre opened its doors to the public in 1977. The council specified the use of traditional materials such as bricks and tiles while the sloping roofs were designed by the architects to reflect the style found in many of the borough's homes.
Workforce
The council employs approximately 3,350 staff.
People
Hillingdon has a population of 274,000 (2000 estimate). There is a growing proportion of young people, particularly of school age children. Around 39% of the borough's residents are from ethnic minority groups (mainly Indian, Pakistani, other Asian and Black Caribbean). There is an active voluntary sector, and a wide variety of community groups, tenants' and residents' associations.
Leisure
Hillingdon is rich in wildlife and wildlife habitat including waterways, lakes, meadows and nature reserves. Ruislip Woods have been designated London's first National Nature Reserve, while nearby Ruislip Lido boasts 40 acres of water. The borough also offers a host of sporting activities, including six sports centres, many with newly refurbished gyms and four exceptional 18-hole golf courses, including a championship standard course at Stockley Park. The arts and entertainment thrive, with The Beck professional theatre in Hayes, the Compass Theatre, Ickenham, and various other venues. The Chimes in Uxbridge is a major shopping centre. 22
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Appendix B Marketing Analysis and Plan
Swakeleys Park, in the ward of Ickenham, is very easily reached from major roads including the A40, M40 and M25.
Ward residents’ profile (based on results of 2011 Census)
Gender: Males 5,060 Households: 4,059 Females 5,327 Total: 10,387
Age: 0 – 4 5.3% Households with dependent children: 31.7% 5 – 15 13.4% 16 – 24 10.4% 25 – 59 44.6% 60- 74 15.9% 75 + 10.9%
Ethnic Group: White 78.2% Mixed 2.9% Asian / Asian British 15.4% Black / Black British 1.6% Arab or other Ethnic group 1.9%
Health of people: Very good/Good 85.6% People with a limiting lifetime illness 14.2%: Fairly Good 11.2% Very bad/Bad 3.2%
Analysis
The ward profile of residents indicates that almost 18% of Ickenham’s residents is a child, so Swakeleys Park has an important role as a place for healthy, active recreational activities. Over 10% of the residents are over 75 with nearly 25% over 60. Seats need to be available and easy to use by older people, and a DDA compliant design is important for those with disabilities. With around 20% being classed as non white it is important that suitable efforts are made to ensure that those from ethnic minority groups receive appropriate opportunities to enjoy all that Swakeleys Park has to offer.
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Marketing Methods to Help Enhance Appreciation and Appropriate use of the Site
Regular liaison with interested parties on issues affecting Swakeleys Parks including the Ickenham Residents Association.
Use of welcoming informative interpretation boards at key points to promote the special interests of the site to regular and occasional users.
Develop contact with residents over the age of 65 to promote Swakeleys Park and ensure feedback can be obtained from potentially less mobile users.
Promote Green Flag standards to users and neighbours to help raise the profile and understanding of Swakeleys Park.
Encourage articles to be written and published about Swakeleys Park – Green Spaces
web page, Hillingdon People, other publications, as opportunities arise.
Encourage schools to be involved in projects relating to Swakeleys Park to aid understanding, appreciation and awareness.
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APPENDIX C
SWAKELEYS PARK – JUBILEE GARDEN
To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, a new garden was constructed in a prominent place between the children’s playground and the main path. The garden is 17 metres long and 11 metres wide. Construction cost about £23,000. The type of design chosen for this project is a formal layout consisting mainly of box hedging, planted in a pattern to create enclosed sections. The planting has been completed with herbaceous and aromatic shrubs. There is now a central marble obelisk with a plaque that was unveiled by the Mayor of Hillingdon on 7 August 2012 (the original sandstone obelisk was destroyed by vandals within 24 hours of installation). Paths have been constructed in resin-bonded gravel and several seats have been installed in a style to match the garden layout. The Jubilee Garden is maintained by the council’s in-house grounds maintenance team, and by the Swakeleys Volunteers who normally attend once a month. The cost of annual maintenance is around £5,000. The area is under CCTV surveillance.
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Appendix D
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Appendix E Events and Marketing Materials
Healthy Walks
This includes events such as the “Healthy Walks” in Hillingdon which seek to encourage health and fitness, as well as socialising and enjoying your local area. The excerpt shown is from the leaflet found at: http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=8625
It advertises walks that include the footpath adjacent to the park. Walks such as this promote the site, maintain local interest and gain new users.
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Appendix F
Green Spaces team Structure (as at January 2015):
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Appendix G
Tree Survey
Introduction A tree survey was undertaken at Swakeleys Park in January 2011, by Jon Gurr (LBH Tree Officer) assisted by John Buckley, Parks Officer.
Methodology The survey was conducted with reference to BS 7370: Part 1: 1991 with additional information and works scheduling. The position of each tree is marked and numbered on a map of Swakeleys Park (see page 31).
The following data has been collected:
Species (English Name) Diameter at 1.5m (DBH, 1-6, banded in 20cm units) Height (metres) Crown spread (metres) Life (see notes) Work Required Urgency (U – urgent, 1/2/3 - undertake within 1/2/3 years) Cost Comments
A brief outline of the methodology follows:
Life The purpose of ‘Life’ is with the application of a single number, to be able to indicate how far a tree is through its life in any given location. The assessment will cut across species, size, location, and condition; will ultimately give a projection of tree cover for a given site for the present, looking ahead to the medium term and help with management priorities.
For example – 15 year old established tree, with good form and health, in the middle of a park would attract a ‘2’ – ‘vigorous, not effecting its surroundings, liable to make a mature tree’. However take exactly the same tree that has seeded itself next to an old wall in a conservation area, would attract a ‘5’ – ‘having an adverse effect on its surroundings, retain only in the short term’.
It is a reasonable expectation that ‘Life 3’ should make up the main body of tree cover in any given area. Young and semi mature trees at ‘Life 1 & 2’ are the future ‘3s’ while ‘Life 4 & 5’ are towards the other end of their lives with moderate to severe problems identified.
Using the 1- 6 scoring method the entire tree cover of an area can be assessed as follows:
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1 – Young tree Under ten years old, not established, still vulnerable
2 – Semi- mature tree Should go on to make a mature tree, has no visible defects or conditions Not being affected by environmental conditions either natural or human caused Not affecting or ever likely to, any structures, surfaces or services Is a good choice for the site, long term retention
3 – Semi mature or mature tree Has minor structural defects, non serious condition, has reached maturity or, Being slightly affected by environmental conditions either natural or human caused or, Beginning to slightly affect either structures, surfaces or services Is good choice for the site, medium to long term retention
4 - Semi mature or mature tree Has moderate structural defect or notable condition or Being moderately affected by environmental conditions either natural or human caused Beginning to moderately affect either structures, surfaces or services Is only a fair choice for the site, short to medium term retention
5 - Semi mature or mature tree Has serious structural defect or condition or Being seriously affected by environmental conditions either natural or human caused or Beginning to seriously affecting either structures, surfaces or services Is poor choice for the site, short term retention
6 – Semi mature or mature tree Dead Collapse foreseeable Remove without delay
Results
Please note that this survey identifies only a limited number of all trees growing in Swakeleys Park; trees 1-93, including Groups 1, 2 and 3, are located along the footpath from the entrance off The Avenue and follow the footpath through the park until it reaches Swakeleys Drive. Trees 94-118 are located around the edge of the children’s playground, close to The Avenue end of the park. The remainder of the trees in Swakeleys Park have yet to be surveyed.
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Tree Location Map
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Tree Survey Results
Poplar Snap outs, severed ivy, 22 DS 80/100 18 14 4 - natural lean
Ash
23 40/60 16 6 3 -
Sycamore Five stemmed 24 40/60 18 14 4 -
Ash
25 20/40 14 4 2 -
Willow Leaning, 26 <20 8 2 4 fell 1 PO Poor form
False acacia Monitor Dead 27 20/40 14 6 4 bark loss 1 TO branches
Oak
28 60/80 16 10 4 - d/wood
Ash
29 20/40 16 8 3 -
London plane
30 20/40 17 8 3 -
31 Willow 20/40 16 4 3 -
Elm
32 DS <20 9 2 4 -
Oak
33 40/60 14 9 3 -
F acacia
34 20/40 15 4 3 -
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Norway maple Extensive squirrel bark 35 20/40 10 5 4 - damage
36 N maple 40/60 12 10 3 -
Prune off basal Basal 37 Ash DS 20/40 12 4 3 growth 1 PO growth
F acacia Light 38 20/40 10 7 4 - d/wood
F acacia Prune off low broken 39 20/40 14 8 3 branch 1 PO
Prune off F acacia low broken 40 20/40 13 5 3 branch 1 PO
41 L plane 100/120 20 14 4 -
Hawthorn
42 20/40 8 3 4 - d/wood
43 Hawthorn MS 20/40 8 4 4 - d/wood
Ash
44 20/40 12 6 3 -
Silver 45 birch <20 14 2 2 -
N maple Bark 46 20/40 12 7 3 - damage
Bark 47 N maple 20/40 14 4 3 - damage
48 N maple 20/40 11 4 3 -
40/60 Remove Basal and basal low 49 F acacia 12 5 3 growth 1 PO branches
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Swakeleys Park Management Plan
50 L plane 20/40 14 4 3 -
51 Hawthorn 20/40 7 4 4 - d/wood
20/40
52 F acacia 12 3 3 -
Light 53 Oak 60/80 15 12 4 - d/wood
<20 Remove 4x basal 54 Hawthorn 5 3 4 growth 1 PO d/wood
55 Oak 40/60 16 10 3 - d/wood
20/40
56 N maple 14 4 3 -
57 N maple 20/40 13 6 3 -
58 Oak 40/60 14 12 4 -
20/40
59 Ash 12 5 3 -
60 L plane 20/40 12 3 2 -
61 Ash 20/40 10 3 2 -
62 Ash 20/40 10 5 3 -
63 F acacia 20/40 10 4 3 -
64 L plane 20/40 9 4 3 -
Silver 65 maple 40/60 11 6 3 -
66 Ash 20/40 10 4 3 -
Ash
67 <20 8 2 2 -
68 Ash 40/60 10 8 3 -
69 Sycamore 20/40 10 6 4 - Bark
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Swakeleys Park Management Plan
damage
70 Willow 40/60 10 10 4 -
Willow
71 40/60 10 10 4 -
Bark 72 Sycamore <20 4 2 4 - damage
Bark 73 Sycamore 20/40 10 3 3 - damage
Oak
74 80/100 15 12 4 - d/wood
75 S maple 20/40 10 4 3 -
Oak
76 60/80 15 12 4 - d/wood
77 Oak 60/80 16 8 4 - d/wood
78 S maple 20/40 11 5 3 -
79 N maple 20/40 13 3 3 -
80 S maple 20/40 11 6 3 -
Basal hollowing, crown 50% 81 Oak 80/100 12 6 5 - pruned
Oak
82 60/80 16 6 3 -
Oak
83 60/80 16 6 3 -
Oak
84 60/80 16 6 3 -
85 N maple 20/40 10 4 3 -
86 N maple 20/40 10 4 3 -
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Swakeleys Park Management Plan
87 N maple 20/40 10 4 3 -
Oak Monitor for 88 60/80 15 7 4 - health
89 Oak 60/80 14 9 4 - d/wood
Lombardy 90 poplar 80/100 22 3 4 -
91 Oak 60/80 14 8 3 -
Pollarded, ivy around 92 Oak 60/80 16 4 4 - base
93 Oak 40/60 12 2 4 - Topped
Oak
94 DS 20/40 14 6 4 -
Sycamore, elm, willow Group <20 to Appear 1 40/60 5-15 2-8 1-5 - stable
N maple, Ash, Fell 2 N F acacia maple, Group 20/40 poor 2 40/60 8-15 2-8 2-5 form 1 PO Dying
Ash, Group Alder, N 20/40 Appear 3 maple 40/60 4-10 6-12 3-4 - stable
Hung up 95 Oak 60/80 18 10 3 branch 1 PO Stubs
Oak
96 60/80 18 10 3 -
Sycamore
97 TS 20/40 15 8 3 -
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Swakeleys Park Management Plan
MS <20 98 Hawthorn 20/40 5 4 3 -
Pine
99 20/40 15 4 2 -
Pine
100 20/40 10 4 2 -
Pine
101 20/40 10 4 2 -
102 Ash 80/100 18 14 3 - Rip out
Oak
103 <20 8 5 2 -
Oak
104 40/60 12 6 3 -
Hawthorn
105 20/40 8 3 3 -
Prune off any lower Oak – dead 106 spp? DS 40/60 17 10 3 branches 1 PO d/wood
Sycamore
107 20/40 12 5 3 -
Prune off Oak – any spp? lower dead 108 40/60 14 8 3 branches 1 PO d/wood
F acacia
109 40/60 15 7 3 - d/wood
N maple
110 <20 9 4 3 -
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Swakeleys Park Management Plan
Prune off any lower dead 111 Oak 80/100 17 10 4 branches 1 PO ivy
Broadleaf spp
112 20/40 15 5 3 - stubs
Some trees were burnt last summer, Group Line of monitor for 4 Cypress <20 20/40 5-10 1-4 1-3 - deterioration
Hawthorn
113 20/40 7 4 3 -
114 Apple 20/40 6 5 3 -
Oak Prune off basal 115 20/40 16 4 3 growth 1 PO -
Dawn redwood
116 40/60 3 3 -
Oak
117 40/60 14 6 3 -
118 Hawthorn MS 20/40 11 3 3 - d/wood
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Swakeleys Park Management Plan
Results Analysis
The life stage of the trees surveyed is compared to the ideal life distribution for a site, and shown below.
70
60
50
40 Ideal % 30 Observed
20
10
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Life Rating
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Swakeleys Park Management Plan
Conclusions
Swakeleys Park contains a number of fine mature trees. Of the trees surveyed so far, very few are in life category 1, indicating a need to invest in some new trees. Many contain dead wood, and their proximity to a busy footpath means that work on them must receive a high priority.
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