Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026
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Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016-2026 Green Spaces Team Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026 Contents Page 1. Site summary and description 3 2. Site details: location, access, maps 4 History 8 Ecology 9 3. Visions for Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden11 13 4. Site aims and objectives 13 4.1. Create and maintain a welcoming site. 14 4.2. Ensure that the site is healthy safe and secure 15 4.3. Ensure that the site is clean and well maintained. 16 4.4. Ensure sustainable management of resources. 17 4.5. Appropriate management of conservation features 18 4.6. Encourage community involvement 20 4.7. Ensure effective marketing 21 5. Management Actions and Maintenance Plan 23 Appendices 26 Appendix 1: Introduction to the London Borough of Hillingdon 27 Appendix 2: Green Spaces team structure 29 Appendix 3: Summary of grounds maintenance 30 2 Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026 1. Site summary Details Site Name Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Address (Main Entrance) West End Road, South Rusilip Postcode HA4 6QX Grid Reference TQ 110 845 Ownership London Borough of Hillingdon Name of Lead Officer Dragana Knezevic Lead Officer’s contact details Postal: Green Spaces Team Civic Centre 4W/08 High St, Uxbridge Middlesex, UB8 1UW Phone: 01895 277 534 Email:[email protected] Date site acquired 1953 PPG17 designation Open space London Parks typology designation Open space Access points West End Road, South Rusilip Public Transport Busses: E7, 696 Key features Key habitats Native hedge, Scrubland Wildlife Meadow, Amenity Grassland Ponds Horticultural features Box hedge Flower beds Trees Other designations Greenbelt Conservation Area Listed Grade II Tree preservation orders No 3 Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026 Description This memorial garden is dedicated to the Polish Air Force by the London Borough of Hillingdon. Significant Stone monument to Polish Air Men from WWII comprising large stone obelisk with bronze eagle and text surrounded by low stone walls bearing names. The memorial was erected in 1948 to commemorate the contribution of airmen from Poland who aided the Allies in the Second World War. Made partly of Portland stone and Polish granite. it has bronze lettering and a bronze eagle, symbol of the Polish Air Force. It records the names of the 1,241 Polish people who died in operational sorties during the course of the war. The ornamental garden was created in the field adjecent to the memorial in 2015. Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026 2. Site details Location Polish Memorial is situated beside A40/A4180 roundabout near RAF Northolt, West End Road, South Rusilip, HA4 6QX Access Public transport links are somewhat limited, but there is access by bus from Ruislip on routes E7 to Ealing and 696 to Hayes. The closest station to Polish Memorial is Ruilsip Gardens, which is about 2km away. Pedestrian access to the memorial is available via slip road off West End Road. Restricted (single yellow line) free parking is available along the slip road, however there are numerous locations where off road parking is available. Map 1. Location of the Polish memorial Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026 Map 2. Arial Photograph Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026 Map 3. Features of Polish Memorial Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026 History This memorial garden is dedicated to the Polish Air Force by the London Borough of Hillingdon. 'I have kept the faith, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course.’ The memorial was erected in 1948 to commemorate the contribution of airmen from Poland who aided the Allies in the Second World War. Made partly of Portland stone and Polish granite. it has bronze lettering and a bronze eagle, symbol of the Polish Air Force. It records the names of the 1,241 Polish people who died in operational sorties during the course of the war. After the end of World War II, a committee was formed under Air Vice Marshal Izycki to ommission a memorial. He used the services of Polish sculptor Mieczyslaw Lubelski, who had recently been liberated from a German labour camp. An appeal for funds was supported by two RAF Marshals – Viscount Portal of Hungerford and Viscount Trenchard. Money was raised from both the British people and Polish veterans and the memorial was unveiled on 2 November 1948 by Lord Tedder, Chief of the Air Staff, following a speech by Viscount Portal of Hungerford, stating that it was a sad blow that many Polish veterans could not return home due to the Soviet occupation, adding that it would be mutually beneficial to both nationalities if these veterans were to make their home in Britain. Over the years, the memorial became in need of repair and an extension to add a further 659 names not previously recorded. In 1994, another appeal was launched by the Polish Air Force Association (PAFA), with help from RAF Northolt to raise funds. The work included installing a new drainage system and the replacement of worn sandstone slabs with granite. The memorial was rededicated on 6 September 1996 in the presence of HRH the Duke of Gloucester and numerous British and Polish civil and military dignitaries, including Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy, Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Rosier CB, DSO, OBE (Northolt Station Commander between September 1943 and March 1944), the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Air Force, Divisional General Kazimierz Dziok, Air Vice Marshal Alexander Meisner, the Polish Ambassador in London, and last President of Poland in Exile Ryszard Kaczorowski. The memorial was also refurbished in 2010 in time for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Polish Airmen in Britain during the Second World War Polish pilots had already flown against the German Luftwaffe in Poland in 1939 and France in May 1940 and became a force to be reckoned with when flying Hurricanes and Spitfires. 30 Polish airmen were killed during the Battle of Britain in 1940, including five from RAF Northolt (from a total of 147 participants – a 20.4 per cent loss rate). 142 well-trained, combat- experienced Polish pilots served at RAF Northolt – 76 with RAF squadrons and 66 with the two all- Polish squadrons 302 and 303. They were critical to the outcome of the Battle of Britain. 303 (Polish) Squadron was the first Polish Squadron to arrive at RAF Northolt on 1 August 1940 being equipped with Hurricanes and becoming operational by the end of the month. Between August 30 and October 11 1940, No.303 Squadron tallied 126 enemy aircraft destroyed, 13 probables and 9 damaged clocking up the highest allied scores during the Battle of Britain. 53 Polish planes were lost during 1940 and 1941. 8 Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026 From 1941 onwards a complete Polish Spitfire Fighter Wing of three squadrons operated from Northolt. After 1945 the Polish armed forces disbanded. With Poland under Russian control, and the British Government anxious not to offend their wartime ally, Josef Stalin, the Poles were denied their place in the Victory Parade of 1946. This was described by historian Sir John Keegan as ‘one of the most shameful episodes of the Cold War’. Around this time a group of Polish Air Force officers formed an association similar to the RAF Association, for Polish airmen. This was named the Polish Air Force Association (PAFA). At an early meeting, they decided to erect a memorial to honour Polish airmen who died during the war. Ecology The following principal habitats can be recognised within the site, as follows: 1. Amenity grassland 2. Wildflower meadow 3. Flower beds 4. Scrub 5. Trees 6. Ponds The location of each of these habitats is shown in Map 3. The stone obelisk with bronze eagle is situated in East side of the site and it is surrounded by low stones and an ornamental pond with fountain. Ground is covered with amenity grassland and ornamental beds and belt of scrub area around the site. West side of Polish Memorial has recently been developed into an ornamental garden. The abundance of trees, hedges and wildflower meadows creates a diverse habitat which is home to many different species of wildlife i) Amenity grassland Areas of amenity grassland are surrounding the ornamental pond and it covers large areas of the newly created garden as well. This habitat by definition receives regular close mowing through the growing season, which creates a uniform and species poor sward. ii) Hedge Hedgerows and scrub encircling the obelisk are very important habitats. Although most of the shrub species are ornamental such as Cherry laurel, Aucuba, Mahonia and different species of Berberis, they provide nesting and feeding sites for many bird species. A variety of mature and young trees are also present including ash (Fraxinus excelsior), oak (Quercus robur), willow, cherry and sycamore. 9 Polish War Memorial Remembrance Garden Management Plan 2016 - 2026 Native hedge consisting of hawthorn and blackthorn is planted along southern boundary to create a buffer zone from A40. Low privet hedge (Buxus sempervirens) is planted around memorial plaque and seats. iii) Wildflower meadow It has proved very popular with visitors as well as with bees, bumblebees, butterflies and other invertebrates. It contributes to the general landscape, provides a positive use of the land and offers a peaceful place for people to relax and enjoy their local environment. The meadow is cut in late October, with the “arisings” left in situ for few days - to allow reseeding - and then collected by Park Officers.