TOOTING COMMON M A N A G E M E N T P L A N Picnickers on Tooling Common c.1900. CONTENTS PAGE NO. 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 2.0 SURVEY 2 2.1 Introduction 2 2.2 Flora and Fauna 2 2.3 Landscape Features 2 2.4 Circulation 3 2.5 Recreational Use 3 2.6 Underground Services 3 2.7 Artifacts 3 2.8 Microclimate 3 2.9 Geology Soils Topography 3 2.10 History 4 2.11 Consultation 5 2.12 Planning Considerations 5 3.0 ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS 3.1 Introduction 6 3.2 Movement Patterns/pathways 6 3.2.2 Vehicles 6 3.2.12 Cycling 8 3.2.15 Pathways 8 3.2.21 Horseriding 10 3.2.23 Illegal Access 10 3.2.24 Lighting 11 3.2.27 carparking 11 J.•2.29 Furniture and signs 12 3.2.20 The disabled 13 3.2.31 staff facilities 13 3.3 Recreation 3.3.l Analysis active recreation 14 3.3.2 Football Pitches 14 3.3.10 Tennis 15 3.3.11 Cricket 15 3.3.12 Athletics track 15 3.3.16 The Lido 16 3.3.26 Childrens Play 18 3.3.21 Horseriding 21 3.3.52 Putting Green 23 3.3.53 Trim Trail 23 3.3.54 Cycling 23 3.3.55 Passive Recreation 23 3.3.56 Dogs 23 3.3.57 Fishing 23 3.3.59 The Yachting Pond 24 3.3.62 Events 24 3.3.68 Refreshments 25 3.3.69 Other facilities 25 3.3.76 The Nature Trail 26 3.3.77 Historical Trail 26 3.3.78 Historical features 26 3.3.84 Sculpture 27 3.4 Flora and Fauna/Landscape 28 3.45 Woodlands, trees 29 3.4.11 Recommended species list 31 3.4.23 Wetlands 34 3.4.26 Damp/West Grassland 34 3.4.27 Improved, semi improved grasslands 35 3.4.28 Scrub 35 3.5 Nature conservation education and interpretation 36 3.6 Management Demands and User Restrictions 37 3.7 Surrounding Areas 39 3.8 Buildings 41 4.0 AIMS, OBJECTIVES, PROPOSALS 45 4.1 Introduction 45 4.1.5 Aims and objectives 45 4.2 Circulation and Access 46 4.2.1 Vehicles 46 4.2.5 Cycling 47 4.2.6 Paths 47 4.2.11 Car Parks 48 4.2.15 Horse riding 48 4.2.16 Bridges 49 4.2.17 Disabled Access 49 4.3 Recreation and Sports Provision 49 4.3.2 Sports Pitches 49 4 .3 •6 Tooting Triangle Activity Centre 50 4 .3.•7 Play 51 4.3 8 Fishing 51 4.3.9 Trim Trail 51 4.3.10 Putting Green 52 4.3.11 Athletics Track 52 4.3.12 Tennis Courts 52 4.3.13 Tooting Lido 52 4.3.14 Staff Yard 54 4.3.15 Lake 54 4.4 Events 55 4.5 Catering 56 4.6 Signs and Street Furniture 56 4.7 Historic Features 57 4.8 Vegetation & Habitat Management 58 4.9 Management Proposals/Manpower 62 4.10 Interpretation/Public Involvement 64 5.0 COSTINGS AND PHASINGS 66 5.1 Introduction 66 5.2 Funding 66 5.3 Phasing programme 67 5.4 Phase One 1988-89 69 5.5 Phase Two 1989-90 70 5.6 Phase Three 1990-91 71 5.7 Phase Four 72 5.8 Phase Five 73 5.9 Phase Six 74 5.10 Phase Seven 75 5.11 Phase Eight 76 5.12 Phase Nine 77 Table I Capital Programme 1989-90 78 Table II Capital Programme 1990-91 79 6.0 Consultations 80 6.1 Introduction 80 Table 3 81 6.2 Results of Consultation 82 6.3 Area Bordering Emmanuel Road 82 6.4 Tooting Triangle Field 84 6.5 Bedford Hill Field 86 6.6 Lakeside 87 6.7 The Lido Field 89 6.8 Streatham Woods 90 6.9 The Tea Room Field 91 6.10 Dr Johnson Avenue Field 92 6.11 Tooting Graveney Woods 95 6.12 Infrastructure 96 6.13 Summary 100 List of Appendices 101 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Tooting Common is at 220 acres the largest open space managed by the Borough of Wandsworth. Part of the Common lies within the London Borough of Lambeth but is managed by this Council. Lambeth has a reciprocal arrangement to manage part of Clapham Common lying within the London Borough of Wandsworth. 1.2 In 1971 the responsibility for the management of the common passed from the GLC to Wandsworth Borough Council, Leisure and Amenity Services Department. 1.3 During 1987 the Leisure and Amenity Services Department commissioned their landscape section to undertake a management plan for Tooting Common. 1.4 The purpose of the plan is to examine all the problems conflicts and potentials within the Common and propose a future management and development plan phased over the next ten years. 1.5 This report is divided into the following sections: 1. Introduction 2. Survey 3. Key issues resulting from the analysis 4. Aims, Objectives, Proposals 5. Costings phased over 10 years. 6. Public consultations 1.6 In addition.to the ·written report there are a series of appendices and brochures containing supporting information and illustrative material. The report should be read in conjunction with these. - 1 - 2.0 SURVEY 2.1 INTRODUCTION 2.1.1. A complete aerial and ground based photographic survey of the Common has been carried out. This has produced an accurate record of the common as it existed in May 1987. 2.2 FLORA AND FAUNA 2.2.1. Using both the aerial photograph and on site survey work, the existing tree canopy on the Common has been accurately plotted. This gives a clear picture of the main tree structures, open areas, enclosed areas, and sun and shade distribution. Each tree has been examined and details of its health, age, size and species recorded on a schedule (fig 1). 2.2.2. Shrub areas have been recorded with details of species, age, size and condition (fig 2.). Generally there are very few shrubs on the Common. 2.2.3. Existing maintenance and grass cutting regimes have been recorded (fig 3.). These are broadly divided into:- i. Grass mown weekly/twice weekly ii. Grass mown annually iii. Unmown grass iv. Grass mown six weekly (under tree canopy) 2.2.4. Wildlife habitats have been described in appendix I and figure 4. Briefly, most of Tooting Common is given over to intensively managed rye grass sports fields of little value to wildlife. There are several small isolated remnants of native broadleaved woodland consisting of oak, birch, grey poplar, willow, hornbeam, hawthorn, beech, ash and regenerating scrub. There is also an admixture of exotic species such as sycamore, horse chestnut and London plane. There are small areas of semi improved grassland with stands of thistle, willowherbs and other rhyzomatous vegetation. The most important being between Bedford Hill and the Lake (0l7). There are also small areas of scrub consisting mainly of hawthorn. The ponds represent the main wetland habitats. Although there are large areas of Common which are inundated with ground water for most of the year these are predominantly potential rather than actual wetland habitats. - 2 - 2.3. LANDSCAPE FEATURES 2.3.1. The main water bodies, hard and soft areas, screening elements, enclosures and spaces, avenues, views and focal points are recorded on figure 5. 2.4. CIRCULATION 2.4.1. Existing circulation patterns for vehicles, pedestrians, horses and cycles are recorded in figure 6. Figure 7 records desire lines indicating where there are worn tracks but no existing footpaths. 2.5 RECREATIONAL USE 2.5.1 The present active recreation pursuits are recorded on figure 8. Figure 6 outlines both the official and unofficial horserides. 2.6 UNDERGROUND SERVICES Details of the underground services network have been collated. 2.7 ARTIFACTS Figure 9 identifies all the buildings and structures on the Common. Figure 10 identifies all furniture including seats, litter bins. Figure 11 identifies the location and power of each lighting column. 2.8 MICROCLIMATE 2.8.1. The microclimate of Tooting Common is affected by the prevailing winds, shade from trees and noise and atmospheric pollution from the surrounding roads and railways. The sports pitches with their dearth of tree cover are exposed to the prevailing south west winds making them bleak, cold and windswept. The wooded areas of Streatham Woods, Tooting Graveney Woods and the woods behind the tea room are relatively sheltered. 2.9. GEOLOGY, SOILS, TOPOGRAPHY 2.9.1. The soils of the Common were formed from gravels deposited during the ice age overlaying London clay. The area south of Dr. Johnson Avenue has particularly extensive gravel deposits. The undulations on the Southern section of Tooting Graveney Common result from gravel digging. - 3 - The poor, wet quality of the soils is probably the reason that the area was never built upon or cultivated. A detailed soil analysis was undertaken (see Appendix number (5). Twenty-four samples were taken on various areas of the Common. Of these fifteen were found to be sandy loams and all were acidic. Half the samples had a pH of less than five and two samples had a pH of less than four. The soils are generally deficient in phosphorous and potassium. The soils are compacted in certain areas both from foot• traffic and machinery _which contributes to the widespread waterlogging on the Common. Where the soils are particularly acidic this could be exploited by planting native species that thrive on acidic soil such as Bilberry Aspen, Downy Birch, Bird Cherry and on drier soils Sessile Oak.