The Southlands

Management Plan 2017 – 2022 Year One Green Spaces Team

The Southland Management Plan 2017- 2022

Contents

1. Introduction 3

2. Site Summary 4

Site Plans: 2.1 Map 1 - Location of Park 5 2.2 Map 2 - Aerial Photo 6 2.3 Map 3 - Access points 7 2.4 Map 3 - Key Features of Park 7

3. Present use 7

4. Facilities 8

5. Management arrangements 8

6. Visions for The Southlands 8

7. History 9

8. Ecology 11

9. Site Aims and Objectives 12

10. Main Management Operations 19

11. Appendices Appendix 1-Introduction to Hillingdon 23 Appendix 2-Marketing statement 25 Appendix 3-Historical documents 27 Appendix 4- Tree Survey 28 Appendix 5 - updated Project Outlines 30

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1. Introduction

The Southlands was transferred to what is now London Borough of Hillingdon (LBH) ownership in 1960’s and the land was preserved for use as a public open space, or recreation ground. The site has various features including ornamental gardens, hay cut meadow walk, a nature conservation area with grand pond located centrally on site and statues of Adam and Eve within the manor house gardens. The southlands has a fair sized car park that offers free parking for all residents who wish to enjoy the space. Today, set on the western edge of Hillingdon borough ​ in West Drayton, The Southlands Art is well used and vibrant, welcoming place for people of all ages in from the surrounding areas. The site boasts a Large manor house that incorporates several features (horticultural/ornamental) serving the community well and the art centre provides various community activities run for all ages throughout the year. For more information on events at the manor house advertised externally please check the below links. ● www.southlandsarts.co.uk/ ● http://www.southlandsarts.co.uk/events.html

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2. Site Summary

Site Name The Southlands Address 75 The Green, West Drayton Postcode UB7 7PW ​ Ownership London Borough of Hillingdon Lead Officers contact details Tim Gutierrez Green spaces Team 4W/08 Civic Centre, High Street Uxbridge UB8 1UW Phone: 01895 250456 Date site acquired 1963 London Parks typology designation Park,Garden, Art centre & Conservation area PPG17 designation Park,Garden, Art centre & Conservation area Area 25.959 Sq2 0.241167 Hectares Access points The Southlands has 1 main entrance situated off The Green adjacent to Mill Rd

Access – Public Transport The U3 is the closest bus The 222, U5 698 350 are also close to the Site. West Drayton Crossrail is nearby

Key features Queen Anne style architecture Manor House ​ Adam and Eve Statues

Key habitats Amenity Grassland Trees Pond Hedgerows Historic features Southlands Art Centre Horticultural features Ornamental gardens Sporting features N/A Playgrounds/ other recreational Meadow walk features Other designations Conservation Area YES Tree preservation orders NONE Additional features

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2.1. Location

The Southlands is West of Station Road situated adjacent to the Green and South of Church Road in West Drayton. It is surrounded by residential roads one main entrance onto the site. ​ ​ The U3 bus is the closest bus to the site but the 222, U5, 698 and 350 also pass nearby. The closest train station is West Drayton LGW Crossrail Station.

By road, The Southlands is approximately: ● 17.3 miles from the centre of London ● 4.5 miles from Heathrow airport ● 6.6 miles from the M40 ● 1.1 miles from M25

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2.2. Aerial Photograph of Park

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2.3. Access

The site has one main entrance and as you enter the site there is a carpark situated to the right.

2.4. Park Features and access.

3. Present use

The Southlands incorporates a wonderful Queen Anne Grade 2 listed building within extensive, ​ beautiful grounds which are open to the public that is used as an arts centre. The art centre ​ provides an array of events and workshops throughout the year for local residents and the local community to enjoy. The rest of the site is used for family outings, taking the dog for a walk and other outdoor activities and site can also be used as an alternative cut through instead of using the roads.

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4. Facilities

The site offers areas of environmental interest which includes a Meadow area, large pond, Bramble scrub patches and formal garden as well as the arts centre

5. Management Arrangements

The Southlands is managed by the London Borough of Hillingdon’s Green Spaces Team. Grounds maintenance is carried out by the borough’s horticultural maintenance team (from January 2013, this function came back “in-house” after many years of using contractors). The pond work is undertaken by the council’s team of Park Officers due to sensitivity of the site and it supports the protected Great Crested Newts. Social enterprise Blue Sky team (an organisation that provides work for former prisoners) are also involved in less sensitive pond works and other occasional works as needed.

Additionally, the open space management benefits from the involvement of the payback team keen to make a difference to The Southlands. They are involved in monthly management activities of the site which includes scrub management and general tidy up works on the site. We also use contractors for maintenance of the park’s infrastructure (although minor work may be done by local staff).

6. Visions for The Southlands

Our vision of The Southlands is to promote the open space as a facility for passive and active recreation. We seek to continue to enhance the open space further in ways that are appealing to the public and ensure that the site is easily accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

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7. History In the 16th Century a Tudor farm house stood on the site of the present rear portion of Southlands. Little is known of it's present early history, but by the end of the 17th century it was occupied by a yeoman farmer, George Cowdery, whose family had lived in West Drayton for at least a hundred years.

George Cowdery farmed most of the land in that part of West Drayton around Southlands. He had a large family, which was probably the reason why he enlarged his farmhouse by erecting on the front of it, to make it the fine Queen Anne exterior it is today. The dining room contains a painted alcove, in which the words "Mr Cowdery, West Drayton" appear.

Three of Cowdery's children died in infancy. Two daughters Katherine and Ann survived. In his middle age Cowdery had a son who was baptised George in August in 1727.

In 1743 Cowdery insured his property with the Sun Insurance Office, the company's firemark may still be seen on the front of the house. The house was insured for £500, the outbuildings comprising a stable, granary, barn, outhouses and carthouse for £240, and a dutch barn and granary for £60. The inclosure Map of 1828 shows the full range of farm buildings, and from this it is obvious that Cowdery was farming on a very large scale.

On 26 February 1745 Cowdery made a will, leaving his property outside the parish to his married daughters, Katherine Hatchett and Ann Woodman. To his young son George, he left the West Drayton property - subject to an annual charge of £1 on Mill Close (Now St Martins Road) to provide bread for the poor. Cowdery died in 1747, when his son was just 19. The younger Cowdery life was short and died just before his 32nd birthday. He ​ married Marther Honnor, and by her had 3 sons, George, William and John.

Two years before his death he had made his will, which suggest his health was not good and he anticipated an early death. Southlands was left to his wife, and then to his eldest son. By 1828 Southlands was in the possession of John Hatchett, a descendant of Katherine Hatchett. On John Hatchetts death the copyhold passed to his daughter, Mary, who married George Classon, a builder. In 1864, the tudor part of the house was replaced with the present rear portion and most of the outbuildings were were demolished. In 1877 the Classons purchased the freehold.

On the death of George Classon, Southlands passed to his daughter, Mary Rose Classon, who lived at Swains House, Swan Road. In the early part of the Century,she leased Southlands to Cosmo Hamilton, The novelist of the time, and his actress wife, Beryl Faber. When Cosmo Hamilton left Southlands in 1911 it was leased to the Davey Family, who purchased the freehold in in 1930. In 1963 the property was acquired by Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District Council. Les Nind, a local self taught artist, set up Yiewsley and West Drayton Arts Council, he ​ became the Chairman, and wrote the constitution for the Arts Council. He then invited Sir Alan Laine to be the president, which he accepted. In December 1964 it was agreed by then by Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban and District Council, to lease Southlands as an Art Centre for a seven year lease at a peppercorn rent.

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Les Nind until recently has always been passionately involved in the general running of ​ the art centre. Since then we have become known as Southlands Arts, and we hold exhibitions (painting and photography), we stage local productions in the gardens, hold annual Craft fairs, Victorian fairs and music events and more. The origin of Drayton or 'Drægtun' village, as a 'dragging' or portage point on the Colne. The parish once comprised of three clearly distinct zones, running from north to south. The most westerly, extending along each side of the Colne, consisted of common moorland. Next to it was a region of ancient enclosures, including within it the village, the church, all the principal manor-houses and residences, and, to the south of the village, the common meadow.

East of this region, occupying about half the area of the parish, lay the open-field arable land. By 1557 the village had already taken on the approximate shape which it presented when the first detailed maps were made, at the beginning of the 19th century, with its houses and cottages grouped around Town Street, where the Green now stands, and Mill Lane (now Money Lane). Some 16th century building survives

As late as 1826 West Drayton was still a lightly populated agricultural parish with its village grouped compactly round the Green, and with only isolated farm-houses and residences elsewhere. The transport developments of the first half of the 19th century ended the virtual isolation of the village and created the prerequisites for an industrial development

West Drayton formed part of the Uxbridge rural district from 1894 until 1929, when it became part of Yiewsley and West Drayton urban district. In 1949 the civil parish was absorbed into Yiewsley and West Drayton civil parish and ceased to have any independent existence

Extensive slum clearance orders in 1935 made the need for a municipal housing scheme urgent, and the urban district council acquired and began to lay out the Bell Farm estate. This was the first significant housing encroachment on the district which had formerly been the open field. A second council estate of 82 acres in Wise Lane was acquired in 1937, although building did not begin until 1953. By 1958 the council had built about 1,800 dwelling on these two estates. Private building also continued, especially in the neighbourhood of Sipson Road, where an estate of 300 houses had been completed by

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1936, so that by 1958 the entire northern half of the parish had been built over, with the exception of the Green and an island of municipal property around Drayton Hall.

This included the Old Pits, the cemetery, the allotments, Drayton Hall grounds, the Avenue and The Closes recreation grounds. Originally The Southlands would have been part of the Manor ​ of West Drayton which in 925 AD was granted to the Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral by King Athelstan.

8. Ecology

The southlands is designated a Site of Nature Conservation Borough Grade II and comprises a range of habitats and it is home to many interesting flora and fauna that are rightly appreciated by the site users.

The main part is a herb-rich grassland with abundant knapweed (Centaurea nigra), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), ribwort (Plantago lanceolata), meadow cranes-bill (Geranium pratense) a local scarce species with cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), red fescue (Festuca rubra) and false oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius).

A small pond linked to the wet area by a narrow channel supports Great Crested Newts.

Fauna:

Although no formal fauna survey has been conducted at The Southlands, the following species are commonly seen in the local area:

Avifauna

● Great Spotted Woodpecker ● House Sparrow ● Green Woodpecker ● Hedge Sparrow ● Song Thrush ● Black Bird ● Mistle Thrush ● Robin ● Starlings ● Blue Tit ● Carrion Crow ● Great Tit ● Wood Pigeon ● Long-tail Tit ● Feral Pigeon ● Doves ● Jays ● Magpies ● Wren ● Gold Finch ● Gold Crest ● Green Finch ● Pied Wagtail ● Siskin ● Heron ● Little Egret ● Mallard

Mammals ● Fox ● Rats ● Hedgehog ● Mice

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Insects ● Butterflies ● Other insects

Amphibians

● Frog ● Common Newt ● Great Crested Newt

Tree survey A tree survey will be carried out with which the findings will be included within the appendices upon completion.

9. Site Aims and Objectives

Main Aims 1. Create and maintain a welcoming site 2. Ensure the site is healthy, safe and secure 3. Ensure the site is clean and well maintained 4. Ensure sustainable management of resources 5. Appropriate management of conservation and heritage features 6. Encourage community involvement 7. Ensure effective marketing of the facility 8. Implement effective management strategies

These aims, with their associated objectives, form the basis for the main management operations on the site and will provide a foundation for all projects in the coming years.

9.1. Create a welcoming site

The overall impression for any member of the community approaching and entering the park should be positive and inviting. The park is welcoming to families and individuals alike. Signage plays an important role, welcoming people and informing them of the layout of the site, details of who to contact if required and a map of the site’s main features. We will continue to identify further ways to improve on this, through adding to the infrastructure, or replacing old park furniture for example and outline any plans within the main management operations.

Objectives 1. Secure and standardise all access points, where applicable. 2. Maintain all boundary walls and fences as necessary. 3. Maintain footpaths as necessary. 4. Install and maintain new interpretive signage. 5. Maintenance and Provision of site furniture where appropriate.

9.2. Ensure that the park is healthy, safe and secure

The site lends itself well to promoting a healthy lifestyle in that it is scenic and relaxing as well as providing an accessible means for physical recreation. Generally this

12 The Southland Management Plan 2017- 2022 site does not suffer with the effects of vandalism and anti social behaviour. however, some graffiti is occasionally seen and is reported to our graffiti clean up team which can be done by anyone through the Hillingdon Contact Center. To ensures the security of the site we also work alongside the S.N.T the Local (Safer neighbourhoods team) to ensure the site is patrolled regularly to prevent and antisocial behaviour from taking place.

The LBH park bye-laws apply to the site. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), the LBH is responsible for ensuring, so far as practical, the health and safety of employees, contractors and visitors whilst conducting all involved activities. it is important to LBH and all staff and contractors are aware of their respective obligations. A Corporate health and safety management system has been implemented which allows Hillingdon Council to effectively manage health and safety for all of its undertakings This will be reviewed every three years unless circumstances indicate that an earlier review is necessary. Among other things it ensures that there is a high standard of health and safety awareness, for example The Health and Safety at work Act 1974 and COSHH. Staff are fully trained to ensure they are competent to conduct their duties safely and provided with all necessary PPE and that risks are assessed with a view to eliminate, reduce or adequately control their impact; this being carried out and recorded through a risk assessment.

Objectives

1. Undertake regular cleaning regime to remove litter and fly tipping. 2. Continue to implement Health and Safety policies. 3. Ensure residents who use the park are aware of the relevant bylaws. 4. Continue to encourage residents to value the park.

9.3. Clean and well maintained

The Southlands is maintained by the boroughs grounds maintenance team. All works are carried out in line with the detailed specification which provides clear definition of the standards and quantity of work required. Work is also carried out by Park Officers who also contribute by reporting any areas of maintenance needed. The public are able to report any issues including litter, graffiti, vandalized or badly maintained areas etc, either via phone, letter, or using our on line system.

Street Cleansing are responsible for removing litter from the site, carrying out litter picking and emptying bins. The site has a number of litterbins, sited within the grounds, which assist in maintaining the area in a clean condition. The litterbins are emptied on a two times a week schedule, however additional visits can be arranged if the bins need emptying after a busy weekend. Reports of graffiti are fed through the Customer Contact Centre, who commission the graffiti removal team. The council standard is to remove graffiti within 48 hours (24 hours in the case of graffiti that is racist or offensive).

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Objectives

1. Continue with current maintenance arrangements. 2. Enhance maintenance regimes where practical. 3. Encourage the continued involvement of the MAG. 4. Identify and then carry through a programme of improvements.

9.4. Ensure sustainable management of resources.

The London Borough of Hillingdon recognises and are aware of the need to minimise adverse impact on the environment. LBH, therefore, actively pursues ways of delivering sustainable development and ensuring environmental sustainability is a vital part of this. The Council has signed up to the peat charter, and discourages the use of peat-based products in its horticultural work. In specific reference to The Southlands, maintenance agreements discourage the use of pesticides and herbicides on the site, a stance that has environmental and financial benefits. Therefore, other methods of pest control are utilised, and, where possible, non-herbicidal weed control is carried out. Where it is absolutely necessary, a non-residual herbicide application will be used, (e.g. glyphosate,) to reduce environmental impact. Also, where they are used, herbicides are applied as spot treatment rather than blanket sprayed, and all operatives are trained and certified for that particular operation.

Deadwood and the green waste created by the payback team and/or park officers is left where appropriate and wildlife habitats are created. Due to restrictions of area, some arisings from willow coppicing and scrub maintenance have been burned on site rather than taken to the green waste facility. This ensures waste minimisation and reduce the carbon footprint of removal. However the majority of green waste is taken to the borough’s green waste facility for recycling.

Tree trimmings are also recycled by the borough’s term tree maintenance contractor. This ensures waste minimisation. It has been proposed that where possible fallen leaves are to be left on the beds, around the trees and shrubs, and only cleared from the paths and lawns, so that they act as natural mulch. It is most important that we are seen to ‘practice what we preach’ and maintain high standards of sustainable management that demonstrate our awareness of environmental, conservation and resource issues. We therefore seek to actively research and promote new initiatives in the field of sustainable resource management.

Objectives

1. Continue to promote waste minimisation. 2. Plan long term management for all features of the park. 3. Ensure efficient use of resources. 4. Develop and promote resource conservation and sustainable development. 5. Enhance semi arid plants feature and provide interpretation to show gardening can be attractive without major water use.

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9.5. Appropriate management of conservation and heritage features

The Southlands falls within the West Drayton conservation area and the park dates back as far ​ as 1928.

The importance of green spaces for conservation of wildlife is understood, and they naturally provide habitats which are not available in the more urban immediate surroundings (i.e. where concrete predominates.) Hillingdon Borough council is responsible for approximately 1800 acres of green space, ranging from pocket parks to country parks, ponds to lakes, street trees to woodland all playing an important ecological role.

This small site is designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Borough Grade II and comprises a range of habitats.

The Southlands is home to many interesting flora and fauna that are rightly appreciated by the site users. The following principal habitats can be recognised within the site, as follows: ● Semi-improved neutral grassland ● Amenity grassland path ● Scrub and scattered trees ● Pond

The grassland habitat covers the southern area of the site. Hay meadow management was ​ re-introduced in 2012. Hay meadows not only create an additional habitat but also make the area more diverse and visually interesting for visitors.

The grassland is allowed to grow un-cut until late summer when it is cut, by external contractors using a hay mower no shorter than 10cm, and the hay removed from site. Unfortunately due to dog fouling, rubbish and dotted ragworth the hay cannot be used for cattle feeding. However, this management will help to diversify the vegetation species diversity and should be continued.

The strips of amenity grassland that stretches through the meadow forming pathways, ​ receives regular close mowing through the growing season, which creates a uniform and species-poor sward. This path is for informal leisure use i.e. walking.

Scrub and scattered trees is the other main habitat on the site. Scrub management is undertaken by community payback team during the dormant season. Arisings from willow coppicing and scrub maintenance have been burned on site rather than taken to the green waste facility. Larger area of scrub should be managed by non intervention as shelter for nesting birds etc.

Dead wood should be normally retained on site as it forms an important habitat, especially for invertebrates and fungi. Dead timber should consist of a mixture of dead and dying wood on standing trees, and standing and fallen dead trees. Standing dead wood provides opportunities for woodpeckers to excavate nest-holes. Hollows in branches and trunks provide roosting and breeding sites for bats. Retention of dead wood is therefore desirable in all forms from fallen branches to whole tree trunks, both fallen and standing, except for any work necessary to make

15 The Southland Management Plan 2017- 2022 trees safe along the informal entrances and the border with the hay meadow. They should be inspected annually and after storms or unusually high winds.

A pond management programme has been implemented since 2012. As the pond has a steep ​ ​ concrete margins marginal vegetation wasn’t well established, see photo from 2008.

Pond 2008 Pond 2016

Therefore several sections of the margins have been blocked by natural materials such as logs or stones found on site and planted with with wetland plants harvested from the local ponds in Hillingdon. The plants are well established now with species present including purple loosestrife, meadowsweet, marsh marigold and yellow Iris; these species provide a home to a large variety of aquatic life including water beetles, dragonflies, frogs newts. ​

A newt survey started in 2016 and in one occasion 2 female GCN, 8 male GCN and more than 20 common nexts have been recorded. The records have been sent to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) Trust, see https://www.arc-trust.org/

In order to support a healthy population of newts, regular maintenance and removal of blanket weed and abundant pondweed is essential to allow more light into the pond and to ensure that areas of open water remain. This has been done manually by the council’s Park Officers in small quantities several times a year in rotation during dormant

16 The Southland Management Plan 2017- 2022 season avoiding the spawning and nesting season. Ducks are also nesting on the small islands in the pond.

Snow drops blooming in the spring

Objectives

1. Conserve landscape features and improve as necessary, 2. Conserve existing boundaries. 3. Maintain environmental conservation areas. 4. Initiate programme of phased tree maintenance in line with survey findings.

9.7. Encourage community involvement

By carrying through improvements in the park, the council will continue to raise the aspirations of local people and this will generate interest. Events that take place also increase the involvement of the local community

The LBH community strategy outlines goals for improving the quality of life of the community. Proposed actions taken towards achieving the goal ‘a clean and attractive borough’ include involving the community in improving standards of green spaces.

The R.A.G.C (Rural Activities Garden Centre) is a council run adult learner garden center that offers outdoor work, projects and training for its members and help us with various projects including making bird boxes and Mini beast habitats

Other external organisations help with the grounds maintenance of the site. Twice weekly community payback help us implementing improvement works to the site steering them to our vision and educating them along the way

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http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/23523/Maintain-parks-and-green-spaces

The site is important to all of its users. The team promise a number of customer care standards and aim to meet some Service Specific Standards including involving users and the community in parks and in consultations about them. Therefore it is desirable at this site to initiate a user forum to encourage users to play an active role in developing the site, to meet their needs and expectations.

Objectives

1. Joint working with local voluntary groups. 2. Further promotion of the site to schools, youth and community groups.

9.7 Ensure effective marketing of the facility

The Southlands can be found within this borough wide general leaflet as well as on the ​ Hillingdon Borough website. http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/14249/Local-parks

www.hillingdon.gov.uk/media/34019/A-Guide-to-Green-Spaces-in-Hillingdon/pdf/12287_Green_ Spaces_listing_A4_3.pdf

The site’s management plan will also be made available online through the council’s web pages, making it more accessible to all, and therefore a more useful document. In order to ensure that the local community and the general users are aware of what is going on at the open space, it is essential that a supply of information is available throughout the year. This information will be presented in a variety of different ways and will seek to encourage understanding and awareness of the open space itself and the wider remit of the Council. Marketing materials, along with photographs showing community involvement. LBH has decided

18 The Southland Management Plan 2017- 2022 not to produce site-specific leaflets. A general Green Spaces booklet is available. A marketing plan is being developed for all sites and will be available when required if requested.

Objectives

1. Preparation of interpretative materials for the park.

9.8. Implement effective management strategies

The site has been owned and therefore managed by what is now The London Borough of Hillingdon since the 1926. However, until relatively recently, the upkeep and management of the site was not well organised, due to a lack of funding for parks. Now, the LBH Green Spaces team is responsible for this and all other borough green spaces as outlined in the Site Summary. The staff structure outlines how this works and how management is kept effective; ground maintenance team and Park Officers are responsible for upkeep, and the contractor carries out most maintenance works. All are under charge of the Area Officer and ultimately the Area Manager. The following management operations outline the effective management plan in place for The Southlands and, through them, we will carry out the effective management of the site. The London Borough of Hillingdon actively pursue ways of delivering sustainable development. The site’s management is further kept effective through staff engagement and involvement. The staff are an integral component of the site and important for its smooth running. Each year a Performance and Development Appraisal is completed for each staff member, which helps them to achieve set objectives for learning. Finally, the Green Flag assessment process itself will also ensure further enhancement, as it is a means for review of the management and will be used to encourage new thinking and to guide dynamic and adaptable management.

Objectives

1. Use sustainable management strategies and methods as including: - continue to minimise the application of pesticides; where possible encourage the use of physical / cultural forms of weed control; continue to recycle and reuse organic matter as mulches, soil ameliorants, and for other uses. 2. Carry out regular reviews of all management operations and projects. 3. Identify potential sources of appropriate funding.

10. Main management operations

Individual Project Outlines

The following pages contain a brief project outline for each of the projects. These provide not only a description of the project, but also the rationale behind it, when the works are likely to be carried out, by whom, and how much it is likely to cost.

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Project: Grounds Maintenance Review Summary: To comprehensively review the grounds maintenance on site Rationale: To ensure the best possible grounds maintenance regime is implemented Constraints: Limited officer time ​ Who will do Green Spaces Officer and Grounds Maintenance Manager it? Budget Within existing resources Estimate: ​ Status Ongoing

Project: Repair the ponds water feature/fountain

Summary: To repair the pump to restore the feature and improve the water condition

Rationale: The pond requires better aeration to help produce a better habitat Constraints Costs Who will do Council contractors it? Budget Awaiting Quotation Estimate: ​ Status Awaiting funding

Project: Grounds Maintenance Review Summary: To comprehensively review the grounds maintenance on site Rationale: To ensure the best possible grounds maintenance regime is implemented Constraints: Limited officer time ​ Who will do Green Spaces Officer and Grounds Maintenance Manager it? Budget Within existing resources Estimate: ​ Status Ongoing

Project: Tree Survey Summary: To undertake a tree survey to document what tree species are onsite

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Rationale: Acquire better environmental knowledge of the site Constraints: Officer Time ​ Who will do Tree Officers it? Budget N/A Estimate: ​ Status Pending

Project: Repair to front gate Summary: To replace the front wooden farm gate that was previously damaged and removed, Rationale: To make the site more welcoming and improve its security Constraints: None ​ Who will do contractor it? Budget £400 - £500 Estimate: ​ Status Completed

Regular Maintenance Plan

In addition to the regular maintenance of the site, the following actions shall be undertaken on an ongoing basis:

● Undertake regular cleaning regime to remove litter ● Continue to implement Health and Safety Policies ● Ensure that park users are aware of relevant bylaws ● Continue to encourage park users to value the park ● Enhance maintenance regimes where practical ● Continue to promote waste minimisation on sites ● Continue to minimise the application of pesticides ● Where possible encourage the use of cultural forms of weed control ● Continue to recycle and re-use organic matter generated on site for soil-ameliorants, mulches, etc ● Develop and promote resource conservation and sustainable development ● Produce a phased and costed schedule for tree works ● Conserve existing walls and boundaries ● Carry out regular reviews of all management operations and projects ● Identify new sources of funding and secure.

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11. Appendices ​

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Appendix 1 - Introduction to the London Borough of Hillingdon Description

Hillingdon, situated on the western edge of Greater London, is the second largest London borough, covering a total area of about 42 square miles. It is just 14 miles from central London and bounded by the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey and the London Boroughs of Hounslow, Ealing and Harrow.

Hillingdon is home to Heathrow, the world's busiest airport that caters for more than 60 million passengers a year.

The borough has eight leisure centres and 2 pools, 17 libraries, two theatres and over 170 green spaces including Ruislip Woods the Nature Reserve and Lido.

History

The London Borough of Hillingdon was one of the 32 London Boroughs created by the London Government Act 1963. It was formed by the amalgamation of the Borough of Uxbridge and the Urban Districts of Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip/Northwood and Yiewsley and West Drayton.

The new borough came into existence on April 1, 1965 when the new council started work.

As well as taking on the work of the four previous district authorities the council became responsible for local services such as education, libraries and the children's services. These had previously been run by the Middlesex County Council, which ceased to exist on April 1 1965.

Hillingdon's purpose-built Civic Centre opened its doors to the public in 1977. The council specified the use of traditional materials such as bricks and tiles while the sloping roofs were designed by the architects to reflect the style found in many of the borough's homes.

Workforce

The council employs approximately 3064 staff.

People

Hillingdon has a population of 273,936 according to the 2011 Census. There is a growing ​ proportion of young people, particularly of school age children.

Around 39.4% of the borough's residents are from ethnic minority groups (mainly Indian, Pakistani, other Asian and Black Caribbean).

There is an active voluntary sector, and a wide variety of community groups, tenants' and residents' associations.

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Leisure

Hillingdon is rich in wildlife and wildlife habitat including waterways, lakes, meadows and nature reserves. Ruislip Woods have been designated London's first National Nature Reserve, while nearby Ruislip Lido boasts 40 acres of water. The borough also offers a host of sporting activities, including six sports centers, many with newly refurbished gyms and four exceptional 18-hole golf courses, including a championship standard course at Stockley Park. The arts and entertainment thrive, with The Beck professional theatre in Hayes, the Compass Theatre, Ickenham, and various other venues. There is major new shopping centre, The Chimes in Uxbridge.

Team Structure

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Appendix 2 - Marketing Statement The Southlands lies in the West Drayton ward and within easy reach of the M25, M4 and A40/M40. ​ Ward residents’ profile (based on results of 2011 Census)

Gender:

Males 7,030 Households: 5,613 Females 7,340 Total: 14,370

Age: 0 – 4 8.3% Households with dependant children: 37.0% 5 – 15 14.5% 16 – 24 12.7% 25 – 59 49.0% 60- 74 9.8% 75 + 5.8%

Ethnic Group: White 66.5% Mixed 4.2% Asian / Asian British 18.6% Black / Black British 8.1% Arab or other Ethnic group 2.5%

Health of people: Very good/Good 82.6% People with a limiting lifetime illness 15.8 %: Fairly Good 12.5% Very bad/Bad 5.2%

Analysis

The ward profile of residents indicates that 5.8% of residents are over 75 and that almost 15.8% of residents indicated they have limiting lifetime illnesses. The Southlands therefore has an important role as a place for quiet enjoyment. Seats need to be easy to use by people with disabilities and a DDA compliant design is important.

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Equally, over 35.5 % of residents are under the age of 25, 8.3% of the population being under 5. This helps to explain that the use of The Southlands is used fairly evenly by all ages of the community

Over 66.5% of residents living in the ward describe their ethnic group as white.18.6% are Asian/Asian British with a smaller percentage of people describing themselves as Black/Black British, Arab or from another ethnic group. It is therefore important to ensure that all ethnic groups are made to feel welcome and included in actions relating to The Southlands. ​ ​ Marketing Segmentation

The key market segments for The Southlands appear to be:

a. Immediate neighbours b. People living within walking distance of the sites. c. People living in the ward with limiting lifetime illnesses. d. People living in the ward/further away from the site who have an existing/potential interest in local natural history and heritage.

Marketing methods to help enhance appreciation and appropriate use of The Southlands.

● Regular liaison with interested parties re issues affecting The Southlands.

● Use of welcoming informative interpretation boards at key points on the site to promote the special interests of the site to regular and occasional users.

● Develop contact with residents over the age of 65 to promote The Southland and ensure feedback

● Promote Green Flag standards to users and neighbours to help raise the profile and understanding of The Southlands.

● Encourage articles to be written and published about The Southlands.– Green Spaces web page, Hillingdon People, other publications, as opportunities arise.

● Ensure that the borough’s Green Spaces leaflet is kept up to date and available to the public at libraries and on the Green Spaces web page.

● Encourage local schools to do projects relating to The Southlands. to aid understanding and appreciation and awareness locally.

● A survey of users will be carried out annually to compare the profile of users with that of ward residents and to learn more about users’ interests and expectations of ‘The Southlands’. This information will feed into discussions with the interested parties and the management plan reviewing process

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Appendix 3 - Historical Documents

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Appendix 4. Tree Survey 2017

Tree survey

● Number of lapsed collapsing Willow pollards which need to be re-pollarded ● Number of Norway Spruce trees planted in row are no longer fit for purpose. ● High priority works identified to thin out Norway Spruce trees. ● More appropriate trees should be planted as replacements which are wildlife friendly ● Site is in conservation area, and trees provide a variety of habitats for wildlife, including decayed standing wood. ● Area is generally wild and lends itself to wildlife conservation. ● Range of broadleaf and coniferous species.

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TREE URGEN ID Species DBH WORK REQ CY COST £ COMMENTS

1 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4 Deadwood

2 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4 Trunk decay, dying

3 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4 Deadwood

4 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4 Collapsing

5 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4 Dying

6 Norway Spruce 40-60 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

7 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

8 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

9 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

10 Norway Spruce 0-20 Fell to ground level 1 47.2

11 Norway Spruce 0-20 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

12 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

13 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

14 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

15 Norway Spruce 0-20 Fell to ground level 1 47.2

16 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

17 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

18 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

19 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

20 Norway Spruce 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

21 Common Ash 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4 Decay cavity

22 Scots Pine 20-40 Fell to ground level 1 94.4

TOTAL 1982.4

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