New Ways of Thinking About Parks and Local Greenspace

New Ways of Thinking about Parks and Local Greenspace

Salisbury Area Greenspace Partnership Review and Appraisal Draft Document for Salisbury

14 November 2014

Contents

Page

3 Introduction

4 Benefits of developing good quality greenspace

5 Current situation in Salisbury and the challenges

8 Addressing the challenges

13 Conclusion

14 List of Appendices

Appendix A: Map showing SAGP area of concern

Appendix B: List of SAGP partners and supporters

Appendix C: National policy context and other reference documents

Appendix D: SAGP feedback from workshops

Appendix E: Illustrating some design options for conservation grassland

Appendix F: Keep BritainTidy’s Green Flag Award details

Appendix G: Generic grass cutting regimes/methods

Appendix H: SAGP detailed mapping typology for greenspace audit

Appendix I: Salisbury City Council parks and greenspace assets

grouped to reflect SAGP typology

Appendix J: Practical considerations for working with volunteers

New ways of thinking about parks and local greenspace: Salisbury Area Greenspace Partnership (SAGP) review and appraisal draft document for Salisbury

1.0 Introduction

1.1 This document is part of an appraisal and review that Salisbury Area Greenspace Partnership (SAGP) is carrying out with particular reference to grassland management over the whole of its area of concern. This covers the urban areas of Salisbury, Laverstock and Ford and Wilton, and parts of the adjoining parishes as shown on the map in Appendix A. This is the first stage of the review that will be widened out in due course to include other important elements of greenspace including the planted elements such as trees, woodland, hedges as well as infrastructure and the linkages between green spaces.

1.2 The reason and context for the current focus on Salisbury is because Salisbury City Council (SCC), which is the major landowner and manager of greenspace within the city, is currently carrying out its own review of parks and green spaces. The intention has been to support the City Council’s review and in due course, as part of SAGP’s influencing work, the appraisal will be extended to land owned and managed by others in the city and wider area.

1.3 SAGP recognises that SCC is in the process of evolving their new role following the 2009 local government reorganisation in Wiltshire. SAGP is similarly evolving its own role as a community-led group representing those with an interest in local greenspace. For the full list of partners see Appendix B.

1.4 At the launch of SAGP in 2012 by the then Mayor of Salisbury, Councillor John Abbott JP, there was support from partners for:

providing a strong local voice for green space creating a more resilient and sustainable environment for people and wildlife in the Salisbury area developing community resources to help influence policy, planning and management, and secure the future of the local greenspace network

This has now been incorporated into SAGP’s vision statement. There have been close links with the city council since that time and a city councillor representative as well as the city parks manager are members of the SAGP Steering Group.

1.5 This document is in draft for consultation and comes at a time when the importance of parks and all greenspace is increasingly recognised as intrinsic to the health and wellbeing of the nation and the diversity of its wildlife. At the same time, however, there are an increasing number of issues and challenges that are impacting on the quality and provision of local greenspace. SAGP would welcome feedback from SCC and looks forward to further dialogue and debate. It is also hoped that SCC will see value in what SAGP has to offer in terms of resources as well as enthusiasm and expertise.

2.0 Benefits of developing good quality greenspace

2.1 There have been significant changes in how we perceive and value greenspace which has implications for future management and community involvement. There is an increasing body of scientific evidence that supports the view that being ‘outdoors’ and having contact with the natural world and its wildlife is vital to our physical and mental wellbeing, particularly for children who may have little contact with nature.

2.2 This is reflected in national policy (see section 3.0 for details) and there is now a much greater emphasis on sustainability, working at a landscape scale and creating more resilient environments for people and wildlife. On the ground this is being achieved by establishing well designed green space networks or green infrastructure (GI) with a high degree of connectivity, and which is multifunctional and able to deliver a range of benefits known as ‘ecosystem services’.

2.3 Examples of ecosystem services include benefits to public health through recreation – exercise, play, relaxation and experiencing the natural world; providing an attractive landscape setting for our communities; green corridors for safer, cleaner movement on foot or bicycle; education linked to biodiversity and wildlife corridors, clean air and water; flood mitigation; fertile soils; food and fuel. Access to greenspace has been shown to have a positive impact on indices of deprivation. In addition there are important economic benefits impacting on our tourist industry, creating attractive and distinctive places to live and work, adding value to property and attracting businesses to invest in the area. Appendix C contains key reference documents.

3.0 Policy Context

3.1 There have been a number of recent significant changes to national policy which are of relevance when considering greenspace. Details can be found in Appendix C and the important documents include:

the Government White Paper 2011 ‘The Natural Choice - securing the value of nature’ describes a shift in focus from piecemeal conservation to a more integrated landscape scale approach in which nature is properly valued. It supports GI and flags up the importance of ecosystem services. Local Nature Partnerships (LNP’s) have been set up across the country. In Wiltshire the LNP is called Link2Nature and is administered by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust on behalf of both Wiltshire Council (WC) and Swindon Borough Council (SBC) the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2012 which requires every Unitary and County Council to have a GI strategy as an integral part of their Core Strategy. There is also a requirement for good design which is a key aspect of sustainability and is vital to ensuring development contributes positively to making places better for people the Health & Social Care Act 2012 transfers responsibility for Health and Wellbeing to local authorities. It flags up increasing awareness of the impact of the built and natural environment on people’s ability to lead physically active lives and maintain good mental wellbeing. For example, encouraging greater physical activity and using green space for recreation and exercise; addressing obesity; improving mental wellbeing; increasing opportunities for learning, employment, volunteering and social connectedness; improving air quality and the impacts of noise

the Localism Act 2011 introduces neighbourhood planning making local spatial plans the basis for local planning decisions and identifying the importance of community engagement. It also introduced the ‘duty to co-operate’ across administrative boundaries on local authorities and public bodies which is important for the delivery of green infrastructure

In addition there is an extensive range of supportive documentation including publications by Natural England, Defra, the Landscape Institute and others that are also detailed in Appendix C.

3.2 At a more local level, recognition of the importance of greenspace is acknowledged in Wiltshire Council’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSA’s) and their Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The latter includes promoting walking and cycling, providing open green spaces close to homes, providing active health programmes, promoting the Green Gym scheme and supporting conservation volunteering.

3.3 The South Wiltshire Core Strategy still provides the strategy framework for spatial planning purposes until the Wiltshire Core Strategy is adopted. The topic papers and reports that form the evidence base used in the preparation of both documents, particularly in relation to landscape character, are saved policies and still remain current. Wiltshire’s Green Infrastructure Strategy is long overdue and is still under preparation. See Appendix C for details of saved policies and other references.

4.0 Current situation in Salisbury and the challenges

4.0.1 There are a number of issues impacting on our local green spaces and many of these were reflected by delegates at the facilitated workshops held as part of the launch of SAGP. For workshop feedback see Appendix D.

4.1 Parks and greenspaces are popular but are they as good as they could be?

4.1.1 Within the Salisbury Community Area consultations have shown that the city’s parks are highly valued by residents. Support for improving the quality of Salisbury’s greenspaces and developing wildlife corridors was clearly demonstrated during the wide-ranging public consultation undertaken by the Community Area Partnership prior to the development of ‘Our Salisbury - Community Area Plan’ 2012.

4.1.2 This interest was again clearly shown at the Salisbury Area Board JSA ‘What Matters to You event in March 2014 when the top priorities under ‘Natural Environment’ and ‘Health and Wellbeing’ categories were to ‘encourage and support community engagement in the protection, management and enhancement of our local green spaces’ and ‘promote more outdoor and cultural opportunities that support health and wellbeing.’

4.1.3 SCC has recently made a significant investment in refurbishing Queen Elizabeth Gardens and it has become a flagship city centre park. However elsewhere there are issues of overuse, underuse and misuse. Victoria Park, one of the city’s oldest parks, is looking rather tired and is a good example of where the design and layout may need review and adjustment to meet current needs. SAGP workshops picked up concern about the lack of information about parks, where they are and how to use them. Certainly local parks and green spaces appear to have little identity often with no evidence of their names or information about them. There is also the question as to whether current open space 5

standards are being met and whether there is a sufficient provision and range of facilities across the city to meet everybody’s needs? How does one park compare with another and with the overall aspirations of the council?

4.1.4 There is little in the way of mapping except the Parish Mapping available online which means that SCC staff are working from a list of sites and relying on outdated maintenance specifications produced by SDC. There is no means of capturing data nor is there the ability to carry out any analysis. There appears to be very little information about their current use or any assessment of their local importance, their wildlife and habitat value, their connectivity and accessibility; their landscape character and historic value or about all the other ecosystem services they perform. This lack of information makes it difficult to assess the potential for improvement or to make comparisons or establish priorities.

4.2 There are new imperatives to improve and extend the greenspace network

4.2.1 As already referred to, there is a new national policy context around parks and green spaces. Local authorities and public bodies are now having to look at new ways of sustaining and developing this type of provision which is very often associated with public rights of way, local footpaths and desire lines, as well as cycle routes.

4.3 There are anomalies caused by reorganisation and the need to work across more boundaries

4.3.1 Not only is SCC one of the largest parish councils in England serving a population of some 41,000 but when Wiltshire Council set up the Salisbury area board with three other area boards immediately adjoining, there was no effective mechanism for interaction, and this is despite the fact that Salisbury is a major growth area and the main service centre for the whole area. Furthermore, it appears that the resource base for this type of infrastructure provision was not fully assessed.

4.3.2 SCC is a key player and major land owner of greenspace within the city. As well as the parks and general amenity open spaces, SCC own and manage several areas of extensive semi-natural grassland such as Avon Valley Reserve, Bishopdown, Middle Street Meadow, and is likely to have responsibility in due course for many new Section 106 sites like Limekiln Way and others eg play areas, as substantial new housing development are completed in the future.

4.3.4 But there are other landowners in the city and difficulties arise from fragmented ownerships and interests and lack of joined up thinking. Greenspace locally is split between SCC, Wiltshire Council, Laverstock & Ford Parish Council, private management companies and private ownerships eg the Dean & Chapter; other owners such as English Heritage and the Highways Agency, as well as other interests such as the Environment Agency, local angling clubs, the Harnham Watermeadows Trust and so on.

4.3.5 Wildlife and people tend not to recognise administrative boundaries and there are difficulties in harmonising the approach to be taken when planning and managing sites such as Avon Valley Nature Reserve and Harnham Slope that straddle these boundaries.

4.4 There is a lack of any overall direction or vision for parks and greenspace locally

4.4.1 SCC’s day to day management and maintenance activities are carried out by an in-house staff team but without the benefit of overall strategy for the parks and greenspaces. Without an overview, decisions about specific facilities or where to target new investment have a tendency to be made in a piecemeal way and SCC are unable to be pro-active and access the many benefits of having a strategic plan. These include the ability to:

record the longterm vision for parks and green spaces and set out broad management aims and objectives allow priorities to be set and scarce resources allocated assist in day to day decision making provide a framework for developing site specific management plans provide a framework for engaging the community and harnessing the resources of the volunteer sector provide a tool for fund raising, publicity and promotion

4.4.2 It is encouraging that SCC is now tackling this key issue with the establishment of a new working party to consider strategy development and regrettable that Wiltshire Council have yet to publish the GI strategy which would provide a much needed broader policy framework for owners and managers of greenspace throughout the county.

4.5 The opportunities for community involvement with parks and greenspaces are limited

4.5.1 Currently there is only one ‘Friends Of’ group – for Harnham Slope woodland. Groups have been set up in the past associated with some of the city parks but have struggled to maintain momentum. This is not an uncommon occurrence. Nevertheless, volunteers have a range of skills and interests and with the right framework, there is great potential for engaging them in a wide variety of activities including information gathering, surveys and monitoring as well as hands on management tasks.

4.6 The current grassland management and maintenance regimes tend to bring few benefits for wildlife

4.6.1 In the main, amenity grassland in SCC ownership is closely mown and the semi-natural areas are regularly cut. This is a traditional labour intensive approach which many local authorities and other agencies and landowners are moving away from in favour of more wildlife friendly and sustainable regimes that are also visually much more varied and interesting.

4.6.2 There are however several conservation meadow/wildflower meadow trials being carried out around the city. Middle Street Meadow is proving popular with evidence already emerging of benefits for biodiversity especially in terms of plants, and insects like butterflies. There are also sites at Newbridge Road and Queen Elizabeth Gardens and The Crematorium. Taking grass out of regular mowing at The Crematorium has however been controversial because of the sensitivities around the use of this site and there have been complaints that take up valuable staff time. This is regrettable but also a reminder that to be successful, this type of approach requires appropriate design and management skills as well as good marketing to overcome the perception of some members of the public that tall grass with wild flowers can look untidy.

4.6.3 The new ways of thinking about grassland management also means that SCC will probably need to gear up differently in terms of staff and equipment, and also in terms of their IT capabilities.

4.7 There is a tendency for the landscape setting of Salisbury not to be appreciated

4.7.1 Salisbury has a unique landscape setting. The city lies in a natural bowl in the downs where the rivers converge and whilst development has crept up and over some of the hillsides, the tops of the downs and wooded ridgelines still form important natural features. The river valleys and watermeadows are equally important features bringing fingers of greenspace into the city centre and providing valuable corridors and routes for people and wildlife. Furthermore, there are important views along the river valleys and to and from the high ground both from inside and outside of the city.

4.7.2 The current more relaxed approach by local authorities to development control appears to be less supportive of protecting the distinctive qualities of the local landscape and there is a danger that it will be eroded over time especially if there is no opportunity to take an overview and understand the bigger picture.

5.0 Addressing the Challenges

5.1 The need for direction and leadership

5.1.1 SAGP is keen to encourage SCC to develop a vision and strategy that acknowledges the importance and value of well linked local parks and green spaces as multifunctional infrastructure that deliver a range of vital benefits for the local community.

5.1.2 There is certainly the potential to manage greenspace in a variety of different ways, and SCC is already starting to make this happen. There is potential for creating much more extensive ‘parks’ by linking chains of linear green spaces and for improving connectivity between the city centre and the suburban communities along the river valleys. Furthermore it is important to maintain the open and semi-natural qualities of the downland tops, for example, at Limekiln Way and in the vicinity of Salisbury Regional Hospital, and at Hampton park 2.

5.1.3 SAGP is aware that SCC has already set up a working group to look at parks and greenspace within the city and is keen to encourage this group to recognize the importance of taking a more strategic view. The development of a well thought through strategy for parks and green spaces will put SCC in a pro-active position and provide opportunities not only to access funding and structure its greenspace offer but to support officers in dealing with complaints from the public and at the same time help to get the community on board.

5.1.4 Could such a strategy identify opportunities to rebrand our parks and greenspaces and to think about marketing their qualities and value? We learned at the recent Parks South West Conference that marketing and branding of greenspace is poor in the UK but much better developed in Europe, the US and Canada. 100 million people visit parks and use greenspace every year in the UK but as the speaker pointed out where are the invitations to be a stakeholder or give a little back, or leave a

legacy or endowment or to get involved? Bournemouth was used as an example of where this new type of approach is being taken.

5.2 The need for more detailed information and ways of handling data

5.2.1 To support the development of a strategy and overview as well as site specific management plans more details are needed about each site. To find out more about local greenspace assets was considered a priority by partners at the inception of SAGP and the greenspace audit has been a key focus over the wider area for the partnership over the past two years.

5.2.2 By using local knowledge together with Google and Bing aerial coverage volunteers have already carried out surveys to identify, map and describe the parks and greenspaces. A typology has been prepared for the purpose – see Appendix H which groups greenspace into 6 broad types that are broken down further into subtypes. Working with Wiltshire Council the process of developing Geographic Information System (GIS) based mapping of this data is well underway and this will help to provide an overview of the area – where the different types of greenspace are; broadly what their function is, how well they are connected, where the gaps are and to help identify the potential for making improvements.

5.2.3 Habitat types are currently being assessed as part of the the Phase 1 Habitat survey which is also underway and data collected is being passed to Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Record Centre (WSBRC). The Salisbury and District Natural History Society want to support more detailed local data collection and SAGP are working with the society to develop a list of priority sites.

5.2.4 Much more detailed information about individual green spaces is to be added which will assist the development of management plans as well as day to day decision making. At the moment the following details are recorded for each site: GI reference, site name, site area, greenspace type and subtype. Further information that can be added includes the different types of habitat, landscape character, ownership, multifunctionality and use, connectivity, the various designations eg Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s), Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s), conservation areas and there is potential for more as required.

5.2.5 Consideration of how the data could be presented so that it is useful and so that different aspects can be selected and easily understood is ongoing. Whilst work is also underway with Wiltshire Council to look at what scales maps can be printed at under their current Ordnance Survey (OS) licencing arrangements, the level of detail and large scale that SAGP already have agreement to use for analysis purposes will hopefully also be of value to the SCC Parks Manager. There are technical issues still to be resolved but it is very encouraging that SAGP now have a GIS specialist to support this work which is to be demonstrated at the SAGP steering group meeting on 18 November 2014.

5.3 The need to raise awareness of the importance and value of a more sustainable and wildlife friendly approach to greenspace management

5.3.1 SAGP is keen to encourage the major local landowners like SCC to manage for people, wildlife and landscape setting because of the very significant benefits that this will bring to the community, and

aims to encourage others to do the same. However, SAGP are very aware that making changes and taking a more extensive approach to grassland management in an urban environment are challenging and this is becoming an increasingly common problem amongst authorities.

5.3.2 Good presentation of grassland areas is essential to overcome resistance to change from some members of the public who consider all public open space should be closely mown and ‘kept tidy’ and this can be achieved in a number of ways. Clearly there continues to be a need for short, high maintenance (very regularly mown) grass for sports and recreational use and for regularly mown general amenity grass, and there is also a requirement to maintain visibility sightlines on highway verges but elsewhere there are other options for grassland management.

5.3.3 There are significant opportunities in the City’s parks and open spaces for more conservation or meadow grass areas but they need to be designed with access and use in mind as well as aesthetics. They can be maintained by providing mown paths through them, as well as clearings and 'shyness' strips all of which are cut on a regular basis (as general amenity grass) to create a crisp contrast and help to overcome any perception that these areas have been abandoned. For example see Bristol Meadow initiative in Appendix E. Such areas can be enhanced with wild flowers and naturalised bulbs (of native species where possible) adding greatly to their wildlife value and appearance, and adding further dimensions of depth and texture to the landscape especially when contrasted and used as a foil to general amenity grass. See Appendix E for examples.

5.3.4 The City also owns several areas of more extensive semi-natural grassland – Avon Valley Nature Reserve (Primrose Farm), Bishopdown, Middle Street Meadow, and is likely to have responsibility for Limekiln Way and other Section 106 sites in due course. These are areas of meadow and rough grassland including tussock grass areas and are often associated with scrub including bramble thickets, hedgerow, trees and woodland all of which provide excellent habitat for wildlife. Tussock grass is particularly valuable for small mammals and reptiles and as a refuge and food source for the larval stages of invertebrates including butterflies and moths which in turn provide food for birds. These spaces are also very important as informal recreational spaces but need a different management approach. Grassland has a natural tendency to turn to woodland and scrub and bramble will rapidly invade unless selectively kept in check on a rotational basis.

5.3.5 Suggested potential cutting regimes and methods for managing each grassland type are described in Appendix G.

5.3.6 Raising awareness amongst councillors and staff as well as the wider community will take time and it is therefore important that the City Council provides a strong lead. There is now a very substantial body of evidence for the benefits of a more wildlife friendly approach to grassland management. Other local authorities are taking this approach and although it has its challenges, greenspace is on the whole, a non political issue and likely to get cross party support. It has significant economic value – Salisbury is a great place to live and work; tourism is a key contributor to our local economy; there is potential support from local businesses, City Centre Management and the Business Improvement District (BID). It is already supported by Britain in Bloom and there is the prospect of a Green Flag award (Keep Britain Tidy) - see Appendix F for details.

5.4 The need to encourage community involvement and harness volunteer resources

5.4.1 SAGP strongly supports the importance of eyes and ears on the ground. Volunteers, especially site based ‘Friends Of’, are a good way of getting the community involved in looking after its local 10

greenspace assets. There may be ways to reactivate the former local ‘Friends Of’ groups or to relaunch them as part of a new marketing campaign.

5.4.2 Volunteers provide a valuable labour force for undertaking a wide range of greenspace maintenance operations, especially labour intensive and more extensive conservation management tasks as well as survey and monitoring work. However they cannot always be relied upon and there needs to be a default position which would be the direct labour team or maintenance contractor as backup if required.

5.4.3 It is well documented that community involvement can lead to a sense of ‘ownership’ resulting in less anti-social behaviour, reduced littering and dog fouling and a greater sense of pride in local greenspace. Equally important is the benefit arising from increased knowledge and awareness of the value and importance of our parks and greenspace.

5.4.4 The following is a quote taken from the criteria for the Parks Green Flag Award, ‘Volunteering provides a way for people to get involved with their green spaces. Volunteer time and know-how can make a significant difference to the overall quality and use of a park or green space. Volunteering is not just about physical skills but also about offering expertise, for example, conservation and wildlife knowledge. As a form of community involvement, Friends Groups and volunteering have developed steadily over the years’.

5.4.5 Volunteers obviously have different levels of skills, competence and enthusiasm. Numbers fluctuate from season to season, task to task. To make best use of this resource it is essential to have an overall coordinator to direct and assist with their activities. With strong well led ‘Friends Of’ groups the input may be minimal but with weak or faltering groups input will increase. The coordinator needs to be there to ensure that tasks are followed through and completed. The coordinator could be a highly motivated volunteer but in the interests of continuity would probably be better as a full or part time professional member of staff. Refer to Appendix J for further information about some of the practicalities of working with volunteers.

5.4.6 New technologies mean that it is now relatively easy to crowd source information and data using mobile phones. This could be a useful way of engaging with young people at local schools and colleges and to help develop their interest in the outdoors and the natural world. Wiltshire Council are looking at these types of approaches and starting to think more creatively about community engagement as a way of supporting their service delivery in some areas.

5.4.7 The National Federation of Parks and Greenspace may be a useful source of information and support on the subject of engaging with volunteers but this needs further research.

5.5 The need for cross boundary working

5.5.1 SAGP have a longer term ambition to see a formally constituted greenspace forum established with local authority recognition and a co-ordinating role to ensure local aspirations are represented to the local authority, business and developers. This would assist planners, landowners and managers and other agencies and interest groups to join up their thinking and work together across boundaries.

5.5.2 There is a need to engage with other land owners and managers eg Wiltshire Council; other Parish Councils, the Dean and Chapter, the Harnham Watermeadows Trust and private owners in situations where particular habitats extends across different ownerships eg the meadows in the Avon Valley Nature Reserve and the woodland on Harnham Slope. The Localism Act has introduced the ‘Duty to Cooperate’ for local authorities and public bodies which is a valuable mechanism and could assist with the delivery of the broader network of green infrastructure.

5.6 The need for new staff skills and resources

5.6.1 Under the current SCC staffing review SAGP consider that it would be very beneficial for the new grounds supervisor to have an understanding of extensive conservation matters as well as the more intensive traditional amenity/horticultural and recreational management issues. They should be supported by at least one or preferably two members of staff with appropriate training and skills in conservation management including coordinating and assisting volunteer groups. They could also make use of work groups organised by the Probation Service, the Ramblers, the Wiltshire Wellbeing Programme organised through NHS Wiltshire and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Wiltshire Wildlife Conservation Volunteers and the Salisbury Wildlife Group.

5.6.2 A part or full time Community Wildlife or Countryside Officer could be re-established with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust as set up previously by Salisbury District Council.

5.6.3 The Council may need to consider machinery and equipment because in order to change maintenance practices in favour of more conservation/meadow grass areas, access to more specialist agricultural equipment may well be needed. This issue could be addressed by working with local organisations like the River Bourne Community Farm and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust both of which are specialists in this area.

5.6.4 In terms of GIS and IT capability SCC may also need to consider the need for field computers/tablets to ensure grounds staff are better informed and have access to site management plans. It is felt that the Parks Manager would also derive great benefit from better access to mapping and information and individual site management plans.

5.7 The need for more funding

5.7.1 SAGP are aware that new opportunities for funding are occurring all the time and that having a strategy in place for parks and greenspace would be beneficial in this respect although making grant applications can be time consuming. Enthusiastic ‘Friends Of’ groups could help to spread this load.

5.7.2 The Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) latest Parks Report was published in June 2014. Although further research is needed, it may be possible that Victoria Park could be a candidate for lottery funding but HLF would need a strategy and management plan in place, together with a ‘Friends Of’ group.

5.7.3 Examples of other approaches were given at the recent Parks South West Conference such as the Bournemouth Parks Foundation which has been set up as a charitable trust to run alongside the local authority to help with fundraising. The Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, also a charity, is community run and supports the parks community and ‘Friends Of’ groups including cemetery ‘Friends

Of’ groups. It works in partnership with the local authority and is seen as a ‘critical partner’ which is something SAGP aspires to.

5.7.4 What are the implications of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)? It is understood that appropriate projects need to be identified to Wiltshire Council so that they can be included in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan. Neighbourhood plans need to be in place in the longer term and will help to release CIL funding and increase the amounts available in due course.

5.7.5 There is a wide range of grants from public bodies, agencies and specialist groups that could be tapped into depending on the scale and type of project and further research would be needed at the appropriate time.

6.0 Conclusion

6.0.1 SAGP is hoping that this report will assist the Parks and Greenspaces Working Group in identifying the issues and questions that need to be addressed. This is a draft document and at this stage it is very much work in progress so feedback would be welcome.

6.0.2 SAGP will continue to keep SCC informed of progress with the greenspace digital mapping.

6.0.3 SAGP would also welcome the opportunity to give SCC further support. This could be with vision and broad strategy development and with the development of management plans for priority sites such as Victoria Park and Limekiln Way. There may also be opportunities to assist with exploring how engaging with volunteers is working effectively elsewhere. Again, feedback from the Working Group would be welcome.

List of Appendices

Appendix A: Map showing SAGP area of concern

Appendix B: List of SAGP partners and supporters

Appendix C: National policy context and other reference documents

Appendix D: SAGP feedback from workshops

Appendix E: Illustrating some design options for conservation grassland

Appendix F: Keep BritainTidy’s