CONTENTS Introduction 1 1. Site Overview 1.1 Havering 2 1.2 Strategic Framework 3 1.3 Site Description 3 1.4 History 6 1.5 Location and Transport Links 11 2. A Welcoming Place 2.1 Entrance Points 15 2.2 Entrance Signs 17 2.3 Equal Access 19 3. Heathy, Safe and Secure 3.1 Health and Safety Systems 20 3.2 Parks Protection Service 22 3.3 Parks Locking 24 3.4 Infrastructure 24 3.5 Parks Monitoring 25 4. Maintenance of Equipment, Buildings and Landscape 4.1 Horticultural Maintenance 27 4.2 Arboricultural Management 30 4.3 Vehicles and Plant Maintenance 30 4.4 Parks Furniture 30 4.5 Parks Buildings 32 5. Litter, Cleanliness and Vandalism 5.1 Litter Management 33 5.2 Sweeping 33 5.3 Graffiti 33 5.4 Flytipping 34 5.5 Reporting 34 5.6 Dog Fouling 34 6. Environmental Sustainability 6.1 Environmental Impact 36 6.2 Peat Use 36 6.3 Waste Minimisation 36 6.4 Pesticide Use 40 7. Biodiversity, Landscape and Heritage 7.1 Management of natural features, wild fauna and flora 42 7.2 Conservation of Landscape features 43 7.3 Woodlands 46 7.4 Marshes 48 7.5 Biodiversity Action Plan 49 7.6 Havering Local Plan 49 7.7 Natural Ambition Booklet 50 8. Community Involvement 8.1 Council Surveys 51 8.2 User Groups 52 9. Marketing and Promotions 9.1 Parks Brochure 59 9.2 Social Media 59 9.3 Website 59 9.4 Interpretation Boards 59 9.5 Events 60 10. Management 10.1 Management structure 64 10.2 Financial Management 66 10.3 Accreditation 66 10.4 Action Plan 67 10.5 Parks Contact Details 71 Appendices 1. Policy Context 2. History 3. Pesticide Reduction Strategy 4. Risk Assessments 5. Pleasure Ground Byelaws 6. Parks Fitter’s Instruction Form 7. Parks Monitoring Form 8. Grounds Maintenance Specification Contents 9. Vehicle Check Form 10. Peat Use Policy 11. Marketing 12. Event Application Form 13. SWOT Analysis 14. Example of play area visual inspection sheet 15. Example of play area operation inspection sheet Introduction The Hornchurch Country Park Management Plan has been prepared by the London Borough of Havering Public Realm (Parks and Open Spaces) department and represents a five year plan for the Park. The plan was completed in 2019 and will be revised annually until a full update in 2024. It was recognised that the park given its importance locally required improvements to facilities and standards. As part of this process the plan was produced to reflect these improvements and how the park is managed. The format of this plan follows the Green Flag Award criteria as this is recognised as the nationally accepted standard of excellence for parks and open spaces. The criteria also reflect a comprehensive and logical breakdown on the complements of how a park is managed. The plan also includes an action plan which is achievable within the remit of current budgets. The plan has been produced to give the reader a ‘virtual’ tour of the park and a practical management guide. The key information is in the main body of the plan with more detailed information including policies and examples in the appendix. It is intended for a broad audience interested in the development of the park namely: • Public Ream staff - Parks and Open Spaces Officers, Grounds Maintenance • Other services and departments within the London Borough of Havering • Elected members, ward councillors and portfolio holders • The community and its representative organisations Ingrebourne Valley Marshes SSSI 1 1. Site Overview 1.1 Havering The London Borough of Havering is London’s third largest borough. The north and east boundaries border the rolling Essex countryside and the south covers three miles of River Thames frontage. To the west Havering is bordered by the boroughs of Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham. The name ‘Havering’ originates from the Royal Liberty of Havering, to which Edward IV granted a charter in 1465. The area’s history stretches back to Roman times with early settlements at Rainham and Collier Row. The London Borough of Havering was created in 1965 by the merger of Romford and Hornchurch Urban District Councils. The name of Havering was finally agreed as a combination of the town names was not allowed. The idea of blending the two names was never a serious consideration.Armorial bearings were granted at the time of the formation. The motto ‘liberty’ represents the present free and democratic way of life but is inspired by the fact that Havering was mostly a part of the royal liberty of Havering – Atte – Bower from 1465 – 1892. London Borough of Havering Location Plan Many of Havering’s open spaces and public parks have a long and rich history. Some are former private estates with historical and heritage importance including Bedford’s Park, Clockhouse Gardens, Parklands Park and Langton’s Gardens. Well known landscape architects such as Humphrey Repton designed some open spaces within Havering e.g. Langton’s Gardens and many parks were developed in the twentieth century e.g. Upminster, Rise and Lawns Parks. 2 There is a large amount of countryside, especially in the north of the borough, with a good Public Rights of Way network and 4 country parks. There are also a wide variety of urban spaces from ornamental gardens to large municipal parks. 1.2 The Strategic Framework Information how this Management Plan for Hornchurch Country Park sits within the national, regional and local context for parks and open spaces can be found in Appendix 1. 1.3 Site Description Hornchurch Country Park is located at the southern end of Hornchurch on the site of the WW1 RFC Suttons Farm and WW2 RAF Hornchurch. The former being famous for being the base from which Lieutenant Leefe-Robinson VC took off from to shoot down the first airship over land. The latter as a major Battle of Britain Airfield from which many famous pilots aces flew from. Aerial View of Hornchurch Country Park The park is approximately 104 hectares in size and was created from a landfill site in 1980 and is made up of several different compartments. A large amount of the park has been allowed to develop naturally as wildlife habit and is managed through hay cutting towards the end of June, beginning of July. The area nearest two areas nearest the visitor centre and managed for amenity use and are also used for events. At the southern end of the Park there is a lake that allows for casual angling 3 but also hosts a great deal of wildlife. The Park Ranger depot is also based at this end of the Park. The Essex Wildlife Trust in partnership with the London Borough of Havering opened a visitor centre in the northern half of the Park in 2015. The centre is used for a number of educational events, displays and has a café and toilets open to the public. The park has a surfaced path that runs mainly along the eastern boundary north to south and links the parks two car parks. It also links with the London Borough of Havering’s adjacent Gaynes, Hacton and Suttons Parkway’s in the north and the forestry commissions Ingrebourne Hill site to the south. The path makes up part of the Sustran Connect2 route 136 which links the entire Boroughs northern and southern parts. There are also other links into adjacent forestry commission and privately owned green space. All this area is known as the Ingrebourne Valley Section of map board showing Ingrebourne Valley and its connections 4 The Ingrebourne River runs down the eastern side of the Park and flows through part of the park known as the Ingrebourne Marshes. These are designated as a Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI) and form the largest fresh water reed bed in the London Area. Access to this area is restricted to the public but good views can had into the area from various places within and without the Park. The park aims to cater for a number of uses and apart from the educational, walking and cycling uses it also has a children’s play area and outdoor gym located near the visitor centre and trim trail equipment spread out through the northern half of the Park. There are also a number of picnic benches throughout. The Park is home to a vast amount of flora and fauna and is a very popular with bird watchers. A number of rare species have been observed here in recent years including Spotted Crake and Bittern. It is also known for it invertebrate and reptile species including Adders, with the Ingrebourne Valley hosting the largest Adder hibernaculum in London. During its creation in the 80’s small wooded areas were planted and these go to break up the more grassy compartments and add extra interest to the park Chicory in flower at Hornchurch Country Park For history Buffs there are several WW2 defences within the Park. The Main car park at Squadrons Approach was in fact an aircraft dispersal bay (known as an E pen) used to protect Spitfires and their ground crews during the war. Also present in the park area number of well-preserved pill boxes and some very rare Tett Turrets. 5 Tett Turrets Air raid shelter at rear of E Pen A large portion of the main Park and marshes have fallen under Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme. As part of this an arrangement has been made with a local farmer who grazes cattle on compartments in the marshes and cuts the hay meadows in the Park from late June.