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 5 2. A Welcoming Place 2.1 Entrance Points 9 2.2 Entrance Signs 10 2.3 Equal Access 11 3. Heathy, Safe and Secure 3.1 Health and Safety Systems 12 3.2 Parks Protection Service 14 3.3 Parks Locking 16 3.4 Infrastructure 17 3.5 Parks Monitoring 17 4. Maintenance of Equipment, Buildings and Landscape 4.1 Grounds Maintenance 19 4.2 Vehicles and Plant Maintenance 22 4.3 Parks Furniture 23 4.4 Play and Recreation 24 4.5 Parks Buildings 27 5. Litter, Cleanliness and Vandalism 5.1 Litter Management 29 5.2 Sweeping 29 5.3 Graffiti 29 5.4 Flytipping 30 5.5 Reporting 30 5.6 Dog Fouling 30 6. Environmental Sustainability 6.1 Energy Sustainability 31 6.2 Peat Use 31 6.3 Waste Minimisation 31 6.4 Pesticide Use 34 6.5 Tree management 34 7. Conservation and Heritage 7.1 Conservation of natural features, wild fauna and flora 35 7.2 Biodiversity 35 7.3 Conservation of buildings and structures 41 8. Community Involvement 8.1 Council Surveys 43 8.2 Use r Groups 43 9. Marketing and Promotions 9.1 Parks Brochure 47 9.2 Social Media 47 9.3 Website 47 9.4 Interpretation Boards 47 9.5 Events 48 10. Management 10.1 Management structure 50 10.2 Financial Management 52 10.3 Computerised Management System 52 10.4 Accreditation 52 10.5 Action Plan 54 10.6 Parks Contact Details 57 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. Sports Development Summer Activates Brochure 16. Event Application Form 17. SWOT Analysis 18. Improvement Plan Introduction The Hylands 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 Willows in the park 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 Hylands Park is a medium sized recreation park that covers 4.6 hectares. It is very well used by the local community. Its main functions are to provide a range of sports activities and as an area of passive recreation. The facilities include six tennis courts, a cricket table and a full sized football pitch. The cricket club that use the park have a small pavilion and practice nets. In addition the park has a large children’s play area, an outdoor gym area and a multi-use games area (MUGA). There is also a large circular walkway around half the Park that was once a horse trotting track and the Park also contains a range of fine trees. The park has three access points, the main gates being on Osborne Road, this entrance also has a small car park. The other pedestrian entrances are at Globe Road and Hylands Way. 1.4 History The area of land that was to become Hylands Park was used as agricultural land prior to the first half of the 1900’s. The land was bought in 1920 by a family named French who owned the Oak Public House in Victoria Road, Romford. The property was originally used for grazing and a piggery but it also contained an orchard. In 1925 a large trotting track was laid out by a developer, Mr Hastings of Stoke Newington. The works included the building of a track, stands, stables and other facilities. Hornchurch Urban District Council tried to halt the plans but the developer appealed to the Minister of Health and he was allowed to continue. This resulted in a public enquiry in October 1925 when it was agreed that Hornchurch UDC would negotiate with the owners for acquiring it for use as an open space. The land was finally purchased by Hornchurch UDC in early 1927. Whilst the negotiations were taking place with the Council the promoters continued to develop the trotting track which was also on occasions used for athletics meetings. The first race meeting was held on Whit Monday 1925 and it was supported by a large crowd. The meetings were widely publicised and the popular race days were a very great attraction with owners of trotting horses from all over the country. Many of the horses would be delivered a couple of days before the race meeting and most of them came by rail in special horse boxes that were shunted into Waterloo Road Railway Sidings. It is believed that Royalty also attended races here. 3 Example of trotting track Despite much interest in the early days the trotting meetings became gradually less well attended and the track eventually closed. The trotting track has survived and is the oval path around the eastern half of the park. Hylands Park became briefly famous on the 12th October 1940 when a serious mishap happened when a Spitfire fighter plane with engine problems narrowly missed crash landing in the crowded park. The event occurred when the Spitfire piloted by John McAdam took off from nearby RAF Hornchurch. The plane had taken off with the rest of the squadron for a regular patrol when the pilot suddenly became aware that flames were coming out of the engine. The pilot looked at the ground all round for a suitable spot to land but could only see houses in all directions. Then immediately below he saw a green area (Hylands Park) that would make a suitable landing spot. Unfortunately it was a Saturday afternoon and the park was full of children playing. The pilot had to make a split second decision where to land the plane and he spotted a narrow gap between two houses surrounding the park. He succeeded in crash landing the plane in the gap between the houses by slicing the two wings off. The plane finally stopped in the front garden of a bungalow in Globe Road and the only casualties were a dog and a few chickens. There was extensive bomb damage in the park caused by a V2 rocket towards the end of the war.