CONTENTS Introduction 1 1. Site Overview 1.1 Havering 2 1.2 Strategic Framework 3 1.3 Site Description 3 1.4 History 3 1.5 Location and Transport Links 6 2. A Welcoming Place 2.1 Entrance Points 9 2.2 Entrance Signs 9 2.3 Equal Access 10 3. Heathy, Safe and Secure 3.1 Health and Safety Systems 11 3.2 Parks Protection Service 13 3.3 Parks Locking 15 3.4 Infrastructure 16 3.5 Parks Monitoring 16 4. Maintenance of Equipment, Buildings and Landscape 4.1 Grounds Maintenance 18 4.2 Vehicles and Plant Maintenance 21 4.3 Parks Furniture 21 4.4 Play Areas 22 4.5 Parks Buildings 25 5. Litter, Cleanliness and Vandalism 5.1 Litter Management 26 5.2 Sweeping 26 5.3 Graffiti 26 5.4 Flytipping 26 5.5 Reporting 27 5.6 Dog Fouling 27 6. Environmental Sustainability 6.1 Energy Sustainability 28 6.2 Peat Use 28 6.3 Waste Minimisation 29 6.4 Pesticide Use 31 6.5 Tree management 31 7. Conservation and Heritage 7.1 Conservation of natural features, wild fauna and flora 32 7.2 Biodiversity 33 7.3 Conservation of buildings and structures 37 8. Community Involvement 8.1 Council Surveys 38 8.2 User Groups 38 9. Marketing and Promotions 9.1 Parks Brochure 41 9.2 Social Media 41 9.3 Website 41 9.4 Interpretation Boards 41 9.5 Events 42 10. Management 10.1 Management structure 43 10.2 Financial Management 45 10.3 Computerised Management System 45 10.4 Accreditation 45 10.5 Action Plan 47 10.6 Parks Contact Details 50 Appendices 1. Policy Context 2. History 3. Pesticide Reduction Strategy 4. Risk Assessments 5. Pleasure Ground Byelaws 6. Parks Fitter’s Instruction Form 7. Parks Monitoring Form 8. Grounds Maintenance Specification Contents 9. Vehicle Check Form 10. Play Area Visual Inspection Form 11. Play Area Operational Inspection Form 12. Peat Use Policy 13. ‘Your Council Your Say’ Survey 14. Marketing 15. Event Application Form 16. SWOT Analysis 17. Improvement Plan Introduction The Haynes Park Management Plan has been prepared by the London Borough of Havering Public Realm (Parks and Open Spaces) department and represents a five year plan for the Park. The plan was completed in 2016 and will be revised annually until a full update in 2021. It was recognised that the park given its importance locally required improvements to facilities and standards. As part of this process the plan was produced to reflect these improvements and how the park is managed. The format of this plan follows the Green Flag Award criteria as this is recognised as the nationally accepted standard of excellence for parks and open spaces. The criteria also reflect a comprehensive and logical breakdown on the complements of how a park is managed. The plan also includes an action plan which is achievable within the remit of current budgets. The plan has been produced to give the reader a ‘virtual’ tour of the park and a practical management guide. The key information is in the main body of the plan with more detailed information including policies and examples in the appendix. It is intended for a broad audience interested in the development of the park namely: • Public Ream staff - Parks and Open Spaces Officers, Grounds Maintenance • Other services and departments within the London Borough of Havering • Elected members, ward councillors and portfolio holders • The community and its representative organisations Birdsfoot Trefoil in Haynes Park Conservation Area 1 1. Site Overview 1.1 Havering The London Borough of Havering is London’s third largest borough. The north and east boundaries border the rolling Essex countryside and the south covers three miles of River Thames frontage. To the west Havering is bordered by the boroughs of Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham. The name ‘Havering’ originates from the Royal Liberty of Havering, to which Edward IV granted a charter in 1465. The area’s history stretches back to Roman times with early settlements at Rainham and Collier Row. The London Borough of Havering was created in 1965 by the merger of Romford and Hornchurch Urban District Councils. The name of Havering was finally agreed as a combination of the town names was not allowed. The idea of blending the two names was never a serious consideration.Armorial bearings were granted at the time of the formation. The motto ‘liberty’ represents the present free and democratic way of life but is inspired by the fact that Havering was mostly a part of the royal liberty of Havering – Atte – Bower from 1465 – 1892. London Borough of Havering Location Plan Many of Havering’s open spaces and public parks have a long and rich history. Some are former private estates with historical and heritage importance including Bedford’s Park, Clockhouse Gardens, Parklands Park and Langton’s Gardens. Well known landscape architects such as Humphrey Repton designed some open spaces within Havering e.g. Langton’s Gardens and many parks were developed in the twentieth century e.g. Upminster, Rise and Lawns Parks. 2 There is a large amount of countryside, especially in the north of the borough, with a good Public Rights of Way network and 4 country parks. There are also a wide variety of urban spaces from ornamental gardens to large municipal parks. 1.2 The Strategic Framework Information how this Management Plan sits within the national, regional and local context for parks and open spaces can be found in Appendix 1. 1.3 Site Description Haynes Park is a Medium Park of 11 hectares that serves the local community and is situated within a residential area of Hornchurch. There are three access points to the site. There is a vehicle entrance and car park leading from Slewins Lane, a pedestrian entrance leading from Haynes Road and another vehicle entrance and car park leading from Northumberland Avenue. A public right of way running west to east and leading from Slewins Lane to Haynes Road splits the park in half. The northern half of the park contains a play area, tennis courts and a multiuse games area for informal recreation. For more formal sports it also contains two football pitches used by Heath Park Junior Football Club. The site has a mixture of landscape features with amenity grassland, large conservation area and small woodland. The western boundary of this part of the park has the River Ravensbourne running alongside it. This half of the Park is also fenced and is closed from dusk until dawn. The southern half of the Park is unfenced and contains amenity grassland a small conservation area and a small area of trees. This side is also home to Haynes Park Bowls club that sits in a within a tall hedge bounded area. 1.4 History The first mention of the word Haynes in the area is in 1492 in a document in New College, Oxford, however little is known of the site after that apart from its use as farmland. Extract from Chapman and Andre 1777map. This spelling was probably very rare and more likely a mis-transcription of the local pronunciation by the mapmaker than the more widely written Hains or Haines Havering Libraries-Local Studies 3 In June 1935 attempts were made by Hornchurch UDC to buy the farmland in the area to create a Recreation Ground. Terms could not be agreed and land was compulsorily purchased in 1936. Over the next couple of year’s improvements were made such as boundary fencing, entrance gates, public shelter and a bridge over the Ravensbourne from Northumberland Road. In 1940 around nine acres of the Park was turned over to food production with wheat Haynes Park golf course and playground 1949 and barley sown. With an additional Havering Libraries-Local Studies three acres ploughed in 1941. After the war in 1946 additional improvements were carried out including the creation of a 20ft square paddling pool and sandpit surrounds, tennis courts and miniature golf course. Between 1948 and 1950 the construction of the Bowling Green and pavilion took place which was the first in Hornchurch with Haynes Park bowls club, who is the current club on site, starting in 1956. In 1963 a further 2.96 acres were added to the park, formerly part of Haynes Park Farm and containing fine elm and willow trees and giving the Park its final size and shape. Since then Haynes Park has seen many changes such as the removal of the miniature golf course in the early 1990’s and the moving of the play area to its present location so as to be more visible from and nearer to the main car park. To reflect modern usage one tennis court was changed into a multi-use games area in 2009. Another significant change happened in 2012 when the decision was made to improve biodiversity within parks and the old miniature golf course area was turned into a conservation area. A more detailed history can be found in Appendix 2. 4 Bowling Green and pavilion at Haynes Park circa late 1950’s Havering Libraries-Local Studies 5 1.5 Location and Transport Links Location Map Aerial Image of the park (2013) 6 Site Map 7 1.5.1 Address Haynes Park Slewins Lane Hornchurch Essex RM11 2BU 1.5.2 Bus The 165 route southbound from The Brewery, Romford alighting Brooklands Gardens or northbound from Abbey Wood Lane, Rainham alighting at Kinfauns Avenue The 370 route southbound from Mercury Gardens, Romford alighting at Brooklands Gardens or northbound from Lakeside Bus station alighting at Kinfauns Avenue.