Environment
Milton Keynes Council
www.milton‐keynes.gov.uk/parks‐and‐open‐space/
New Bradwell Local Park Management Plan
Table of Contents
1. Forward ...... 3 2. Introduction ...... 3 3. History & Descriptions of the Local Area ...... 4 4. Location of New Bradwell Local Park and Site Context...... 6 5. New Bradwell Local Park Vision Statement ...... 7 6. Aims and Purposes of the Site ...... 7 8. Management Objectives...... 13 9. Ecology ...... 15 10. Facility and Visitor Management ...... 20 11. Interpretation and Publicity...... 22 12. Budgets and Resources ...... 25 13. Neighbourhood Management...... 26 14. The Development of New Bradwell Local Park ...... 27
Appendices
0. About Milton Keynes Council 1. Plan of New Bradwell Local Park 2. Events Programme 3. Risk Assessment 4. Play Area Audit 5. Tree Survey Report 2009 6. Annual Programme 7. Procedure for Booking Events 8. Analysis of User Survey 2010 9. Highway Condition Survey 10. Local Plan 11. Management Framework 12. Management Specifications 13. Plan of Garage Site Development
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1. Forward The New Bradwell Local Park Management Plan has been produced in order to set out a vision for the park. The plan includes information about the local context, history, nature and make up of the site. It includes the current and desired landscape maintenance standards to be achieved and the regime required to manage the park and related issues, as well as the future plans for the ongoing development of the park and its place within the community.
This plan has been prepared with the input of Milton Keynes Council staff, particularly in the Neighbourhood Management Department, New Bradwell Parish Council and local residents.
The plan is designed to ensure a coordinated approach, so that future development in line with Milton Keynes Council polices to preserve and enhance the flora and fauna meet the aspirations of the local community. In addition, the plan informs the local community, user groups, contractors and any one else with an interest about management, maintenance and future development issues.
The plan has been guided by both Green Flag advice and CABE Space (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)1 guidelines for excellence in design and management of parks.
2. Introduction New Bradwell Park is an informal green area stretching for over 300 metres along the south-western edge of the residential area of New Bradwell. It is a varied park including mature trees; open grass and a number of children's play facilities.
The park is separated from Grafton Street along its south side by a small stream. In the centre of the park there is a short length of waterway, formally connected to the stream. A wooded area surrounds the pond and is itself bounded by a number of large Weeping Willows.
• New Bradwell Park is an informal area of just over 2.5 hectares. • Sufficient mown grassed area to provide for informal recreational use. • Equipped play provision. • Some youth provision. • Pond feature. • Areas to promote wildlife.
1 CABE Space 2004 A guide to producing parks and green space management plans.
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A scale plan of the park can be found in Appendix 1.
The park forms an important link between North Loughton Valley Park, famous for the concrete cows, and the Ouse Valley Park on the fringe of the city. All of which are accessible along the city’s redways, routes that are suitable for both pedestrians and cyclists. In future year’s growth in the area is likely to increase the strategic importance of the park for recreation.
3. History & Descriptions of the Local Area
On the Wolverton to Newport Pagnell road, New Bradwell developed in the mid-19th century as a residential area for workers from the Wolverton railway works and much of the village remains unchanged. Bradwell Windmill, situated on the southern bank of the Grand Unions Canal, was built circa.1805 and continued as a working mill until about 1876 (Fig. 1).
The area that is presently occupied by the park was formerly known as Packers Field. The Packer family were the local coal merchants and rented the land from landowners, the Wylies. The section of the park that is surrounded by pollarded Willows and includes the kick-about area and community orchard was the site of the coal yard. This was accessed from the end of Wood Street and the adjacent house is still home to the Packer family.
The rest of the land that makes up the park was an open field. The present Mr. Packer recalls collecting wood and building large bonfires on the field for the local November 5th celebrations.
Fig. 1: New Bradwell, Circa 1920
Site of the park. Looking from Station Hill towards the east, with Bradwell windmill towards the horizon.
Fig. 2:
1968, the brook breaks its banks and causes extensive flooding around The ‘Corner Pin’ area of Newport Road.
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As the rail industry declined fewer workers were required and many moved on. Many of their homes became derelict and were demolished. With the development of Milton Keynes the old brook was straightened to alleviate flooding problems, and the area was given over as a public park.
Fig. 3: 1978 City Atlas.
The original meanders of the brook can be seen, including the section which would later become a pond.
Fig. 4: 1979 City Atlas.
The park makes its first appearance beside the newly straightened brook.
The V6 grid road would not be completed until 1991.
5 4. Location of New Bradwell Local Park and Site Context
New Bradwell Park lies to the north of the new city and is sandwiched between the old town of Wolverton, the railway that made the town, and the Victorian development of New Bradwell as can be seen in Fig 6.
Fig. 5: Location of New Bradwell Park. Status Local Park
Area 2.5 Hectares
Grid reference 825 412
Access Open throughout the year.
Fig. 6: Aerial view of New Bradwell Park 2007. Grafton Street forms the southern
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Fig. 7: Aerial view of New Bradwell Park 2009. Some new features are visible such as the fenced orchard and paths connecting the play areas to the central redway.
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5. New Bradwell Local Park Vision Statement
In 2005 a service charter was created to outline Milton Keynes Council’s commitment to parks and open spaces. The charter sets out the standards the public should expect and the services the council provides:
• Attractive open spaces that encourage pride in locality. o Provide information on and promote parks and open spaces as a community resource. o Assess parks and open spaces to ensure equal access for all members of the community. o Encourage the involvement of members of the community, who represent as many green space users as possible, in the service.
• Functional parks and open spaces that provide opportunities for recreation. o Manage and inspect parks and open spaces on a programmed basis, against national standards, to ensure that they are clean, well maintained, healthy, safe and secure places for all members of the public to use.
• Sustainable parks and open spaces for current and future generations in a modern growing city. o Conserve natural features, flora and fauna and structural features of merit. o Maintain the park to available resources, using environmentally sound methods, relying on best practises available to current knowledge.
6. Aims and Purposes of the Site
Milton Keynes Council recognises that parks and green spaces make a valuable contribution towards its priorities of economic generation and prosperity, social inclusion and environmental protection. These aspirations are borne out in:
• The Community Strategy “Our handbook for change” 2004 – 2034 o Conserve the greenness of Milton Keynes. o Well-designed green spaces of a suitable size in the right location. o Local identity / sense of place.
• Waste Strategy (Approved 20/12/05) o The Council will install recycling facilities in all Council buildings for the recycling of paper and other materials. o The Council will encourage and educate to minimise waste and continue to promote waste minimisation in its activities.
• Council Plan 2009 – 2011 o Activities and Facilities for Young People. o Neighbourhood Regeneration.
• Capital Strategy 2010/11 to 2014/15 o Contributes to the community vision, the community strategy, and the council’s vision, values, strategic objectives and council priorities.
7 • Milton Keynes Open Space Strategy 2007-2027 o The Strategy’s vision is to achieve: “The best possible standard of provision, integration and quality of accessible open space within the Borough of Milton Keynes, serving the needs of the growing Milton Keynes community, ensuring that local people are involved and that open space is valued by all and managed in a sustainable manner for future generations”.
• Milton Keynes Local Area Agreement - Closing the Gap o Empower local people to have a greater influence over local decision-making (Outcome 1.5). Do you need to state where to find outcome 1.5? o Increase the number of people volunteering (Outcome 1.5).
• Local Plan o See appendix. 10
6.1 Local Plan
The plan sets out the requirements of planning to meet the needs of the community. The emphasis of Policy L3 and the standards outlined below is on meeting the specific local needs in a flexible manner, providing a wide range of quality facilities.
A fixed proportion of development sites be reserved for open space, they may need to fulfil more than just an area for recreation – e.g. on aesthetic or nature conservation grounds. The strategic plan for provision identifies that New Bradwell Local Park should offer the following range of quality open space facilities to local households within an approximately a 500-metre radius:
• Large open area of grassland to accommodate informal recreation. • Forms part of the wildlife corridor. • Children’s play area (Neighbourhood level provision). • Teenage provision. • Community orchard. • Areas of wildlife interest.
New Bradwell Local Park provides the local community with an area of aesthetically pleasing naturalised open space; it offers free access with opportunities to pursue a range of outdoor leisure and social activities. There are provisions for local people of all ages and levels to have the ability to meet, walk, sit, play and enjoy.
The land occupied by garages adjoining the park near the Bounty Street entrance is on the council’s disposal list and earmarked for future residential development. The parks team have been involved from an early stage to ensure that the development has a positive impact on the park. Our particular aim is that it results in a more open and welcoming entrance which will better connect the park to the main residential areas of the town. The development is currently on hold due to the prevailing economic conditions.
8 7. Community
The 2009 Milton Keynes Social Atlas provides a comprehensive update of demographic information for Milton Keynes.
Key
Shading indicates a value between the average value and 50% above the average.
Shading indicates a value 50% above the average value.
Statistical highlights
• Population 2,800. • Higher than average crime figures. • Higher than average children in workless households. • Higher than average receiving free school meals
Fig. 8: Social Atlas 2010 analysis for New Bradwell.
Overall, New Bradwell has a low ranking in the Social Atlas of fourteen from 109. It can be seen there are a significant number of children in workless homes, the correspondingly high number of children receiving free school meals corroborates this. Therefore the park and its play features are likely to be significant features to a community on a low financial budget.
There are a significantly high number of people requiring disability services. The park offers a good resource for gentle recreation as there are both paved and non-paved routes and the park is generally flat. Benches have been provided to make the most of available views and to offer respite. Entrances have been opened up where possible to allow better visibility and thus community safety. The park is regularly patrolled by the local PCSOs.
9 7.1 Reporting a Problem The Council web pages allow members of the public to report problems directly over the net. User-friendly interactive graphics allow the user to access information about council services and report problems in their area. Each scene contains a number of themed “hot spot” areas, which are “doorways” to service menus.
The themes covered in the Street Scene interactive graphic include;
Transport, Highway Repair, Pavement Maintenance, Waste and Recycling, Residential, Retail, Street Lighting, Drainage, Crossings and Road Safety, Trees and Shrub Maintenance and Animals on Highways.
http://www.mkweb.co.uk/street-care/
Fig. 9: STREETCARE Website Graphic The public are also able to report a problem via the Environmental Services Helpline on (01908) 252592. Calls are logged and reports are collated highlighting problem areas for particular landscape types, vandalism etc.
The Neighbourhood Engagement Officer receives a report of the enquiry via the Confirm system. The officer investigates each query, responds to the customer, instigates remedial action if required, and records the outcome on the system.
During 2009-10, three enquiries were received by Milton Keynes council in relation to this park. One of these was related to the management of the play areas (reporting damaged equipment or litter). Two were regarding tree related management (trees obstructing satellite signals, fallen or damaged limbs). Policies regarding the management of trees in general in Milton Keynes can be found on the Parks and Open Spaces website: http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/parks-and-open-space/
7.2 Involvement
The council is committed to involving the local community and providing opportunities for local people to participate and feed into the management decision- making process including:
• Members of the public are provided with opportunities to feedback through the Parish council. • Park user surveys carried out in 2006 and 2010 to find out what the local community feels about the park and to identify areas for improvement. • Local volunteers involved with tree planting. • A programme of events throughout the year aimed at the whole community. • The facility for local groups to organise their own events. The procedure for obtaining permission and booking such an event is included in Appendix 7.
10 Fig. 10: Community Orchard November 2006 Despite the weather volunteers from the community dug deep to plant a range of fruit and nut trees. This included walnut saplings donated by a local resident.
During National Tree Week 2008 a small group returned to replace a few trees which had been damaged or died.
In 2009 fencing was installed by BTCV volunteers to define and protect the orchard area.
Fig. 11: Junior Rangers “Junior Ranger” events are open to all and incorporate a variety of educational but fun activities.
October 2007 Some of the 20 local children who planted spring bulbs as part of this popular half term event.
7.3 Community Outreach
Although many local people already use the park, the aim of the various initiatives is to widen the appeal. Talks are offered to local groups, as are guided walks. By working with other agencies in the area it has been possible to engage young people through the holiday play schemes and “Junior Ranger” events.
Safer Communities wardens work in schools to build a dialogue with young people. This is just one aspect of helping youngsters in Milton Keynes understand how Environment services work, and more to the point how young people can be involved.
The wardens at Milton Keynes Council help enable groups at schools to:
• Identify problems like graffiti and vandalism in their area.
• Utilise the STREETCARE website so that youngsters and their families can report problems at any time.
• Shows how these problems are resolved.
This simple exercise not only helps youngsters to take control of their environment but also provides a vehicle for literacy, IT and citizenship within the schools' programmes.
http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/street-care/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=36286
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7.4 Parish Liaison
A close working relationship with the parish is fostered through regular meetings and the support of the Council’s own parish partnership department. The site has been jointly visited by landscape staff and members of the local council to ascertain the value and requirements for the park to meet the needs of the local community. Thames Valley Police have an active role in the park and have recently instigated a parish wide dispersal order to prevent anti-social behaviour.
Through the parish liaison team, grants are made available for the community to improve their localities. Other support such as wider funding advice and community development is also facilitated.
The landscape team also works closely with the safer communities team to deal with such issues as fly tipping and with the parish project officer on other specific issues.
7.5 The Access Group MK (TAG-MK)
TAG MK is a department within the council that specialises in the access requirements of disabled people. TAG carried out an audit of the park in 2006 and found it to have good access for disabled users. However two areas were found to be lacking, a disabled parking bay and hard paths to the play areas, these have been added to the improvement plan (See improvement plan {Section 22}).
Fig. 12: Easter egg hunt April 2007 This was the best attended event of the year attracting 63 children, accompanied by 31 adults. Similar events in subsequent years have attracted similar attendances.
12 8. Management Objectives
8.1 Primary Objectives
To provide a safe and non-intimidating recreational public open space accessible to all sections of the local community.
To provide a facility which gives the local community a better understanding of the environment and the natural world around them, through formal and informal education opportunities.
To protect, maintain and enhance the wildlife and habitat value of the park:
• For visitors, more naturalistic treatment of vegetation o More sensitive treatment of “edges” which allows features to “flow into” one another, avoiding the sharp disjunction caused by, for example, spraying round shrub beds or tree bottoms. o Varying grass heights can reinforce the design of a park by linking features and be used to draw the eye. o Isolated trees become a “copse” by allowing grass to grow beneath them, emphasising their location and position within the landscape or breaking up large expanses. We call this “designing with grass”.
• For visitors, a pleasant, safe-feeling, welcoming environment o As maintenance is relaxed in some aspects, it is all the more important to create a welcoming environment and avoid any impression of neglect. o Paths should be unobstructed, with good sightlines. Allowing the sun into paths attracts wildlife such as butterflies and dragonflies, especially if there is room for wild flowers. It allows unmade paths to dry out and remain clear of debris.
8.2 Secondary Objectives To maximise co-operation between different user groups and arrange compatible uses of the park e.g. hosting and promotion of local community events.
To encourage people to use the resources of the park by prompting and improving access links to the bordering estates and local community providing leisure facilities, walks, features of interest, and resting places around the park.
To provide opportunities for interested volunteer groups to involve themselves in practical management work and development of skills under appropriate supervision.
13 8.3 Measuring Performance
Milton Keynes council is independently inspected as part of the CAA (Comprehensive Area Assessment) and Communities and Local Government Place Survey, undertaken across all local authority areas.
Full details of Milton Keynes performance can be found on the Oneplace website at:
http://oneplace.direct.gov.uk
Related highlights from the 2009-10 Milton Keynes assessment include:
• Percentage of residents who have used parks and open spaces at any time within the last six months - In the top 5% nationally.
• Percentage of residents who have used parks and open spaces at any time within the last year – In the top 5 councils nationally.
• N199 Children and young people's satisfaction with parks and play areas – Above the national average.
• Percentage of residents who identify parks and open spaces as something important in making somewhere a good place to live – In the top 5% nationally.
• Percentage of residents who think local public services are working to make the area cleaner and greener - Above the national average.
• NI 197 Improved local biodiversity - proportion of local sites where positive conservation management has been or is being implemented - Above the national average.
• NI 195a Improved street and environmental cleanliness - levels of litter – In the best third nationally.
14 9. Ecology
9.1 Existing Situation
9.1.1 Habitats within the Park a) Trees and Shrubs
The perimeter of the park bordering the residential areas is planted with early-mature tree belts dating from the establishment of the park c. early 1980s. The early-mature tree stock has few or no cavities suitable for hole-nesting birds or roosting bats, though some trees have ivy cover. Species include Norway Maple, Alder, Oak and Cherry with Hawthorn, Field Maple, Hazel and Laurel in the understorey. One older tree, a mature, pollarded Willow behind no.31 Caledonian Road would originally have stood on the bank of the stream before this section was straightened.
Much of the woodland close to the stream is dominated by Willow with some older specimens around the pond which show evidence of past management by coppicing and pollarding. Dense bramble and other understorey planting on the “island” to the rear of the pond provide cover for water birds.
Other species present in the park include Horse Chestnut and White Poplar. Some of the latter show evidence of infestation by Hornet Clearwing Moth (Sesia apiformis).
The majority of the shrub planting is concentrated around the main entrance to the park and species have been chosen on aesthetic grounds rather than for their habitat value. b) Amenity Grass Swards
The grass area is a fertile, sown amenity sward of Perennial Rye-grass. There is no significant variation and no areas of botanical interest. Approximately 20% of the meadow areas have now been enhanced by addition of wild flower seed but the remaining meadow contains little additional diversity compared to the regularly mown areas. c) Water Features
The pond and immediate surroundings were in 2005 designated a Local Wildlife Site within Milton Keynes Council parks. This informal designation aims to introduce more appropriate management in sites with wildlife and community interest.
The pond is supplied by water via two pipes which connect it with the stream. The pipes were jetted in early 2007 as their function had deteriorated. It was noted that a section of the upstream pipe had moved, making it more likely that this pipe may block again in the future. It is planned to reconstruct this pipe when funds are available.
Invasion of the pond by Australian Swamp Stonecrop is a significant problem, but as this species prefers still water it is hoped that the increased water flow from the stream may make conditions less favourable to it.
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d) Soils
The Geological Survey shows the entire park as covered by alluvial deposits. Excavations to straighten of the stream will have disturbed these and may have exposed the underlying clay. The stream also now no longer floods so new alluvium is no longer being deposited.
Soil in the location of the former coal yard is of poorer quality and contains hardcore and debris resulting from its previous use.
9.1.2 Surrounding habitats
The Loughton Brook corridor, including the pond and most of the park, falls within a non-statutory Wildlife Corridor designated in the Milton Keynes Local Plan. This offers some protection against developments causing “significant harm” to the wildlife interest, and supports habitat enhancement.
The River Ouse, Grand Union Canal, Railway Walk and Grafton Street dual carriageway is also designated Wildlife Corridors. The site therefore lies at a node in the Wildlife Corridor network. This is locally degraded in parts by culverting of the Loughton Brook immediately upstream; this was introduced to alleviate local flooding.
9.1.3 Protected or notable species
a) Birds (nests, eggs and young protected)
No bird survey has been carried out. Nests, eggs and young of all wild birds are protected against deliberate or reckless harm, which may restrict maintenance of e.g. hedges or shrubs between late February and August. Kingfisher, a “Schedule 1” (specially protected when breeding) species occurs, and could nest, along the Loughton Brook.
Birds in the park and surroundings include several which, though still common, are “red“ or “amber” listed due to significant population declines. Red-listed birds include Song thrush, Bullfinch, House sparrow and Starling. Amber-listed birds include Mistle thrush, Green woodpecker, Grey wagtail and Dunnock. b) Great crested newt (animals, ponds and surrounding terrestrial habitat protected)
No records are known, and a consultant herpetologist in 2003 failed to find GCN, though Smooth (= Common) newt was plentiful. However, the immediately adjacent pond in the school grounds was not accessible to survey. c) Reptiles (protected against deliberate killing or injuring) No survey has been carried out. However, grass snake, protected against direct harm but not habitat destruction, is almost certainly present. Grass snakes feed mainly on amphibians.
16 d) Bats (all UK species and any roost sites protected)
No bat records exist. However, the site has considerable bat potential due to the pond, stream, mature trees, proximity to the canal and residential areas. A successful public “bat walk” took place in July 2007 during which Common Pipistrelle, Noctule and Daubenton’s bats were identified. e) Badger (animals and setts protected) and other mammals
There are no setts or known records. However badgers are widespread in Milton Keynes and could visit the park.
Fox and Muntjac deer are likely to occur. Grey squirrel is abundant, and may suppress bird breeding. f) Water vole
Water voles are believed to be extinct locally, but could reach the park if still extant along the Ouse. g) Otter
Otters are returning to the Ouse, so could reach the park.
9.1.4 Summary Evaluation
The park itself is of restricted wildlife interest, though there is limited potential for enhancement. However, the park has diverse surroundings and is well-located at a node in the Wildlife Corridor network. This may increase the range of visiting wildlife.
Fig. 13: Pond and Willows
The picture shows the old stream meander that is connected to the stream via pipes. In the foreground the grass is cut to an amenity standard to provide a sense of order and a surface to play or sit on. In the distance the grass is cut less frequently to encourage the herb layer and dependant invertebrate species. Evidence of traditional coppicing can be seen on the “island”.
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9.2 Proposals
9.2.1 Management Changes
Selective pollarding and thinning in woodland areas to diversify structure, remove some “leggy” or defective trees, open views and reduce shading along paths. Retain deadwood, stacked (where practicable) otherwise chipped.
Reduce and where possible eliminate herbicides, especially along grass/woodland edges or in shrub beds. Herbicides may still be useful e.g. to control low re-growth where visual permeability is required for security, or prevent brambles swamping re-growth after coppicing.
Coppicing (“stooling”) rather than profile pruning where shrub growth hems in paths. Ideally all paths should have one metre mown or strimmed verges free of overhanging woody growth.
9.2.2 Wildlife Enhancements
Possible enhancements (with scope to engage local residents) include:
• Seeding of meadow areas with wild-flowers (ongoing).
• Additional bulb-planting, in grassland or woodland. This has great social value and can be used to justify reduced mowing frequencies. Cost/unit area can be high.
• Tree-planting to add wildlife-friendly or attractive species and as potential replacements to any which could be lost in the near future (e.g. Poplars infested with Sesia apiformis). An ideal community event for National Tree Week.
• Planting wildlife-friendly (flowering or fruiting) shrubs, either native species along woodland edges.
• Maintenance and possible expansion of the Community Orchard, offering fruit for wildlife as well as people.
• Additional bird or bat boxes, made in the community. The park could have room for many more than the 13 bird boxes already made by local volunteers.
• Bird-feeding and observation area.
• Amphibian refuge construction, near the pond.
18 9.2.3 Wildlife Surveys Suitable for Volunteers
• Visual monitoring of bird and bat boxes1.
• Recording birds at feeding area. A pretext for public bird-walks or popular “garden bird” surveys may provide a lead in.
• Walking checks for bat roosts in adjacent housing and bat flight activity in the park (requires basic training and electronic bat detectors).
• Butterfly census to monitor benefits of wild-flower seeding and management changes (needs basic training).
9.2.4 Public Events
The foregoing projects suggest a range of public events (Those carried out are marked √):
• Bird and bat box making √ • Willow coppicing or Willow weaving/sculpture √ • Tree or shrub planting √ • Hay-raking in wild-flower seeded areas instead of contract maintenance √ • Bulb-planting in grass or woodland √ • Bird feeding station construction • Amphibian refuge construction • Community orchard planting and aftercare √ • Bird walk or observation training √ • Bat walk or observation training √ • Bug or “minibeast” hunts • Trails, quizzes and games to include a wildlife element √ • Longer walks or “health walks” to include the River Ouse, canal and other points of local interest. √
1 Opening bat boxes (once used) needs a Natural England licence for which substantial training is required. For bird boxes in particular annual cleaning or maintenance is desirable. Both these activities require ladder work which may be unsuited to volunteers.
19 10. Facility and Visitor Management
10.1 Health and Safety
All operations carried out at New Bradwell Local Park have been risk assessed and are reviewed on a regular basis, whenever any operations or activities are planned. Details of contractor’s responsibilities are covered in the General Service Requirements (Appendix 3).
Notices alerting the public to areas of risk, such as deep water are routinely inspected. The issue of water safety has lead to detailed discussions with ROSPA and water safety packs are sent out to all neighbouring schools. The department also offers talks to schools on the issue of water safety throughout Milton Keynes.
10.2 Play Area Accessibility
Fig. 14: Play Area Accessibility
The NPFA (National Playing Field Association) guidance The six-acre Standard outlines the realistic catchment area of play areas based on the level of provision.
As can be seen in Fig. 17 the Local Area for Play (LEAP) represented by the green circle has a catchment area that covers much of the immediate area around the park. The Neighbourhood Area for play (NEAP) represented by the blue area covers a much greater distance.
Although it is unlikely children would access them from neighbouring estates on a casual basis the play areas are connected by a redway, the major linking routes for pedestrians and cyclists in Milton Keynes. This gives the park a greater potential for use as a destination play area or as a stop off point on a recreational route as they are clearly marked on the city map.
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The park has three play areas that provide for a range of abilities and ages. Improvements in the park have taken place in the last few years; these have included fencing to exclude dogs and a new wooden climbing module.
Further improvements during 2010 included the resurfacing of the kick-about area and installation of a second goal wall. Some older items of play equipment were also replaced at this time.
The play areas in the park are subject to a weekly inspection to cleanse and inspect the operation of the equipment. All maintenance and cleansing staff are trained to undertake these inspections and have followed the ILAM Playground Inspecting and Reporting course.
An annual independent inspection is also carried out to ensure the council standard is maintained. In 2009, a more complete survey was commissioned to include play value that is the range and quality of the equipment and a brief development programme.
New signage has been installed in our play areas. As part of this process we are replacing all existing signage in order to ensure that all members of the public have one point of contact in the event that they need to make a report. The new signs have been produced using the MK Council branding guidelines with an anti-graffiti coating. The new signs display the general rules of play areas in Milton Keynes, using both words and symbols in a positive, non-prohibitive way.
The sites are considered to offer basic play value and to be in generally good condition. Recommendations have been followed where budget has allowed with future improvements planned. Copies of the inspection are in Appendix 4.
Fig. 15: The Park in winter, looking towards the junior play area.
21 11. Interpretation and Publicity At present there are several ways the landscape and countryside staff seek to interpret New Bradwell Park. These are as follows:
11.1 Park Surveys
A survey of the park was undertaken in late 2006 with questionnaires going out to 200 local residences. This was backed with an art competition to encourage a wider input in to the process, as the Chinese proverb states “ a picture is worth a thousand words”.
Fig. 16: “Swings with her friend”
Winner of the community art prize Talia Wilson - Age 9
From this initial survey several people expressed a desire to become formally involved with the park, see 11.6. From the feedback it appeared that generally the local community were satisfied or happy about the condition of the park.
It was thought by some that more could be achieved with the pond area to encourage wildlife, such as the provision of bird boxes. However there can be a conflict with perceptions regarding wildlife, as often areas that appear to be neglected or scrubby are managed precisely for this type of mosaic habitat. Both these issues are covered in the events for the park to enable the landscape staff to convey this message and engage the community in positive practical improvements. We will be carrying out further surveys every 2 years with the next planned for early 2012.
11.2 Events Programme
The Landscape Services department runs events in the parks it manages for a variety of reasons: • A way of communicating with public, what are their thoughts about the parks, what would they like to see? • A chance to put a face to a name and open up channels of communication. • A method to involve the public in the management of their parks, to start or encourage friends groups. • Broaden the knowledge or skills of the community in using parks. • Show the range of uses or activities that can take place in parks. • Strengthen and act as a focus for the community. • Provide a wide range of activities for different age groups. • Provide activities for the whole family. • Offer opportunities of leisure at low or no cost.
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These are advertised in events leaflets and posters which are distributed to parish offices, council reception areas, schools and parks notice boards.
Make Hay Whilst the Sun Shines Fig. 17: Typical Events Poster
New Bradwell Local Park rd Events that interpret nature and promote a Monday 23 August 10am – 4pm greater interest, in this case birds. The bird events are suitable for novices and experienced birders as well as individuals and groups.
The hedge laying events are intended to inform about management practices, explain their value to wildlife and the cultural significance.
They also allow people to gain hands on experience on their doorstep of a traditional craft, this may lead to a greater interest in www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/Parks Tel: 01908 254002 hedge laying or becoming a friend of the park. Join us and BTCV to make hay the traditional way using rakes and pitchforks
Come for an hour or two or stay for the whole day Bring a lunch to enjoy in the park Suitable for people of all ages and abilities.
Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please wear sensible footwear. Tools supplied but bring your own rake if you have one.
11.3 Notice Boards for Public Information: A focus for visitors, informing them of current initiatives and events by the department. It also allows for seasonal variations or particular plants to be highlighted. It is hoped that the local community will use the board to convey messages and therefore contribute to the parks function as a means of facilitation.
11.4 Internet Articles are added to the Milton Keynes Council web site and the web address promoted in all other advertisement and promotion. Sections on the web page include descriptions of the park, what’s on?, and who to contact if there are issues. http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/parks-and-open-space/home.asp
11.5 Media Media coverage is sought for most high profile activities. Articles are written for the Parish newsletter and events are advertised in the local newspapers (MK News and MK Citizen).
11.6 Friends Group At present there is only an informal group of interested parties surrounding the park. A public meeting took place in January 2008 at which a group of residents expressed an interest in forming the nucleus of the friends group. Further meetings are planned with these residents to formalise the constitution of the group and to identify potential projects with which they can become involved. This will allow for a more coordinated approach to managing the park and greater democracy. In time the group could bring additional benefits such as community events, greater awareness of issues and ownership in the park and possible avenues to funding opportunities.
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11.7 Marketing
The process of promoting parks, events and activities is laid out below:
Events are set out at the start of each year following a review of the previous year’s take-up.
An events calendar is linked to an Event Delivery Plan for each event which details the responsible officer, requirements, partner organisations and delivery timeline (see Appendix 2).
To promote the park, Milton Keynes Council Landscape Services utilises the expertise of the council communications team to develop press releases for print and broadcast media. Events are also promoted in house via the council’s parks website.
Notice boards at each of the parks offer an opportunity to advertise the events for the year ahead with more prominent posters nearer the event date.
Local schools are supplied with advertising materials for events to encourage participation, as are community centres, libraries, residents groups and sheltered housing sites.
Primary contacts for New Bradwell Local Park event promotion:
MKC Communications Team - LiveMK - Heart Radio - MK News - MK Citizen - MK Web MKC Parks website New Bradwell Parish council New Bradwell School Previous Event Attendees (letter or e-mail)
Partner organisations also play a big part in delivering events and drawing in residents to Milton Keynes parks. These include:
BTCV MK Play Association MK Play Rangers MK Lions (Basketball) MK Dons (Football)
Partner organisations offer expertise and event experience as well as acting as a “draw” to encourage participation.
Milton Keynes council is additionally working to raise the profile of the park locally with additional signage on footways and linking redways to direct people to the facility. Currently this is being investigated and costed for installation during 2010.
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12. Budgets and Resources
New Bradwell Local Park is managed as part of the West Milton Keynes Landscape contract. This contract covers the seven parishes of New Bradwell, Wolverton, Stony Stratford, Bradwell Abbey, Loughton, Calverton and Shenley Church End.
The total budget for programmed works in New Bradwell Local Park is £5,500 from a contract area budget of £566,325. In addition, the contract supervisor has an amount of £99,850 to be used at his discretion for items, for example tree planting, which are not part of the contract specification. (2009 budget figures)
The staff are managed by the Contract Supervisor (Direct Services) who is the primary contact for the budget holder. Two Team Leaders coordinate the teams on site. During the winter pruning season both teams work in unison. In summer they split with one team leader taking responsibility for grass cutting and one concentrating on other tasks including encroachment pruning and weed control.
Detailed management specifications can be found in Appendix 12.
Head of Neighbourhood Management Elected Council
Landscape Fix-It MK Neighbourhood Ward Town/Parish Manager Manager Manager Councillors Council
Landscape Neighbourhood Neighbourhood Operations Liaison Manager Improvement Parish Team Leader Councillors Area Neighbourhood Supervisor Maintenance Engagement Assistants Officers Neighbourhood Thames Valley Parish Wardens Team Leader Neighbourhood Action Group Police Wardens
Fig. 18: Neighbourhood Management structure.
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13. Neighbourhood Management
Environment has recently undergone a restructuring to move from “service” orientated management to “area” based working. This is partly as a cost saving measure but the ultimate aim is to improve service delivery on a local level based on community participatory budgeting.
Six Neighbourhood Managers have budgetary responsibility for services areas such as Landscaping, Cleansing, Highways and “Fix-It” (a wide ranging team with responsibility for maintenance and inspection of play areas, street furniture etc) as well as an area of the city, based on the existing Thames Valley Police sectors to ensure continuity and to facilitate partnership working.
Work is currently underway to identify priorities within the six areas. This may indicate higher priorities in differing service streams across the city and as such may require a redistribution of resources to match.
Neighbourhood wardens who have a front-line role in identifying and challenging behaviours and issues at a street level, through schools and with resident associations are backed up by Engagement Officers with responsibility for engaging with communities to provide solutions and developing links to forward the development of participation. Engagement Officers have specialist skills across the service areas and although based in one of the six areas, work across the borough.
Further information on Neighbourhood Management is included in Appendix 0.
26 14. The Development of New Bradwell Local Park
Over the past 5 years, New Bradwell Local Park has undergone changes to improve the facilities, environment and community involvement.
• A Welcoming Place o Direction signs indicating the location of the park from the Bounty Street and from the redways adjacent to Grafton Street and the allotments. o Signs at major entrances to the park indicating facilities, ownership, who to contact and how. o Vehicular access restricted to council vehicles. o New shrub and perennial planting around the car park and play area at the main Wallace Street entrance. o Seasonal and event information displayed on the notice board.
Strengths Weaknesses
Signage in and to the park. Limited interpretation of ecological Proximity to residential areas. benefits. Links to the Redway network and Derelict land near to Bounty Street linear parks. entrance. DDA Assessed site.
Opportunities Threats
Proximity to the School and Anti-social behaviour. Allotments. Enhancement of Bounty Street entrance as part of redevelopment.
Work Plan delivery:
Seasonal Information Who MKC Neighbourhood Management When Seasonally How Posters, fliers and local press (Parish newsletters) Outputs Information detailing seasonal activity
Biodiversity Interpretation Who Neighbourhood Management When by Dec 2011 How Provision of signage and seasonal information on species and lifecycles. Outputs Information boards for habitats (pond, stream and meadow areas) detailing importance of habitat and lifecycles.
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Orchard Interpretation Who Neighbourhood Management When by Dec 2011 How Provision of signage and information on species and history of area. Outputs Information board at entrance to meadow area.
• Healthy, Safe and Secure o Improvements to ball games area including second goal wall and new surface. o Thinning of perimeter woodland to provide ‘windows’ into park from adjacent properties. o Paths installed to provide disabled access to play areas following consultation with local group (TAG-MK) o Improvements to safer surfacing in play sites. o Installation of fencing around play areas for younger children o Night-time bat and moth walks help to reduce perception of the site as a no-go area at night.
Strengths Weaknesses
Risk assessments undertaken. No full time on-site staff Modern play facilities regularly Surface erosion to main Redway. inspected. Dog fouling enforcement undertaken. Opportunities Threats
Provision of fitness equipment. Anti-social behaviour. Further education and enforcement on Vandalism. waste issues. Fly-tipping of garden waste. Incidents of dog fouling
Work Plan delivery: Dog Fouling Who MKC Environmental Services When Ongoing How On-site education and enforcement activity. Outputs Reduction in incidents of fouling
Footpaths Who MKC Neighbourhood Management When Ongoing How Funding from highways revenue fund. Outputs Reconstruction and repair of park footways as surveyed.
28 • Well Maintained and Clean o Provision of 2 new waste separating bins. o Restriction of herbicide use to hard surfaces only. o Seats regularly refurbished.
Strengths Weaknesses
Dog and litter/recycling bins in Surface erosion to main Redway. prominent locations. Brash chipped on-site and used as mulch. Timber re-used as habitat piles. Opportunities Threats
Education on waste and litter issues. Fly tipping of garden waste. Litter.
Work Plan delivery: Repair Seats Who MKC Neighbourhood Management “Fix-It” Team When Ongoing How Rub down, re-stain, replace damaged timbers Outputs Seats clean, safe and fit for purpose.
• Sustainability o Timber left as habitat piles. o Development of transitional woodland edge meadows and perennial flower meadows. o Woodland tree stock thinned or coppiced and diversified with new planting – ongoing. o Drainage channels to pond cleared of obstructions. o Bird box installation.
Strengths Weaknesses
Meadows establishing new habitat. Lack of diversity in woodlands.
Opportunities Threats
Increase biodiversity in transitional Pressure from recreational use. meadows. Fly tipping. Community planting days. Interpretation walks. Community led species surveys.
29 Work Plan delivery: Woodlands Who MKC Neighbourhood Management When Annual programme How Thinning, coppicing, replacement panting. Outputs Healthy well managed woodland, increasing species diversity.
• Conservation and Heritage o Steam Wind & Water walk illustrating the history of the local community. o Guided walks utilising the linkages between this park and other open spaces (canal, river, railway walk, linear park). o Improvements to the management of the woodland areas and grassland. o Bulb planting along central redway for Spring colour o Development of perennial meadows. o Establishment of Community Orchard area.
Strengths Weaknesses
Meadows providing an increase in Slow take up of wildlife surveying by local biodiversity. users. Park forms part of wildlife corridor. Low diversity in transitional grassland.
Opportunities Threats
Interpretation of local ecology. Fly tipping. Interpretation of Orchard Vandalism Interpretation of Pond/Stream (History of flooding and creation of the pond) School use as outdoor classroom. Bird feeding stations.
Work Plan delivery: Meadow diversity Who MKC Neighbourhood Management When Ongoing series of planting events. How Increase in diverse broadleaved perennials though seeding.
Outputs Increase in plant biodiversity. Increase in colour and interest.
Wildlife Surveys Who Community When Ongoing How Use of iSpot and other wildlife reporting methods Outputs Identify species indicators within the park.
30 • Community Involvement o Involved local children in projects such as planting of bulbs and native flowers and establishment of orchard. o Developed links with the Parish Council o Identified opportunities for improvement through user survey. o Encouraged conservation activities with bird/bat box making and planting days. o Heritage Open Day walk to discover the development of New Bradwell. o Development of community led funding bids for additional recreational activities. (e.g. Improved Ball Games Area) o Summer fun days arranged by New Bradwell Parish Council.
Strengths Weaknesses
Residents surveyed to inform decision Low take up of volunteering making. opportunities. Park provides a route to school. Active and passive leisure activities. Opportunities Threats
Follow up on 2007/2010 surveys to Competition from other leisure activities. gauge changes in use/perception or issues. Funding for future projects.
Work Plan delivery: User / Resident survey Who MKC Neighbourhood Management When Bi-annually How Questionnaire to local properties and via school. Outputs Identify needs, challenges, issues and identify barriers to use.
• Marketing o Dedicated website for management information. o Event delivery procedure implemented. o Positive publicity gained through local media. o “What’s On” guide in local newspapers and on council website o Promotion of events through on site notices. o Promotion of events in parish council newsletter.
Strengths Weaknesses
Access to a broad range of media. Officer time to organise events. Events organised with parish and resident involvement. Opportunities Threats
Increase the range of activities Limited MKC budget to arrange events. available. Promote the park through the school.
31 Work Plan delivery: Events Who MKC Neighbourhood Management, Parish Council When Ongoing How Various Outputs
• Management o Develop Green Flag management practices. o Closer working within the council to remove barriers between departments. o Restructuring of Environmental Services to an area based service.
Strengths Weaknesses
Reorganisation of services to remove Specialist officer knowledge needs service silo barriers. development.
Opportunities Threats
More customer focused service Reduction in revenue funding. provision. Cross-working, shadowing and knowledge sharing to increase officer skills.
Work Plan delivery:
Neighbourhood Engagement Officer Delveopment Who MKC Neighbourhood Management When Ongoing How In-house training Outputs
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Appendix 0
Introduction to Milton Keynes Council.
i
About Milton Keynes Council Milton Keynes is situated 50 miles from London, Oxford and Cambridge and 80 miles from Birmingham. The council provides over two hundred services to more than 230,000 people in Britain's fastest growing city and manages over 1200 hectares of Parks & Open Spaces
As one of the key locations for growth in the United Kingdom Milton Keynes is set to grow further over the next thirty years, and probably beyond that. The new development will create 28,100 new homes in MK by 2011 and 71,000 dwellings by 2031 giving a projected population increase of approx 110,000. 4,500 of these homes will be in Central Milton Keynes.
This increase in development will generate:
• A greater number of houses per hectare (higher density). • Regenerate existing areas of MK i.e. Wolverton and Bletchley. • Create new areas of sustainable living and working. • Bring enhanced public transport systems and interchanges.
Alongside the growth agenda, the Council has the important task of delivering quality services to the people of Milton Keynes.
We still have considerable challenges, not least from those services that are not yet above average. Not everybody has a universally positive experience using our services, and we can constantly improve. Making sure that growth brings real advantages, rather than under funded or overstretched services, remains a high priority.
Open Space Strategy.
The purpose of the Open Space Strategy for Milton Keynes is to guide the thinking and direction of open space provision, management, accessibility, integration and use over the next 10 years; whilst acknowledging that implementation will affect open space planning for at least the next 25 years as population of the Borough more than doubles from the 1991 census figure of 178,270 to over 380,000 residents.
The Vision for this Strategy is:
To achieve the best possible level of provision, integration and variety of accessible open space within the Borough of Milton Keynes to serve the needs of the growing Milton Keynes community, and ensure that open space is managed in a sustainable manner for future generations.
Achieving the Vision will require a holistic and co-ordinated approach to:
• Maximise the quality, performance and benefits of existing open spaces for the community.
ii
• Increase the level of public access, awareness and usage of the Borough of Milton Keynes open space by 25% by 2014.
• Create and develop a framework for ensuring high quality, accessible, sustainable, and appropriately resourced open spaces that are an integral part of the Milton Keynes council area focusing on integrated planning for the existing rural and urban areas as well as the proposed growth areas.
• Ensure accountability at all levels for the development and management of open space and an active community involvement.
• Creating clean, safe, attractive, varied, welcoming and interesting open space environments.
Neighbourhood Management
Neighbourhood Management manages over 1200 hectares (ha.) of parks and spaces (equivalent to 1800 football pitches). This includes 550 play areas, 880ha of grass, 110ha of shrubs, 110,000 trees and 60ha of woodland.
Parks and open spaces provide individual, community, environmental and economic benefits for all ages and abilities. We aim to maximise these benefits for the community by maintaining
1. Attractive open spaces that encourage pride in locality.
2. Functional parks & open spaces that provide opportunities for recreation, exercise, community events, conservation and
3. Sustainable parks and open spaces for current & future generations in a modern growing city to enhance their quality of life, health and well-being by promoting a healthy lifestyle and absorbing pollution.
iii
Environmental Services
Neighbourhood Management “The vision for more cost effective and flexible services”
Neighbourhood Management provides localised neighbourhood management and service delivery, working closely with local bodies to meet locally determined priorities to improve quality of life.
Neighbourhood Managers will be responsible for liaising with members, communities, other agencies and stakeholders, to determine how local needs, preferences and priorities are addressed.
Each of the Neighbourhood Managers, as well as being responsible for their Neighbourhood Management Team, will be responsible for a cross cutting service area:
A reactive task force carrying out repairs and maintenance to the streets,
Fix-it MK play areas and illuminated furniture.
Creating an attractive environment whilst managing, developing and Landscape protecting the expanse of open space and countryside in Milton Keynes. Delivering highway and general street maintenance to our highway Highways network. Cohesion & Dealing with our statutory obligations associated with environmental crime, Partnerships anti social behaviour and other community issues. Delivering the statutorily cleaning function and engaging communities in My Street MK the delivery of this.
Enable the Directorate to bring together key communications messages and to ensure Parish Councils and CMK also have a consistent approach Communications to messages. Neighbourhood Management will bring together the local community and service providers at a neighbourhood level to tackle problems through influencing mainstream service provision.
What are the key benefits?
Physical improvement to the environment
People feeling safer and safety is the first priority
Improved communications with a single point of contact
Smarter ways of working
Consistent approach to working with partners
Medium – long term: greater efficiencies will result iv Communities will have a say in local priorities Environmental Services
Environmental Services
Neighbourhood Management Map
Rob Ward Rural (Fix-it MK) 07985 197598 Wards: Danesborough, Hanslope Park, Newport Pagnell North, Newport Pagnell South, Olney, Sherington
Craig Kench North (Landscape) 07825 659298 Wards: Bradwell, Linford North, Linford South, Stantonbury
Daniel Mullins
West (Highways)
07947 136 225
Wards: Emerson Valley,
Furzton, Loughton Park,
Stony Stratford,
Wolverton
Sheila Thornton
Bletchley (Cohesion &
Partnerships)
07825 386201
Wards: Bletchley &
Fenny Stratford, Denbigh,
Eaton Manor, Whaddon
Chris Carvell South (My-Street MK) 07949 840647 Reporting Issues Wards: Woughton, Walton Park, Middleton
The first step when reporting an environmental issue should Carmen Kane Central be to either ring the helpline on 01908 252570 or report through the website (Communications) 07500 951085 www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/street-care/ Wards: Campbell Park, Linford South
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Our Service Standards
We will:
1. Manage and inspect parks and open spaces on a programmed basis, against national standards, to ensure that they are clean, well maintained, healthy, safe and secure places for all members of the public to use.
2. Maintain parks & open spaces, to available resources, using environmentally sound methods, relying on best practices available according to current knowledge.
3. Conserve natural features, flora and fauna and structural features of merit.
4. Encourage the involvement of members’ of the community, who represent as many green space users as possible, in the service.
5. Assess parks and open spaces to ensure equal access for all members of the community.
6. Provide information on and promote parks and open spaces as a community resource.
7. Respond to all emergency situations, e.g. fallen branches, damaged play equipment, within 24 hours.
8. Answer all telephone calls within 5 rings (helpline).
9. Answer all correspondence within 10 working days. Where detailed investigation is necessary we will acknowledge your letter within this timescale and respond in detail as soon as possible.
Environmental sustainability
Milton Keynes is an expanding area and is increasingly having to meet the challenges of this. The Local Plan for Development is a continually reviewed strategy which sets out Milton Keynes aims for the continued expansion for the borough.
http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/local%5Fplan%5Freview/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=29610
To combat the excesses of poor development a number of strategies and partnerships have been developed, which include:
• Milton Keynes Environmental Partnership The partnership is made up of key players in the area with a necessarily broad theme. These encompass issues of environmental protection and pollution, planning and design, energy and climate change. It also impacts on key issues developed in the Community Strategy and MK Local Agenda 21.
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• Milton Keynes Local Agenda 21 Strategy Following the UN Conference on Environment and Development (“Earth Summit”) held in Rio in 1992 Agenda 21 was endorsed and this document sets out how we can work towards sustainable development. In 2002 Milton Keynes Council made a positive commitment to establishing a working party to work towards the goals of Agenda 21 with the production of, Milton Keynes Local Agenda 21 Strategy.
http://www.miltonkeynes.gov.uk/mklowcarbonliving/
• Herbicides The use of herbicides is kept to a minimum. Alternative methods of weed control are employed wherever possible (see “Weed Control”). However in some circumstances such as hard surface areas in play areas the removal of algae, moss and some weeds through the use of herbicide or algaecide is required to maintain safety standards.
• Pesticide use
The policy with regard to pesticides is contained in the General Service Requirements.
The Operations team record all use of pesticide within the park and copies of records are retained by both the contractor and council for forty years for the purposes of exposure and health monitoring.
• Horticultural peat Horticultural peat is not used at all by Milton Keynes Council or on any land controlled by them. The majority of our plants are supplied bare-rooted. All suppliers of plant materials must certify that any container grown stock is grown in peat free media. We do not purchase ericaceous species which must be grown in peat. Our plant supplier’s policy on peat usage is included in their environmental statement at the end of this document.
• Waste plant material All waste plant material produced is re-used through the creation of habitat piles, mulching, off-site composting or temporary path maintenance.
• Climate change impacts: The council recognises the impact of climate change throughout its operations; recent strategy has included the zero emission strategy for new homes. The strategy includes the design of planting to shelter properties to ameliorate the impact of high summer temperatures and cooling winter winds.
Vehicles The council is changing the vehicle fleet to reduce carbon emissions; so far there are 21 LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) powered vehicles and all new vehicles are selected for low emissions. Programmed maintenance to manufacturers’ guidelines optimises the efficiency of the fleet. Waste oils and fluids from vehicles and machines are collected and returned to the supplier for re-processing.
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Milton Keynes is part of a national pilot, called Plugged in Places. This will see the installation of charging bays, beginning in Central Milton Keynes, paving the way for the introduction of electric vehicles.
Street Lighting Milton Keynes council has since 2003 sourced 100% of its electricity needs for streetlights from renewable sources (Scottish Hydro). The council is currently rolling out across the borough new, low energy lighting columns which consume less power, have greater longevity and cause less light pollution. It is also possible to monitor the condition and change the luminescence of these lights remotely to gain further efficiency savings.
http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/street_lighting/home.asp?r=11576
Depots and Offices All council buildings are now provided with electrical power from a minimum of 88% renewable sources.
http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/sustainable-living/documents/SIP4.doc
The landscape department appreciates that global warming will have a profound effect on how it manages the open space. One area that appears to be having an effect already is the warmer winters that allow for pest species to survive and/or increase in number. This has in particular impacted on tree species, to combat this; trials of resistant species planting are being undertaken.
Works on a wider strategy to deal with the impacts of global warming are underway throughout the council.
Environmental Sustainability Measures in New Bradwell Park
Within this park we:
• Use no herbicide except for weed control within hard surfaces. All beds are hand weeded and edging to hard surfaces is carried out manually. Play area safety surfaces are pressure washed to remove moss and algae. • Bring no plants onto site which are grown in horticultural peat. Wherever possible, bare rooted plants are specified. • Send all meadow arisings to the main borough composting site in nearby Haversham which also processes household garden waste. • Reuse other waste plant materials on site by chipping/mulching. Larger tree surgery arisings are left in situ as habitat piles. Where it is impractical or unsafe to do this the arisings are left in the woodland areas along the brook and behind the pond.
Over: Environmental Statement from our landscape contractors’ preferred supplier.
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Appendix 2
Events at New Bradwell Local Park 2010-11
27th March 2010
Make the Meadows Bloom
Two areas in the park were seeded with a native perennial mix. This event was timed to coincide with the launch of Britain in Bloom and the launch of the ‘Brighten Up New Bradwell’ garden competition.
6th April
Easter Egg Hunt
Joint event with New Bradwell Parish Council. 83 children took part this year and also took part in additional activities arranged by the Play Rangers.
20th August
Bat Walk and Moth Treacling
A sticky moth attracting brew was boiled up at the start of the event and then painted onto several trees around the park. Following the bat walk we returned to find that several species had been attracted by the mixture. These were identified by our wildlife
27th August
“Hay Making”
Hay from the newly cut meadow areas was raked off by volunteers from the local community and from BTCV. The arisings were collected and taken to the council’s nearby garden waste composting site.
Tuesdays Throughout Summer Holidays
MK Play Rangers
Regular sessions were hosted by the Play Rangers with a variety of activities.
Forthcoming Events
Events proposed for 2011:
Wildflower meadow seeding
Summer Play Schemes
Hay raking (August)
BTCV Conservation event
Forestry timber benches
National Tree Week Planting Event
Guided Walks. Event Delivery Plan
Date: Time: Title: Risk Assessment
Marketing Lead Officer Participant Register Reserve Officer(s) Pictures
Partners (Agencies or individuals, inc. contact details)
Timeline Who Task Due
Budget
Requirements (Tools, Display, Materials, Forms).
Planned Outcome:
Notes:
What was Achieved? Nos. Adults -
Nos. Children -
Corporate Health and Safety Manual (2004): Section 1 – General Risk Assessment ANNEX 3
GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
An assessment of health and safety risks is required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. This form may help with this process and should be kept as a record of the findings of the assessment. Please refer to the Guidance Notes that accompany this form (see back page) or if you would like more advice or guidance, please contact the Corporate Health and Safety Team. Please note that the health and safety risks to employees and non-employees must be assessed.
1. ASSESSMENT OF RISK FOR: Parks Users, New Bradwell Park Activity / Service / Premises:
Directorate / Department: Environment, Streetcare
2. HAZARD & CONTROLS CHECKLIST (Please check all items):
• Listed below are the hazards likely to be present during work activity/at premises. Please indicate which are likely to cause harm. If trivial or not significant, please state ‘none’ or ‘not applicable’. • Please give brief details if possible of the hazard. • You must state the measures in place to control the risk from the identified hazards, their adequacy and any steps that must be taken to improve safety.
Significant Hazards Who What is being done at Is enough being done? (Present and could harm might be present to prevent harm YES - no further action is required. people - please give details) harmed? and protect people? NO – what else must be done? 1). Dangerous Substances Park Only approved chemicals Details: Users used. Public excluded from operations Yes Herbicide
2). Biological Agents Park 1. Dog bins provided Details: Users 2. All toxic plants are 1. Animal faeces classed as weeds Yes 2. Toxic plants and controlled under contract 3). Dust or Fumes Details: Not Applicable
4). Flammable Substances Details: Not Applicable
5). Hot Materials or Equipment Details: Not Applicable
6). The Manual Handling of Loads Details: Not Applicable
Corporate Health and Safety Manual (2004): Section 1 – General Risk Assessment ANNEX 3 Significant Hazards Who What is being done at Is enough being done? (Present and could harm might be present to prevent harm Yes – no further action is required. people – please give details) harmed? and protect people? No – what else must be done. 7). Use of Display Screen Equipment Details: Not Applicable
8). Electricity Park Public information through Details: Streetlamps Users websites etc to allow park Yes users to report faults. Lamps are regularly inspected. 9). Use of Hand Tools Details: Not Applicable 10). Machinery Park Park users excluded from Details: Users areas of operations Yes Maintenance Machinery 11). Pressure Systems Details: Not Applicable 12). Fall from a Height Park 1) Lower branches Details: Users pruned to make climbing 1)Tree Climbing difficult. 2) Play Areas 2) All Play equipment Yes either meets European standard or is subject to individual risk assessment and subsequent action 13). The use of a Vehicle Park Measures are taken to Details: Illegal use of cars on Users prevent vehicle access, Yes open space (Lockable bollards etc)
14). Other Vehicles Park Vegetation pruned to Details: Cyclists Users optimise views – reducing Yes risk of accidents 15). Deep Water Park Watersides are Details: Users accessible to allow Yes Ponds, Stream anyone fall in to escape or be rescued 16). Noise or Vibration Details: Not Applicable 17). Falling or Flying Park 1) Mowers have deck Materials /Objects Users guards. Mower drivers are Details: instructed to avoid Yes 1. Material flying from operation in close contact mower decks with Park users 2. Fallen debris from 2) Trees are inspected trees annually to reduce risk of fallen limbs. Public are excluded from tree work operations 18). Aggression Park Design and management or Violence Users of parks maximise Details: visibility – allowing Park Attacks on legitimate Park users to evaluate risk. Yes users Site is subject to the attention of the Community Safety team and patrol by PCSOs 19). Long or Unsocial Working Hours Details: Not Applicable
Corporate Health and Safety Manual (2004): Section 1 – General Risk Assessment ANNEX 3 Significant Hazards Who What is being done at Is enough being done? (Present and could harm might be present to prevent harm Yes – no further action is required. people – please give details) harmed? and protect people? No – what else must be done? 20). Stress Details: Not Applicable
21). Lone Working Details: Not Applicable
22). Animals Park Design and management Details: Users of parks maximise Dangerous Dogs visibility – allowing Park Horses users to evaluate risk 23). Weather Details: Not Applicable
24). Organisation / Park Maintenance of Users Premises Details: See 1) 10) 17)
25). Working Environment Details: Not Applicable
26). Any Other Hazard - please give details below:
Not Applicable
3. REMEDIAL ACTION:
Where a risk is not adequately controlled (see above), remedial action will be required. This should be prioritised and detailed below, together with the name of the person responsible and the action date
PRIORITY ACTION REQUIRED & DATE PERSON RESPONSIBLE
4. COMMENTS / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
DATE OF ASSESSMENT: RECOMMENDED REVIEW DATE:
NAME & SIGNATURE OF ASSESSOR: DATE:
Corporate Health and Safety Manual (2004): Section 1 – General Risk Assessment ANNEX 3 NAME & SIGNATURE OF SECTION MANAGER: DATE:
Guidance On Completing The Risk Assessment Form
More information is available in the Councils Policy and Guidance Note on Risk Assessment. You may also contact the Corporate Health and Safety Team. What is the risk assessment Please give details of the work activity, service or premises being assessed and the responsible Directorate and for? Department. Significant Hazards. This is a list of the hazards likely to be encountered as part of the Council’s undertaking (for more details, see below). Please add any hazards that are not listed. Specific details / descriptions, if appropriate, will help. Who might be harmed? The Council is required to make an assessment of the health and safety risks to employees whilst they are at work and to non-employees who may be affected by the way the Council carries out its undertaking. Please list employees, service users, general public, children and so on – see Guidance in the Health and Safety Manual for more details. What is being done at The following are examples of the types of measures that may be appropriate to control hazards: present to prevent harm • The provision of personal protective equipment and clothing, such as safety shoes, gloves and overalls; and protect people? Control • Safe working methods / procedures for doing the job; Measures. • The provision of safe equipment and its maintenance; • The provision of training, instruction, information and appropriate supervision; • A safe workplace - floors, stairs, passageways - cleaned and maintained, adequate space, fire precautions; • The provision of a safe working environment - heating, lighting, ventilation and space; • Carrying out other relevant risk assessments - display screen equipment, manual handling, COSHH; • The provision of other measures such as mobile phones for lone workers, counselling for stress and aggression. When considering what is being done at present, you must take adequate account of individual factors / capabilities, including gender, age, physique and experience. For example, the risks to a new employee may be different to those of an established one and physical ability will depend on age, gender and general health. Is enough being done? It is important to ensure that people’s health and safety is not put at risk. If there is anything else that can be done to prevent harm, please detail this here, giving, if possible an indication of time scales and persons taking the action.
Name of Play Area: New Bradwell Park, East End (NEWB 11)
Date: 24/6/09 Inspector: IM
General Comments
The play area is a doorstep sized facility, sited in a park
Weather: Sunny Time of Inspection: 15:13
Design
The play area has been designed for children aged 2+.
The following have been inspected and found to be in good order:
Orientation Design Age Traffic (Movement) Clashes
Failures:
Minimum Space – T Frame Swing – Frame lies within free space – monitor.
Ancillary Items
The following have been inspected and found to be in good order:
Access/Pathways - Bitmac Seats General Surfacing - Bitmac Cleanliness Planting
Work required:
Equipment
(1) T-Frame Swing, 2 Bay/2 Seat (Cradle)
Unknown The item fails to meet the requirements of BSEN 1176 in the following respect:
Frame lies within free space.
Surfacing Wetpour
The surfacing meets the dimensional requirements of BSEN 1176.
(2) Agility Trail
Playdale The item fails to meet the requirements of BSEN 1176 in the following respect:
Grasp failures.
Surfacing Grass Mats
The surfacing meets the dimensional requirements of BSEN 1176.
Edging missing – replace.
(3) Spring Seesaw
Kompan The item fails to meet the requirements of BSEN 1176 in the following respect:
Footrest fail ring gauge test.
Surfacing Wetpour
The surfacing meets the dimensional requirements of BSEN 1176.
Risk Assessment
Ancillary Items and Environment /Other Hazards
Ancillary Item Risk Score Comment Action or Control Seats/Benches 2 See Report Planting 4 See Report Access/Pathways 2 See Report Cleanliness 2 See Report General Surfacing 2 See Report
Environmental/ Risk Score Comment Action or Control Other Hazards Minimum Space 6 See Report Traffic (Movement) 2 See Report Clashes Design Defects 6 See Report Adjacent Roads 2 See Report Informal Supervision 6 See Report
Equipment
No. Equipment Item Surfacing Risk Score Action, Control or Comment 1 T Frame Swing, 2 Bay/2 Seat (Cradle) Bitmac 12 See Report 2 Agility Trail Grass 4 See Report Mats 3 Spring Seesaw Bitmac 6 See Report
THE ASSESSED LEVEL OF RISK FOR THE PLAYGROUND AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION IS – MEDIUM ______
2009 Milton Keynes BC Yes/No Comments/Description Play Area Evaluation
New Bradwell Park, East End
Type: LEAP
Local Plan compliant in terms of type, area, distance from dwellings and basic content
Context /Suitability: High Density (Urban) Medium Density (Urban) X Low Density (Urban) Sub-Urban Rural
Constraints : Covenants, TPO, Unknown easements, reserved site
Physical Quality Score out of 5 All site installations and equipment 4 well maintained Soft and/or hard landscape well 4 maintained High quality setting - hard and soft 1 landscape and features/equipment Play value to intended level - existing 1 interest Scope and opportunities for 5 improvement Serviceable lifespan in years of <10 (3) existing site Is site quality capable of economic 5 improvement Total Score: 23/35
Inherent Qualities Score Positive Scores out of 5 Favourable aspect, light, open and 5 good visibility Does the play area have natural shade 5 Good relationship with built 4 environment and local dwellings Good level of surveillance from 3 adjacent dwellings and paths Total Score: 17/20
Inherent Defects Score Negative scores out of 5 Poor, out-dated or inappropriate design 2 Poor quality of build or now deemed 2 economically unserviceable Poor maintenance or not maintainable 1 to appropriate standard, Poor / inappropriate relationship with 1 local dwellings Is there evidence of crime, vandalism 1 and/or significant misuse Total Score: 7/25
Usage/Performance How well does the play area / site serve its intended area :- Immediate area [LAP/LEAP] Yes Neighbourhood [LEAP/NEAP] No Wider area [NEAP] No Is the play area part of a larger public Yes open space. Does the play area cater for intended Yes ages group [ LAP<6 -LEAP<8/9 - NEAP<12/13 ] Does the site provide significant or Adequate adequate play value in accordance with type Do site constraints mitigate against No continued use as a viable play area
Accessibility /Security Is the site DDA / Access for All Yes compliant [surfaces, gradients, path widths] To what extent is equipment DDA Partially compliant Is there good access/connectivity with Yes the locality and to other play facilities Is there good access for all within the Yes wider site Are public routes to the site overlooked Yes / good surveillance
Local Public Views Discussion / questioning must be structured and focused to enable comparative evaluation Is the play area valued by local people Unknown Is there a significant difference of Unknown opinion locally on the value of the play area What is the local Town/ Parish council Unknown view
Opportunities Does the site have unused play Yes potential or capacity for significant improvement Is the location, size, access and No capacity suitable for consideration as a Strategic Neighbourhood Play Area. (SNPA) Is the site providing or economically Yes able to provide a significant play opportunity for its locality Can access be improved : [a] easily; [b] A with some difficulty; [c] with great difficulty [d] cannot be improved
Possible Alternative Uses [For further consider on completion of wider area evaluations, for sites lacking the capacity for reasonable level of a play service delivery or not capable of significant improvement]
______
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Initial Views
The play area is a doorstep sized facility, sited in a park. It provides basic play value and activity.
Long Term Proposals
Assess demand for two play areas within the park. If there is a demand, develop two new play areas on the existing sites – doorstep sized facility, as described in the introduction.
Alternatively consider removing both existing sites and develop one large new facility centrally – local/district sized facility, as described in the introduction.
Ensure any future development of the site in terms of equipment, ancillaries and access embraces the ethos of the DDA and allows accessibility for all.
Cost Implications (Ballpark Figures)
Equipment Cost (£)
As above 65-85,000.00+
Milton Keynes BC Comments:
Improvements are planned for this play area as part of a scheme to modernise the equipment throughout the Green Flag Park. At present it planned that this site will be redeveloped for the junior age group, since there is a lack of facilities for 6-12 year olds in the area, yet there is two other areas suitable for toddlers. It is hoped that the planned work will be carried out within the 2010-11 financial year.
Items highlighted in red text will be reviewed. However, non-compliant equipment does not require immediate replacement.
Name of Play Area: New Park, West End (NEWB 09)
Date: 24/6/09 Inspector: IM
General Comments
The play area is a doorstep sized facility, sited within a park. The equipment and goal end are spread over 3 sites.
Weather: Sunny Time of Inspection: 14:17
Design
The play area has been designed for children aged 2+.
The following have been inspected and found to be in good order:
Orientation Design Age Traffic (Movement) Clashes
Failures:
Minimum Space – T Frame Swings – Frame lies within free space – monitor.
Ancillary Items
The following have been inspected and found to be in good order:
Access/Pathways - Bitmac General Surfacing - Bitmac Cleanliness Brick Walls Planting Seat Ownership/Information Sign Bow Top Fencing Access Gates
Equipment
(1) Junior Multi-Play Unit
Russell The item fails to meet the requirements of BSEN 1176 in the following respect:
No slide access bar above chute entry.
Head/neck entrapments across the unit.
Design of the item allows access to the roof.
Timber decay and splintering evident across the unit – replace affected timbers.
Surfacing Wetpour
The surfacing meets the dimensional requirements of BSEN 1176.
(2) T-Frame Swing, 2 Bay/2 Seat (Tyre/Flat)
Unknown The item fails to meet the requirements of BSEN 1176 in the following respect:
Frame lies within free space.
Surfacing Wetpour
The surfacing meets the dimensional requirements of BSEN 1176.
Raised wetpour – concrete ramp – highlight with bright yellow paint.
(3) Spring Rocker – Duck
Kompan The item meets the requirements of BSEN 1176 where this may be tested on site without dismantling or destruction.
The item is in good condition and no work is required at this time.
Surfacing Wetpour/Concrete
The surfacing fails to meet the requirements of BSEN 1176 in the following respect:
Concrete plinth in the fall space – cover with wetpour/grass mat.
(4) Spring Seesaw
Kompan The item fails to meet the requirements of BSEN 1176 in the following respect:
Foot rests fail ring gauge test.
Surfacing Wetpour
The surfacing meets the dimensional requirements of BSEN 1176.
(5) T-Frame Swing, 2 Bay/2 Seat (Cradle)
Unknown The item fails to meet the requirements of BSEN 1176 in the following respect:
Frame lies within free space.
Surfacing Wetpour
The surfacing meets the dimensional requirements of BSEN 1176.
(6) Goal End/Basketball Combination
Unknown The item fails to meet the requirements of EN 15312 in the following respect:
Free space failure – backboard to support mesh/bars.
Loose panels - mesh is damaged – repair/secure.
Surfacing Grass Mats/Bitmac
Risk Assessment
Ancillary Items and Environment /Other Hazards
Ancillary Item Risk Score Comment Action or Control Planting 4 See Report Access/Pathways 2 See Report Cleanliness 2 See Report General Surfacing 2 See Report Seats/Benches 2 See Report Brick Walls 4 See Report Bow Top Fencing 2 See Report Ownership/Information 2 See Report Sign Access Gates 2 See Report
Environmental/ Risk Score Comment Action or Control Other Hazards Minimum Space 6 See Report Traffic (Movement) 2 See Report Clashes Design Defects 6 See Report Adjacent Roads 2 See Report Informal Supervision 6 See Report
Equipment
No. Equipment Item Surfacing Risk Score Action, Control or Comment 1 Junior Multi-Play Unit Wetpour 8 See Report 2 T-Frame Swing, 2 Bay/2 Seat (Tyre) Wetpour 6 See Report 3 Spring Rocker Wetpour / Concrete 2 See Report 4 Spring Seesaw Wetpour 6 See Report 5 T-Frame Swing, 2 Bay/2 Seat (Cradle) Wetpour 6 See Report 6 Goal End/Basketball Combination Grass Mats/Bitmac 6 See Report
THE ASSESSED LEVEL OF RISK FOR THE PLAYGROUND AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION IS – MEDIUM. ______
2009 Milton Keynes BC Yes/No Comments/Description Play Area Evaluation
New Bradwell Park, West End
Type: LEAP
Local Plan compliant in terms of type, area, distance from dwellings and basic content
Context /Suitability: High Density (Urban) Medium Density (Urban) X Low Density (Urban) Sub-Urban Rural
Constraints : Covenants, TPO, Unknown easements, reserved site
Physical Quality Score out of 5 All site installations and equipment 4 well maintained Soft and/or hard landscape well 4 maintained High quality setting - hard and soft 1 landscape and features/equipment Play value to intended level - existing 1 interest Scope and opportunities for 5 improvement Serviceable lifespan in years of <10 (3) existing site Is site quality capable of economic 5 improvement Total Score: 23/35
Inherent Qualities Score Positive Scores out of 5 Favourable aspect, light, open and 5 good visibility Does the play area have natural shade 5 Good relationship with built 4 environment and local dwellings Good level of surveillance from 3 adjacent dwellings and paths Total Score: 17/20
Inherent Defects Score Negative scores out of 5 Poor, out-dated or inappropriate design 2 Poor quality of build or now deemed 2 economically unserviceable Poor maintenance or not maintainable 1 to appropriate standard, Poor / inappropriate relationship with 1 local dwellings Is there evidence of crime, vandalism 1 and/or significant misuse Total Score: 7/25
Usage/Performance How well does the play area / site serve its intended area :- Immediate area [LAP/LEAP] Yes Neighbourhood [LEAP/NEAP] No Wider area [NEAP] No Is the play area part of a larger public Yes open space. Does the play area cater for intended Yes ages group [ LAP<6 -LEAP<8/9 - NEAP<12/13 ] Does the site provide significant or Adequate adequate play value in accordance with type Do site constraints mitigate against No continued use as a viable play area
Accessibility /Security Is the site DDA / Access for All Yes compliant [surfaces, gradients, path widths] To what extent is equipment DDA Partially compliant Is there good access/connectivity with Yes the locality and to other play facilities Is there good access for all within the Yes wider site Are public routes to the site overlooked Yes / good surveillance
Local Public Views Discussion / questioning must be structured and focused to enable comparative evaluation Is the play area valued by local people Unknown Is there a significant difference of Unknown opinion locally on the value of the play area What is the local Town/ Parish council Unknown view
Opportunities Does the site have unused play Yes potential or capacity for significant improvement Is the location, size, access and No capacity suitable for consideration as a Strategic Neighbourhood Play Area. (SNPA) Is the site providing or economically Yes able to provide a significant play opportunity for its locality Can access be improved : [a] easily; [b] A with some difficulty; [c] with great difficulty [d] cannot be improved
Possible Alternative Uses [For further consider on completion of wider area evaluations, for sites lacking the capacity for reasonable level of a play service delivery or not capable of significant improvement]
______
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Initial Views
The play area is a doorstep sized facility, sited within a park. The equipment and goal end are spread over 3 sites. It provides basic play value and activity.
Long Term Proposals
Assess demand for two play areas within the park. If there is a demand, develop two new play areas on the existing sites – doorstep sized facility, as described in the introduction.
Alternatively consider removing both existing sites and develop one large new facility centrally – local/district sized facility, as described in the introduction.
Ensure any future development of the site in terms of equipment, ancillaries and access embraces the ethos of the DDA and allows accessibility for all.
Cost Implications (Ballpark Figures)
Equipment Cost (£)
As above 65-85,000.00+
Milton Keynes BC Comments:
Some of the play equipment within the toddler area will be replaced during April 2010. The seesaw and springer will be replaced and a roundabout will be added to enhance the physical play value within the site.
The non-compliant swing frame will not be replaced due to budget constraints but it will be painted to improve its appearance.
The goal end has been repaired as part of a scheme to extend the ball games area. The surface has been skimmed with a new layer of tarmac and an opposite goal end has been added to encourage small sided football and basket ball.
New Bradwell Local Park - Tree Survey.
MK West Inspected OctoInsp Dec2010 Girth - cm Height - m Area Street Location Species Girth/Height Nos. Faults Priority Bradwell Park Woodland A OK Woodland B Area by play area/remove back row Dead wood over path Woodland C OK Woodland D Willows need dead & rot removed Woodland E OK Dead wood over path Woodland F Old willows have rot possibly reduce Woodland G OK
From woodland A 1 Lime 35/12 1 2 Lime 35/12 1 3 Lime 35/12 1 4 Lime 35/12 1 Removed 5 Acer 35/12 1 6 Acer 35/12 1 Dead wood 7 Lime 35/12 1 8 Horse Chest 60/14 1 Rot cavity 9 Acer 40/12 1 Dead wood 10 Horse Chest 45/12 1 Remove stubs End Wallace Street 11 Acer 40/14 1 Parking 12 Acer 35/14 1 13 Cherry 15/3 1 Dead Felled 14 Lime 25/14 1 Rot in trunk 15 Horse Chest 55/16 1 16 Acer 50/16 1 17 Acer 40/16 1 18 Ash 50/16 1 19 Sorbas 30/6 1 20 Sorbas 30/6 1 21 Sorbas 30/6 1 22 Sorbas 30/6 1 23 Sorbas 30/6 1 24 Sorbas 30/6 1 25 Accacia 50/16 1 Removed 26 Acer 50/16 1 27 Horse Chest 50/9 1 Rot in trunk 28 Sorbas 30/7 1 Rot in trunk 29 Sorbas 30/7 1 30 Sorbas 30/7 1 31 Sorbas 30/7 1
Appendix 5 New Bradwell Park Tree Survey 2010 Page 1 New Bradwell Local Park - Tree Survey.
Height - m Area Street Location Species Girth/Height Nos. Faults Priority 32 Accacia 50/18 1 Dead wood 33 Accacia 50/18 1 Dead wood 34 Sorbas 10/3 1 35 Sorbas 15/5 1 36 Sorbas 15/5 1 37 Sorbas 25/7 1 38 Sorbas 25/7 1 39 Sorbas 25/7 1 40 Acer 30/9 1 41 Sorbas 25/7 1 42 Sorbas 25/7 1 43 Sorbas 25/7 1 44 Acer 40/12 1 45 Acer 40/12 1 46 Sorbas 20/6 1 47 Acer 40/12 1 48 Acer 40/12 1 49 Acer 40/12 1 50 Acer 40/12 1 51 Willow 100/5 1 Pollard rot 52 Willow Stump 1 53 Willow 100/9 1 Cavities & rot Pollarded 54 Willow Stump 1 55 Willow 100/9 1 Cavities & rot 56 Lime 35/12 1 By hard surface 57 Cherry Whip 1 58 Hazel Whip 1 Felled 59 Hazel Whip 1 Felled 60 Cherry Whip 1 61 Cherry Whip 1 62 Apple Whip 1 Snapped 63 Almond Whip 1 64 Apple Whip 1 65 Apple Whip 1 66 Apple Whip 1 67 Apple Whip 1 68 Apple Whip 1 Felled 69 Apple Whip 1 70 Apple Whip 1 71 Apple Whip 1 72 Apple Whip 1 Felled
Appendix 5 New Bradwell Park Tree Survey 2010 Page 2 New Bradwell Local Park - Tree Survey.
Height - m Area Street Location Species Girth/Height Nos. Faults Priority 73 Apple Whip 1 74 Almond? Whip 1 75 Apple Whip 1 76 Hazel Whip 1 Felled 77 Cherry Whip 1 Dead Felled 78 Cherry Whip 1 Felled By play area 79 Horse Chest 45/12 1 80 Horse Chest 45/12 1 81 Horse Chest 45/12 1 Canker 82 Lime 40/12 1 83 Acer 40/12 1 84 Horse Chest 40/12 1 85 Ash 50/14 1 86 Conifer 30/7 1 87 Acer 45/14 1 88 Willow 300/14 1 Rot old pollard 89 Acer 45/14 1 Multi stem 90 Willow 35/14 1 Dead Wood Felled 91 Cherry 20/6 1 92 Horse Chest 55/12 1 93 Horse Chest 60/12 1 Along brook 94 Willow 25/12 1 95 Willow 25/12 1 96 Willow 25/12 1 97 Willow 25/12 1 98 Willow 25/12 1 99 Willow 25/12 1 100 Willow 25/12 1 101 Willow 25/12 1 102 Willow 25/12 1 103 Willow 25/12 1 104 Willow 25/12 1 105 Willow 25/12 1 106 Alder 20/5 1 107 Alder 20/5 1 108 Willow 100/16 1 Branches split out & rot/pollard 109 Willow 30/9 1 110 Willow 30/9 1 111 Willow 55/18 1 Clear light and Dead Wood 112 Willow 55/18 1 113 Willow 55/18 1
Appendix 5 New Bradwell Park Tree Survey 2010 Page 3 New Bradwell Local Park - Tree Survey.
Height - m Area Street Location Species Girth/Height Nos. Faults Priority 114 Willow 50/14 1 Dead Wood 115 Willow 50/14 1 116 Willow 50/14 1 117 Willow 40/14 1 118 Willow 35/12 1 119 Thorn 20/7 1 120 Willow 15/5 1 Regrowth stump 121 Willow 35/18 1 Multi stem 122 Willow 35/18 1 123 Willow 35/18 1 124 Willow 45/18 1 Multi stem 125 Thorn 20/7 1 126 Thorn 20/7 1 127 Willow 130/7 1 Rot stump regrowth 128 Poplar 45/18 1 Sesia moth Felled 129 Poplar 45/18 1 Sesia moth Felled 130 Poplar 45/18 1 Sesia moth Felled 131 Willow 130/7 1 Rot stump regrowth 132 Willow 50/18 1 Multi stem 133 Willow 35/18 1 134 Willow 35/6 1 Stump regrowth 135 Willow 35/18 1 136 Willow 35/18 1 137 Willow Stump regrowth 138 Willow Stump regrowth 139 Willow Stump regrowth 140 Willow Stump regrowth 141 Willow Stump regrowth 142 Willow 40/18 1 Multi stem 143 Willow 35/18 1 144 Willow 40/18 1 Multi stem
Appendix 5 New Bradwell Park Tree Survey 2010 Page 4
144144 3939 4040 143143 3939 4141 6060 143143 3838 4141 60606611aa 3838 4242 5959 6262 3737 4242 3636 4343 5858 6666 3535 4343 5858 6666 3535 57a57a 6767 4444 57a57a 6767 3434 4444 7070 4545 3131 4646 5757 70a70a 3333 4747 5757 3333 3030 3030 4848 6363 3232 4848 6363 7676 29a29a 29a29a 4949 6464 2929 4949 6565 1919 5050 7575 2828 5050 65a65a 2020 2828 65a65a 1111 2020 7474 1111 1818 2121 66a66a 7474 1212 2121 50a50a 7272 7373 1212 1717 50a50a 72727171 7373 22222424 5151 2222 5252 1414 2323 2525 2323 5353 1616 2727 15151616 142142 1515 2626 2626 141141 88 5454 77 54545555 4466 1010 114114 5656 55 113113 140140 115115 113113 140140 11 112112 139139 99 112112 138138 99 111111 138138137137 137137 33 22 8787 8383 116116 116116 8585 130130 117117 129129 110110 8080 8181 136136 8181 8484 136136 9393 8888 128128 8888 135135 128128 109109 127127 7979 8282 131131 117a117a 134134 108108 126126 108108 9292 132132 125125 133133 107107 106106 133133 124124 102102 104104 123123 101101 123123 122122 9898 122122 121121 9898 121121 120120 120120 119119 105105 119119 118118 9696 9797 105105 9595 94949595 105a105a 9999 100100 103103 9090 9191
New Bradwell Park Trees Asset Data Management This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Milton Keynes Council - 10019593 - 2004. Scale 1: 1,200 @ A3L New Bradwell Local Park
The maintenance of Local Parks should be consistent with the good practice as identified in the Green Flag and In Bloom award standards. • The overall impressions for any member of the community approaching and entering the park or green space should be positive and inviting, • The park or green space must be a healthy, safe and secure place for all members of the community to use. • For aesthetic as well as Health and Safety reasons, cleanliness and maintenance must be of an adequate standard. • Methods used in maintaining the park or green space and its facilities should be environmentally sound, relying on best practices available according to current knowledge • Particular attention should be paid to the conservation and appropriate management of natural features, wildlife and fauna. • Community involvement should be encouraged by staff involved in maintenance if approached by members of the public and the green space promoted as a community resource
Grass Shrubs Trees Woodland Ditches Cleansing Play Areas ties* Litter
Areas* Surface* to 25mm) Cut grass Cut grass strimmer* strimmer* branches* branches* branches* branches* Inspection and debris* and debris* Inspection & or dangerous or dangerous or dangerous or dangerous Annual Safety Annual Safety Annual Safety Weed Control Weed and Cleansing and Cleansing Edging to Hard Edging to Hard General Mowing Mowing General (Non-Chemical)* edging shears or shears edging Mowing Meadow Keep free of litter Keep free of litter Weekly Inspection (Twelve Cut Areas Areas (Twelve Cut Prune damageged Prune damageged Prune damageged Prune damageged free and algea free free and algea Maintenance Prune Maintenance Maintain edges with Maintain stakes and and Maintain stakes prune* Maintenance Keep surfaces weed weed Keep surfaces
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Wildlife Areas Boundary habitats, e.g. a hedge bottom or pond-margin, are generally the richest for wildlife, but are reduced or eliminated by our routine maintenance.
1) For visitors, more naturalistic treatment of vegetation 2) More sensitive treatment of “edges” allows features to “flow into” one another, avoiding the sharp disjunction caused by e.g. spraying round shrub beds or tree bottoms.
Varying grass heights can reinforce the design of a park by linking features (e.g. isolated trees become a “copse”), emphasising them (e.g. the flow of a path) or breaking up large expanses. We call this “designing with grass”.
3) For visitors, a pleasant, safe-feeling, welcoming environment 4) As maintenance is relaxed in some aspects, it is all the more important to create a welcoming environment and avoid any impression of neglect. Paths should be unobstructed, with good sightlines. Allowing the sun into paths attracts wildlife such as butterflies and dragonflies, especially if there is room for wild flowers. It allows unmade paths to dry out and remain clear of debris.
Event Booking Procedure
Community groups and parish councils are given the facility to organise their own events in Milton Keynes Council parks and open spaces.
The application requires the completion of three forms, which can be requested from Milton Keynes Council Neighbourhood Management or downloaded directly from our website.
• Public Liability Insurance Details • Risk Assessment • Terms and Conditions Acceptance
Copies of these forms are attached below.
On receipt of a valid application the Neighbourhood Engagement Officer checks the events calendar for any potential clashes. A central calendar of all events throughout the borough, whether internally or external organised is kept for this purpose.
Suitable public liability insurance is a prerequisite for any event and a minimum of £5 Million cover is mandatory.
The risk assessment is a requirement of Environmental Health and is copied to them for their approval and comments.
If all is in order then the event is approved by the Neighbourhood Manager. The event organiser is informed in writing of the decision.
All ward councillors also receive notification that the proposed event has been approved.
Public Open Space for Event
Public Liability Insurance Details
Event Name:…………………………………………………………………………..
Event Date:…………………………………………………………………………….
Policy Number:
Insurance Company Name:………………………………………………………….
Address:………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Tel:……………………………………………………………………………………...
Signed:…………………………………………. Date:……………………………
Please return to: Neighbourhood Manager, West Area, Milton Keynes Council, Synergy Park, Chesney Wold, Bleak Hall, Milton Keynes MK6 1LY.
MILTON KEYNES SAFETY ADVISORY GROUP
NOTIFICATION FORM FOR A PUBLIC EVENT
Name and Address of Event ………………………………………….…… Organiser ………………………………………………. ……………………………………………….
Telephone number – Home ………………………………………………. Telephone number - Work ………………………………………………. Fax number ……………………………………………….. E-mail ………………………………………………...
Alternative contact details ……………………………………………….
Address/Location of event ……………………………………………….. ……………………………………………….. Description of Event ………………………………………………. (please detail) ……………………………………………….
Name of the Event ……………………………………………… Anticipated number attending ……………………………………………… (daily) ……………………………………………… Date of the Event
Time and duration of the Event ……………………………………………….
Name and Address of Landowner ………………………………………………. ……………………………………………….. ………………………………………………. Telephone number ……………………………………………… Fax No ………………………………………………...
Plans/maps of routes etc 1. ……………………………………….. (please detail) 2. ………………………………………...
3. ……………………………………….. (Please attach to this document)
Name of person in charge of first ………………………………………….. aid arrangements & contact details
The following issues have been listed in order to act as “triggers” so that you may address your statutory responsibilities including a ‘duty of care’ to those attending your event. Risk assessments may be necessary for those marked ‘Y’ below, which will result in an action plan(s) being drawn up.
No Delete as Office Use Only (Weighting) necessary 1(L) 2 3 4 5(H) 1. Use of private land/premises Y/N 2. Use of public land/premises Y/N 3. Use of the public highway e.g. roads, Y/N redways 4. Are road/redway closures wanted? Y/N 5. Provision of temporary parking facilities Y/N 6. Are bus routes affected: parking etc? Y/N 7. Sale of alcohol Y/N 8. Litter pickers/refuse containers/disposal Y/N arrangements 9. Sale of food/beverages Y/N 10. Admission by ticket only Y/N 11. Bonfire/Beacon Y/N 12. Firework or Pyrotechnic display Y/N 13. Use of Security Stewards Y/N 14. Use of Car Parking Stewards Y/N 15. Use of volunteer Stewards Y/N 16. Use of Marquees or tents Y/N 17. Use of any other temporary structures Y/N 18. Use of temporary electricity supply Y/N 19. Use of LPG gas equipment Y/N 20. Provision of temporary sanitary Y/N accommodation and washing facilities 21. Provision of temporary public address or Y/N sound systems 22. Provision of First Aid points. Y/N 23. “Lost persons” points Y/N 24. Radio communications systems to be Y/N used 25. Fairground rides to be provided Y/N 26. Provision of safety barriers or security Y/N fencing 27. Use of special effects eg lasers Y/N 28. Provision of fire extinguishers/fire control Y/N points 29. Provision of potentially hazardous Y/N attractions eg helicopter rides, steam engines, bouncy castles 30. Provision of a childrens’ crèche Y/N 31. Public liability insurance (£5m minimum Mandatory cover) 32. Exhibition or use of livestock – Bio security Y/N issues
ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE
It is a condition of the grant of the authorisation under the attached letter that the organiser:
Will take all reasonably practicable steps to avoid damage to carriageways, footways, verges, grassed areas, trees, shrubs, flowers, fences, fixtures and equipment, and will make good all damage or loss caused to the Council's land or property as described, to the Council's satisfaction.
Will remove all litter and waste materials before leaving the land.
Will not permit any activity that may give rise to a public or private nuisance, nor annoyance to the occupiers of property in the vicinity of the land e.g. loud noise from use of sound level amplifying equipment.
Will indemnify the Council from all claims, actions, demands and costs arising in any manner whatsoever from, or out of the use of land described in the attached letter by the organiser and all other persons entering into the said land during the period concerned. The organiser is required to obtain public liability insurance cover against such claims.(minimum- Five Million pounds).
Will not cause or permit the normal flow of traffic on the highway to be obstructed.
Will allow access to the land described in the attached letter to any person lawfully entitled to enter same; including authorised representatives / officers of the Council, Statutory Undertakers, and Emergency Services. All activities must cease upon request from a Police officer, an authorised representative / officer of the Council, or any representative of the Statutory Undertakers. Following such a request, the consent contained in the attached letter will have been deemed to have been rescinded or temporarily suspended.
Will notify the Council's Chief Environmental Health Officer of the names and addresses of any person selling or providing food/ drink on the site.
Will site any structure, or attraction in a position complying with the requirements of the Council, Statutory Undertakers, and Emergency Services personnel.
Will not cause or permit the promotion or staging of any act involving animals. Further will not cause or permit the sale of any animal or the award of any animal as a prize. An animal includes aquatic species
Will ensure electrical safety by ensuring that
(a) A sensitive earth-leakage protection system (residual current device) shall be installed and maintained where practicable as part of the electrical installation within the curtilage of land referred to. The device shall be designed to operate if the earth leakage current exceeds 0.03A and shall have a maximum operating time of 30 milliseconds. A test button should be incorporated.
(b) In the event of a 3 phase portable generator being used for power generation, it is not always possible for a residual current device to be installed. If this is the case, then all reasonably practicable measures shall be taken to ensure the safety of the public, staff and performers by including the provision of an earth spike of sufficient size to take the full load capacity of the generator. Alternatively the installation of other equipment equal to, or better than a suitable earth loop monitor must be incorporated in the power circuit system in accordance with BS 7430.
Will ensure that the relevant guidance contained in the Health and Safety Commission/Home Office document "Event Safety Guide; and The National Outdoor Events Association - Code of Practice for Outdoor Events other than Pop Concerts and Raves shall be referred to where applicable. In order to ensure that satisfactory event planning occurs, and the infrastructure standards are provided to a satisfactory standard in order to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the general public who are present at the event within the curtilage of the premises referred to in this authorisation. Advice on these issues is available from the Environmental Health Division of Environmental Services Milton Keynes Council Tel. No. 01908 252398.
Name and address of person accepting responsibility
Name of Event
Date of Event
Signed……………………………………………………… Dated………………………….
New Bradwell Local Park Community Survey 2010
The following is an analysis of responses to the user survey conducted in 2010. We survey local residents every 2 years with the next survey being planned for early 2012.
How satisfied are you...with the park as a whole?
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Very Unsatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied No response Unsatisfied
How Often Do you use New Bradwell Park?
Daily
Week ly
Monthly
Year
No Response
Why do you visit New Bradwell Park?
Play Areas
Dog walking
Wildlife
Ball Games
Relaxation
Events
Other
How satisfied are you...with the cleanliness of the park (Litter)?
25 20 15 10 5 0
d e fi ed se s sfi n ati ti po satisfied s s n Sa e U Un R ry e Very Satisfied No V
How satisfied are you...With the cleanliness of the park (Dog fouling)?
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Very Unsatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied No Response Unsatisfied
How satisfied are you with...Personal Safety?
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Very Unsatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied No Response Unsatisfied
How satisfied are you with...the condition of the footpaths?
12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Very Unsatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied No Response Unsatisfied
How satisfied are you with...The condition of the planted areas?
14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
d d se fie fied n tis s atisfied spo sa s Sati e n R U Un o ery Satisfie N ery V V
APPENDIX 7 Local Plan Framework
Appendix 11 Management Framework Examples of how the service is Service What you can expect delivered Pruning, mowing, weed control Healthy trees, shrubs and uniform and mulching of shrub beds. Parks and Management cover of grass Open of vegetation Hedge laying Spaces Conservation of remnant vegetation. Annual tree inspections. Britain in Bloom entry
Clean, attractive and interesting Tree and shrub planting. landscape setting. Design and construction of park Diverse horticultural and play improvements features. Provision and Inspection and reporting of litter maintenance of Linear and variable scale planting. for cleansing landscape settings Simple functional landscape. Street trees. Green corridors
Informal, semi natural landscape. Native tree planting
Formal setting for organised sport Replacement of ageing planting
Line marking of pitches
Protection and Control of more vigorous species. Diverse planting that encourages enhancement wildlife of biodiversity Management Plan Shredding of prunings and mulching of beds. Maintenance practices that minimise Protection and pollution and are sustainable. Monitoring herbicide usage. enhancement of environment. Tree planting to absorb pollutants. Woodland belt, street trees.
Tree Preservation Orders Park signs Information available from Milton Provision of People Keynes Council on parks and open Internet website information spaces, their benefits and operations Leaflets Barriers to vehicles Absence of inappropriate uses
Regulation of Monitoring by Area Supervisors Control of illegal dumping. use Reporting of illegal activities to Control of encroachment police Intimate scale settings for passive Provision and maintenance of Provision and use by workers and shoppers. seating, paths, playground maintenance of equipment, water features and opportunities Large open spaces for community vegetation. for informal events and recreation by families, recreation social groups and individuals. Bonfire night firework displays. Examples of how the service is Service What you can expect delivered Opportunities for outdoor exercise Eg 'Folk on the Green, music and socialising. festival’
Opportunities for safe play by children.
Opportunities for supervising adults to relax in outdoor setting.
Everyday use by people for walking, cycling, jogging etc Opportunities to observe flora and Provision of fauna. Maintenance of woodland, ponds opportunities and their access.
for natural Diverse environment. discovery Website, leaflets Information on biodiversity. Access audits.
Provision of Maintenance of paths. Easy cycle, pedestrian and disabled open space for person movement along footpaths access and and roads. Encroachment pruning. movement Overhanging vegetation notices issued to offending properties Provision of opportunities Playing surfaces suitable for Maintenance of football pitches,
for organised organised sport goal posts etc sport An accessible Management Plan Management that describes sites specifies Management Preparation of management plans planning objectives, issues and future work programmes. Community consultation on levels of Customer enquiry handling. service, management plans. Customer and Customer surveys. community Community gardens. involvement Facilitation and support for Gardens competition. 'Community Gardens'.
A system that ensures long-term Condition surveys. Asset maintenance and replacement of site
management features (shrubs, trees, benches, bridges, pergolas, play equipment). Annual tree inspections
Commissioning Maintenance agreements that Maintenance contracts and of maintenance achieve best value. specifications. services
Monitoring of Site inspections. Maintenance done to specified maintenance quality and on time. services Work schedules No unsafe working practices. Health Site visits to ensure compliance and with health and safety Safety Maintain safe environment, tree requirements. Risk assessments stock.
Management Specifications
Management of the park is carried out as per the contract specification; the full contract is available on request. All relevant details for day-to-day operations are included; both the full contract and the designated Council Landscape officer will need to be consulted on an ad hoc basis.
Although these specifications cover normal foreseeable aspects of maintenance, there are occasions when extra works need to be instigated such as clearing away fallen trees after high winds. A dayworks record is filled in and issued to the maintenance team. Usually hours are agreed with the Supervisor in advance. Relevant pricing details are recorded and when work is completed the Supervisor will sign the sheet to indicate satisfactory completion of the works.
Introduction
The following management prescriptions have been ascribed after careful consideration of the data from the flora and fauna surveys, physical factors and the needs of the park visitors. Vegetation types can be seen on the management plan in Appendix 1.
The proposals take into account the relative importance of recreational needs and those of nature conservation and attempt to attain a good balance in accordance with the management objectives.
The following section is composed of a list of habitat and recreation management tasks, which describe:
1 The area of which management is required. 2 The type of management to be carried out. 3 The time in the year at which management should be carried out. 4 The equipment required.
Prescriptions for the main landscape / habitat types in the park are shown in the following sections and can be referred to on the site plan in Appendix 1. Timings for the maintenance of differing landscape types through the year can be found in the annual programme (Appendix 6).
Where method modification is required to facilitate landscape improvements training is carried out by in house specialists or those with prior experience with the method required or though outside agencies such NPTC. For example, our contractors’ operatives have been trained in traditional hedge laying techniques by an outside specialist.
Litter Collection, Graffiti, Fly Posting and Fly Tipping.
Co-ordinated by Milton Keynes council Cleansing Department, these operations are managed under service level agreements.
Litter - The site is litter picked on a weekly cycle in summer and every two weeks in winter. Any recyclable waste is separated out and processed at the materials recycling facility. Bins are emptied each day during the working week. The location of bins is regularly monitored and adjusted as necessary. The council is in the process of rolling out separated bins for waste and recyclables. Cleansing also operates the sweeper service on highways and redways to remove surface detritus on a four week schedule. Play areas are litter picked on a weekly basis at the same time as a safety check. Incidents of glass litter or hypodermic needles are responded to on an emergency call out basis. Monitored under NI 195a-b.
Graffiti – Graffiti is removed from the site on an annual cycle. Any incidents of offensive graffiti of a sexual or racist nature are removed within 24 hours. Monitored under NI 195c.
Fly Posting – Removed as and where reported. Where possible, offenders are pursued by our enforcement team and several prosecutions have taken place. Monitored under NI 195c.
Fly Tipping – Removed as and when reported with 10 working days. Again, enforcement action may be taken where the offender can be identified. The council has had several successful prosecutions. Monitored under NI 196.
Dog Waste Bins
These are provided and managed by the local parish. Bins are emptied weekly. Dog waste causing a hazard within the park is responded to by the council’s cleansing department on a rapid response basis within 24 hours and as part of the litter picking cycle.
13.1 Play Areas
The play area inspections are mandatory and have to be recorded; these are carried out once a week. Inspections are recorded on small hand held PDAs. At the end of each day they are downloaded and work allocated, this also allows for records to be stored and accessed more conveniently. Any emergency work is phoned straight to the maintenance team from the inspectors / cleaners.
Once per year, each play area is inspected by a certified organisation such as The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and The National Playing Fields Association (NPFA). The results are recorded electronically by them and sent to us on a CD ROM.
t from Ordnance Survey from Ordnance This map is reproduced material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyrigh and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Milton Keynes Council - 2004.10019593 -
Location Plan of grassland.
Grassland
As stated in the primary objective grass can have an important effect on how the park is conceived. Grassland around clumps of trees is cut twice yearly (see map 1) to grade in a naturalistic manner. These transition areas have the potential to offer significant biodiversity potential over that of single habitat type. A similar treatment is allowed for pond margins and areas away from high usage.
Areas of sport and recreational use are cut 20 times a year to maintain a short sward. This management instils a sense of care to the users and enables the removal of rubbish to be carried out easily.
Present State
Areas of short rotation or formal grass are in good condition. Twice yearly areas are short of diversity, but do harmonize woodland areas and add variety.
Desired State
Twice yearly mown areas to have greater species diversity, provide greater visual amenity and ecological value. Grass areas shall be maintained to the following period of cuts or target growth limits.
Management Required
Continue with present regime, continued cut and collect will reduce soil fertility over time and favour less competitive herb species. Pocket planting of species has been tried with mixed results. Reseeding two arreas with a native wildflower mix in 2010 has been successful and this method will be repeated in phases until all meadow areas have been completed.
Calendar
Amenity grassland areas 20 times a year, meadow areas twice a year with path cut through where necessary.
Equipment
Grassland is mown, where terrain allows, with ride on cylinder type cut machine, otherwise with rotary machine, or in the case of meadow areas with flail machines, strimmers and rakes.
Performance Defects (What we look for)
• Grass growth impeding the safe and appropriate recreational uses of parks and open spaces and creating an unsightly appearance to open space users. • Grass cuttings left in piles or dumped on hard surfaces. • Grass cutting in excessively inclement weather damaging surface through rutting. • Grass cut to correct height. • Uneven cutting. • Litter cut up by grass cutting operations.
Categories of grass area and required management
Open Standards Space Type Height of cut No cuts. (Approx. Compulsory Intervention Level period cut.) Public Open 25mm 12 cuts/annum (3 Space, & weeks) Highway verges Amenity 18mm 25mm grass Local Park 25mm 20 times per annum Length of growth > 75mm Drainage 100mm As directed ditches + embankme nt Local Unless otherwise specified, an unmown fringe min. Two metre wide shall Wildlife Site be left around ponds and along watercourses. ponds & For this purpose, where water level fluctuates (as in most ponds), the water “edge” is the upper (winter) level, as revealed by distinctive wetland courses vegetation (e.g. sedges or rushes) and mowing shall be no closer to than two metre to that edge. Exception: where there are hard edges or “public access point” is shown on plans, mowing shall be closer (if required) to give public access to or views of the water. Local Where shown on the drawings, the contractor shall leave an unmown strip Wildlife Site two metre wide along hedges or woodland edges. hedge & When directed by the SO, the contractor shall mow this strip to a height of woodland 150mm and remove arisings. edges This operation shall normally take place in September of each year. Arisings shall be normally be disposed within the LWS where directed by the SO. Local Where shown on the drawings, the contractor shall leave meadow areas Wildlife Site unmown until directed to top them by the SO. Meadows When directed by the SO, the contractor shall mow the area to a height of 150mm and remove arisings. This operation shall normally take place between July and September of each year. Where possible this operation shall take place during daytime and in dry weather when amphibians are least likely to be present. Arisings shall be normally be removed from site unless otherwise directed by the SO. Rotation CUT ROTATION GRASSLAND TO 100mm AS DIRECTED AND grass land REMOVE ARISINGS On each occasion of mowing, the contractor shall cut up to 30% of the area. The parcels to be cut and the commencement of cutting are wholly at the discretion of the Landscape Services Manager. Not more than two weeks after completion of mowing, arisings shall be removed by raking and disposed on site (normally within 200m) as directed. Rotation-mown areas may be rough or steep, and the material to be mown and removed may include bramble or re-growth from stumps cut previously.
Edging
Edging maintains a neat appearance to the periphery of grass areas and adjacent planted beds. It prevents damage by the vegetation to the adjacent hard surface and allows safe transit along footpaths. Herbicide reduction has taken place in recent years to remove the requirement to utilise pesticides between grass and shrub beds. Manual control by hoeing or strimming being more favoured.
Desired State
Edges done on the same day as grass cutting, and the growth is consistent with adjacent grass areas. Grass does not encroach onto footpaths.
Calendar
LOCATION EDGING Grass edges to The hard surface shall be cleared of all soil and vegetation hard surfaces overlap. The cutting back and control shall be undertaken once per year during the periods January- March and October- December. Grass edges to Growth shall be maintained up to the periphery of the shrubs to shrub beds the lengths specified on the adjacent grassed area. It shall be carried out on the same day as the grass cutting. Grass edges to The contractor shall maintain edging in a sharp, tightly cut, neat formal borders and vertical condition with all arisings removed off site. It shall be carried out on the same day as the adjacent grass cutting. Grass edges to The contractor shall leave a strip as directed by the supervising woodland officer adjacent to the woodland as a buffer zone to be cut twice annually in April and September.
Equipment
LOCATION TYPE OF METHOD OF CONTROL GROWTH Grass/hard Grass growth Herbicide application. surface through tarmac Grass/hard Grass only Strimming or chemical. Chemical application must surface overlap: not encroach more than 50mm into the grass. Grass/hard Soil and grass Cut back using approved equipment, such as a surface overlap: spinning disc cutter, and remove arisings from site. Grass/ Grass Strimming of the edge shall precede grass mowing shrub bed so that the mowing machine removes any clippings. Where plants overlap grass border edges growth shall be maintained to allow free passage to mowing machines. Grass/formal Grass A line is to be used in order to ensure a true straight border line is maintained. All curves shall be smooth with e.g. bedding soil drawn back from the edges.
Performance Defects (What we look for)
• Grass growth and soil overlapping hard surfaces. • Grass not maintained or ill defined up to bed edges. • Jagged edges to grass areas. • Edging arisings not removed from site. • Excessive pesticide use. Location Plan of shrubs.
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Shrub beds perform a number of purposes: -
• Separation between areas. • Softening the built environment. • Link areas. • Aesthetically enhance areas. • Provide habitat and cover for birds, insects and amphibians.
Present State
Some areas of shrubbery have been removed around the play areas to improve sight lines and vigilance. This has also had the effect of simplifying management and allow for a better use of resources. New planting has been carried out to ensure a healthy stock and to enhance colour and interest.
Desired State
A healthy and attractive shrub bed, free of weeds and litter, that provides an all year round interest. The main reason for pruning is to maintain the habit and character of the plant and to keep it within acceptable size limits in support of this.
To carry out an effective pruning regime it is important to appreciate that a number of shrub growth forms exists and the objectives for their pruning: -
Sprawling & groundcover shrubs.
• Maintain form and texture of the plant. • Keep canopy dense. • Maintain a cover of healthy young growth.
Bushy shrubs growing from a stool or a main stem.
• Maintain the habit of the shrub. • Maintain form and surface texture. • Maintain shoot and foliage density. • Enhance seasonal effects.
Specimen shrubs
• Keep and enhance the individual character and form of the shrub. • Maintain healthy growth. • Enhance seasonal interest. Management Required
The contractor shall prune to promote new healthy growth and to maintain the balance of species, but at all times prune to prevent encroachment onto roads, paths and cycle-ways, the obstruction of sight lines with particular attention to all junctions, road signs, name plates, manhole covers and the base of lamp columns, and to prevent the obstruction of light to windows.
A swathe one metre wide, minimum, shall be kept clear from the highway to and around lamp columns to allow access for maintenance staff. Shrubs adjacent to roads, cycle-ways and paths shall be cut back at an acute angle of 60 degrees from the ground into the plants.
Keep a 300mm band wide alongside hedge bases maintained to ensure that weeds do not cover more than 5% of the band and do not exceed 100mm in height at all times of the year. EXCEPTION: Local Wildlife Sites with meadow fringe and informal field hedge bases which shall be strimmed annually in August.
Calendar
Maintenance pruning shall be carried out during the periods January to March and November/ December unless otherwise indicated and according to the methods and species as shown below:
Light Pruning
Regular pruning to keep a shrub looking good and within bounds.
Heavy Pruning (prune hard back)
When a shrub becomes overgrown, is losing its decorative merits or has dead and dying wood and needs to be cut back harder to re-establish its shape.
Coppicing
Cutting the plants back close to the ground to encourage regrowth to form a rejuvenated plant.
Sprawling & groundcover shrubs
• Light pruning to contain height and spread. • Heavy pruning to reduce vigour and keep habit and form. • Coppice for complete regeneration when plant is of poor quality or needs containing.
Bushy shrubs growing from a stool or a main stem
• Light prune to keep within desired limits. • Heavy prune to maintain form of plant. • Coppice when plants are overgrown and branch framework needs renewing or to maintain aesthetic qualities.
Specimen Shrubs
• Keep and enhance the individual character and form of the shrub. • Maintain healthy growth. • Enhance seasonal interest.
Other species shall be pruned if required in accordance with the guidelines as laid out in ‘The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers’ by George E. Brown, 2nd edition, 15th February 2005. Where plants overlap hard areas, growth shall be maintained so as not to restrict use of that area.
Some areas of shrubs not specifically specified in the annual pruning method nor the Bill of Quantities are pruned on a rotational basis and thus will only be pruned twice during the life of the contract namely in the second and fifth years.
At the end of the growing season all plants shall be checked and all dead, diseased, damaged or crossing branches shall be cut off.
All arisings shall be chipped or shredded, with the appropriate machinery according to their size, on site. The resulting residue shall then be returned as a mulch, no greater than 75mm deep, to the shrub bed or another near suitable shrub bed, being spread around the base of shrubs without covering them.
Performance Defects (What we look for) • Pruning out of season when birds are nesting • Overgrown shrubs. • Shrubs encroaching on highways and hard surfaces. • Inappropriate cutting of shrubs with hedge trimmers destroying the character of shrub planting. • Shreddings in the crown of the shrub. • Excessive piles of shreddings greater than 75mm deep except on Local Wildlife Sites where agreed.
Equipment
Pruning, is to be carried out using sharp clean instruments to give a clean cut and may involve the use of clearing saws and pruning saws for thicker stems (>25mm) but only loppers or secateurs for lighter stems (<25mm). Light pruning may be done with hedge trimmers.
Coppicing can be carried out with reciprocating blades, circular saws and pruning saws. It may be feasible to carry out part of the work by flailing providing manual pruning follows this up. Plant pruning method and frequency PLANT ANNUAL PRUNING LONGER TERM METHOD METHOD Berberis Coppice to 200-300mm every five years (deciduous) Berberis Lightly prune surface annually (evergreen) Buddleia species Prune hard back, annually, to lowest (except globosa) growing points forming a stool about 300-450mm high Cornus species Coppice 33 – 50% plants Coppice to 150mm every two to three years Cotoneaster Lightly prune whole surface annually (groundcover type) Cotoneaster (shrub Prune hard back every five years to a basic type) framework about 450mm high Crataegus Prune hard back, every four years, to lowest monogyna (shrub) growing points forming a stool about 300- 450mm high Cytisus Lightly prune whole surface after flowering removing two thirds of annual growth. Do not cut into old wood. Eleagnus species Prune hard back, every four years, to form about 300-450mm high Forsythia species Coppice 25% plants Coppice to 300mm every four years Hedera helix Cut down to 600mm every four years or prior (climber) to prevent interference with building features e.g. eaves, windows Hypericum Prune hard back entire plant annually (groundcover type) Ligustrum species Prune hard back, every four years, to lowest growing points forming a stool about 300- 450mm high Lonicera Lightly prune whole surface annually (groundcover type) Mahonia aquifolium Heavy prune 20% of the old stems each year Philadelphus Coppice 20% of plants Coppice to 150mm every five years species Potentilla species Lightly prune whole surface annually Prunus Heavy prune to 300 – 450mm framework laurocerasus every three to four years
(Laurel) Prunus lusitanica Heavy prune to 300 – 450mm framework every three to four years (Portugal Laurel) Pyracantha species Heavy prune to 300 – 450mm framework every three to four years Ribes sanguineum Heavy prune to 150mm every five years (Flowering currant) Rubus Coppice 50% of plants Coppice to 150mm every two years cockburnianus Roses (shrub) Coppice to 100-150mm every five years Salix species Coppice to 150-200mm every two years Sambucus species Heavy prune every two years, to lowest growing points forming a stool about 150- 200mm high Symphoricarpos Lightly prune whole surface annually to (groundcover type) contain the shrub Symphoricarpos Coppice to 150mm every four years (shrubby types) Viburnum tinus Heavy prune to 300 – 450mm every five years Large, Small- Large and small flowered roses in formal beds shall be pruned twice a year, to an flowered, English outward pointing bud, using sharp instruments, trimming any ragged edges and roses removing any dead wood. In autumn the plants are to be reduced by one third in height to alleviate winter windblow and in early spring pruned to encourage basal growth and keep the plant in a balanced and compact habit. Small-flowered and English roses shall be pruned to an outward facing bud at about 450mm in height. Herbaceous plants Herbaceous plants are to be trimmed after flowering so as to remove seed heads, and subsequently cut back when the foliage has died back in winter. All arisings and PLANT ANNUAL PRUNING LONGER TERM METHOD METHOD trimmings shall be removed off site.
Weed Control
The control of weeds in areas designated as shrub beds and woodland. Any plant growing “out of context” shall be deemed a “weed”.
• Weeds are controlled to maintain the neat appearance of shrub beds, to reduce competition and encourage a desired range of plants. • The control of weeds in woodland is purely to restrict growth of invasive weeds that exclude native ground flora species. • The total control of weeds in hard surfaces is to prevent damage to these surfaces and prevent accidents such as tripping or slipping.
Management
The control of weeds by more environmentally sensitive methods such as mulching, or the planting of groundcover where feasible and agreed is encouraged.
Weed control, location and method.
LOCATION WEED CONTROL Shrub beds The border will be maintained to ensure that weeds do not cover more than 5% of the border and do not exceed 100mm in height at all times of the year. Hedge bases Base to be strimmed annually in August. Local Wildlife After coppicing/stooling of non-native shrubs, weed control may be Sites applied during the first growing season where necessary to prevent weeds (including bramble) smothering the re-growth. Herbicides may be used for this purpose. For this purpose “non-native” means beds containing a majority of horticultural varieties or species. Hard surfaces Keep area 100% free of vegetation, moss and algae. Woodland Restrict growth of invasive weeds such as bramble, pervasive tree seedlings such as Norway Maple, Sycamore and Ash. Weeding shall be by mowing, strimming, hand-pulling or herbicide spot- treatment only. Overall herbicide treatment is not permitted.
Performance Defects (What we look for)
• Lack of warning signs. • Herbicides being applied in inclement weather conditions. • Excessive weed coverage. • Weeds above 100mm. • Weeds not eradicated/removed. • Overuse of herbicide resulting in unsightly and excessive dead vegetation/bare ground. • Herbicide damage to plants evidenced by distortion to leaves or dieback.
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Milton Keynes Council recognises that there are many benefits of trees, they are:
• A source of beauty in our environment. • A conditioner of the air by absorbing CO2 and pollutants from it. • A contributor to biodiversity. • A screen for unattractive views. • Reducer of urban noise.
It also recognises that uncontrolled certain issues can arise and therefore needs to maintain a balance to maintain the advantages of trees but ensure people have unimpeded access along footpaths and roadways, that streetlamps in Milton Keynes Council’s care are not impeded by foliage from trees or shrubs.
The wooded areas are made of two distinct species assemblages, which represent both soil condition and development of the park – Riparian areas and recent plantings.
Riparian Areas
These areas are dominated with mature Willow, with scrub beneath. These mature Willows offer innumerable habitat niches and are allowed to senesce where possible. Around the pond area there is a wider mix of trees including Oak and Ash. These woodlands are very much part of the parks agricultural history and predate its present status.
Willows were traditionally planted along stream banks to shore the sides against erosion. Often the trees were pollarded to both extend the life of the tree and provide useful commodities such as fire wood, panage or craft material. Examples of the pollarded style have been maintained with in the park for visual amenity and ecological enhancement.
Similar areas on the opposite bank compliment the areas within the park boundary; this area is under the control of the Parks Trust. The mature Willows also form a buffer to visual intrusions and to some degree audible ones to the grid road beyond.
Recent Plantings – Compartments
Long thin compartments to the rear of the houses were planted with a wide mix of native species; in most areas Oak will form the climax vegetation. To maximise habitat value, e.g. for birds a multi-layered structure is essential.
Present State
Good mix of pollarded individual Willows and mature standards in the woodland areas. Specimen trees show good form and are disease free. Views from some directions have been cut in to the boundary woodland to provide “windows” in to the park and increase levels of passive surveillance. The orchard is in the early stages of establishment.
Desired State
Selected canopy species are thinned, coppiced or pollarded to maintain species diversity and promote lower growth in glades or at margins. Specimen trees are pruned to maintain shape and health and where they obscure paths or street lights.
Mixed age stands of trees with well developed under story of herbs, shrubs and climbers. Restrict growth of invasive weeds such as bramble, pervasive tree seedlings such as Norway Maple, Sycamore and Ash. Weeding shall be by mowing, strimming, hand-pulling or herbicide spot-treatment only. Overall herbicide treatment is not permitted.
The present management regime is to be followed, standing dead wood is to be left if it poses no risk to the public, or stacked into habitat piles. A compromise between tree structure and amenity / screening is to be maintained.
Management Required Removing some trees when they are overcrowded will allow more sunlight to lower levels promoting growth in the lower woody and herbaceous layers. The remaining climax tree cover will have a more balanced well-clothed crown. Therefore creating more space for those trees remaining, and flourishing woodland with higher wildlife and amenity value.
Tree work by type and priority
Work Requirement List of Priorities Type Thinning Remove 50 % of all trees, Trees that contain; leaving a flat surface less • Splits in main stem. than 50mm from • Decay in main stem. surrounding soil level • Compressive junctions in main stem. • Included bark in main stem. • Excessive deadwood in main stem. • Other trees to achieve 50% of original leaving an even spread of trees. Pruning On retained trees, remove Defective branches that contain; all defective branches, • Decay and disease. observing correct angle of • Compressive junctions. cut • Included bark. • Excessive dead wood.
Performance Defects (What we look for) • Branches not cut to branch collar or side shoot. • Cuts left torn or uneven. • Stumps left too tall or uneven. • Defective branches left on the tree. • Defective trees remaining. Location Plan of trees.
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t h Pa cle 9 Cy nd th a Pa Trees
Specimen trees are a feature of the park with fine examples of Weeping Willow (Salix babylonia) and other species selectively planted. Grass is to be left uncut under trees (not saplings). This prevents damage from machines and provides an important microhabitat for insects. In the winter of 2006 the council in conjunction with the local community planted an orchard of approximately 50 trees.
Pruning of trees allows for the removal of damaged branches that can be dangerous to the public and allow disease to enter the tree. Pollarding is a long established woodland practice that has over the centuries associated itself with a specific wildlife profile.
Coppicing is to be carried out on an eight-year rotation, thinning as required. Cut material is to be shredded and left on site and formed into habitat piles. Dead wood is to be left standing if it is safe, otherwise it will be left lying on the ground.
Present State
Most trees are healthy at present but continued vigilance will need to be adhered to stop the spread of disease if detected. Unsuccessful trees or damaged trees in the orchard should be removed and replaced.
Desired State
A good mix of specimen trees that provide colour and shape through the year is desired. Formative pruning maybe required for the new orchard in order to develop good shape and encourage fruiting.
Planting of trees along the redway will need to be undertaken, not only to provide continuity within the park but also to offer insurance against pests (e.g. Sesia apiformis), diseases or adverse climatic conditions. Continue to crown lift and dead wood as necessary. Pollarding is to continue, this provides an important habitat, creates visual stimuli and prevents excessive leaf fall and shading of the pond.
Pruning and pollarding work
Work Required type Prune Any branches hanging below five metres over a carriageway are to be pruned to broken allow clearance to that height. Cut off all branches to clear roadway that can be and/or safely reached from ground level. Report all branches not reachable from ground dangerous level to Milton Keynes Council branches Branches Cut off all branches up to two metres, using hand tools from ground level. over Allowance is to be made for snow and rain loading. footpath Branches Cut off all branches up to three metres, using hand tools from ground level. over Paths Allowance is to be made for snow and rain loading. Work Required type Epicormic Cut all epicormic growth to a height of four metres, using secateurs hand saws growth and long handled pruners. Dangerous Any broken or partly broken branches hanging within the tree that can be reached branches from ground level are to be removed and the stumps to be pruned back to the branch collar as described in BS3998: 1989. Contractor is also to deal with any small broken or dangerous branches. Proximity Any branches coming into contact with overhead services or buildings are to be to services pruned to give a clearance of at least 1.5 metres. or buildings Prune to All branches impeding street lamps throw to an angle of 45 degrees from the clear street perpendicular are to be pruned to allow clearance to that angle. lamps Branches impeding streetlamps, not reachable from ground level, are to be reported to the Landscape Services Manager. Prune to The contractor shall prune branches to a specified height above ground level lift crown (specified in the schedule) but the crown MUST be balanced all around. Allowances must also be made for the sway of branches caused by winds and local turbulence, and the droop of fully leaved branches caused by rain. Pruning cuts outside collar. Specification applies to a height reachable from ground level, beyond that report to the Landscape Services Manager. Pollard tree The contractor shall prune back all branches to the bole to encourage leafy growth and to obtain a specific shape. This should ideally be done on young trees of less than five metres in height. On larger trees, the pruning of the large branches back
to the bole shall be accompanied by fertilization. The contractor shall prune back all branches on previously pollarded trees, to the pollard point, every season to maintain the pollard shape. Pruning cuts to be such that a stub of young wood containing live or dormant buds is to be left attached and no wound treatment shall be applied.
Pollard The contractor shall cut off the upper section of the tree at a height of between 2.4 Willow metres and 3.6 metres as directed. Timber of 100mm diameter and above shall be cut into two metre lengths and stacked. Timber 50mm to 100mm diameter shall be cut into two metre lengths and stacked separately. All brushwood and timber less than 50mm diameter is to be removed from site. The pollarding is to be carried out each year between October/November as directed. Coppice The coppicing shall be at a height not above 200mm and shall require timber to be Willow disposed of as in 047090. Pollard The period of this operation shall be November-February inclusive. maiden The contractor shall cut off the upper section of the tree at height 2.4-3.6 metres. trees There shall be a single transverse cut, sloped not more than 1:3 to shed water. To deter climbing, all side branches below the pollarding cut shall be pruned flush with the trunk. Timber larger than 100mm diameter shall be removed from the site and disposed of by the contractor at his discretion. A record of the quantity removed shall be provided. Material less than 100mm diameter shall (unless otherwise directed) be chipped on site and heaped where directed by the Authorised Officer’s Representative. Thin The contractor shall fell and remove trees marked with an "X" in tree paint. Felling marked of these trees shall be done in such a way so as not to damage remaining trees. In trees the case of softwoods, stumps shall be treated against infection by Fomes (Heterobasidion) annosum. Clear felled The contractor shall fell marked trees "in one" using either powersaw or manually trees operated winch. Remove The contractor shall remove stumps of trees indicated by approved methods. The stumps area about the stumps shall be excavated by hand digging and the main stump axed through. The stumps shall then be lifted from their locations and removed using approved methods. The empty pits shall be made good with topsoil or other suitable material. Specification applies irrespective of the size of the stump. Kill stump The contractor shall kill stumps indicated by application of approved chemical poisons. Chemicals shall be applied to 25mm diameter by 50mm deep holes drilled into the sapwood area of the stump at 50-100mm intervals. Chemicals are to be applied as powder or in supersaturated solutions. The contractor shall ensure that seepage of the chemical into the soil is avoided and that protective clothing recommended by the manufacturer or by the Control of Pesticide Regulations 1986, is worn. Chip The contractor shall chip stumps indicated to a minimum of 150mm below ground stump level using approved machine. All arisings are to be removed off site. Soil level shall be restored by backfilling with topsoil or other suitable material. Specification applies irrespective of size of stump.
Performance Defects (What we look for)
General. All situations: • Branches not cut to branch collar or side shoot. • Cuts left torn or uneven. • Broken branches. • Arisings not removed. • Trees pruned unnecessarily in proximity to nesting birds.
Prune broken, dangerous branches etc.: • Branches hanging below two metres over footpaths. • Branches hanging below five metres over a roadway and not reported. • Broken branches left within tree. • Epicormic growth below four metres.
Prune to clear streetlamps: • Branches impeding streetlamp and not reported. • Cuts left torn or uneven.
Pollard tree: • Cuts in pollard bolling due to stumps being cut back too far. • Stumps left too long. • Areas not pollarded.
Calendar
All trees are visually inspected once per year. The results of the inspections are recorded electronically and sent to us. Any defects or problems are picked up and orders raised. Tree work is to be carried out after leaf fall and before substantial new leaf formation. This will take place approximately October to March.
Wetlands
The pond is a valuable habitat particularly for invertebrates. Having the potential to provide an educational focus; pond dipping is a favourite activity amongst the children. Due to the shallow nature it is liable to siltation. If this process were allowed to progress unchecked the pond could be lost.
Present State
The pond is in good condition; the last area to be dredged has now fully recovered. This has very quickly increased the wildlife value of the park and supports a wide range of plants and animals. It has also enhanced the aesthetic appeal as well as the educational potential of the park.
However, the pond does suffer from Australian Swamp stonecrop (Crassula helsii) an invasive water plant that reduces the oxygen in the pond. Methods may need to be sought to control this plant.
Desired State
Provide a graded habitat running through trees, some of which are pollarded, then on down to the shrub level, damp vegetation, emergent vegetation and finally open water. Maintain a natural appearance, which will be enhanced over time with the maturing pollards.
Management Required
Open water is to be maintained. Pollarding of Willows is to take place when required. Pruning of other trees if over shadowing water bodies or excessive leaf fall is entering water. Dredging as a last measure when required, only one area to be dredged at a time.
Calendar
Tree work is to be carried out after leaf fall, approximately in October to March. Typha is to be pulled outside of bird breeding season. Dredging is to take place as and when required.
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