Woodland & Urban Tree Strategy

Woodland & Urban Tree Strategy for the Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces of Bournemouth BOURNEMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL Leisure Services September 2006 Woodland & Urban Tree Strategy Contents Page No. Introduction - Councillor Robert Copeland 3 Summary 4 Management Issues 5 Objectives 12 Management Policies 13 Areas covered by the Strategy in alphabetical order: . ALUM CHINE 15 . BOSCOMBE CHINE GARDENS 16 . BOSCOMBE CLIFF GARDENS 17 . CHERRY TREE WALK 18 . DURLEY CHINE 19 . FAMPOUX GARDENS 20 . FERNHEATH SPORTS GROUND 21 . FISHERMAN’S WALK 22 . HOMESIDE WOOD 23 . HORSESHOE COMMON 24 . KING’S PARK 25 . KINSON SWIMMING POOL 26 . KNYVETON GARDENS 27 . LITTLEDOWN OPEN SPACE 28 . LITTLEDOWN PARK 29 . MEYRICK PARK East 30 . MEYRICK PARK STRIPS 31 . MIDDLE CHINE 32 . MOORDOWN RECREATION GROUND 33 . MUSCLIFF PARK 34 . PELHAMS PARK 35 . PUCKS DELL 36 . PUGS HOLE 37 . QUEEN’S PARK 38 . QUEEN’S WOOD 39 . REDHILL PARK 40 continued over page … Woodland & Urban Tree Strategy Page No. Contents . RIVERLANDS 41 . SEAFIELD GARDENS 42 . SHELLEY PARK 43 . SOVEREIGN CLOSE OPEN SPACE 44 . SPENCER GARDENS 45 . ST CLEMENT’S CHURCHYARD 46 . ST JAMES’ SQUARE 47 . ST PETER’S CHURCH 48 . STOKEWOOD ROAD 49 . STROUDEN WOODS 50 . THE DINGLE 51 . THE ROOKERY 52 . WINTON RECREATION GROUND 53 . WOODLAND WALK 54 . WORDSWORTH WOODS 55 Appendices 1. Management Priorities 56 2. Britain’s Woodland History - Bournemouth’s Woodland History 58 3. Leisure Services Tree Warden Scheme 61 4. Tree Policy 62 5. Site map 64 Woodland & Urban Tree Strategy Introduction Bournemouth’s woodlands are special. The Council’s Leisure Services team are responsible for 235 hectares – about 580 acres – of woodland within our town, from the tiny (0.14ha at Cherry Tree Walk) to the significant (28ha in Queen’s Park). They offer us the experience of being in a natural environment, close by, and in contrast to, the built- up areas we normally inhabit. They provide opportunities for exercise and education, and they allow us to get closer to nature through observing wildlife. They provide screening, shelter and shade. They reduce air pollution through filtering carbon dioxide and other pollutants, and they put back oxygen and moisture into the atmosphere. It is essential we recognise Bournemouth’s woodlands as a valuable resource, and appreciate the benefits they provide, by defining what woodlands we have, where they are, and why they are important. This information is a fundamental requirement if our woodlands are to be appropriately managed. This Strategy forms the basis of a structured approach to woodland management, leading to the use of appropriate techniques and effective protection of the environment. It will help to create multiple- use woodlands for the future, for the benefit of our children and grandchildren. Cllr Robert Copeland Bournemouth Borough Council Cabinet Member for Environment & Leisure Woodland & Urban Tree Strategy Summary Bournemouth is blessed with award-winning parks and gardens open to the public. This Woodland & Urban Tree Strategy is a framework document to ensure the trees and woodlands of these open spaces are well managed into the future, to protect and enhance their sustainability and biodiversity. Our vision is to provide a range of multiple-use broadleaved and coniferous woodlands, rich in plant and wildlife, accessible to residents and visitors alike. This Strategy replaces the existing short-term (5 year) individual Woodland Management Plans, and simplifies management by identifying and applying Policies that are common to each woodland. This will provide a single long-term framework for management, and with a review every 5 years, better reflects the life cycle of trees. The Strategy covers the 40 parkland sites throughout the Borough where there is a significant element of tree cover requiring management within their boundaries. These total an area of 235 hectares; each is described individually in alphabetical order, with notes on ownership and any conservation designation accorded the site. Exclusions (i) Alum Chine Tropical Garden; Hengistbury Head; Kinson Common Lower, Central & Upper Gardens; Stour Valley; Turbary Common In addition to the 40 parkland sites, there are areas of tree cover within the Borough that form only one element of a wider landscape. These – the 6 named above – are included within the individual Management Plans that cover these specific areas, and consequently they are not included here. (ii) Meyrick Park Golf Course Lying within the Meyrick Park and Talbot Woods Conservation Area, and protected by an Area Tree Preservation Order placed in 1993, the golf course is leased for a 99-year period from the Council. The Lessee has responsibility for managing the woodlands, and this is based upon the existing Woodland Management Plan for this area. This site is also not included here. (ii) Other Council landholdings This Strategy covers the parks, gardens and countryside land currently managed by the Council’s Leisure Services department. Woodland and urban trees on land held by the Council’s education, highway, housing and social services are not included. Woodland & Urban Tree Strategy Management Issues The following issues and constraints affect the way in which the trees and woodlands of Bournemouth’s parks, gardens and open spaces can be managed: 1. The Bournemouth Pines 2. Ancient and Veteran Trees 3. Climate Change 4. Commemorative Trees 5. Community involvement: The Tree Warden Scheme 6. Community involvement: Working With Our Neighbours 7. Establishment of New Trees 8. Notification of Works 9. Recycling & Sustainability 10. Relationship with the Local Authority Planning Board 11. Risk Management 12. Tree Policy 13. The Relevant Legislation 14. Monitoring this Strategy 1 – The Bournemouth Pines The Pine trees of Bournemouth are a dominant feature of the town, even appearing on its crest. They are a relatively recent feature, being planted to provide shelter and better air quality around the turn of the 20th century by the new Victorian landowners, on the open heath land that characterised the town’s landscape at that time. They are now mature and are declining in numbers through old age, natural causes, and pressure from development. Retention of this element of our landscape on the same scale can only be achieved through positive management. There are no longer open spaces available for new planting, and owing to the Pine species’ need for high levels of light in order to establish successfully, under- planting with young trees is not an option to ensure succession. As the existing Pines diminish in number, the process of natural colonisation by shade-bearing deciduous species will continue to develop below the high coniferous canopy. Without … Without significant and costly management intervention through phased clearance and replanting, much of the treescape in Bournemouth would change, from the current coniferous dominance to a more deciduous flavour. To offset this change, and to recognise the role of the Pine in Bournemouth’s landscape, we will plant or replant Pine trees wherever possible and appropriate, as the opportunity arises. 2 – Ancient and Veteran Trees While there are many trees within the Borough that are semi-mature and significant in the landscape, the planting of trees in Bournemouth is generally too young for “champion trees” - trees over 150 years of age - to have developed although there are a number of exceptions. Littledown Park boasts a collection of “veteran” Oaks and Pelhams Park a pair of Sweet Chestnuts. In addition there are specimens scattered throughout the flood plain of the River Stour to the east and north-east of the Borough, as well as in and other locations across the town. There is a general awareness of their presence, but to date no information has been collated, and this is a task to which volunteers such as the Tree Wardens will be asked to contribute. (see Issue 5 below). To reflect the importance of these trees and in recognition of their fragility and vulnerability to change within their immediate environment it is intended to have these assessed for their ecological and heritage importance i.e. what does each tree contain/harbour etc, which would assist in producing management plans specific to these individuals or groups of trees which will then be included in this management plan as an addendum. 3 – Climate Change The generally recognised trend towards warmer and wetter climate conditions across the British Isles enables a greater range of “exotic”, non-native tree species to thrive. However, to ensure successful establishment a greater emphasis will be required on care through the early establishment phases, and the use of either container-grown or root-balled stock. We will aim to increase new tree planting within parks, gardens, playgrounds and other open spaces frequented by the public, in order to provide better protection against rising levels of ultra-violet rays associated with climate change. We will keep in touch with current thinking on global warming, and will use those species best adapted to the potential new climate conditions. 4 – Commemorative Trees Leisure Services receives a number of requests from the public for trees to be planted in memory of those who have died, or to commemorate certain events. Many of the requests for such trees seek planting in high profile areas – for example, the Lower and Central Gardens, which are unsuitable owing to a lack of space. The majority are planted by agreement within the Arboretum adjacent to the River Stour, located off Muscliff Lane in north Bournemouth. However, where there are strong links between those to be commemorated and a specific area of the Borough, endeavours will be made to accommodate the wishes of the donors wherever possible. Commemorative plaques are actively discouraged owing to a high rate of vandalism and subsequent distress when a plaque is vandalised. Instead, a certificate recording details of the planting will be provided to donors. The charge for this service varies between tree species and size, but the operation is cost neutral to the Council in the majority of cases.

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