Langtons Management Plan

CONTENTS Introduction 1 1. Site Overview 1.1 Havering 2 1.2 Strategic Framework 3 1.3 Site Description 3 1.4 History 4 1.5 Location and Transport Links 6 2. A Welcoming Place 2.1 Entrance Points 9 2.2 Entrance Signs 12 2.3 Equal Access 15 3. Healthy, Safe and Secure 3.1 Health and Safety Systems 17 3.2 Parks Protection Service 19 3.3 Parks Locking 21 3.4 Infrastructure 22 3.5 Parks Monitoring 23 4. Maintenance of Equipment, Buildings and Landscape 4.1 Grounds Maintenance 24 4.2 Arboricultural Maintenance 32 4.3 The Lake 35 4.4 Vehicles and Plant Maintenance 37 4.5 Furniture 37 4.6 Play & Recreation 39 4.7 Buildings 40 5. Litter and Cleanliness 5.1 Litter Management 50 5.2 Sweeping 50 5.3 Graffiti 50 5.4 Fly tipping 51 5.5 Reporting 51 5.6 Dog Fouling 51 6. Environmental Management 6.1 Environmental Impact 52 6.2 Peat Use 53 6.3 Waste Minimisation 53 6.4 Pesticide Use 56 7. Biodiversity, Landscape and Heritage 7.1 Management of Natural Features, Wild Fauna and Flora 57 7.2 Conservation of Landscape Features 59 7.3 Species List 61 7.4 Biodiversity Action Plan 62 7.5 Conservation of Buildings and Structures 63 7.6 Local Plan 70 7.7 Natural Ambitions Booklet 71 8. Community Involvement 8.1 Surveys 73 8.2 Use r Groups 76 9. Marketing and Communication 9.1 Parks Brochure 81 9.2 Social Media 81 9.3 Website 81 9.4 Interpretation Boards 81 9.5 Events 82 10. Management 10.1 Management structure 86 10.2 Financial Management 88 10.3 Computerised Management System 88 10.4 Accreditation 89 10.5 Action Plan 90 10.6 Parks Contact Details 95 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. Tree Strategy 10. Vehicle Check Form 11. Peat Use Policy 12. Biodiversity Action Plan 13. ‘Your Council Your Say’ Survey 14. The Spring Clean Survey 15. Marketing 16. Event Application Form 17. Activities Officer Job Responsibilities 18. SWOT Analysis 19. Improvement Plan Introduction This Langtons Garden and Fielders Field Management Plan has been prepared by the London Borough of Havering Parks and Open Spaces Department and represents a five year plan for the open spaces. The plan was completed in 2018 and will be revised annually until a full update in 2023. Langtons Gardens and Fielders Field have recently undergone a full restoration scheme that was jointly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Veolia North Thames Trust, The Friends of Langtons Estate and the London Borough of Havering. Before the restoration scheme commenced it was recognised that the gardens and field were much in need of improvement to facilities and standards. As part of this process this plan has been produced to reflect the improvements and to describe how the grounds are 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 the grounds are 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 grounds and a practical management guide. The key information is in the main body of the plan with more detailed information in the appendix such as the policies and examples of documentation. It is intended for a broad audience interested in the management of the grounds namely: • Parks and Open Spaces Officers & Grounds Maintenance staff • Other services and departments within the London Borough of Havering • Elected members, ward councillors and portfolio holders • The community and its representative organisations Floral display to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee 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 for sits within the national, regional and local context for parks and open spaces can be found in Appendix 1. 1.3 Site Description Langtons Gardens and Fielders Field are public gardens and open space located at the edge of Hornchurch Town Centre. It consists of the largely intact pleasure grounds of the Grade II Listed Langtons House. The gardens as they exist now were designed in the late 18th Century by Humpry Repton as a small parkland focused on a serpentine lake. Langtons Garden is sited in a residential area and bounded mainly by back gardens of the properties around the grounds. Much of the housing covers the former parkland of the original estate. The current main entrance is off Billet Lane , a historic route which runs up the east side of the site. Langtons Gardens and Fielders Field is owned and managed by the London Borough of Havering and is accessible to the public all year round. It is an important open space within the local area and is valued for its strong historic links for instance with Fairkytes House Arts Centre. Langtons House is the site of the Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages and many people visit the house and gardens for these momentous occasions their lives. The two sites are located within an area of high density urban housing and the only public open space within a significant radius. The nearest open spaces are the Queens Theatre Green, Harrow Lodge Park and St Andrews Park. The main entrance to Langtons House and Gardens is from Billet Lane. The driveway terminates at the entrance to the Stableyard (now the courtyard) To the north of the courtyard is the Stable Block which is used as Council offices. On the South side is Langtons Hall that is used for weddings and functions. Also on the south side are the toilets for Langtons Gardens and the Tea Room. To the west side is ‘Liana’s’ Tea Room. There are six entrances into Langtons Gardens and two entrances from Langtons House. The main driveway from Billet Lane is through the brick gateway with large timber gates. This is for vehicles and by foot. Next to the house is a small pedestrian entrance into the garden. There is a pedestrian entrance off Billet Lane opposite the Queens Theatre through a brick gateway with large timber gates. From Keswick Avenue there is a pedestrian entrance (and two vehicular entrances for maintenance purposes). There are four entrances through the historic brick spine wall that runs through the site. Two of those gates give access to Fielders Field. One into the depot yard and the other into the courtyard. The main open grassed area of Fielders Field is used as a cricket pitch and as an area of other recreational activities, mainly dog walking. It has a cricket table in the centre of the green and the cricket club have a pavilion. To the west of the field is a woodland area on a site that used to be allotments and two disused tennis courts. 3 Footpaths enter Fielders Field at four access points: Cromer Road, Boscombe Avenue and two paths that link to Langtons Gardens. Vehicle access is through the Cromer Road entrance and also there is vehicular access from the ground maintenance yard in Langtons. All the entrances have gates that are closed at night. 1.4 History The Langtons estate dates from the early 16th century, although little is known of the arrangement of the landscape then. The core of Langtons House was built in the mid-18th century and the stables erected by 1775. Between the purchase of the estate in 1797 by John Massu (a wealthy silk merchant and Huguenot refugee) and 1812, a number of changes were made to the landscape and the layout of the site, as we know it today, started to take shape.

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