Poole Park Conservation Plan February 2017 Prepared by the Borough of Poole 1st Issue Prepared by the Borough of Poole, Environment Development Team Address: Environmental and Consumer Protection Services Borough of Poole | Unit 1New Fields Business Park | Stinsford Road | Poole BH17 0NF W: poole.gov.uk and pooleprojects.net Front Cover: Postcards from the Paul Hillman Poole Park Collection of Historic Postcards © Crown copyright and database right 2017 OS Survey 100024248 2015 Poole Park - Conservation Plan, First Issue 2 Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.3 Public Use and Enjoyment SECTION FIVE: VISIONS AND POLICIES 2.3.1 User Survey 5.1 Vision and Conservation Approach SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION 2.3.2 Recreation, Community and Education 5.2 Site-wide Policies 1.1 Introduction to the Conservation Plan 2.3.3 Access and Circulation 5.2.1 Historic Landscape 1.2 Physical Context Policy CON1: Landscape Character and Design 1.3 Planning and Management Context 2.4 Environment Policy CON2: Historic Buildings and Structures 1.4 Site Plan 2.4.1 Habitats and Biodiversity Policy CON3: Management and Maintenance 5.2.2 Landscape and Built Fabric SECTION TWO: UNDERSTANDING THE PLACE Policy BUIL1: Surfaces, Furniture and Drainage 2.1 Historic Context SECTION THREE: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Policy BUIL2: Trees, Grassland and Horticultural 2.1.1 Park Evolution 3.1 Methodology Displays Early History - 1885 ‘The Idea of a People’s Park’ 3.2 Statement of Significance Policy BUIL3: Facilities and Play 1886 - 1890s Design, Construction & Opening Evidential and Historic Value John Elford’s Proposals for Poole Park Aesthetic, Community and Natural Value 5.2.3 Public Use and Enjoyment 1900 - 1930s ‘Country and Family Park’ Significance of Individual Buildings and Elements Policy PUB1: Community, Recreation and Play 1939 - 1945 World War II Policy PUB2: Vehicle Access and Parking 1950s - 1970s Amenity and Recreation SECTION FOUR: RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES Policy PUB3: Education and Interpretation 1980s - 1990 Restoration and Centenary 4.1 Risks and Opportunitues 1990 - Present Day Historic Landscape 5.2.4 Environment Chronology Landscape and Built Fabric Policy EN1: Environment Summary of Park Development Public Use and Enjoyment 5.3 Character Area Policies and Actions 2.1.2 Historic Design Analysis Environment Policy PD: Park Drive Policy NB: Northern Park Boundary 2.2 Landscape and Built Fabric Policy WM: War Memorials 2.2.1 Buildings and Structures Policy BL: Lagoon 2.2.2 Furniture, Surfaces and Drainage Policy CP: Cricket Pitch and Cycle Track 2.2.3 Play Provision and Fitness Trail Policy FW: Freshwater Lakes 2.2.4 Trees, Grassland and Horticultural Displays Policy CC: Copse Close Annex 2.2.5 Views Policy NU: Nursery 2.2.6 Landscape Character Areas SECTION SIX: IMPLEMENTATION, ADOPTION AND REVIEW 6.1 Implementation 6.2 Adoption and Review APPENDICES Appendix A: Bibliography Appendix B: Map Regression 3 Poole Park - Conservation Plan, First Issue Executive Summary Poole Park is a late Victorian Public Park and is owned Poole Park’s history is strongly linked to the urban The main recommendations are summarised as follows: Vision for Poole Park and managed by the Borough of Poole. It lies just to the expansion of Poole Town during the industrialisation of the • Restore the sense of importance of the entrances by north-east of Poole Town Centre and was created on land late Victorian age. The provision of public open space was enhancing the setting of the lodges and gate piers reclaimed from Poole Harbour. The Park covers an area for the first time recognised for its public health benefits and conserving their fabric. Re-design pedestrian ‘‘To protect and enhance the historic landscape of 43 ha, over half of this is water - a sluice controlled - a notion that has gained new importance today - this circulation to make the Park more welcoming and of Poole Park as a place of enjoyment, inspiration saline lagoon and two freshwater lakes. Most activities are triggered the ‘People’s Park Movement’. Poole Park is accessible to all. and reflection and a source of pride for all people concentrated on a narrow band of land along the northern a typical example of the procurement, construction and • Restore, as far as feasible, the historic character of of Poole, now and into the future.’’ boundary. design of a public park of this period. the Park Drive by ‘softening’ its appearance whilst accommodating modern vehicle use. Re-design The Park is incredibly popular and is intensively used by John Elford, the Borough Engineer, created a strongly pedestrian circulation to ensure accessibility and user local communities as well as visitors from all over South- designed landscape deliberately enhancing or adapting safety. Reduce vehicle speed through design. east Dorset and beyond. On busy days the car parks are the waterside setting to stylistic effect. It was designed • Provide more peripheral parking to the Park and overflowing – but despite this huge influx of visitors the in the Picturesque style, with an underlying philosophy reduce ad hoc parking within the Park and soften the majority of use is still local. of enhancing nature and accentuating the natural beauty appearance of existing car parks. of the location. The design objectives were twofold; i) to There is informal and formalised use of the Lagoon • Restore the War Memorials, enhance their setting and integrate functional recreational facilities within a pleasant for water sports and from the model yacht club. The improve accessibility. environment that is capable of ‘refreshing the spirit’ away attractions of two cafés and water creates a sense of an • Re-design the existing play areas to the highest from urban influences, and ii) to display civic pride. inland ‘beach’ and during the summer it has a seaside standard for play, ease of maintenance and longevity. atmosphere. Bowling, cricket and tennis has been part of Although the original park layout can still be experienced Provide new opportunities for natural play where Poole Park’s history from the outset. As in many parks, and Elford’s design still fulfills its function today, and despite appropriate in the historic landscape. major user groups are joggers and dog walkers and many some restoration work in 1980s, the park infrastructure is • Re-mediate poor surface water drainage of the cycle visitors cherish the opportunity for contact with nature in increasingly becoming under threat. The 20th explosion in track. an urban location. leisure time and car ownership has never adequately been • Improve the water quality of the Freshwater Lakes addressed and increasingly traffic volumes and speeds and Lagoon through dredging and management. Poole Park has always been a venue for public events and along the Park Drive have a growing adverse effect on the Balance existing recreational use with enhancement celebrations and provides an important setting for several landscape quality of the Park. Also, over time, a deficit of for biodiversity through careful zoning and provision of war memorials. Today it is valued as a welcoming place to structural maintenance has built up and the landscape has habitat features. meet and socialise. lost some of its features and distinctiveness. The majority • Re-design the park furniture to strengthen the Park’s Acknowledgment: Combined with its rich recreational offer, the popularity of trees are coming to the end of their natural life. The identity as a historic landscape. of the Park lies in the beauty and distinctiveness of its water quality of the Lagoon and Lakes restricts recreational • Implement an interpretation strategy that promotes This Plan would not have been possible without the landscape. People value its sweeping lawns that lead to use and biodiversity. Lack of interpretation and way- the understanding of the heritage of the Park and help of the following people: the water’s edge with panoramic views to Poole Harbour finding limits people’s understanding of the landscape and encourages broader use of the physical resources. • Staff at Poole Museum and Local History Centre beyond; its gently curving paths and the Park Drive framed physical exploration of the place. • Develop a management plan that safeguards the • Staff at the Dorset History Centre by mature trees and architectural entrances; the natural unique cultural and historical values of the park for • Andrew Hawkes for the kind permission to use his This plan describes the designs underlying Poole Park and character of the Freshwater Lakes and the pocket of future generations to enjoy. collection of historic photographs. argues for restoration, conservation and enhancement of woodland in Copse Close Annex. the it into the future whilst adequately addressing modern In memory of Paul Hillman, Landscape Architect with user requirements and seeking opportunities for ecological People are drawn to Poole Park but many visitors are the Borough of Poole from 1989-2008. unaware of the historical importance of its landscape, its enhancement. cultural significance, and of what has been lost over time through development and management changes. Poole Park - Conservation Plan, First Issue 4 Section One: Introduction 5 Poole Park - Conservation Plan, First Issue Section One: Introduction 1.1 Introduction to the Conservation Plan Introduction What is a Conservation Plan? Methodology Section Four: Risks and Opportunities – explains what is happening to the heritage of the park, how it might be Poole Park is a Grade II listed Late-Victorian Public Park A Conservation