Sunnydale Park
Management Plan
2015 – 2020
With 2017 Addendum and Updated Action Plan
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION 1 Purpose of the Management Plan 1
1.1 Community Context 2 1.1.1 Sunnydale Park Catchment Area 2 1.1.2 Community Profile 2
1.2 Site Description 5 1.2.1 Location 5 1.2.2 Existing Site 6 1.2.3 Summary of Attractions 7 1.2.4 Use of Park 7 1.2.5 Ecology 8
1.3 Ownership 8
1.4 Organisational Context 9 1.4.1 Derby City Council Structure 9 1.4.2 Management and Maintenance of Sunnydale Park 10 1.4.3 Park Management 11 1.4.4 Grounds Maintenance 12
1.5 Policy Context 13 1.5.1 National 14 1.5.2 Local 15
2 Green Flag Management Plan 18
2.1 A Welcoming Place 19 2.1.1 Clear identity and sense of arrival 19 2.1.2 Appearance and upkeep 20 2.1.3 Accessibility 20 2.1.4 Good signage to and in the park 21
2.2 Healthy, Safe and Secure 22 2.2.1 Providing a park, facilities and activities that help deliver 22 outcomes that improve and promote health and wellbeing 2.2.2 Providing a safe and secure place for all members of the 23 community 2.2.3 Dog control 25 2.2.4 Ensure all facilities, equipment and other park features and 25 infrastructure are of good quality and are safe to use 2.2.5 Appropriate health and safety policies and practices are in 26 place 2.3 Clean and Well Maintained 27 2.3.1 Maintenance of grounds and horticulture features 27 2.3.2 Maintenance of park infrastructure and hard landscape 29 2.3.3 Site cleanliness, litter and waste management 30
2.4 Environmental Sustainability 31 2.4.1 Natural Resources 32 2.4.2 Transport 33 2.4.3 Pollution 34 2.4.4 Waste 34 2.4.5 Purchasing and Contracts 35
2.5 Conservation and Heritage 36 2.5.1 Conservation of heritage 36 2.5.2 Conservation of nature 37 2.5.3 Woodland and trees 40 2.5.4 Tree Management Policy 42 2.5.5 Tree Inspections and Arboricultural Maintenance 42 2.5.6 Grasslands 43 2.5.7 Hedgerows 46
2.5.8 Flora and Fauna 46 2.5.9 Education 47 2.5.10 Future Nature Conservation Potential 47
2.6 Community Involvement 49 2.6.1 Community engagement and participation 49 2.6.2 Events 51 2.6.3 Education 53 2.6.4 Fundraising 54 2.6.5 Volunteer Opportunities 54
2.7 Marketing 56 2.7.1 Marketing Team 56 2.7.2 Marketing Strategy for Community Leisure 57 2.7.3 Marketing material available for Sunnydale Park 58 2.7.4 Park Information, Signage and Interpretation 58 2.7.5 Marketing Plan 59
2.8 Management 60 2.8.1 Overview 60 2.8.2 Staff structure and management arrangements 61 2.8.3 Management improvement processes 61 2.8.4 Monitoring and Review 61 2.8.5 Existing Maintenance 63 2.8.6 Training 63
3 Action Plan 64 3.1 Recommendations Action Plan 64 3.1.1 Resources 64 3.1.2 Responsibility 64
APPENDICES
Appendix A Sample inspection sheet – playgrounds 75 Appendix B Live Well 76
Appendix C Example Risk Assessment 78
FOREWORD
Sunnydale Park is a green oasis in the heart of suburban Derby, part of a valuable network of open space which links the district of Littleover with the surrounding countryside. This provides a superb facility for local people to walk, cycle, and enjoy all the benefits of improved wellbeing that access to extensive open space brings. The park is rich with wildlife, which through the surrounding green ribbon of parks is able to flow in and out of the city.
Originally allotments, many of which had fallen out of use in the post war years, the park was established as part of extensive local housing development, over thirty years ago, and is a popular and much loved facility. A highly successful Friends Group ensures that local people are instrumental in the running and development of the park. Many of the key members of the Friends of Littleover Parks Group live close by and are a daily presence on the park, getting local people involved with maintenance issues, raising funding for developing new features, engaging with local schools and resolving problems and issues that may arise by working in partnership with the City Council, Police and other agencies. A picturesque pond is a major focal point at the heart of the park and is fed by an attractive brook which adds a further dimension both for its aesthetic beauty and its value as a habitat for wildlife. The park includes attractive areas of meadow and extensive stretches of woodland and for many local people offers a peaceful sanctuary from the hectic pace of modern life. This Management Plan sets out the vision for the maintenance, management and further enhancement of the park and I wholeheartedly endorse this document which will ensure that Sunnydale Park will continue to be enhanced for both current and future generations to enjoy.
Keith Nelson
Chair
Friends of Littleover Parks
1 Purpose of the Management Plan
INTRODUCTION
During recent years the Friends Group, working in partnership with Derby City Council, have made significant improvements to the park. This has included the dredging of the lake, which over a period of years had become silted up, and the provision of a new pond dipping platform. Some new seating has been added, a woodland glade has been cleared and improved as butterfly habitat, spring naturalised bulbs have been planted, notice boards have been installed and recently upgraded, and many of the main gravel paths through the park have been tarmaced to provide a more durable all weather surface. This management plan aims to ensure that this current commitment to the park is maintained so that Sunnydale Park continues to develop its significant role as a public attraction and community facility.
The purpose of the Management Plan for Sunnydale Park is to:
bring together all issues that affect management and maintenance in order to support a holistic approach to the park’s future management ensure community involvement by placing the needs of the community at the heart of future management and development of the park set out a policy and direction to benchmark the park and enable management and policies to be analysed against best practice provide a clear shared vision, ethos and objectives for the park encourage a growing sense of ownership by all involved work towards a sense of pride in the park act as a basis for identifying priorities for action
In order to be a useful and user-friendly reference, this Management Plan will:
include a workable action plan be practical in the short term and sustainable in the short to long term support flexibility of responses evolve with time include timescales to allow monitoring of progress be readable.
Responsibility for Implementation of the Management Plan
This Management Plan has been compiled by Derby City Council’s Community Leisure Service: working in partnership with Friends of Littleover Parks, stakeholders, partner organisations and the community.
Implementation of this Management Plan will be led by the Parks Service and responsibility for specific objectives/targets is identified in the Action Plan. 1
Evaluation Mechanism and Review Process
It is intended that this Management Plan will be reviewed on a regular basis so that it can develop over time. The Management Plan, as a whole, will be reviewed annually by the Community Leisure Management Team, in consultation with the appropriate officers from Derby City Council and other stakeholders. Any updates to the Management Plan will then be incorporated as appropriate. Minor adjustments to the Management Plan will be needed from time to time, such as changing the order of events or who is leading on an item within the Action Plan. These changes will be agreed by the Community Leisure Management Team and the Parks Development Manager. It is essential that, during the review process, the Management Plan remains in plain English, so that it continues to be easily read and used.
The Action Plan identifies required actions, the resources needed in order to deliver these prioritised actions and how they are to be monitored. In this way, each of the actions contained within the Management Plan will be monitored against an anticipated output.
1.1 Community Context
This section sets out what is known about the community that use the park, using information collected from the Local Plan and census and demographic information data.
1.1.1 Sunnydale Park Catchment Area
Sunnydale Park is designated as a Neighbourhood Park (Parks hierarchy 2 - 20 hectares with 400m catchment area) located within the Blagreaves Ward, which covers approximately 337 hectares and is a relatively compact residential neighbourhood situated in the south west of the city. The area incorporates the southern part of the Littleover area and part of Sunnyhill. It is bounded by the wards of Littleover, Normanton and Sinfin and by the administrative area of South Derbyshire to the south.
In considering the community context for the park it is necessary to look at the local area in which it is located and its wider catchment area from which it draws some of its visitors.
1.1.2 Community Profile
Derby Derby is a fairly compact, free standing city with a population that has grown from nearly 234,000 people in 2001 to 248,700 in 2011. It is the largest urban settlement within Derbyshire.
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Derby lies on the River Derwent towards the southern end of Derbyshire. To the south there is the Trent Valley and to the north the Derbyshire Uplands and the Peak District. Together with Leicester and Nottingham, Derby forms part of the “Three Cities” sub region of the East Midlands. As the third largest City in the East Midlands, it is a regionally important centre, providing a wide range of employment opportunities and retail, commercial, leisure and cultural facilities and activities.
Derby has excellent rail connections to the Midland Main Line and good access by road to the M1, A52, A50 and the A38 including to East Midlands Airport. These have contributed to the City’s growth as an employment centre.
The built-up area of Derby extends to the City boundary along much of its length. The growth of the urban area has absorbed a number of previously separate villages which now form distinct suburbs, while new suburbs have also grown up recently within the city boundary but also in neighbouring districts where they adjoin the city boundary. Derby’s urban character is relieved and defined by “green wedges” of open land which help to maintain separate community identities. The City is surrounded by a rural area containing villages and a number of small towns which have strong links with Derby for jobs, shopping and entertainment. Its northern and eastern boundaries are defined by green belt which separates Derby and Nottingham.
Blagreaves Ward Sunnydale Park is located within the Blagreaves Ward. The centre of the ward is approximately 2 miles from the city centre and access is predominantly along the Burton Road and Stenson Road transport corridors. Blagreaves Lane is also an important route through the area.
Population statistics Full demographic information for Derby can be found in the Census 2011 Report. This section summarises key information and includes some comparative figures between the city as a whole and the local ward.
The population of Derby was confirmed as 248,700 in the 2011 census and estimated as 250,600 in 2012.
Derby has low population density compared to other East Midland cities. However local areas show high localised densities, including Normanton, Abbey and Arboretum, which are all within easy reach of Sunnydale Park.
Derby has a younger than average demographic profile with the younger age bands up to the 25-29 band making up a significant proportion of the population of Derby and in all instances have a higher population proportion than the East Midlands and England.
Derby has a diverse population with a large number of people from ethnic minority backgrounds with around 180 nationalities represented throughout the city. The main ethnic group in Derby is White British accounting for 75.3% of the city’s make-up, with the remaining 24.7% making up the city’s BME population. The proportion of White British in Derby is now lower than the East Midlands and England. From the 3
2011 Census, in Derby the greatest numbers of non-white people were from the Asian/Asian British ethnic groups. This group makes up 12.5% of the total population compared to 6% in the East Midlands and 8% nationally.
According to the 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation, Derby is ranked 69 out of 354 local authorities in the country placing it just inside the 20% most deprived areas. In Derby a greater number of households own one car or van 45.5% which sits above the National figure of 43.7%. In addition, the number of households with no car or van is higher in Derby than Nationally 30.6%/26.8%. This appears to be reflected also in the method that people use to travel to work. Derby, in percentage terms, is higher than the National figure of people using a car as driver to travel to work 56.9%/54.9% and travelling to work on foot 4.4%/2.8%.
The 2011 Census puts Blagreaves resident population at 13,055, an increase of 4.26% on the 2001 Census figure. Of these, around 52.2% are female and 47.8% are male compared to a city split of 50.5% female and 49.5% male.
The 2011 Census figures show that children and young people (0-24) represent 29.9% of the Blagreaves ward which is lower than the 33.9% represented by the city as a whole. Conversely, older people (50+) represent 38.6% of the ward but 31.1% of the city.
The Blagreaves population is more ethnically diverse than Derby as a whole. Around 36% of Blagreaves population is non-white British compared to a city average of 25%. Blagreaves Indian population is around 14% compared to the city figure of 4.5%. The other ethnic group most represented locally is Black/Black British Caribbean which is 3.0% compared to a city figure of 1.4%.
Blagreaves has a higher percentage of residents than the city in the “wealthy achievers” category which includes “wealthy executives”, “affluent greys” and “flourishing families”. These tend to be resident in a central strip running from the South West of the ward up to the North East corner either side of Sunnydale Park. It also has almost double the Derby average of “secure families” with those being located mainly in the South East of the ward. Blagreaves has a lower percentage of residents than the city in the “moderate means” and “hard-pressed” categories. Despite Derby being placed just inside the 20% most deprived areas by the Index of Multiple Deprivation, no area within the Blagreaves ward is in the most deprived 20% nationally.
The Ward Health Summary from the 2011 Census shows that Blagreaves has below average levels of deprivation compared to the city as a whole. Whilst not the highest, life expectancy for both males and females is significantly better than average for the city. In Blagreaves, while a significantly smaller proportion of the population are estimated to smoke or binge drink, and are likely to eat more healthily than average, the number who do live unhealthy lives still equates to approximately; 1 in 5 adults smoking, 1 in 8 adults binge drinking and 7 in 10 adults not eating healthily. Child obesity in this ward is more prevalent than average for the city, with one in five 10-11 year old children being classified as obese. Obesity means children are more likely to develop serious health problems. The need to improve park facilities within the 4
Blagreaves area is given more credence when considering the high childhood obesity rates.
Between 2001 and 2011, Blagreaves population density has increased from 3,731 people per square kilometre to 3,886. This compares to a city average of 3,188 people per square kilometre.
Table 1 Population Density
Population Area (Hectares) Gross Pop. Density Estimate (per sq Km) 2001 Census 12,522 3.36 3,731.34 2011 Census 13,055 3.36 3,886.34 City total 248,752 78.03 3,187.86 Source: Blagreaves Profile 2011/2012 Census 2011. [email protected]
1.2 Site Description
1.2.1 Location
Sunnydale Park is situated in the districts of Littleover and Normanton to the south- west of Derby and is largely surrounded by residential development. The national grid reference for the centre of the site is SK336332. The boundary of the park is formed predominantly by residential premises which consist of 1990s detached housing and inter war to 1970s semi-detached bungalows. The park also borders allotments and a primary school, including school grounds.
It should be noted that the address for postal correspondence relating to the park is:
Community Leisure, Neighbourhoods, Derby City Council, The Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS.
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1.2.2 Existing Site
Sunnydale Park is a designed urban park covering approximately 13ha within an area of dense urban development. The area comprises several distinct habitats.
To the east, Cuttle Brook flows in a southerly direction passing through a pond which was created in the 1980s as part of Derby’s flood alleviation scheme. These features provide the aquatic interest within the park.
There is an area of naturally regenerating scrub woodland located to the south west. There are also areas of young copse planted with a mix of native trees and shrubs. A few mature hedgerows are also present.
Grassland is the most extensive habitat in the park. Several areas are managed specifically for wildlife by periodic mowing and removal of cuttings. Most of these areas have been sown with a mix of traditional grasses and wildflowers and provide the areas of greatest plant diversity.
Large areas of closely mown amenity grass, surfaced paths and a small children’s play area provide recreational facilities.
Figure 1 Site map of Sunnydale Park
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1.2.3 Summary of Attractions
The park benefits from some superb natural and heritage landscape features which visitors can enjoy. These include:
an extensive parkland landscape areas of attractive wildflower meadow children's play area areas of mown parkland suitable for informal football, cricket and other activities. woodland attractive brook and associated wildlife corridor pond opportunities to enjoy bird watching and wildlife
1.2.4 Use of Park
Volunteering The main route for volunteers has been as part of Friends of Littleover Parks (FoLPs). This group draws members from the local area. There is a small core of active members with a variety of interests, who meet monthly. All of the meetings are open to new members and are publicised on the park and in the local area.
The group is involved with fundraising, for example, seeking and securing external funding for the pond dipping platform and new noticeboards. The group organise and support activities and events on the park, such as guided walks and litter picks and a monthly work programme of park maintenance.
The group regularly engages with park users and provides an invaluable mechanism for dialogue and influence over Sunnydale Park on the maintenance and management of the park.
Educational Value Sunnydale Park has great potential as a resource for education, both formal and informal. The educational value of the park is high with learning opportunities encompassing environmental studies, historical, geographical and citizenship topics. Close links with local schools have been developed, particularly Gayton Primary School, and the park is regularly used for activities, including pond dipping and bug hunting which contribute to children’s key stage education. The Friends Group have undertaken several activities with local schools based on the National Trust campaign of fifty things to do before you are eleven and three quarters. The schools regularly engage in bulb and tree planting activities on the park. The parks team staff and friends groups lead walks around the park on request. The Friends Group have organised a programme of long walks which take in all of Littleover’s parks, including Sunnydale.
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There is a need to further promote and market the park to enable more people to discover things they might not have known and appreciate what it has to offer, this is referred to in section 2.7 of this plan. Recreational Value Sunnydale Park provides a valuable green space within an urban area of Derby and has an important relationship with its surrounding neighbourhood. Being part of a network of parks and open spaces in the west of the city, it primarily serves the large urban area of Littleover, whilst still attracting some visitors from an extended area beyond. The Park is part of a network of parks and green spaces within Littleover, which virtually join together and link with the surrounding open countryside to the south of the city. These links enable wildlife to flow into the city, with Sunnydale Park being a significant base for wildlife in an urban area. The park provides a beautiful landscape with a wide range of mature trees and a pond and meadows around which visitors can stroll, enjoy a peaceful break from the hectic pace of modern life or enjoy a picnic. This Management Plan aims to ensure that the Sunnydale Park landscape is preserved whilst meeting the needs of modern day park users in this much valued public green space in the inner city of Derby. 1.2.5 Ecology
The park includes a range of habitat types comprising Cuttle Brook, a pond, semi- natural woodland, plantation woodland, hedgerows, wildflower meadow and amenity grassland. A Management Plan for Sunnydale Park Local Nature Reserve (LNR) has been produced for Derby City Council by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. The management plan contains detailed descriptions of each habitat and recommendations for their management. The Management Plan is available as a hard copy and an electronic copy as a link on the Derby City Council Parks website.
The pond, situated along the line of Cuttle Brook, forms an important feature of the site. The pond had suffered a decline in condition at the time the LNR management Plan was written, however, silt from the bottom of the pond was dredged in 2012 which has resulted in an improvement in the water quality.
1.3 Ownership
Site Ownership, Designations and Rights of Way
Sunnydale Park is exclusively owned by Derby City Council and makes a significant contribution to the city wide collection of parks, recreation grounds and open spaces.
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The park has some cycle paths running through it which are connected to a city wide network of cycle paths, enabling easy, predominantly off road cycle access around the city.
1.4 Organisational Context
1.4.1 Derby City Council Structure
Derby City Council is a unitary authority with responsibility for providing all local services in Derby. Derby City Council’s constitution sets out how the Council operates and how decisions are made, and the procedures that are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people.
Involvement of the public Derby is a diverse city and the Council seeks to give everyone an opportunity to get involved in the work of the Council including residents, visitors and people working in the city. Different communities and groups have their own views and experiences and these are taken into account when making decisions and providing services. The Council uses a number of ways of engaging with the public and service users, including:
1 Neighbourhood Boards and Forums In order to give local citizens a greater say in Council affairs, each electoral ward of the city has a Neighbourhood Board of partner and resident representatives, led by the three Councillors elected for that ward. They agree priorities for the neighbourhood and influence decisions that reflect the views of local residents. Boards are supported by Neighbourhood Forums which are open to all residents.
2 Diversity Forums A number of forums representing the diversity of communities have been established as a way to make sure that everyone is receiving good-quality services and that specific needs are met. These forums cover the following groups: Disabled people. Gender and sexuality. Minority communities. Young people. Older people.
3 Consultation Panels The Council uses a number of means to consult with people on the Council’s performance and identifying areas for improvement. These include: Your City, Your Say, an online consultation information page for residents about specific consultations.
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Reach Out Panel, set up in 1998 to involve local people in the Council’s decision-making process. The Panel is made up of 1,200 local people aged 16 and over who are representative of the local population. Panel members receive regular questionnaires and are invited to attend focus groups on specific topics The Email Group is made up of local people who receive regular email alerts from the Council about consultations or events they can take part in. The Plain Talking Group gives local people the chance to help improve key publications, so they are easier for everyone to understand. Derby Snapshot is a quick and easy way for local people to give their views on various issues that affect them through short online surveys.
1.4.2 Management and Maintenance of Sunnydale Park
Management and maintenance responsibilities and budget control for the park are spread across a number of Council departments and sections. Overall management responsibility rests with Community Leisure but other services including Streetpride, Leisure and Cultural Development and Property Maintenance have some responsibilities. Table 2 summarises the areas of management and maintenance responsibility.
Table 2 Management and Maintenance Responsibility for Sunnydale Park Management responsibility Community Leisure Streetpride Leisure Development - Parks Park and Health and Safety Arboriculture and tree outdoor and risk management facilities assessments Site Inspections Play area inspections
Cycle path Visual checks Highways team Events and On-site assistance- Risk management, bookings activities Rangers Community Friends Group Maintenance responsibility Community Leisure Streetpride Property Other Maintenance Grounds Repair and Maintenance Maintenance Community Payback: General and maintenance of hard of soft and repair of maintenance (repainting landscape landscape features: landscape park fences, water weed removal Paths, roads, features: structures etc.) surfaces Grass (walls, piers) Play areas, cutting Fences, steps, small Shrub beds Maintenance walls and structures Bedding of water Street furniture Path features Drainage sweeping 10
Hedge cutting Arboriculture and tree management Litter Site litter collection Litter bins
Water General clearance Flood control works, desilting features e.g. of obstructions
1.4.3 Park Management
Overall management of the park is the responsibility of Community Leisure, located within the Leisure and Culture Department. Community Leisure is a new service area that brings together staff, resources and assets associated with the Council’s leisure centres with the Council’s parks and open spaces. The service was created as part of the corporate restructure of the Council in May 2010 under a new Head of Service for Community Leisure. Within Community Leisure the Parks team is managed by the Parks Development Manager. The day to day management of parks is split into two area based teams, which are supported by staff in the Landscape Team and the Community and Parks Buildings Team. The structure is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 Parks Management Structure
The West Area Parks Team is responsible for the day to day management of Sunnydale Park including the provision of the front line Ranger service. The team has responsibility for developing and managing parks and open spaces located within the west area of Derby and for providing a quality service that will increase usage, customer experience and participation. The team’s role includes:
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Developing and implementing area based park management and development plans Manage resources effectively to support and improve the service Promote and market parks and open spaces Work with partners and community groups to increase use and their engagement in the management of parks. Delivery of day to day management site operations
The team is managed by the Area Park Manager (East and West), who works with the Parks Development Manager to agree strategies and priorities for the area, and manages the overall delivery of the service including the performance of the team and resources allocated to the area.
The Area Park Manager is supported by a Community Parks Officer (West) whose role is focused on day to day working with park users, groups and partners to improve service standards, use of the park and community involvement in the management of the parks in the area. Work also includes data collection and surveys to help monitor service standards and their improvement.
1.4.4 Grounds Maintenance
All of the maintenance of the grounds and horticultural features is undertaken by Streetpride Grounds Maintenance team managed by the Head of Grounds Maintenance and Street Cleaning, who also has responsibility for the maintenance budget. Work is carried out in accordance with agreed specifications set out in the 12
city wide grounds maintenance contract and covers maintenance of grass, shrub beds, horticultural features, bedding, path sweeping, hedge cutting and all arboriculture and tree management work.
Maintenance of hard landscape features and play areas is the responsibility of Community Leisure and work is managed by the Landscape Manager. This includes repairs and maintenance of all hard surfaces and paths, railings, street furniture, the play area, surface water drainage systems and the repair and replacement of play equipment. The majority of the work is carried out by external contractors, mainly through a measured term contract.
Maintenance of built structures such as walls, retaining walls and gates are the responsibility of the Property Maintenance team, who arrange for any necessary work to be undertaken and undertake any necessary inspections.
Rangers undertake regular general inspections of the park as part of their site duties and any issues identified are passed on to the relevant responsible officer to action.
Sunnydale Play Area is inspected as follows:
Two to three times a week by the Rangers who have received training in basic playground inspection by RoSPA or an equivalent course. The rangers will identify any hazards and either remove them or instruct work through to the Landscape Team. A formal monthly engineer’s inspection of the play area is carried out by the Play Area Technician, who also carries out repairs and ongoing day to day maintenance of play equipment. An annual inspection of the play area is carried out by a suitably qualified and experienced external specialist.
The watercourses and pond are inspected annually by an engineer from the Council’s drainage team to ensure the channels remain clear and that there are no hazards that could lead to flooding.
The Council also works with outside organisations who undertake some basic repairs and maintenance of elements on the park. For example Community Payback is involved in painting of fences, benches and other street furniture.
1.5 Policy Context
The following policy documents and strategies are of relevance to the development, management and maintenance of Sunnydale Park. Central government is in the process of making major changes to the planning system, while a number of local policies and strategies are in the process of development or review. It will be necessary to review this section on an annual basis to ensure that the policies and strategies remain relevant and up to date.
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1.5.1 National
It is recognised at the national level of the importance that parks and green spaces make in improving the quality of people’s lives, through health and well-being, the local economy, stronger communities and increased satisfaction with where people live. This recognition has been built up through evidence to show the positive impact that parks and open spaces can have.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
The NPPF was published by the Department of Communities and Local Government in 2012 and sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. The Framework includes a number of important points that are relevant to the Sunnydale Park:
Design: Importance of good and high quality design in positively contributing to making places better for people.
Importance of open spaces in promoting and delivering healthy communities: The Framework recognises that:
‘Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities’.
It cites the importance for creating opportunities for meetings between members of the community who might not otherwise come into contact with each other, including safe and accessible environments and high quality public space, which encourage the active and continual use of public areas.
Conserving and enhancing the natural environment: The NPPF stresses the importance of enhancing the natural and local environment by protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, minimising impacts on biodiversity and providing net gains in biodiversity where possible.
Conserving and enhancing the historic environment: The NPPF sets out the importance of the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment, the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation; the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits that conservation of the historic environment can bring and the opportunities to draw on the contribution made by the historic environment to the character of a place.
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1.5.2 Local
Derby City Local Plan The current adopted Local Plan for Derby is the City of Derby Local Plan Review (2006) (CDLPR). The Government introduced a new planning system in 2004 and the Council is now producing a Local Development Framework (LDF) which will eventually replace the adopted Local Plan. This will consist of a series of documents, including the Core Strategy. This will set out the Council’s vision for Derby developed from the Derby Plan (see below) and an approach for how this vision will be achieved. The Council has undertaken recent consultation on future polices relating to open space provision across the city.
The Secretary of State has allowed policies of the City of Derby Local Plan Review to be saved and they will remain in place until new policies are developed as part of the LDF.
The Local Plan identifies the following designations for Sunnydale Park that are relevant to its future management:
Sunnydale Park is a designated open space and classified as a Neighbourhood Park within the Derby Local Plan open space hierarchy, as being 2 – 20 hectares, serving a catchment of around 400 metres. Forms part of a Green Wedge. Is a site for Nature Conservation.
The Local Plan is supported by a number of Supplementary Planning Documents. Of relevance to Sunnydale Park is The Nature Conservation Strategy which gives details of how the natural history of the City will be conserved. The Strategy includes a policy framework that acts as an SPD in guiding decisions on development. In addition it sets out how the City Council will:
manage open space to conserve and enhance biodiversity help people access, understand and better enjoy Derby’s green heritage and take forward key objectives in the Derby Community Strategy seek to take action in partnership.
The Derby Plan 2013-2015
The Derby Plan has been prepared by Derby City and Neighbourhood Partnerships which is an alliance of over 250 public, private, voluntary and community organisations in the city. It sets out the aspirations for Derby and the city-wide outcomes that the partnership wants to achieve from 2013-2015.
The Derby Plan has been based on what is known about the city's needs and on the ambitions of what local people want for themselves, their neighbourhoods and their city. The Derby Plan sets out three ‘big ambitions’, which are taken forward through ‘delivery plans’, drafted and owned by partners from across the city, that seek to use resources in the most efficient and effective way to bring about improvements in our key areas. 15
Derby City Council Plan 2014 to 2015
The Council Plan has been prepared by Derby City Council that sets out how the Council will deliver the vision and outcomes for Derby as set out in the Derby Plan. The Council Plan sets out the Council’s vision:
‘To create a city for all, through strong leadership and excellent customer- focused services’
The Plan then sets out the following ‘big ambitions’ that the Council will focus on, the improvements it aims to make and how those improvements will be measured, so that all people in Derby will have an:
Inspiring start in life by improving educational attainment Inspiring working life by improving skills and creating jobs Inspiring place to live by improving inner city areas
The council will work in partnership with communities to make sure good quality services are delivered and local needs are met by having:
Better outcomes for communities Improved value for money for customers More efficient and effective processes A skilled and motivated workforce
The importance of parks and open spaces in helping deliver these outcomes is recognised in the following priorities and actions:
Inspiring working life More use of leisure and tourist facilities and a better built and natural environment through developing and delivering our Visitor Economy Strategy to bring all aspects of tourism together and adopting a Core Strategy and Infrastructure Plan that supports the natural and built environment.
Inspiring place to live Adopt a Core Strategy and Infrastructure Plan that support the natural and built environment of the city.
Better outcomes for communities Support people of all ages to live a healthy active life through the delivery of the Leisure Strategy. Continued improvements to parks and open spaces across the city. Promote walking and cycling to work as healthy and sustainable travel choices.
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Sitting under the Council Plan are departmental business plans, which include actions that focus on all the outcomes set out in this Plan, supporting The Derby Plan and partnership delivery plans.
Leisure and Culture Business Plan 2014/15 The Leisure and Culture Business Plan is updated each year to cover the department’s priorities and actions for the forthcoming financial year.
The Leisure and Culture department directly manages a range of sport, leisure and cultural facilities across the city with a mission to provide Derby residents and visitors with a more active and improved quality of life by delivering a quality experience in sports centres, performing arts venues, libraries, parks, community centres, the arts and outdoor events; whilst supporting the newly formed Derby Museums Trust.
Parks and open spaces play a significant role in delivering cultural, educational, environmental and health benefits to Derby by providing a diverse range of facilities including sports pitches and pavilions, historic landscapes, golf courses, woodlands, water features, ornamental planting, nature reserves, equipped play areas, wheeled sports areas and cafes. Sport, Leisure and Parks Services have been developed to bring together the Parks Service with the Sport and Leisure Service and both will be working together to develop active environments with greater opportunities for formal and informal physical activity.
Derby City Council Environmental Policy This policy outlines how the Council will play its role in helping the environment through improving its own activities and by working in partnership with others under 11 main headings, each with its own aims:
1. Climate change 2. Natural resources 3. Transport 4. Natural environment 5. Built environment 6. Pollution 7. Waste 8. Purchasing and contract 9. Energy 10. Health 11. Environmental education
Tree Management Policy Sets out how the Council will manage its trees in the most effective way and in accordance with best practice within the resources available to it. The strategy is specific to tree felling and pruning, it does not cover the management of woodlands.
Anti-Dog Fouling Strategy The Anti-Dog Fouling Strategy outlines a city wide approach to the problem of dog fouling. It aims to reduce dog fouling on parks, open spaces and streets. The Park 17
Rangers have established positive relationships with the majority of dog owners on the park and the byelaws relating to dogs and open spaces in Derby are actively promoted by the staff. During 2011 Derby City Council initiated its latest dog fouling campaign called “there’s no such thing as the dog poo fairy”. The campaign was implemented to raise the awareness of dog fouling throughout Derby and concentrated its efforts in particularly parks. Posters and stickers were put up and free dog bags were given out at many events staged on the park. Council staff also promoted the campaign at surrounding schools educating primary level children of the dangers of dog fouling. It is envisaged that this campaign will continue.
2. Green Flag Plan
An important starting point for any assessment and identification of improvements is the need to establish a management vision for the Park. The vision will guide the strategic development of the park and improvements to its management.
The vision for Sunnydale Park is:
To increase the number of people who visit, meet, participate and enjoy Sunnydale Park. To promote the park as an outdoor hub for informal and formal physical activity and outdoor recreation and as a venue for education and learning. A vibrant and well used park that meets the current and future needs of users and balances these with the conservation of its heritage A place for people to visit, meet, gather and enjoy An attractive, welcoming, accessible and safe park A park with its own identity and character drawn from its heritage. A green oasis providing the opportunity for people to connect with and enjoy nature. A park developed, managed and maintained to high standards. The opportunity for people to participate in the development and management of the park
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2.1 A Welcoming Place
It is important that the impressions people have of the park should be positive and inviting so that they feel that it is welcoming and a place they want to visit and use. These impressions will be gained from key features including:
Clear identity and sense of arrival Appearance and upkeep Accessibility - providing equal access for all Good and accessible information and signage about the park
2.1.1 Clear identity and sense of arrival
The first impressions of the park by visitors, people living nearby and those passing by are gained from the appearance of the entrances, boundaries and views into the park that work to help create a sense of identity.
Sunnydale Park has twelve different entrances and points of arrival. There is no specific main entrance to the park and there is no car park or public vehicle access, parking is on nearby roads. The three most popular entrances at Rosamonds Ride, Nevinson Drive and Blagreaves Lane all have a wooden notice board which gives the name of the park and provides details of any activities being carried out by the Friends Group or any other relevant notices.
The wooden noticeboards were funded by the ‘Be Inspiring’ project in 2011 and were constructed by Community Payback. The rustic appearance of the noticeboards fitted in with the local nature reserve status of the park; however, with time they have become worn and unkempt. With the substantial financial pressures faced by the Council, it is no longer possible to simply replace street furniture when it has reached the end of its life; other solutions need to be found. The park friends group can help with funding; they have already submitted bids and been awarded funding for the pond dipping platform and the new noticeboard which is to be located by the pond. If, however, funding is not available to replace worn items such as the entrance noticeboards, then the Council needs to utilise organisations such as Community Payback to help with improvements and general maintenance.
The Rosamonds Ride entrance which would benefit from cosmetic improvements
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2.1.2 Appearance and upkeep
Sunnydale Park gives the impression that it is generally well cared for and looked after. However, there is room for improvement in the appearance of some of the entrances and the need for new signage. Broken hedgerows at the Blagreaves Lane entrance and a worn noticeboard at the Rosamonds Ride entrance could lead to the impression that the park is run down. This is not indicative of the rest of the park and serves to create a poor initial image.
Recommendations 1 Improve the appearance of entrances by filling in gaps in hedges, replacing or renovating street furniture, adding spring bulbs for additional colour, etc.
2.1.3 Accessibility
The park is on a flat site with most of the footpaths being accessible to disabled users. Several of the footpaths have recently been improved as they had poor stone surfaces which were prone to flooding. The paths from Blagreaves Lane to Willson Avenue and Field Rise to Uplands Avenue are dual purpose and include a cycle path and pedestrian path. The section of the path from Blagreaves Lane to the cross roads section has recently been resurfaced with Section 106 funding to provide a cycle/pedestrian path with solar lighting along its edge and several new benches along its length.
The dual purpose path through the park
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Before and after pictures of the newly resurfaced cycle/pedestrian path with solar light studs
2.1.4 Good signage to and in the park
It has been recognised that it would be beneficial for more interpretational material to be available for park users, particularly regarding the park’s nature conservation value. It is intended that, as part of the action plan, interpretation material will be provided to promote this aspect of the park to visitors. The Friends of Littleover Parks have been granted funding from the Neighbourhood Board for a high quality noticeboard to be located near the pond on the park.
Recommendations 2 Review current signage provision at Sunnydale Park and undertake audit of use, location, maintenance and purpose
3 Remove and replace (where appropriate) older signage
4 Install a noticeboard near the pond to enable the display of community notices and temporary signs needed for one off events and to locate interpretational material
5 Provide an on-site map of the park to be located in the new noticeboard
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2.2 Healthy, Safe and Secure
A park needs to be a healthy, safe and secure place for all members of the community who use and visit the park to ensure that they are encouraged to use and gain the benefits that parks can offer in the way of recreational, social and educational opportunities. This will be achieved by:
Providing a park, facilities and activities that help deliver outcomes that improve health and wellbeing. Providing a safe and secure place for all members of the community. Dog fouling is properly addressed Ensuring all facilities, equipment and other features of the park are safe to use Appropriate health and safety policies and practices are in place
2.2.1 Providing a park, facilities and activities that help deliver outcomes that improve and promote health and wellbeing.
The Council recognises the benefits of an active lifestyle in delivering improved outcomes in health, education and quality of life. Sunnydale Park provides an environment which promotes health and wellbeing, from informal use of play facilities or dog walking through to informal sport or walking and cycling.
Community Leisure works closely with other Council sections and outside partners to deliver a range of programmes that encourage physical activity. One of the original objectives in the creation of Sunnydale Park was to develop an open space for people to have the opportunity to take healthy exercise. This is as important now as it was then. The benefits of taking regular exercise are:
increased weight loss rate more energy, a renewed vitality for life a healthy body and mind better heart rate lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raised levels of HDL (good) cholesterol increased confidence stronger bones a good nights’ sleep feeling better, regular activity increases endorphins (happy hormones).
Many people benefit from informal exercise on the park, by dog walking, using the children’s play area, sporting activity and from attending events on the park. However within Leisure and Culture, there is now a team focused on improving health and wellbeing and this is being done through a series of programmes, all of which embrace parks and open spaces, including Sunnydale Park.
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Other initiatives include Livewell (http://www.livewellderby.co.uk) focusing on helping children, young people and adults to be more physically active. Work includes summer play activities, working with schools to promote healthy eating and physical activity and a range of green activities. Livewell is a personal and unique approach to healthy living developed to fit around participants' busy lifestyles, see Appendix B. Started as a one year project in 2011, it is a partnership between Derby City NHS, Derby City Council and Livewell. Livewell offers:
a 48 week personal plan with one-to-one support for people with a body mass index reading of 30 and over, referred by their GP a web based self-help facility for people wanting to lead healthier lifestyles.
People accessing either route of the programme can also take part in the Livewell Move and Eat sessions, community based activities which combine healthy eating with exercise.
As part of the Livewell project, a series of walks have been developed on Derby’s parks. Sunnydale Park forms part of a larger group of parks within the Littleover district of Derby and the Friends of Littleover Park have devised a circular walk which encompasses all the parks in this area including Sunnydale. The group organise regular walks around this popular route. To encourage increased use of the park, areas of improvement need to be identified. This should include improved information for park users about what is on offer at the park, an enhanced programme of activities and events and improvements to pathways to encourage walking and cycling.
Recommendations 6 Develop a coordinated and enhanced programme of activities that promote health and wellbeing on the park 7 Support healthy living activities by improving footpaths to encourage walking and cycling
2.2.2 Providing a safe and secure place for all members of the community
Promoting a safe and secure park encourages greater use, while busy, active and vibrant places provide a strong sense of security. The sense of safety is encouraged by the high levels of use of the park which promote self-regulation and provide high levels of natural surveillance. The Parks Management Team are committed to raising the profile of all Derby’s parks, including Sunnydale Park and getting as many people as possible to use and enjoy parks. This is the best deterrent to anti-social behaviour. It is important that the levels of use continue to be maintained and that increased use is particularly encouraged during quieter periods and into the evening where possible.
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Personal safety is supported by the regular visits of park staff that can provide some level of control of the park, provide information and support the use of the park. This is also supported by the regular presence of members of the Friends Group, who use the park on a daily basis. Sunnydale Park is frequently visited by mobile Rangers and Grounds Maintenance teams. Local police include the park on their patrols, which helps to reduce criminal activity and helps to generate a secure feel to the park.
In addition, the Parks Management Team works with local schools to promote a sense of ownership in their local park. Local primary schools, including Gayton Primary School visit the park regularly and help the Friends Group to care for the park. The Parks Management Team also works closely with Derby Moor School Trust, consisting of a secondary and primary schools to develop a programme of visits to parks across the city which has included several projects working with Friends of Littleover Parks.
The wide paths with clear sightlines coupled with high levels of use ensure that natural surveillance on the park is good. Physical issues need to be considered including ensuring sight lines are kept clear. Management of trees is also required to remove dead wood and dangerous branches. This forms part of the regular park maintenance programme.
There can be infrequent incidents of vandalism and ASB that cause concern for users during the evenings. Any incidents of graffiti would quickly be dealt with in line with the Council’s policy. Issues that are raised by park users and staff include:
graffiti on play equipment vandalism to benches, play equipment issues with dogs not being under reasonable control insufficient lighting verbal abuse from members of the public.
A multi-faceted approach has been implemented to address these anti-social behaviour issues, as follows:
There are good working relationships between the local police, local councillors and residents, all of which have representatives on the Neighbourhood Board where security and anti-social behaviour issues are raised and solutions sought. The highly active Friends Group are a daily presence on the park and report any issues that arise to council officers and if necessary the police. Involving the Friends, community groups and other stakeholders to foster a shared sense of ownership and increase the number of park users which helps to improve safety. Prompt clearance of any litter. Signage at the play area and on notice boards with emergency telephone numbers.
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Recommendations 8 Install improved notice boards on the Park with contact numbers where users can locate or contact staff to report incidents or find more information 9 Further develop policies and procedures for responding to issues of vandalism, graffiti and ASB 10 Implement work that will improve security on the park and discourage vandalism 11 Continue and develop partnership working to tackle ASB issues
2.2.3 Dog control
The park is heavily used by dog walkers and while dog fouling is not considered to be a significant issue, some users have highlighted concerns about the effect of dogs not being under the control of their owners. There are a large number of litter bins located around the park, all of which can be used for dog fouling except those located in the play area. Signage and Park Rangers encourage dog-owners to clear up dog mess while the Council promotes and sells collection bags to encourage owners to clean up.
Recommendations 12 Undertake campaign to promote responsible dog ownership and use of dog bags
2.2.4 Ensure all facilities, equipment and other park features and infrastructure are of good quality and are safe to use
While the quality of equipment, facilities and infrastructure is variable, Community Leisure seeks to ensure that all facilities, equipment and features of the park are safe to use through regular maintenance and programmed inspections.
The Council is working to improve the standards and quality of the facilities on the park. Identified areas for improvement will be programmed in (budget permitting) to ensure that the current standard of the park is maintained and where possible improved.
Maintenance and Inspections The Council undertakes a formalised system of daily and periodic inspections of the park and specific facilities. An example of a Playground Inspection sheet, which is completed by the Park Rangers, can be found as Appendix A.
Council Departments work closely together to improve the standards of inspection regimes and maintenance of facilities. This includes reviewing procedures and
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processes to ensure that they remain relevant and deliver value for money in a time of financial constraints and operate in accordance with best practice. The Playground Technician moved from Streetpride to Community Leisure Landscape Team, providing a much clearer arrangement and management structure for the maintenance and repair of play areas.
Design Good design is crucial to providing good quality and safe facilities that meet the needs of the parks users. The design of all new facilities and improvements to the park takes into account health and safety issues, safe use and maintenance requirements through the use of design, risk assessments and consultation with the public and Council staff.
Recommendations 13 Identify and prioritise programme of replacement, repairs and maintenance of infrastructure and facilities 14 Utilise external funding to improve the path surfaces through the park 15 Utilise Section 106 funding to improve and update play facilities in the park
2.2.5 Appropriate health and safety policies and practices are in place
The Council has established policies and procedures in place to ensure that health and safety issues receive high priority and are properly addressed. Community Leisure has set up a Health and Safety working group comprising senior managers and a corporate health and safety team representative to make sure the above are applied, reviewed and updated. Health and safety is also a standing item on the monthly senior management meetings.
Risk Assessments These are prepared to cover a wide range of issues ranging from day to day management of the park including the work of staff, activities, facilities, park features and equipment and for specific large events.
Risk assessments are used to develop safe working procedures and codes of practice that set out key hazards, controls and responsibilities in more detail. An example risk assessment can be found as Appendix C.
Training and competency Health and safety depends on well trained and knowledgeable staff. Community Leisure ensures that all members of staff receive the appropriate training for them to perform their duties and responsibilities. Training may be delivered through in house courses, on the job or by third party organisations.
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Reporting procedures The Council has in place agreed procedures for reporting of accidents, incidents and near misses and for the reporting of dangerous equipment or infrastructure.
Recommendations 16 Update risk assessments and procedures in line with the development of the park and improvement to facilities
2.3 Clean and Well Maintained
A clean and well maintained park is important in creating a welcoming place that is attractive, well used and cared for, a healthy and safe place to use, contributing to the protection and conservation of the built and natural heritage and ensuring that the use and development of the park is sustainable.
As a key park within Derby it is important that the park is maintained to the highest possible standards within a period of declining budgets and resources and that new and innovative ways are considered and explored that will help maintain standards.
There has been a slow decline in standards of maintenance over many years which have more recently been exacerbated by cut backs in revenue funding available. There has also been a fragmentation of responsibility for various elements of maintenance across different Council departments and sections. These issues are being addressed through changes to the management practices within the Council which are more fully dealt with in the Management and Maintenance Section later in this report.
2.3.1 Maintenance of grounds and horticulture features
Maintenance of grounds and horticultural features is undertaken by the Council’s Streetpride Grounds Maintenance Team as part of the city wide contract. The areas of amenity grassland, horticultural features and soft landscape facilities are generally well tended considering the limited resources available.
Other works may be undertaken from time to time by voluntary organisations and partners. Community Payback make a very important contribution supplementing the work carried out by Streetpride. The Park Ranger Service compliments this work by carrying out additional general maintenance duties. To achieve excellent standards of horticultural maintenance, staff:
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use appropriate recognised horticultural techniques majority of the grounds staff hold NVQ Level 2 in Horticulture minimise the use of chemicals and pesticides wherever possible prune shrubs in accordance with best practice for the health of the shrub and to encourage flower production arrange replacement planting of trees and shrubs regularly maintain all machinery to manufacturers' recommendations. For example, daily machine maintenance and full winter service by Derby City Council's maintenance garage recycle green waste produced.
Sunnydale Park is predominantly an informal naturalistic style landscape with some horticultural features including naturalised bulbs in various locations around the park and some shrub beds near residential housing areas.
The Streetpride Team carry out:
cutting of the large areas of amenity grassland management of trees, including all arboriculture work grass cutting management of shrub beds hedge cutting repair work to worn grassed areas edging of grass areas leading onto paths and beds path sweeping maintenance before and after park events leaf clearance emptying of litter bins.
The majority of grassed areas are mown regularly from mid-March to mid-November.
The mobile ranger service carries out the following general grounds maintenance duties:
litter picking signage cleaning play area visual inspections lay tree inspections removal of graffiti.
Tree Management and Maintenance The park contains an interesting range of trees growing in attractive areas of copse and woodland.
All the trees on the park are managed in a sensitive manner in accordance with the Council’s Tree Management Policy.
Tasks carried out by the Arboriculture Team include: 28
expert tree inspections tree pruning crown thinning crown lifting crown reduction crown cleaning pollarding root pruning tree removal when necessary habitat creation removal of basal growth.
Tree waste produced by the above tasks is chipped and shredded on site to avoid unnecessary waste going to landfill. Some of the larger pieces of timber are left in situ to provide habitats for species which live in or on dead wood.
Recommendations 17 Develop a programme of management work with the Friends Group to ensure the standard of the park is maintained and where possible improved
2.3.2 Maintenance of park infrastructure and hard landscape
Maintenance of the park’s hard landscape features and equipment is reactive and is prioritised depending on the nature of the work. The work is actioned by the Landscape Team in Community Leisure. All health and safety issues take precedence and due to budget pressures there is not a planned programme of maintenance work such as painting of street furniture and railings, leaving many of these items tired and jaded.
Programmed inspections of paths, railings, walls, pathways and other features are carried out by either by the on-site rangers, the Community Parks Buildings Officer or the Parks Management Team (West). Work arising from the inspections will generally be actioned through the Landscape Team or Asset Management. The timeframe within which repairs are carried out will depend on the nature of the work. Boundary walls and fences are inspected on an annual basis and any repairs required on health and safety grounds are carried out.
Rangers, other Park staff and park users also identify any repair work needed and these will be passed onto the Landscape Team to prioritise and action in consultation with the Parks Management team. Some of this work could be dealt with immediately and there may be scope for Rangers to undertake some repair work during quiet periods. Provision of training and a simple tool kit would assist to develop and encourage a more proactive approach by staff on site.
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The work can include:
replacement of play equipment and safety surfacing repairs to benches and signs repairs to fences, gates and bollards path and other hard surface repairs maintenance of drainage systems.
Play equipment The play equipment, whilst well maintained is in need of updating and it is intended that the play area will be updated using Section 106 funding with a more modern well-equipped play area.
Maintenance of play equipment is generally good to ensure that it remains safe to use. The play area is inspected several times a week to ensure it is clean and that equipment is safe and undamaged. All equipment is given a fuller safety inspection by a qualified maintenance engineer once a month. Damaged equipment and surfacing is repaired quickly.
However, although some items have been painted by Community Payback, there is a need for a regular planned maintenance programme.
Recommendations 18 Develop and implement a planned repair and maintenance regime for the parks infrastructure 19 Provide training for mobile Rangers to enable them to undertake some basic repair and maintenance work when identified.
2.3.3 Site cleanliness, litter and waste management
Litter and dog fouling There are a large number of litter bins located around the park. Green bins located around the park can be used for litter and dog mess.
The park is generally clean and tidy and the bins are emptied on a regular basis. The friends group are a daily, indispensable presence on the park, discouraging littering and undertaking regular litter picking. This is supplemented by the visits of park rangers who litter pick the play area and will address other issues as required.
To ensure a clean and safe environment and to minimise waste the following operations are carried out at Sunnydale Park:
regular litter picks of the play area by the Park Rangers, and litter picking of other areas as required. The frequency of litter picking increases during busy seasons following events or sport activities 30
paths are swept and kept clear of leaf litter and debris. dog fouling is removed Community Payback carry out work on the park as requested, cleaning paths other general housekeeping duties
Dog fouling does occur but while it is not considered to be a significant problem it does require regular monitoring to ensure that it does not become a problem. Signage and park rangers encourage dog-owners to clear up dog mess while the Council promotes and sells collection bags to encourage owners to clean up. Regular campaigns also highlight owner’s responsibility to clean up any dog fouling.
Graffiti and vandalism Graffiti is either removed or painted over as soon as possible after its appearance. Priority is given to offensive and obscene images or language on play equipment and other structures in the park.
Vandalism is dealt with as quickly as possible. Anything that may be unsafe is either removed or fenced off until it can be repaired or removed. While vandalism is not a big problem on the park, if not dealt with quickly it can lead to deterioration in the quality and appearance of the park.
Recommendations 20 Encourage greater responsibility by the public for removing their litter to take home
2.4 Environmental Sustainability
The impact on the environment from the use, maintenance and management of the park needs to be minimised to ensure that the use and development of the park is sustainable. This needs to involve using environmentally sound techniques, sustainable materials and minimising waste.
The overarching policy is Derby City Council’s Environmental Policy (revised 2005), which outlines how the Council will play its role in helping the environment through improving its own activities and by working in partnership with others. Derby’s parks
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have a major role in helping deliver the eleven broad aims set out in the policy. This section covers those aims that have not been covered elsewhere within this plan
ISO 14001:2004 and the Council’s Environmental Policy work hand in hand to ensure Sunnydale Park is moving forward in a sustainable manner.
Nominated persons with overall responsibility for environmental management include the Area Parks Managers and Community Parks Officers. All contractors maintaining the park are made aware of the Council’s Environmental Policy. Several Community Park Rangers have undertaken an Environmental Management Course at college as part of their employee development.
Management of Nature conservation on the park has been coordinated in partnership with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, to enhance biodiversity on the park.
The Council is continually measuring, recording and evaluating its environmental performance, whether it is air quality monitoring or recording local wildlife populations. Data collected from studies at Sunnydale Park and neighbouring parks across the city assists the Council in continually reviewing and seeking to improve its environmental performance.
2.4.1 Natural resources
‘The Council will promote the importance of conserving fossil fuels and peat and the sustainable use of resources such as water and timber. It will also adopt water and energy waste reduction measures and take into account natural resource considerations when procuring goods and services.’
Some natural resources are used for the use, maintenance and development of Sunnydale Park. There is considerable scope to put in place measures that would minimise their use and ensure any used are from sustainable sources.
Peat is not used on the park as soil improver or for growing plants on the park. However there is a need to ensure the policy is enforced as part of future specifications for the supply of any new plant material, including shrubs and trees.
All purchasing of plants and trees are sourced by the Streetpride team which adheres to the Council's Environmental Policy 2005. Excess plant material is sent to the nearby county recycling plant for processing and the resulting compost is sold at recycling centres at a discounted rate.
When sourcing materials for Sunnydale Park, the Landscape Design Team uses reputable suppliers for all materials, and fully considers the environmental impact of the materials purchased.
Other resources used on the park can include timber for fencing, street furniture, play equipment and other construction. At present there is no regular check on specifications and supplies to ensure timber is all FSC registered and sourced.
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There is a good collection of trees at the Sunnydale Park encompassing a wide range of species all at varying ages. All trees are checked regularly and attention is given to any disease, dry conditions and competitive plant growth. Mulch is used at the base of any newly planted young trees.
Where tree work is carried out, all clippings and cuttings are shredded into mulch and either used on the park or distributed to local Council owned allotments sites, such as the adjacent Sunnydale Allotments.
All plant stock used for replenishing shrubberies and the herbaceous island beds is sourced where possible from local nurseries within the East Midlands.
More sustainable ways of managing the park are being planned including meadow management where appropriate. This style of land management not only provides environmental conservation benefits, but it also reduces the carbon footprint of a machine mowing the site every two weeks.
Recommendations 21 Improve specifications to ensure peat is not used and that all timber used is FSC certified 22 Define area of park to devote to meadow management
2.4.2 Transport
‘The Council will promote the reduction of motor vehicle journeys within the city and encourage more sustainable modes of transport such as walking, cycling, rail and bus travel.’
The park is predominantly a Neighbourhood facility, and is a popular route to schools and other local facilities. Being well served by cycle routes and local bus services, most park users will arrive by sustainable means such as walking, cycling and public transport.
Pedestrian access is generally good with several entrances from the surrounding residential housing and more major entrances off Blagreaves Lane and Rosamonds Ride.
Recommendations 23 Promote sustainable means of accessing and using the park
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2.4.3 Pollution
‘The Council will identify, monitor and seek to reduce air and land pollutants and improve air quality.’
Herbicides are used to manage grass growth along edges, fence lines and around the base of trees on an extensive basis across the park to reduce maintenance costs and avoid unsightly areas of long and unkempt grass. The use of herbicides should be reviewed on a regular basis to assess whether use is still required or if there are alternative methods that could be used. Long term maintenance issues also need to be considered as part of the design of any improvements so as to reduce the need to use herbicides.
Recommendations 24 Minimise use of pesticides and herbicides, including a reasoned justification where used
2.4.4 Waste
‘The Council will minimise waste by encouraging the reduction, repair, and reuse of items and provide more opportunities and facilities for recycling and composting in Derby.’
There are no recycling facilities on the park. Although litter is generated on the park, the park does tend to be cleaner than many others. The Friends Group are very visible and proactive and play a significant role in discouraging people from littering.
Sunnydale Park however, is surrounded by residential housing and all have facilities to recycle large amounts of their waste. The public are well informed and educated on recycling in the area and this is backed by the Community Park Rangers.
When refurbishing play areas, the Parks Landscape Team utilise reused and recycled materials wherever possible. Where rubber surfacing is used underneath play equipment it is manufactured using high grade environmentally friendly recycled rubber.
Some green waste material is already recycled by shredding of prunings for use as mulch on large shrub beds, but there are no on site composting facilities to deal with grass cuttings or any excess waste. Felled timber that can easily be removed is cut up and sold as logs for fuel. There is scope to use timber from the park for the construction of more informal landscape structures such as play features, seating, path edgings, and retaining structures and to form log piles to enhance the range of habitats.
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Recommendations 25 Investigate introduction of recycling facilities 26 Work with Grounds Maintenance to improve the recycling and use of green waste material produced on the park
2.4.5 Purchasing and contracts
‘The Council will encourage the purchase of goods and services that cause the least harm to the environment. It will also work with contractors and suppliers to help them improve their own environmental performance and to make sure that, when working for the Council, they adopt equivalent environmental standards.’
Derby City Council’s Procurement Code (2012) sets out the procedures to be followed regarding environmental considerations when procuring goods and services. However this is not necessarily applied rigorously for all procurement relating to Sunnydale Park and there needs to be a better understanding by staff involved in procurement on the application of this code.
Recommendations 27 Ensure implementation of the procurement policy with regard to environmental issues.
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2.5 Conservation and Heritage
2.5.1 Conservation of Heritage
The Ordnance Survey 25 inch Maps of Derbyshire 1896 to 1900 show that the site was at that time enclosed farmland with hedged boundaries containing mature trees separating the villages of Normanton and Littleover.
Some 30 years later a surveyor's map dated 1920 from the Derby City Council files shows that much of the site was laid out to allotment gardens. Nearly 50 years later a 1967 revision of a 1947 OS 1:1250 map shows the allotments still largely intact but with many of the plots amalgamated to form larger plots and the Sunny Glen Nurseries occupying part of the western side of the site.
The most westerly part of the site appears as a series of enclosed fields on the 1967 map suggesting that agricultural use of this area had continued since the 1880's. The area to the west of the public footpath connecting Uplands Avenue to Field Rise contained remnant ridge and furrow field patterns indicating that they have been cultivated at some point. The wide distance between the ridges indicate that these are not remnant medieval field patterns but from a much later date.
In the 1970's F.E. Wood Bros. Ltd. purchased approximately half of the allotments and in 1976 obtained planning permission for residential development. Between the 1970's and the early 1980's plans were initiated for Derby City Council to compulsory purchase land with the objective to relocate remaining allotments and develop public open space around continuing residential development. This is referred to in the Derby City Council Sunnydale Action Area Plan. In the October 1983 Written Statement it is described as "an area of private allotment gardens which for many years has been largely unused and derelict". The Plan contained specific proposals for action by the Council to acquire land, relocate allotment gardens, dispose of land for private development and to lay out and develop land as public open space.
The development of the public open space took place over a number of years as the surrounding residential areas were developed. It was financed from the sale of the areas for residential development.
Compulsory purchase was completed in 1984 followed by several years of planning with the first earthworks for the Park undertaken in 1986, main tree planting and sowing in 1987, provision of surfaced paths in the late 1990's and a small children's play area in 2001.
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Photo by: Charles Wood of Rosamonds Ride
Clearance of allotments and trees in 1984 to create Sunnydale Park
With no visible built remains to conserve, conservation of heritage is primarily focused on preserving the naturalistic landscape along with the recreational facilities associated with a traditional 20th century city park. The landscape of many trees both as individual specimens and within areas of copse and woodland is also a key element for heritage conservation with which local people identify. There are also remnants of the sites former allotment use including some veteran fruit trees which should be conserved where possible.
Recommendations 28 Provide interpretation material on a noticeboard to inform visitors about the history of the site.
2.5.2 Conservation of Nature
‘Biodiversity is ultimately lost or conserved at the local level. Local authorities provide the main framework within which environmental care is organised at the local level and public attitudes to the environment are cultivated’.
Biodiversity, the UK Action Plan 1994
The Government’s "Biodiversity, the UK Action Plan" informs Derby City Council’s Biodiversity policy. The City Council has specific legal responsibilities to fulfil 37
regarding nature conservation but the Nature Conservation Strategy forms a wider framework for the implementation of that legislation to achieve long term goals. The aims of the Nature Conservation Strategy are:
to protect the ‘most important’ wildlife sites, natural history features and species in the city from damage to retain a healthy green biological network in the city which connects the wildlife sites and biodiversity features together to maintain the heritage stock of natural history features within the city, below the category of ‘most important’ at least at its present level to increase the quantity and quality of wildlife features, sites and corridors in the city through creation of new habitats and amending management practices to seek to provide access for all people to semi-natural sites and features to raise the general awareness of people about nature conservation and, in particular of the city's resources and their value.
With regard to Sunnydale Park, the park’s nature conservation value has been recognised and action is being taken to conserve it. In 2010 the City Council, through the WildDerby project, commissioned the production of a management plan for Sunnydale Park Local Nature Reserve written by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. The purpose of the Plan h a s b e e n to support and contribute to the aims and objectives for managing and maintaining the site as a Local Nature Reserve as well as reviewing and monitoring the success of the management objectives set out in a previous management plan which covered the period from 2004-2008. The previous plan suggested ways in which the wildlife value of the site could be enhanced through a range of management recommendations. The Plan set out recommendations to restore the pond which is a visually prominent and important ecological feature, as well as maintaining and hopefully enhancing the biodiversity value of the Park. The Plan is a dynamic d o c u m e n t w h i c h g u i d e s t h e s i t e managers and all those involved in achieving the vision for the site. A copy of the Plan can be found via a link on the Derby City Council Parks website or requested directly from Community Leisure.
In recent years, areas of wildflower-rich grassland have been created together with areas of tree and shrub planting, some of which were planted with the help of children from local schools working with the Friends of Littleover Parks.
Records held by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust from 1988 describe the site as having great potential if managed sensitively to become an outstanding feature in an otherwise intensively managed open space. There are several distinct habitats present within the park including grassland, hedgerows and woodland. The pond situated along the line of Cuttle Brook is an important feature. It had become silted up and has recently been restored and forms a visually prominent and ecologically important feature at the heart of the park.
Cuttle Brook is lined with Mature Crack Willows and the occasional White Willow.
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There is a more open, less shaded area where the brook flows through the pond. Himalayan Balsam is present along the banks of the brook and occurs with particular frequency within the central section. Pendulous Sedge is present within the northern section; while Fools water cress, Brookline and various leaved Water Starwort occur in the southern section. The banks support tall herbs including Water Figwort, Great Willowherb, Yellow Iris, Common Nettle and Russian Comfrey, whilst Ground Elder is frequent in the northern section. Shoals of three Spined Sticklebacks are noticeable, particularly in close proximity to the pond. T h e pond, brook and bankside vegetation is described as being of good quality. The bankside vegetation supports a number of different species including purple loosestrife, a species uncommon in Derby. A stream survey in 1988 found many species of freshwater invertebrates including freshwater shrimp, mayfly larvae, freshwater snails and pea mussel in addition to the sticklebacks.
Pond in Summer Photo by: Friends of Littleover Parks
Sunnydale Pond and Hay Meadow
The pond was originally created as part of the city's flood alleviation. Surveys in 2001 and 2004 provided valuable baseline information on the pond. Aquatic vegetation includes Sweet Flag, Branced Burweed, Yellow Iris, Great Willowherb and Lesser Pond Sedge which are fairly abundant, along with more occasional species including Water forget-me-not, Water Cress, Water Mint, and Fools Water Cress which occur occasionally. Purple Loosestrife, March Marigold, and Celery Leaved Buttercup are present in limited quantity. The Derbyshire Red Data Book plant, Various Leaved Water Starwort occurs in reasonable quantity growing on mud around the northern shaded margins of the pond.
Dragonfly and Damselfly species include Emperor, Black Tailed Skimmer, Southern Hawker and Common Blue Dragonfly along with Common Blue, Azure and Blue 39
Tailed Damselflies. Sticklebacks are the only fish species so far recorded in the pond. Moorhen successfully breed on a regular basis. A survey of invertebrates associated with the pond was undertaken in 2001, the results of which are included in the appendices of the Local Nature Reserve Plan.
The site was designated as a Local Wildlife Site (DE034) in 1990 under the Habitat Mosaic selection guideline Mh1 and was declared as a Local Nature Reserve in April 2005.
In 2003 a total of 143 different plants were recorded from the site during the preparation of the first Local Nature Reserve Management Plan together with a number of mosses, birds and invertebrates. It is recognised that following the recent de-silting of the pond, there is a need for new survey data to be collected and analysed, to assess how different species have performed over recent years and to establish if any new species are present.
Recommendations 29 Undertake a survey of species in and around Cuttle Brook and the pond. 30 Commission a new five year Local Nature Reserve Management Plan to follow on from the existing plan.
2.5.3 Woodland and trees
Although there are occasional remnants of ancient fruit trees from the former allotments, woodland and trees on Sunnydale Park are varied but mainly relate to plantings associated with modern park design, from when the site was laid out as a public park. There are predominantly native, but also some exotic species which are known to grow successfully in the British Isles. All the individual areas of established trees and woodland come together to create a mosaic of tree cover, which has a combination of wildlife conservation value as well as landscape and amenity value.
In addition to the established woodland and the amenity plantings, there has also been the relatively recent planting of young native woodland copse by local schoolchildren. Native woodland is widely recognised as having a high value for wildlife and there is scope to plant more wooded areas to further improve the mosaic of woodland habitats, should this be deemed beneficial for nature conservation or amenity value.
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Woodland – Sunnydale Park
Woodland and trees on the park are identified in the nature conservation plan as four separate compartments and the plan provides a detailed analysis of the composition of trees and marginal vegetation within each compartment.
The plantations around the field to the west of the pond and the planting adjacent to the allotment site boundary contain a good range of species including Ash, Pedunculate Oak, Scots Pine, Goat Willow, Holly, Grey Willow, Hazel, Elder, Silver Birch, Field Maple, Hawthorn, Guelder-rose, Bird Cherry and Crack Willow. Some areas of the plantations are fronted by dense Bramble and Blackthorn thickets which in some places are impenetrable. The canopy within the plantation is dense resulting in spare ground flora. Species on the margins of the plantations include Bramble, Wood Avens, Herb Robert, Dandelion, Cleavers, Nettle, Hogweed, False Oat-grass, Yorkshire Fog and Cocksfoot . Less frequent marginal species include; Male Fern, Broad Buckler Fern, Wood Avens, Wood dock, Cow Parsley, Garlic Mustard and Ivy Leaved Speedwell. Common Dog Violet, Lords and Ladies and Hedge Woundwort are rather rare.
There is a line of Crack Willow along the east bank of Cuttle Brook, which shows some evidence of pollarding along with a few semi-mature Ash. The shrub layer consists of Hawthorn, Ash, Horse Chestnut and Sycamore seedlings. There is some Garden Privet, Plum, Cherry and a range of garden shrubs including Cherry Laurel, Forsythia, Rhodedenron, Philadelphus and Deutzia, possibly originating from the former allotments which were once on the site.
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There are a number of more recently planted Tree and shrub areas within the park, many of which have been planted with the help of local schools. These contain Ash, Pedunculate Oak, Alder, Hazel, Field Maple, Buckthorne. The field layer within these areas contains Yorkshire Fog Meadow Barley, Meadow Foxtail, Common Bent, Creeping Buttercup, Common Sorrel, Ribwort Plantain, Meadow Buttercup and Sweet Vernal-grass.
2.5.4 Tree Management Policy
All woodland in the city is actively conserved by the Arboricultural Section of Derby City Council’s Streetpride department, especially veteran and specimen trees, many of which are covered by TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders).
Derby City Council’s tree management policy has been developed in line with the Council’s Environmental policy to make sure that trees are managed in the best way and in a manner which best uses the available resources. The strategy is specific to tree felling and pruning.
2.5.5 Tree Inspections and Arboricultural Maintenance
In addition to recorded inspections, any trees that are observed by on-site staff or are reported to them by the public as posing a possible danger are referred to the Arboricultural Section for attention by the tree gangs.
All work is carried out in accordance with current best arboricultural practice and maintenance operations are adapted, where necessary to respect and encourage wildlife. This involves adjustments such as delaying shrub pruning where there are nesting birds and minimising the use of chemicals.
Arboricultural maintenance typically includes removal of deadwood, pruning, pollarding, crown-lifting, felling and stump removal. Tree inspection referrals from on- site staff and the public, are actioned in accordance with the following time frames from notification to action:
Emergency Works, such as a tree down over road/path, hanging branch over road/path, is dealt with within a day, usually within two hours, depending upon how many similar cases the Arboricultural Section has to attend to.
High Priority Work such as removal of deadwood, low branches over road/path for example is usually done within two weeks.
Routine Work such as formative pruning to promote health/good form may take three months, depending upon other commitments.
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Veteran Field Maple – Sunnydale Park
2.5.6 Grasslands
Sunnydale Park is typical of most urban parks in the UK in having some areas of amenity grassland. This ‘managed lawn’ appearance is what people have expected of their park historically, and this has suited a broad range of recreational activities from dog walking, picnics and informal games and sports including cricket and football.
Allowing tall grassland to develop and creating wildflower meadows, is positively beneficial to all wildlife, and also creates variety to the landscape which can look very attractive. These features provide good supporting habitat for birds, invertebrates and amphibians, and also provide abundant flowers as a pollen and nectar source for butterflies, bees and other invertebrates. They also serve as cover and overwintering areas for invertebrates, amphibians and also small mammals.
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Areas of meadow have been created both around the pond and around the margins of the main area of mown open space. These combine with the pond, woodland and scrub within the whole park, to create a diverse mosaic of habitats for many species.
When the Local Nature Reserve Management Plan was written in 2010 it was noted that the hay meadow management of grassland areas recommended in the previous management plan and subsequently implemented had resulted in the expansion of existing species populations and significant biodiversity enhancement.
There are several distinct areas of grassland the full details of which are outlined in the Local Nature Reserve Management Plan. The composition of the most significant areas is outlined below. Current management of these areas involves an annual cut in late summer/autumn with removal of the cut material. The management details are prescribed in the current Local Nature Reserve Management Plan.
Photo by: Friends of Littleover Parks
Friends of Littleover Parks - Hay Meadow Management
Area on the west bank of the northern section of Cuttle Brook
This band of tall herb vegetation includes False Oat-grass, Common Nettle and Cleavers, which are particularly abundant along with Hogweed, Bramble, Cock’s- foot, Himalayan Balsam, Broad-Leaved Dock, Yorkshire Fog, Creeping Buttercup, Ground-elder, and Cow Parsley and occasional patches of Great Willowherb, Garlic Mustard, White Dead-nettle and Wood Forget-me-not.
Area of Meadow along the East side of the central section of Cuttle Brook
The section is dominated by grasses including Meadow Foxtail, rough Meadow Grass, Yorkshire Fog, Timothy, Creeping Bent, Sweet Vernal-Grass and Perennial
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Rye. There is a reasonable diversity of herbs with frequent Ribwort Plantain, Lesser Trefoil, Tufted Vetch, Hairy Tare, White Clover and Red Clover. Occasional species include Meadow Cranesbill, Meadow Vetchling, Meadow Buttercup. Ragwort and Broad-Leaved Dock are rather rare. A noticeable feature of this area is the presence of a number of wet ground species including Meadowsweet, Yellow Iris, Conglomerate Rush, Hairy Sedge and Marsh Foxtail.
Photo by: Friends of Littleover Parks
Friends of Littleover Parks balsam bashing
Area on the western side of the pond
Grasses form the main component with Meadow Barely and Meadow Foxtail being particularly prominent. Constant species also include Perennial Rye Grass, Red Fescue, Yorkshire Fog and Crested Dogs-tail. Herb diversity is reasonable with White Clover, Yarrow, Common Knapweed, Common Vetch and tufted vetch all constant. Less frequent species include Common Birds-foot-trefoil, Ox-eye Daisy, Wild Carrot and Lesser Trefoil.
Area at the back of the playing field
This is by far the most diverse area of grassland on the park. There are a high percentage of herbs interspersed amongst the various grasses which include abundant Yorkshire-fog, Crested Dog’s-tail, Red Fescue, Rough Meadow grass, Meadow Barley with occasional Sweet Vernal grass, Perennial Rye, Meadow Foxtail and Yellow Oat-grass. Frequent herb species include Common Knapweed, Meadow Buttercup, Ribwort Plantain, Creeping Buttercup, Meadow Vetchling, Tufted Vetch, Meadow Crane’s-bill, Hairy Tare, Red Clover, White Clover and Yarrow. Occasional species include Ox-eye Daisy, Creeping Cinquefoil, Dandelion, Rough Hawkbit,
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Cats-ear and Lady’s Bedstraw while Hogweed, Broad-leaved Dock and Common Sorrel are rather rare.
2.5.7 Hedgerows
There are many hedgerows on the site including sections planted relatively recently and more ancient hedges comprising of species including Hawthorn, Elder, Field Maple, Dog-Rose, Hazel, Blackthorn and Holly. Details of all the different sections of hedgerow and their composition, is provided in the Local Nature Reserve Management Plan. As part of the actions arising from the plan, some of these hedges have been layed in the last few years, with the help of a local hedge laying expert.
2.5.8 Flora and Fauna
Sunnydale Park is an important oasis of biodiversity within its immediate urban environment and many people visit the park not only for its amenity and recreational value, but also to sample a semi-wild experience offered through the appreciation of various habitats and wildlife. The park is blessed with a number of core habitats such as the brook, pond, and areas of woodland, meadow and hedgerow. This provides a mosaic of habitats, providing food, water, shelter and breeding places for many species to co-exist. A typical improvement to an existing habitat to improve biodiversity is the installation of bird and bat boxes, and the creation of deadwood habitat piles, which has been done where possible and benefits small mammals, amphibians, and invertebrates within the shelterbelt woods.
Photo by: Friends of Littleover Parks
Floral Meadow including Meadow Cranesbill, Meadowsweet and Knapweed
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A survey carried out by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust during 2009 recorded a total of 190 different species of vascular plants. This includes 44 species of trees and shrubs, 21 grasses, 3 sedges, 4 rushes, and 3 ferns. A full species list is included in Appendix 1 of the Local Nature Reserve Management Plan. Of significant interest is the presence of Various- leaved Water-starwort, Callitriche platycarpa, which occurring in reasonable quantity around the pond’s northern margin. The species is listed in the Derbyshire Red Data Book as locally declining. Three species of fern have been identified on site with Male Fern and Broad Buckler- fern present throughout the woodland areas while Field Horsetail occurs in damp grassland areas in the vicinity of the pond. A number of non-native invasive species have been recorded on site including Himalayan Balsam, Three-cornered Garlic and Floating Pennywort. However the latter now appears to have been eradicated during the 1990’s.
There has been no survey of fungi on the site. Whilst there has also been no systematic mammal survey undertaken Grey Squirrel and Brown Rat are species which have been noted on site. A total of 25 different bird species were recorded during a survey in 2009. The list includes four UK and Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plan priority species including Bullfinch, Dunnock, Song Thrush and House Sparrow. The patches of shrub and Bramble provide excellent nesting habitat, whilst areas of hedgerow provide an important food source. Moorhen have also successfully bred in the area of the pond. Nine species of butterfly were recorded during 2009 including Large Skipper and Ringlet, species associated with grassland habitat. The five spot Burnet Moth was also recorded, together with three species of Dragonflies; Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer, Southern Hawker and Common Darter. Damselfly species recorded included Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Amphibians recorded include the Common Frog and Smooth Newt. However no observations of Common Toad have been made despite their recorded introduction to the site in the 1980’s.
2.5.9 Education With regard to educational value, the Friends of Littleover Parks and the City Council are developing links with the local schools to use the park for outdoor classroom activities for Nature Conservation and Sustainability studies. Schoolchildren from the local Gayton Primary school visit the park regularly and participate in activities organised by the Friends Group often under the theme of the National Trust campaign of 50 things to do before eleven and three quarters.
2.5.10 Future Nature Conservation Potential
Whilst the site is surrounded by significant residential housing it is reasonably close to other parks within the Littleover Area, many of which including Millennium Park, have significant nature conservation value. Residential gardens and the adjacent allotments also provide a valuable habitat link for many species. The site is still maturing and the establishment of the hay meadow areas has further potential to increase both biodiversity and abundance. The recent work to de-silt and improve 47
the pond will also provide long term biodiversity benefits. A small number of scrapes were created about five years ago and these could be of benefit for amphibians and invertebrates. Whilst the park is undoubtedly a popular recreational site, it is also a very important area for wildlife.
Recommendations 31 Increase the number of bird and bat boxes
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2.6 Community Involvement
2.6.1 Community engagement and participation
It is important that the wider community is actively involved in the management of the park and that there are processes in place that will engage with a diverse range of people.
The engagement with the local community has been recognised through the reorganisation of the Parks Section into an Area based management that is focused on getting more people to use parks and involving the community in their management.
Friends of Littleover Parks were formed at the end of 2009 and they have become an integral part of the management and maintenance of parks in the Littleover and Blagreaves area. The group are very engaged and active, looking after several parks, including:
Sunnydale Park King George V Playing Fields Clemson Park Millennium Park and Heatherton Pond Griffe Field Park Bendall Green Recreation Ground Havenbaulk Lane Recreation Ground
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The group were originally called Friends of Littleover and Blagreaves Green Wedge as many of the parks link together in a wedge. The name of the group was changed to a more manageable title. Friends of Littleover Parks welcome new members and meet on a monthly basis at the Social Club on Blagreaves Lane in Littleover. The group is free to join for anyone interested in parks in the Littleover/Blagreaves area.
The parks covered by Friends of Littleover Parks
Due to the number of parks the group look after, their focus is on the larger, nature based parks. Many of the members of Friends of Littleover Parks (FoLP) live near Sunnydale Park so this is a particular favourite with the group. The group hold monthly working parties on Sunnydale Park covering a variety of tasks. During the summer of 2014, FoLPs took part in the following activities:
Bramble clearance near the Rosamond’s Ride entrance Removal of nettles and brambles in the newly cleared glade in the woodland area Sowing flower seeds in the cleared glade in the wood Hosting a pond dipping event for families Pruning bushes encroaching on the path near the pond Litter picking Cutting down the seed heads of invasive weeds to try to control their spread across the park Removal of Himalayan Balsam by the brook Holding a tree identification walk in the park
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In recent years, FoLPs have carried out several major improvements towards the nature management of the park. In 2012, the group carried out pond weed clearance in an attempt to further improve the water quality of the pond following the silt dredging which took place earlier in the year. The weed clearance activity was risk assessed by the Community Parks Officer who attended the activity with a lifesaving throw rope in case of incident. The clearance was successful and dramatically improved the appearance and quality of the water.
Friends of Littleover Parks carrying out pond weed clearance in 2012
In 2013, FoLPs used money they had raised to secure the services of a hedge layer to advise and assist with the generation of a new hedgerow along the footpath between Gayton School and Field Rise.
The group have attended several TCV run courses to increase their knowledge and skills in nature conservation, such as, dead hedging, scrubland clearance to create butterfly meadow and a children and families’ nature course.
2.6.2 Events
Friends of Littleover Parks regularly hold events on the parks they help to look after. As well as the working task days on Sunnydale Park, the Friends Group has held seed and plant swaps, bat walks, tree identification walks and their annual Long Walk which takes in most of the parks in the Littleover area identifying wildlife along the way.
The group have also helped with Derby City Council organised events. When the Council was awarded funding from the ‘Be Inspiring’ Project in 2011, the Friends Group helped to engage with school pupils from Derby Moor School to enhance the bio-diversity of the park. The project involved:
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New wetland area being created to the west of the main woodland in the form of a scrape. Bird and bat boxes put up in the wood Wildflower marsh plants put along wetland areas The purchase of three notice boards constructed by Derby Probation Service Raising awareness to the wider community of the status of Sunnydale Park as a local nature reserve.
Friends of Littleover Parks regularly litter pick the park; occasionally they hold events to encourage the community to take part and to look after their local park by not dropping litter. For example:
A Derby Moor pupil receiving a certificate for helping at the ‘Be Inspiring’ Project
Derby Moor pupils at the ‘Be Inspiring’ event on Sunnydale Park
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Spring Clean 2011
FoLPs recycling cans found in the wood
2.6.3 Education
The Friends Group regularly carry out nature based activities with Gayton Primary School, families and other groups such as the cubs. They have involved children in pond dipping, bug hunting and den building in the woods. The group were inspired by the National Trust’s 50 things to do before the age of 11¾.
Pond dipping with the cubs
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2.6.4 Fundraising
Friends of Littleover Parks have worked hard to secure funding for various projects on the park. They have received funding from their local Neighbourhood Board for footpath works and recently two noticeboards; one for Sunnydale Park and one for another park looked after by the group. They had to convince the board that the money would be spent to the benefit of the community.
In 2013, the group were awarded funding from the Big Lottery Fund towards a new pond dipping platform as the old one was in a poor condition. The platform has proved popular with school groups and people viewing wildlife in the pond.
Big Lottery Funded pond dipping platform
2.6.5 Volunteer opportunities
The main route for volunteers has been as part of the Friends Group. There are other volunteering opportunities on the park:
The Conservation Trust (TCV) carry out work on the park and have an agreed number of days each year.
The pond wardens work with the Friends Group and run events, carry out surveys, provide information and assist with educational visits. One of the members of FoLPs is also the pond warden for the park.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust assist in the continual development of the site as a local nature reserve.
Local schools participate in various activities on the park. Gayton Primary School and Derby Moor Secondary School have taken part in bulb and tree planting, building bird and bat boxes and litter picking.
University students often assist with tasks on parks as part of their studies. A Nottingham Trent University student is currently working with the Parks
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Department and will be helping to create interpretation material for the wildlife on Sunnydale Park. A new opportunity has arisen on the park for 2015. A Community Garden Project is to be developed on an unused area of land on Sunnydale Allotments. The allotments are situated next to the park and some of the activities planned for the project will take place on the park. The project aims to create a garden which local people and disadvantaged groups can visit to enjoy, socialise and get access to freshly grown produce. Gardening and other outdoor activities improve wellbeing whilst giving a sense of belonging to participants. The project helps local authorities to have their land cared for in a sustainable way whilst providing a secure social space for the community. The project has secured ‘Do It’ Award funding from UnLtd.
Overgrown brambles in The same area after it has the woodland area been cleared by TCV
Cheerful annuals sown by FoLPs in the cleared area to create a butterfly glade
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Recommendations 32 Continue to develop and support the range of events and activities taking place on Sunnydale Park 33 Develop and encourage increased use of the park for educational use and activity 34 Develop interpretation boards and leaflets
2.7 Marketing
Marketing and promotion are important processes needed to ensure that the park is well used, that people know what is on offer, to inform people about the park, its Local Nature Reserve status and importance and to show how the Council is responding to public and other comments on the park and its use and management.
2.7.1 Marketing Team
As a result of the restructure of the Parks Section in 2010, the Community Leisure team (incorporating Parks and Leisure Centres) has access to a dedicated marketing section within the Leisure and Cultural Development: Service Development Team.
The aim of the team is to promote and raise the profile of Leisure and Culture facilities and activities for people in the city and visitors to Derby. The team also links with the Corporate Communications Team for Derby City Council, informing them of events, activities, developments with Leisure and Culture.
The Marketing Team look at the whole service and, where possible, link marketing opportunities. One example is the summer ‘Go Try It’ initiative, where sports 56
development, Parks and Leisure Centres came together to provide a programme of activities over the summer which was promoted throughout the City, schools and wider. Another example is the Keep Britain Tidy Love Parks Week. Every year, Keep Britain Tidy encourage those involved with parks and open spaces to host events to promote the value of parks to the public and to provide an opportunity for the public to get involved with their local park. From activities like this, a database of names is built up to promote further park activities, using email and text messaging.
The Marketing Team oversees general public relations opportunities and distributes information regarding all Leisure and Culture facilities across the City. Through events and opportunities, parks, including Sunnydale Park are promoted to the people of Derby and beyond.
The Marketing Team updates Derby City Council Leisure and Culture websites, which include Parks. As an ongoing process the Marketing and Parks Teams are actively looking for ways to improve the website, encouraging more visitors to the parks. Sunnydale Park is identified on the map on the parks website and is listed as one of Derby’s nature reserves; there is also an opportunity to download the Sunnydale Park LNR Management Plan. There are also links to Friends of Littleover Parks group, who have developed an excellent website promoting all aspects of the park. The marketing team also updates the Derby City Council events website, Derbyshire website and other partner websites with upcoming events and items of interest. A range of Community Leisure publications are produced, including the Leisure and Culture Activity Guide, which promotes the whole leisure offer, including parks and is widely distributed across the City.
Opportunities for promotion through external advertisers are utilised where possible and opportunities are taken to cross-sell the service. The Team link with the corporate design team, to ensure promotional material adheres to the corporate guidelines.
Weekly twitter and Facebook messages are sent out through the Derby City Council social media channels. The team also actively seeks out public relations opportunities on a weekly basis, to promote through outside media and internal media channels.
The marketing team review and log activity on a monthly basis and use the information obtained to review current work plans and inform forward planning of future marketing activity. Working with this team, a review of current marketing material will be undertaken and a short, medium and long term plan for the implementation of marketing will be created.
2.7.2 Marketing Strategy for Community Leisure
Sunnydale Park forms part of an overall marketing strategy for Community Leisure. As a department, the marketing aims are to:
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promote key parks across the city and the variety of different facilities on offer within them use and promote individual events and activities to raise awareness on the facilities on offer encourage people into our parks, creating a sense of pride, ownership and active living contribute to meeting the City Council’s corporate objectives
2.7.3 Marketing material available for Sunnydale Park
There is very little marketing material available for Sunnydale Park individually as a park. There is a general parks leaflet which shows a map of the main city parks and gives details of the facilities available at these parks, however, Sunnydale Park is not listed in this leaflet. The leaflet mentions the ten nature reserves in Derby but does not list them. Marketing material for Sunnydale Park at the moment consists of:
issuing of press releases and publicity for any events taking place three wooden noticeboards at the main entrances to the park with notices by the Friends Group or Derby City Council relating to any events or activities taking place on the park Derby City Council parks website with the park located on a map and a link to the Friends of Littleover Parks website. The Council website includes general information on how to book an event on parks and details of any events taking place. Friends of Littleover Parks website provides details of the friends group, their events calendar and information on how to get involved with the group. It also provides general information on all the parks covered by the group, including Sunnydale Park. The website contains many photographs of the park taken by the Friends Group of activities carried out by them and any images of plant life or wildlife that they find on the park.
2.7.4 Park information, signage and interpretation
Information about the park through the provision of on-site signage is an important component in the marketing of the park and what it offers to visitors.
On site information and interpretation is poor. Feedback from existing park users highlights that the public want more information about the park, with suggestions including, a map of the park showing entrances and information on the park’s history, wildlife and events. There is no site specific leaflet for Sunnydale Park, the Parks Team plan to produce a leaflet which includes all parks in the Littleover area with a map, description of facilities, nature information and contact details. These could be made available at key sites such as Derby Tourist Information Centre and Ranger offices on other parks in order to promote the parks of the Littleover area.
Three wooden noticeboards on the park are used by the Friends Group and the Council to advertise any events or activities that are to take place. The noticeboards are not covered or lockable so they are not secure or particularly weather proof. The Friends Group have submitted an application to the local Neighbourhood Board for 58
funding for a new, lockable noticeboard which can be used for notices and interpretation material.
Sunnydale Park is not generally booked for large events; however, the park is available for booking and is often used by the Friends Group for nature activities with children and families. Leisure and Culture have an officer dedicated to the booking of events on parks and for event management. The officer communicates clearly with event organisers to ensure events are well planned and aspects, such as health and safety, site access, trading laws, insurance, equipment hire, emergency planning and site clearance are addressed. There is a formal procedure for booking events which ensures the Council can retain an appropriate level of control regarding which events take place on parks and also ensures they are delivered to a high standard.
Recommendations
35 Increase the profile of the park to attract greater visitor numbers
36 Promote Friends of Littleover Parks through networking events in the city
37 Produce a leaflet providing information on parks in Littleover
2.7.5 Marketing plan
The park is well used and has a very active friends group. However, it is recognised that more work needs to be undertaken to raise the profile of Sunnydale Park and increase the positive experience had by all visitors to the park. In order to achieve this, a marketing plan has been produced which identifies a number of initiatives to promote the park; some of which are already being carried out.
1. Gathering more information on the target audience. Carry out consultation to gather more information about the current users of the park and details of their profile. Analyse the information to inform how we can get existing visitors to come and enjoy the park more and how new people can be encouraged to visit the park over the next 12 months and beyond. 2. Identify non-users and consult with them to establish how to encourage use by this group. 3. The creation of a new specific leaflet for Littleover’s Parks, detailing the facilities on offer, activities and the historical and wildlife value of the sites. It is intended that distribution of these leaflets will take place across the city at events and key sites. The leaflet will also be made available on the website for downloading. 4. The installation of an information and interpretation board on Sunnydale Park, linking into a wider brand identity for Parks. 5. Promotion of Friends of Littleover Parks and partnership working to enhance the park, encouraging new members. Show how they can link with the Leisure and Culture marketing team, to help them in their promotion ideas and improve links.
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6. Continue to further develop a contact list to inform people of events at Sunnydale and other Community Leisure sites. Work with other partners like Derby Homes to utilise their contact lists to promote key events, activities and offers. 7. Use social media to engage with people and inform them of events, activities and offers. Utilise tweets and Facebook messaging to promote the leisure and culture offer. Link the Friends Group website into these as a source of further information. 8. Continue to promote parks events and activities as part of the events calendar and link to national initiatives like Love Parks Week, Go Try it 2013, National Tree Week, Apple Day and Stargazing Live.
Recommendations 38 Ensure that the Marketing Plan is implemented and regularly reviewed 39 Provide information about the park including activities, facilities, volunteer opportunities, interpretation and management using a variety of different means and channels of communication and ensure information is available online and in printed format
2.8 Management
2.8.1 Overview
In recent years the Council has been through a period of tough financial challenges which has seen substantial reductions in revenue and capital budgets across all services. This has impacted on Sunnydale Park and is reflected in reduced maintenance operations and standards and reductions to Ranger staffing levels. The Council has identified the need to make further financial cuts in 2015/16 and while the details are not finalised they will make it increasingly difficult to maintain and even improve on current standards of maintenance and management. It is therefore important that limited financial resources are prioritised and ways to make more effective use of fewer resources are found.
The challenge in moving forward is to identify and implement changes to the maintenance and management arrangements of the park that address and successfully blend the management, maintenance and development of the park that will deliver ongoing improvements to the park and for its users in tough financial circumstances. 60
Recommendations
40 Identify and apply for sources of external funding to support continued investment in the park
2.8.2 Staff structure and management arrangements
The management and maintenance of the park involves a diverse network of Council sections and departments as described in section 1.4.2.
The Council has taken a major step to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Council’s parks management through its restructuring of Parks service as part of Community Leisure. The Area Parks team has also established regular meetings with other key service areas. In particular there is a need to better align the day to day maintenance operations with the wider management aspirations of the park and needs of the park users.
Community Leisure Parks Service is working to involve more people in the management and maintenance of the park and in the delivery of activities and use of the park. Whilst much of the existing work has focused on working with Friends of Littleover Parks, new opportunities are always being looked for. For example, the Council works closely with Community Payback who carry out several maintenance tasks on the park including path edging and litter clearance.
Recommendations 41 Continue with regular cross departmental meetings to best meet the needs of Sunnydale Park.
2.8.3 Management improvement processes
The changes brought about through the restructure are supported by the ‘one Council one Derby” transformation process and the use of Service Business Plans and Managing Individual Performance (MIP) process to drive forward improvements in customer service standards. This process ensures that any improvements to Sunnydale Park put forward as part of the Green Flag Action Plan have a clear continuous link from the Corporate Plan to the business plan to individual staff member’s performance standards.
2.8.4 Monitoring and review
An important part of driving improvements to management is the monitoring and review process. This will be undertaken for the following main areas:
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Service Business Plans and as part of the MIP process Monitoring and review of the Sunnydale Park Action Plan
This information will be used by Community Leisure to demonstrate:
The effectiveness of the changes and improvements to Sunnydale Park resulting from the implementation of this management plan. How Sunnydale Park and the wider parks service contributes to the wider, cross-cutting agendas set out in the Derby Plan and Council Plan such as healthier lifestyles, social inclusion, equality and diversity, education and training and economic development and enterprise. How effective the management is in meeting and delivering on the needs and expectations of the users of the park, the wider community, partners and stakeholders.
Monitoring and review will be part of an ongoing process that is able to respond to the changing needs and expectations of those groups and to ongoing improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of services.
The following list details assessments of the park, including Green Flag Award assessment criteria and infrastructure assessment, the results of which will be instrumental in our monitoring and review process.
The Green Flag Award Assessment Because of the active Friends Group and Local Nature Reserve status, it was decided to enter the park for a Green Flag Award this year and this will continue in subsequent years. The score that this assessment brings will become the baseline for future improvement.
Asset Management Assessment Boundaries, pathways and park infrastructure are assessed on an annual basis by the parks inspectors and park buildings are surveyed and inspected by property services. From this, an Asset Management Plan is produced by the Community and Parks Buildings Team. The Asset Management Group meets on a monthly basis and monitors progress.
Leisure Service Self-Assessment As part of the Community Leisure Action Plan, a light touch self-assessment using the CSIT tool will be undertaken to raise awareness of future improvements necessary within the leisure service over the next twelve months.
Recommendations 42 Establish a monitoring and review system to measure progress of the implementation of the Action Plan.
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2.8.5 Existing Maintenance
The maintenance operations and standards on Sunnydale Park are in line with those for all parks and open spaces across the city. However, this reflects a standard one size fits all approach to maintenance rather than an assessment and implementation of standards best suited to the needs of Sunnydale Park. There is scope to improve maintenance standards on the park and to consider more effective use of the resources that would deliver a better overall standard.
2.8.6 Training
Training is an important component of delivering improvements in the management of the park through providing people with better skills and increased understanding of the park and customers’ needs.
The Council has in place agreed procedures for identifying future training needs of its staff to ensure that they can meet the needs of a fast changing service. Training for rangers include health and safety, first aid, customer care and dealing with difficult customers. Other training has also been identified that would enable staff to deliver a better visitor experience and to take greater ownership of the park. This includes training in countryside management skills, horticulture and basic maintenance work and visitor survey training.
Alongside staff training it is important that volunteers are given suitable opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills as part of their involvement in the park. Training can range from practical skills in horticulture and countryside management, visitor surveying skills to developing administrative skills to allow people to organise events and activities and to enable them to be better informed and involved in decision making processes.
Recommendations 43 Prepare and deliver a training plan for staff that will improve the management of the park and the quality of the customer service. 44 Prepare and deliver training and learning opportunities for volunteers.
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3. Action Plan
3.1 Recommendations Action Plan The recommendations set in out in Section 2 have been used to develop a proposed 5 year Action Plan that sets out what needs doing to improve the quality of Sunnydale Park. The Action Plan sets out the recommendations along with more detailed actions identified to date that need to be implemented in order to deliver the recommendations. Further actions may need to be added against the recommendations as work on the delivery of the plan progresses to take account of changing circumstances.
The Action Plan is about delivering real improvements to the park that will benefit users and encourage increased use of the park.
The Action Plan will need to be flexible enough to enable it to respond to changing political and financial priorities and circumstances. It therefore needs to be prepared during October to November as part of the Council’s business planning and budget setting process for the forthcoming financial year.
3.1.1 Resources
The delivery of the Action Plan will require a mix of existing and additional resources. Where possible the resources have been identified and include:
1. Existing revenue including existing staff time 2. Additional revenue – new sources of revenue to be identified 3. Other capital that needs to be secured, either through external funding applications or as part of the Council’s capital allocation process 4. Partnership funding where partners would provide some or all of the funding needed to deliver the recommendation
3.1.2 Responsibility
The Action Plan identifies responsibility for delivering against the recommendation. Responsibility has been given either as a Section, team or individual post. Named individuals are not given. Where a section is named the Head of Service has overall responsibility for delivery but on the ground delivery will require actions by staff across all the service area teams. Where a team is named the team manager has overall responsibility for delivery but on the ground delivery will require actions by staff across that team.
Where an individual post is named that post holder has specific responsibility for delivering that action either as part of their job description or the action requires a person at that particular level to deliver the action.
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1 A Welcoming Place
Ref Recommendation Actions required Responsibility Resources Action taken Timetable
1 Improve the appearance of entrances Repair hedges Parks Team DCC revenue Bulb planting 2015 and by filling in gaps in hedges, replacing Carry out audit of street furniture Community carried out ongoing or renovating street furniture, adding Payback and several spring bulbs for additional colour, etc. Bulb planting at entrances New litter bins 2 Review current signage provision at Carry out audit of all park signage. Parks Team Staff time 2017 Sunnydale Park and undertake audit of use, location, maintenance and purpose.
3 Remove and replace (where Following audit, remove redundant Parks Team DCC revenue Old signage 2015 appropriate) older signage. signage and prioritise replacement of removed. those to be renewed. 4 Install a noticeboard near the pond to Order noticeboard and use to display Parks Team Neighbourhood Funding April 2015 enable the display of community notices and interpretation material. Board funding approved notices and temporary signs needed and new for one off events and to locate notice board interpretational material. installed. 5 Provide an on-site map of the park to When the noticeboard has been Parks Team DCC revenue Map has April 2015 be located in the new noticeboard. purchased and installed, print and been laminate a copy of the map for designed by
display. Landscape Officer, copy displayed on noticeboard. 65
2 Healthy, Safe and Secure
Ref Recommendation Actions required Responsibility Resources Action taken Timetable
6 Develop a coordinated and enhanced Work with Livewell and FoLP to Parks Team DCC revenue Love parks 2017/18 programme of activities that promote promote the activities taking place on week events health and wellbeing on the park. the park. Use new noticeboard to held and promote activities. programme of volunteering activities run by the Friends 7 Support healthy living activities by Seek funding to further improve Parks Team DCC revenue Path 2019/19 improving footpaths to encourage footpaths and cyclepaths. improvement walking and cycling carried out in 2014 and 2015. Further funding needed for path between pond and Sheerwarter Close
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8 Install improved noticeboards on the Order noticeboard and install near Parks Team Neighbourhood Funding 2015 park with contact numbers where pond area of the park. Board funding secured and users can locate or contact staff to noticeboard report incidents or find out more installed. information. Contact details on noticeboards. 9 Further develop policies and Set up an internal group to develop Parks Team DCC revenue Work closely 2017 and procedures for responding to issues of policies and an approach to dealing with ongoing vandalism, graffiti and ASB. with issues. Neighbourho od Teams and the police to develop policy and address problems early. 10 Implement work that will improve Ensure contact numbers for DCC are Parks Team DCC revenue No significant 2017 and security on the park and discourage displayed. recent ongoing vandalism. Promote membership of FoLPs to vandalism encourage an increased presence on and ASB the park. issues. Encourage activities on the park to Friends increase visitors. Group provide a daily park watch
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presence and co-ordinate with police and Neighbourho od Boards. 11 Continue and develop partnership Continue to work with other agencies Parks Team Staff time 2017 and working to tackle ASB issues. at regular Tasking meetings to combat ongoing ASB. 12 Undertake campaign to promote Identify where dog bags can be Parks Team Staff time Very little 2017 and responsible dog ownership and use of purchased. recent ongoing dog bags. Continue with dog fouling poster problems campaign. with dog fouling. Display signage informing people of Police have the need to keep dogs under put dog reasonable control. control signs on park. 13 Identify and prioritise programme of Continue with boundary inspections Parks Team DCC revenue New tarmac 2015 and replacement, repairs and maintenance and review where repairs are needed path ongoing of infrastructure and facilities. and prioritise for following year. installed. Several new litter bins installed spring 2017. 14 Utilise external funding to improve the Continue to seek external funding. Parks Team External funding Footpath 2015/16 path surfaces through the park. improvement
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s completed. 15 Utilise Section 106 funding to improve Utilise Section 106 funding for Parks Team Possible ERDF Section 106 2017 and and update play facilities in the park. improvements when available. funding funding has ongoing been used to carry out footpath/ cycle path improvement. ERDF Flood defence works may be a source of funding for play area improvement. 16 Update risk assessments and Carry out an annual risk assessment Parks Team Staff time System put in 2017 and procedures in line with the review of all parks infrastructure and place to ongoing development of the park and update where appropriate. ensure improvement to facilities. review of all parks risk assessments annually..
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3 Clean and Well Maintained Ref Recommendation Actions required Responsibility Resources Action taken Timetable 17 Develop a programme of management Continue to work with FoLP to Parks Team Staff time Extensive 2017 and work with the Friends Group to ensure develop a plan of park maintenance FoLP Volunteer time programme ongoing the standard of the park is maintained and improvements. of regular and where possible, improved. friends action days planned and carried out. Ongoing. 18 Develop and implement a planned Following annual inspection Parks Team DCC revenue Improvement 2017 and repair and maintenance regime for the programme, develop action plan for to paths litter ongoing. parks infrastructure. repairs. bins and seating undertaken as part of management
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plans. 19 Provide training for mobile Rangers to Identify toolkit required. Parks Team DCC revenue Ongoing as 2017 enable them to undertake some basic Provide appropriate training. part of overall repair and maintenance work when parks work. identified.
20 Encourage greater responsibility by Promote taking litter home – poster Parks Team Staff time Litter 2017 and the public for removing their litter to campaign. campaigns ongoing take home. have taken place.
4 Environmental Sustainability Ref Recommendation Actions required Responsibility Resources Action taken Timetable 21 Improve specifications to ensure peat Ensure new plant material has been Streetpride Staff time No peat 2015 and is not used and that all timber used is grown in a peat free medium products ongoing FSC certified. used. Timber products sought from renewal resources 22 Define area of park to devote to Work with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to Parks Team DCC revenue New Local 2017 meadow management. develop a wildlife management plan. Nature Reserve Management Plan completed,
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defining management prescriptions for the park. 23 Improve and promote sustainable Promote cycle routes through the park Parks Team DCC revenue The Transport 2017 and means of accessing and using the and improve when funding is Section ongoing park. available. promotes cycle routes around the city. 24 Minimise use of pesticides and Review maintenance operations to Streetpride Staff time Pesticide use 2015 and herbicides, including a reasoned identify areas where herbicides are has ceased ongoing justification where used. used. as part of grounds maintenance budget reductions, Community Payback used to undertake manual weed removal where required.
25 Investigate introduction of recycling Investigate options when time and Parks Team DCC revenue Long term facilities resources available. aspiration
26 Work with Grounds Maintenance to Review options with Streetpride. Parks Team DCC revenue Ongoing 2017 improve the recycling and use of 72
green waste material produced on the Streetpride park. 27 Ensure implementation of the Investigate options for training staff in Parks Team Staff time Parks staff 2017 and procurement policy with regard to environmental issues during Streetpride are aware of ongoing environmental issues. procurement. environmental issues when procuring
5 Conservation and Heritage Ref Recommendation Actions required Responsibility Resources Action taken Timetable 28 Provide interpretation material on a Work with FoLP to produce Parks Team DCC revenue Student 2017 noticeboard to inform visitors about interpretation material for new FoLP Volunteer time placement the history of the site. noticeboard. engaged in preparing display material on the parks natural history. 29 Undertake a survey of species in and Work with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Parks Team DCC revenue Friends 2017 around Cuttle Brook and the pond. and FoLP to carry out species survey. Group Pond onwards Warden undertakes regular surveying of
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the pond, in conjunction with Derbyshire Pond Wardens Association. 30 Commission a new five year Local Work with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to Parks Team DCC revenue New Five 2017 2015 Nature Reserve Management develop a wildlife management plan. Derbyshire Year Local Plan to follow on from the existing Wildlife Trust Nature plan. Reserve
Management Plan completed in 2017 31 Increase the number of bird and bat Work with FoLP and possibly schools Parks Team DCC revenue Bird Boxes 2016 boxes. to build new boxes when funds allow. FoLP Volunteer time installed. Arboricultural Officers to fit boxes to trees.
6 Community Involvement Ref Recommendation Actions required Responsibility Resources Action taken Timetable 32 Continue to develop and support the Continue to work with FoLP to Parks Team Staff time Major Love 2015 and range of events and activities taking develop events and activities on the FoLP Volunteer time Parks Week ongoing place on Sunnydale Park. park. event for last two years and
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planned again in 2017. Regular programme of activities organised by FoLP. 33 Develop and encourage increased Work with local schools and FoLP to Parks Team Staff time Friends group 2015 and use of the park for educational use develop ecucational activities on the FoLP Volunteer time undertake ongoing and activity. park and engage children with their pond dipping local park. and other environmental activities with schools and cubs/beavers 34 Develop interpretation boards and Work with FoLP to produce Parks Team DCC revenue Student 2017 leaflets. interpretation material for new FoLP Volunteer time placement to noticeboard and content for parks work on leaflet. interpretation material for noticeboard.
7 Marketing Ref Recommendation Actions required Responsibility Resources Action taken Timetable
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35 Increase the profile of the park to Explore options with the Marketing Parks Team DCC revenue Love Parks 2017 and attract greater visitor numbers. Team. Week events ongoing Promote the park using the new held since noticeboard. 2015, extensively Marketed via the councils Derby Live Team. 36 Promote Friends of Littleover Parks Work with FoLP to promote their Parks Team DCC revenue Three Derby 2017 and through networking events in the city. group and activities. FoLP Volunteer time Green Space ongoing Promote the group using the new Forum noticeboard. events held each year, including a major event at Derby University. 37 Produce a leaflet providing information Work with FoLP and design team to Parks Team DCC revenue 2017 on parks in Littleover. produce a leaflet for parks in Littleover FoLP and distribute on parks, Tourist Information, etc. 38 Ensure that the Marketing Plan is Explore options with the Marketing Parks Team Staff time Parks Team 2017 and implemented and regularly reviewed. Team. Leisure and work closely ongoing Culture with the Derby Live team to plan and promote 76
events and activities on Parks. Derby Parks Facebook Account has begun. 39 Provide information about the park Create an interpretation panel on the Parks Team DCC revenue A new 2016/17 including activities, facilities, volunteer new noticeboard with information FoLP Staff time website is on opportunities, interpretation and about the park. course for management using a variety of Produce a leaflet about parks in going live. different means and channels of Littleover. Derby Parks communication and ensure Facebook Review the DCC website and improve information is available online and in Account has the information available about the printed format. begun. Use park. of social media.
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8 Management Ref Recommendation Actions required Responsibility Resources Action taken Timetable 40 Identify and apply for sources of Continue to seek external funding. Parks Team External funding Possible 2017 and external funding to support continued ERDF ongoing investment in the park. funding and section 106 are opportunities currently being considered. 41 Continue with regular cross Regular meetings with other service Parks Team Staff time Ongoing 2017 and departmental meetings to best meet areas within the Council to co-ordinate ongoing the needs of Sunnydale Park. action planning and management plan reviews. 42 Establish a monitoring and review Agree and put in place systems to Parks Team Staff time Regular 2015 and system to measure progress of the collect and analyse information. Community ongoing implementation of the Action Plan. Parks Officer meetings and Friends Group meetings to monitor progress. 43 Prepare and deliver a training plan for Develop plan and identify training Parks Team DCC revenue Community 2017 and staff that will improve the management needs to deliver changes and Parks ongoing of the park and the quality of the improvements identified. Officers 78
customer service. Deliver as part of MIPs. training as Green flag Judges in 2017. 44 Prepare and deliver training and Work with volunteers and set out Parks Team DCC revenue FoLPs have 2017 and learning opportunities for volunteers. volunteer action plan to identify FoLP carried out ongoing training needs. some training TCV with TCV. Derby Park volunteers set up in 2015 have undertaken extensive training and delivered several action days on the park.
Key to colour code in Action Plan
Work completed
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Work ongoing
Work not yet started
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Appendix A Sample Inspection Sheet - Playgrounds
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Appendix B – Livewell
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Appendix C – Example Risk Assessment
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Sunnydale Park Green Flag Management Plan
2017 Addendum
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CONTENTS
1.0 Purpose of the Management Plan Introduction Evaluation Mechanism and Review Process
1.4 Organisational Context 1.4.3 Park Management
1.5 Policy Context 1.5.2 Local Policy
2.0 Green Flag Management Plan
2.1 A Welcoming Place 2.1.2 Appearance and upkeep 2.1.3 Accessibility 2.1.4 Good signage to and in the park
2.2 Healthy Safe and Secure 2.2.2 Providing a safe and secure place for all members of the community 2.2.5 Appropriate health and safety policies and practices are in place
2.3 Clean and Well Maintained 2.3.1 Maintenance of grounds and horticultural features 2.3.2 Maintenance of Park Infrastructure and Hard Landscape 2.3.3 Site cleanliness, Litter and Waste Management
2.4 Environmental Sustainability 2.4.1 Natural Resources
2.5 Conservation and Heritage 2.5.2 Conservation of Nature
2.6 Community Involvement 2.6.1Community engagement and participation
2.7 Marketing and Promotion 2.7.1 Marketing Team
2.8 Management 2.8.1 Overview
Updated Action Plan
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Purpose of the Management Plan
Introduction
Sunnydale Park is a tranquil oasis for both people and wildlife, providing the opportunity to escape the bustle and hectic pace of modern life and enjoy all the pleasures of the outdoors, with its attractive and diverse range of habitats and wildlife.
Under the watchful eye of the Friends Group the park has evolved and improved each year with new features including the display case and pond dipping platform, major operations like silt removal from the pond and the upgrading of most pathways from breedon gravel to tarmac. The Friends Group and Derby Park Volunteers have undertaken a wide variety of different tasks recommended by the local nature reserve management plan for the park, which has just been rewritten to provide a framework for the next ten years. For the last two years the Love Park Week Family Fun Day has proved a huge success during the school summer holidays, and a further event is planned for summer 2017.
The City Council is committed to a process of continual improvement to enhance the parks infrastructure and build partnerships with the groups who use and enjoy this valuable green space.
Evaluation Mechanism and Review Process
This document is an update to the original management plan reflecting the changes within the park, its uses and details of the community involvement over the last few years.
The current Green Flag Management Plan 2015 – 2020, will be revised and re- written in 2020. The revised management plan will reflect the following:
Results of the consultation on the overall Parks and Grounds Maintenance Service The impact of the proposed ERDF Flood Defence project. Changes to the ‘Raising the Standard’ Green Flag Award supporting document Based on the above, review the current action plan and consulate with future plans
This addendum document has been set out following the same structure as the Sunnydale Park Management Plan 2015-20. The purpose of the addendum and the way it has been organised is as follows:
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replace out of date information from the Management Plan eg former parks staff structure brief summary sections that provide details of what has happened within the last four years e.g. Events and Activities changes and improvements that have taken place within the park the development of partnerships and their impact on improvements and activities on offer within the park Action Plan 2017 – this section details work that has been undertaken over the last four years and plans for future years if no changes have been made within the Management Plan, then no reference will be made in this addendum
Livewell is an integrated healthy lifestyle service that supports people to lose weight, stop smoking, get more active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Part of the programme is to encourage people to use parks and benefit from the opportunity for healthy exercise that they provide. It’s Improving Wellbeing by Volunteering Programme recognises that volunteering can be a key to a long and healthy life (Volunteering in Health and Social Care Report 2008). Livewell is looking for volunteer health activists to signpost and support the healthy lifestyle message.
1.4 Organisational Context
1.4.3 Park Management
The Parks Team sit within the Community Leisure Section within the Communities and Place Directorate of Derby City Council.
The Parks Team is managed by the Parks Development Manager. The day to day management of the parks is area based working with the Community Parks Team supported by staff in the Landscape Team, the Community & Parks Building Team and Outdoor Leisure Team.
The Community Parks Team is responsible for the day to day management of Sunnydale Park. The Community Parks Officer role is focused on day to day working with park users, groups, and partners to improve service standards, use of the park and community involvement in the management of the parks in the area. Work also includes data collection and surveys to help monitor the service standards and their improvements.
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1.5 Policy Context
The following policy documents and strategies are currently being reviewed or have been reviewed in the last few years.
1.5.2 Local Policy
Derby City Local Plan The Derby City Local Plan is currently being reviewed and is due to be completed in 2018. It is not expected that anything will change in the new plan in relation to Sunnydale Park.
A vision for Derby's future – Towards 2030
A safe, strong and ambitious city to live
In December 2014 Derby City Council set out its commitment to develop a 15 year vision for the city based around our priorities of safe, strong and ambitious.
By forging new relationships with city partners and the local community to help the Council meet the challenges ahead and achieve great things for the city – despite the huge financial cuts the Council are currently facing. The Derby 2030 Vision will be developed through partnership arrangements, led by the Leadership Board working within themed areas of work.
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Further information on this area of work is available at www.derby.gov.uk/council- and-democracy/vision-values-priorities/15-year-vision/
In March 2016, the Council approved its Council Plan for 2016-19 to outline the Council’s contribution towards these priorities. Over the next three years, the Council pledges are:
Safe - a place where people are safe and the vulnerable are put first and supported. Strong - a place where people work together, can enjoy good health and wellbeing throughout their life and feel that they belong to a thriving community. Ambitious - a place where we support our children and young people to achieve their full potential, skills are valued, jobs and businesses are growing and we have the infrastructure to create a city for the future.
Anti-Dog Fouling Strategy.
Derby City Council’s Parks Team has undertaken a recent Dog fouling and litter campaign in 2015/16 and onwards. These posters have been used to target particular ‘hot spots’ and problem areas where dog fouling and litter is a particular problem.
Alvaston Park main problem is litter and activities are targeted at this problem. Dog fouling is less of a problem.
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2. Green Flag Management Plan
2.1 A Welcoming Place
2.1.2 Appearance and upkeep The parks team have an excellent relationship with Community Payback. In return for providing storage facilities for their equipment and tools at Markeaton Park, payback provide team for seven days each week to deliver a programme of work on parks which is reviewed on a quarterly basis. The payback team have beenregular visitors to Sunnydale Park, during the last two years, where they undertake extensive housekeeping work including trimming path edges, removing weeds, sweeping paths and removing moss, painting seats etc.
2.1.3 Accessibility The section of footpath between the pond and Sheerwater Close was a Breedon Gravel surface which overtime had deteriorated in condition and become muddy and puddled particularly though the winter months. In 2015 this was replaced with a new tarmac surface. The new surface is much more accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs and was a major improvement.
2.1.4 Good signage to and in the park A review of the park entrances has been undertaken and new signage installed at some entrances
2.2 Healthy, Safe and Secure
2.2.2 Providing a safe and secure place for all members of the community
Members of the Friends Group regularly attend Neighbourhood Board Meetings and report any issues quickly, coordinating with the parks team and the police. Any problems that arise are therefore addressed early.
2.2.5 Appropriate health and safety policies and practices are in place
Risk Assessments There is a programme of writing and updating of risk assessments within the parks team. Risk assessments are always submitted by event holders. The Friends Group have their own insurance and undertake risk assessments for the tasks they carry out.
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2.3 Clean and Well Maintained
2.3.1 Maintenance of grounds and horticultural features
Derby Parks Volunteers have also undertaken work on the park on tasks such as Balsam pulling and bramble removal, further details are included under Community Involvement.
2.3.2 Maintenance of Park Infrastructure and Hard Landscape
The play areas at Sunnydale are looked after by the Parks Teams playground engineer and are inspected at least twice but most often three times a week by the park rangers. The Friends group check the site daily, report any obvious problems and remove any litter they notice between council visits.
It is recognised that the paly area would benefit from a refurbishment programme and funding is being sought for this. It is anticipated that this may come from the ERDF funding for the Flood Risk Management Scheme along Cuttle Brook, for which there will be a degree of compensation for the impact the works will have on the park.
2.3.3 Site cleanliness, Litter and Waste Management
In early 2017 several litter bins have been replaced. Many had become corroded where dogs had over several years urinated on them. These have been replaced by a more robust version of the same style bin, which we have trialled on other parks and found to be more resilient and vandal resistant. The new bins have improved the general appearance of the park and the first impression of the park on arrival at several entrances. The play area is litter picked by the park rangers, who will also address other litter issues on the park when they are reported. This is supplemented by regular deep litter picking by Community Payback and by regular litter picking from the Friends Group, who will also report any issues to the council.
2.4 Environmental Sustainability
2.4.1 Natural Resources Following budget reductions the Grounds Maintenance Team have drastically reduced the use of herbicide, which they only now use in very specific situations where it is considered there is no alternative. There are no such areas on this park and pesticides are no longer in use on this park. There is also no use of peat. Any new plant material purchased would be sourced from a peat free supplier.
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The provision of recycling bins has been considered, however the cost and practicality of separately emptying a small number of bins has proved to be a difficulty. However this is still being considered and a practical way forward is being sought.
2.5 Conservation and Heritage
2.5.2 Conservation of Nature
The Friends Group and Derby Parks Volunteers undertake a programme of Nature Conservation work on the park, further details of which are provided under Community Involvement.
Professional ecologists James and Sarah Frith have been appointed to produce a new ten year local nature reserve management plan, to replace for the former plan which had expired and provide a framework for the future ecological management and development of the site. The plan is currently in draft form but will be completed by Spring 2017. This will provide prescription for the management of the wide variety of habitats present within the park.
The pond receives regular maintenance from Friends of Littleover Parks members. There are three designated Saturday mornings during the year devoted to pond maintenance. This could be weed clearing, invasive plant removing, overhanging branches removed, litter collected. The group have recently invested £150.00 obtaining new waders to help enable them to undertake this work. They undertake minor tasks as and when they are necessary. Severn Trent visit the pond on a weekly basis to ensure egress of water and clear channels. There is a volunteer Pond warden (also the Secretary of the Friends Group) who regularly checks the water and margins to protect the biodiversity in and around the pond. Under the guidance of the Pond Wardens Association and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, an annual survey (PSYM - Predictive SYstem for Multimetrics) is undertaken. This is a national measure to provide a method for assessing the biological quality of still waters in the UK. Prior to de-silting in 2005 and 2009, the pond scored 50% and was rated poor. After de-silting the pond has improved significantly, with a score of 61% in 2013 and the score has now reached 78% and with a good rating has now become one of the top 4 ponds in the city. Further details about the PSYM surveys and pond management can be found on the Derbyshire Pond Wardens Website using the following link: http://www.dcpwa.org.uk/Reports/Sunnydale-Park-Pond.html
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Photo by Friends of Littleover Parks
It is recognised that the park would benefit from some interpretation material on ecological value. Some information is being prepared for the display case near the pond dipping platform, and should be in place by spring 2017.
2.6 Community Involvement
2.6.1Community engagement and participation
The Friends of Littleover Parks Group continues to make a vital contribution to Sunnydale Park and coordinates many of the different volunteer activities on the site. This can take the form of individual members being the eyes and ears of the parks and being in a position to report any problems very quickly to the council, or address issues within the local community via peer pressure or their strong links with local councillors, Neighbourhood Boards and the police.
The Friends Group arrange a series of action days each year undertaking various tasks many which deliver the outcomes of the Sunnydale Park Local Nature Reserve Management Plan. Their work is complemented by that of the Derby Park Volunteers who have undertaken 3 days during the year carrying out tasks recommended in the Local Nature Reserve management plan. This has included bramble removal and also sowing native wildflowers to create an attractive floral display to encourage a greater diversity of birds, bees and butterflies. Derby Park Volunteers were set up by the City Council Park Team following the demise of the Derbyshire Branch of the Conservation Volunteers. They, on average, attract between 12-15 volunteers per day and work between the hours of 10am and 3pm. Their recent action days on Sunnydale Park are detailed below: 97
15/03/2016 Sunnydale Park Bramble removal
15/06/2016 Sunnydale Park Balsam Bash/Fallen trees
14/02/17 Sunnydale park Bramble removal
Over the last two years, The Friends of Littleover Parks Group have met on a monthly basis to discuss issues arising regarding the park and plan volunteering activities, events and coordination of the management and future development of the park. The meetings are attended by local councillors who are very committed to the park and supportive of the work of the friends group. The group work in partnership with a wide range of groups to improve and enhance the park including: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Streetpride, Derbyshire Pond Wardens Association, The Littleover ion Bloom Group, the Police and Neighbourhood Broad. The Group are also part of the Derby Greenspace forum, which meets three times year and offered the opportunity for all the friends groups in derby to share ideas and promote best practise.
Pond Dipping. Photo by Friends of Littleover Parks
The Friends have organised and coordinated range of activities on the park over the last two years including pond dipping sessions with local schools, cubs and beavers, and have also led a other environmental learning activities with local schools. The group maintain regular surveys of the pond, and have organised tree identification 98
They have undertaken refurbishment of the wooden notice boards at key entrances into the park. To promote the park and generate interest in the friends group, Gazebo days have been held to demonstrate the work of the group and gauge the views of park users.
The Friends have carried out a programme of monthly Saturday morning activities on the park over the last two years the details of which are shown in the table below.
2015 2016 January Litter pick, clearing brambles, Litter pick, clearing brambles , tidying clearing brook
February Clearing brook, Preparing Butterfly Glade, digging out,weeding
March Pond clearing,draining Prune shrubs in Butterfly ditches/stream Glade, prune hedge
April Clearing brambles in Butterfly Maintain paths Glade
May Planting and sowing wild Sowing wild flower seed flower seed in Butterfly Glade
June Planting plugs around pond, Trialling gazebo plant/ prune hedgerows card sales
July Balsam destroy, Pond survey Balsam destroy
August Love Parks event, pond Love Parks event,pond dipping, dipping, plant sales sales
September Pond weed clearing, clearing cut Pond clearing, cutting back grass branches October Planting native plugs Clearing of cut grass/brambles
November Litter pick Planting crocuses/bluebells
December Tidying fallen wood Litter collection/tidy
The impact of the volunteer opportunities has led to a greater ownership, marked increase in new and existing volunteers involved in the Park, which has had a profound impact on the park.
The activities are panned and reviewed with the Parks Team and other stakeholders at the monthly Friends of Littleover Parks meeting.
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2.6.2 Events
Following the Green Flag success in 2015, the Flag was unfurled at a Love Park Week Family Fun Day event at the park in August attended by the mayor. This was a great success and a further free Love Parks Event was held on the parkland adjacent to the children's play area, on Friday 5th August 2016 from 11.00am - 3.00pm. There were a variety of stalls and activities including the RSPB, Derby Homes, face painting, Arts & Craft Activities and some funfair rides. The Friends group has a fundraising stall selling cakes, soft drinks, plants, nature guides and bird food. Once again the event included the unfurling of the Green Flag by the mayor of Derby, with Characters from the children's programme Paw Patrol also in attendance and proving to be a very popular feature.
Love Park Week Family Fun Day 2016 Photo by Derby City Council
2.7 Marketing and Promotion
2.7.1 Marketing Team The Leisure Team has a dedicated marketing team which supports the Parks team. They promote facilities and activities for people in the city via posters, leaflets, website and social media.
The Leisure Events page is being updated on a regular basis to promote events on parks and open spaces across Derby. This page receives a high volume of hits. This is used as the main promotional source for parks events. http://www.derby.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/arts-and-entertainment/leisure-events/
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The Marketing team are working with Derby Live to put parks events into the Derby Live ‘What’s on Guide’ on a regular basis. This reaches 1000’s of people on the Derby Live database.
The team also have an annual programme of events which the Marketing Team attended with our promotional stand to promote Parks and wider Community Leisure service programmes and activities. On a regular basis, parks events are tweeted, put on the DCC Facebook page, put into internal newsletters and also sent to the Derby Evening Telegraph to be inserted into their ‘What’s on Guide’.
We now have a monthly Parks Newsletter which is sent out to a large data base by email. We are also working to get the events promoted on the Visit Derby website http://www.visitderby.co.uk/whats-on/ In 2016 approximately 1800 event days took place on parks and open spaces across Derby….that’s over 1 event every day of the year!
The marketing team is currently helping us to develop a marketing plan specifically for Sunnydale Park. This will include updating the website training for staff so we are able to update certain pages ourselves developing good signage and interpretation around the park helping to promote the park to non-users
The friends group are extremely active in promoting their activities and the park. The Friends of Littleover Parks website and is excellent for providing a host of general information about the park as well as events, history and wildlife.
The notice boards around the park are well used and promote up and coming events on the park, as well as providing key notices.
2.8 Management
2.8.1 Overview
ERDF Funding has been obtained by the City Councils Land Drainage Team to undertake a flood risk management project along the Cuttle Brook, a section of which flows through the park. The Land Drainage Team have met with James and Sarah Frith who have written the new Local Nature Reserve Management Plan, to consider how the flood risk management aims of the project can also deliver the nature conservation outcomes prescribed by the new management plan. The Flood Risk Management Scheme is in its early stages but is likely to require some degree of ground lowering along the brook or increasing of the size of the pond. One of the major difficulties with the pond is that the water discarding into it from the brook results in silt being deposited which reduces the ecological value of
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the pond over time. One of the key proposals being built into the Flood Risk Management Scheme is to create a reed bed to help prevent silt build up in the pond. This is also a major recommendation of the new management plan.
Love Park Week Family Fun Day 2016 Photo by Derby City Council
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