Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 – 2020 Year Two Green Spaces Team London Borough of Hillingdon Green Flag Award Winner since 2008 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents page 1. Introduction 3 2. Site Summary 4 Map 1- Site Entrances 7 Map 2- Key facilities 8 Map 3- Site Aerial Photograph 9 3. Vision for Little Harlington Playing Fields 10 4. Site Aims and Objectives 10 5. Management Objectives and Maintenance Plan 18 6. Appendix Appendix A – Introduction to the London Borough of Hillingdon 22 Appendix B – Site Marketing Analysis and Plan 24 Appendix C – Site Grounds Maintenance Standards 26 Appendix D - Site Tree Survey 35 Appendix E - Council Plan: Commitment to Green Flag Award 41 2 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Introduction to Little Harlington Playing Fields This site has been the boroughs most used grass sporting facility since the late 1950’s. The site has 8 football pitches and 2 cricket tables; the pitches are home to several football clubs and casual cricket bookings. The pitches are of a good standard. During the summer period this site is used for junior football coaching courses and tournaments. Little Harlington is also home to a local model aircraft club who use the site on non-sport days. The main site building was built in the 1960’s and refurbished in 2006 to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. It provides facilities for both sports men and women. The clubhouse was recently re-let as ‘The Café on the Green’ as a café and coffee bar for the benefit of site users and passers by, following an extended period of closure. The site was subject to gravel extraction during the late 1990’s and was fully restored its current high standard on completion of works. A shelter belt planting scheme has been established on the two sides of the site to provide wild life habitat and reduction in noise and pollution. 3 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Site Summary Details Site Name Little Harlington Playing Fields Address Sipson Lane, Hayes. Postcode UB3 5EU Grid Reference 507846, 177907. Ownership London Borough of Hillingdon Name of Lead Officer Neil O' Connor Lead Officer’s contact details Postal: Green Spaces Team Civic Centre 4W/08 High St, Uxbridge Middlesex, UB8 1UW Email: no'[email protected] Office: 01895-250029 Date site acquired 10th October 1938 Access Points Main Entrance: 1 x Vehicle Sipson Lane, Hayes Other Entrances: 2 x Pedestrian Sipson Lane, Hayes PPG17 designation Outdoor Recreation Facility London Parks typology designation Sports Playing Fields Key features Key habitats Amenity Grassland, hedgerow , scrubland Sporting features 8 Football Pitches / 2 Cricket tables Other recreational / leisure facilities Pavilion and changing facilities Cafe Resting points 2 x park benches 4 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Description: The site is 10.5 Acres mainly laid to grass and is predominantly used for sporting fixtures. Location: Situated half way down Sipson Lane opposite the former Harlington cottage hospital Under 2 miles from the M4/M25 Junction, and 1.5 Miles from the Stockley by-pass Access: There are four entrances to the playing fields all of which are situated off Sipson lane. There are two pedestrian entrances and a main vehicle entrance, the fourth is locked and only used by term grounds maintenance contractor. History: The site was brought from Mr R Rayner in 1938, by the then County Council The land was subject to Gravel extraction in the early nineties and put back to level playing fields. Ecology: Avifauna Great Spotted Woodpecker House Sparrow Green Woodpecker Hedge Sparrow Song Thrush Black bird Mistle thrush Robin Starling Blue tit Carrion Crow Great tit Wood Pigeon Long-tail tit Feral Pigeon Collared Dove Jays Magpie Wren Gold Finch Gold Crest Green Finch Pied Wagtail Siskin Yellow Wagtail (m.) Skylark Swallow Swift Fieldfare (w.v.) Redwing (w.v.) Kestrel M = migration w.v. = Winter visitor Flora: A tree survey was undertaken at Little Harlington during January 2007. This has been appended as Appendix D. Other flora beside the sports pitches includes bramble, hawthorn and silver birch creating an important scrub habitat. 5 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Recreational Facilities: 8 x Football Pitches 2 x Cricket Tables 1 x Pavilion, with Changing Facilities for men and women 1 x cafe Present Use: Organised Football Games Organised Cricket Games Radio Controlled Model Aircraft One-off Sporting Tournaments The pitches are used Saturdays (afternoon), Sundays (morning and some afternoon fixtures). Midweek evening fixtures are also permitted. The teams play a mixture of weekly and fortnightly with some sharing the pitches. Mainly the site is used for football and cricket however other sports are played there. Additional tournaments such as National Schools Lacrosse (Picture right) and World Ultimate Frisbee Tournament have also been held at the site as well as a large rounder's tournament. There is a charge for using the site which varies depending on the number of times a pitch is booked. The money raised is ploughed back into Hillingdon Borough Council. Management Arrangements: The site is managed by LBH Green Spaces in partnership with Fusion who manages the bookings for the site. The general maintenance schedule is defined in the Grounds Maintenance Contract Specification and carried out by our grounds maintenance team. The management plan for the site can be accessed online in the London Borough of Hillingdon web pages. Site User Contacts: Roxeth District Albion SriLankan Cavaliers Cricket Club Yeading Wanderers Little Harlington Model Flying Club BAA Heathrow Manor FC and Reality FC West Drayton Youth 6 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Map 1: Site Entrances 7 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Map 2: Site Facilities 8 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Map 3: Aerial Photograph 9 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Vision for Little Harlington Playing Fields Our vision of Little Harlington playing fields is to promote the playing fields as a facility for passive and active recreation. We seek to continue to enhance the playing fields so that they are appealing to the public and ensure that the site is easily accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Little Harlington playing fields is the most used sports facility in this part of the borough and we will continue to promote the area. 4. Site Aims and Objectives 4.1 Main Aims 1. Create and maintain a welcoming site 2. Ensure the site is healthy, safe and secure 3. Ensure the site is clean and well maintained 4. Ensure sustainable management of resources 5. Appropriate management of conservation and heritage features 6. Encourage community involvement 7. Ensure effective marketing of the facility 8. Implement effective management strategies These aims, with their associated objectives, form the basis for the main management operations on the site and will provide a foundation for all projects in the coming Five - year period 4.2 How these aims are being met and objectives for the future Create and maintain a welcoming site There are four entrances to the playing fields all of which are situated off Sipson road. There are two pedestrian entrances and a main vehicle entrance, the fourth is locked and only used council staff. There are two car parks. One being an overflow car park which is used when necessary. All accesses and path networks are well kept and the equipment and facilities provided within the park (e.g. parking, changing room, pavilion) potentially contribute to making the site more welcoming through making visitors more comfortable. The overall impression for any member of the community approaching and entering the park should be positive and inviting. The signs are essential for welcoming people into the park. The signs are by the two main footpath entrances at each end and present a map and general site information as well as contact information. A welcome sign is situated above the height barrier to welcome cars driving in. The diversity of interest at the site is also a welcoming factor. There is of course plenty of area for recreation for all ages, all easily accessible. There is also an area suitable for conservation for those who enjoy wildlife, and trees/shrubs and other plants as well as areas where relaxation can take place, for example benches. 10 Little Harlington Playing Fields Management Plan 2015 - 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Objectives 1. Secure