Neighbourhood Management Milton Keynes Council Eaglestone Local Park www.milton‐keynes.gov.uk/parks‐and‐open‐space/ Eaglestone Local Park Management Plan 2011‐2015 Eaglestone Local Park – Green Flag Management Plan Version Control Version Number Purpose / Changes Author Date 1 Original M. Barnes 24/1/11 1.1 Updates to: M. Barnes 10/1/12 p.7 - Council Plan p.8 - Social Atlas p.9 – Para 5 (enquiries) p.11 – Para.4 p.12 – Para. 8 & 9. p. 23 – Para. 3 p. 29 – Interpretation p.32 – Footpath reconstruction Appendix 6 - Updated 1.2 Updates to: M. Barnes 5/12/12 Document re-page numbered. p.9 Council corporate plan p.10 Social Atlas p.11 para 4 (dynamic play space) p.20 para 2 (planting “was” undertaken) p.25 para 3 Appendix 6 - Updated 2 Contents Page 1. Forward 5 2. Introduction 5 3. History and description of the local area 7 4. Location of Eaglestone Local Park and site context 7 5. Eaglestone Local Park Vision Statement 8 6. Aims and purposes of the site 8 7. Community 10 8. Ecology 14 9. Facility and visitor management 23 10. Interpretation and publicity 27 11. Development of Eaglestone Local Park 34 Appendices Introduction to Milton Keynes council 0 Site Plan of Eaglestone Local Park 1 Meadow Development Plan 2 Play Area audit 3 Eaglestone Park Survey 4 Tree Survey & Assessment 5 Events 2007-12 and Attendance Figures 6 Risk Assesments and DDA Survey 7 Annual programme 8 Local Plan Framework 9 Landscape Management Framework 10 Management Specifications 11 Highway Footpath Reconstruction 12 Management Plan Eaglestone Local Park 4 1. Forward The Eaglestone Local Park Management and Development 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. This plan has been prepared with the input of Milton Keynes Council staff, particularly the Neighbourhood Management team as well as Woughton Community Council, Thames Valley Police, Falconhurst School and local residents, both individually and through the Residents Association. The plan is designed to ensure a coordinated approach so that future development is in line with Milton Keynes council policies to preserve and enhance the flora and fauna and meets 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) guidelines for excellence in design and management of parks. 2. Introduction Eaglestone Local Park is a large informal area of just over 4 hectares. It is located within the Parish of Woughton. The area was originally farm pasture; remnant hedgerows (which contain supplementary planting undertaken as part of the development of the Eaglestone) are a visual reminder of this. Woughton is not deficient in terms of the quantity of open space of recreational value and therefore it is important that facilities in the area compliment each other, rather than duplicate provision. Eaglestone Local Park is designated as a local park in the Milton Keynes hierarchy of parks and open space and provides a range of outdoor recreational pursuits which accommodate: • A contribution to landscape structure. • Sufficient mown grassed area to provide for informal recreational use. • Equipped play provision. • Some youth provision. • Areas to promote and enhance biodiversity. • Space for public art development. The park has links with the Peartree Lane Wildlife Corridor and other neighbourhood open spaces within Eaglestone. These are accessible by visitors along the city’s Redways, suitable for both pedestrians and cyclists and via neighbourhood pathways. Growth in the area is likely to increase the strategic importance of the park for recreation. 5 3. History & Descriptions of the Local Area In 1927 "The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Buckinghamshire" states with regard to the Woughton-on-the-Green parish, as it then was: The parish of Woughton has an area of 1,224. acres, of which 333 acres are arable land and 806 permanent grass. The soil is various, mostly clay, and the subsoil clay and gravel. The principal crops grown are wheat, beans and barley. The parish is watered by the River Ouzel, which forms its eastern boundary. The slope of the land is from 345 ft. above ordnance datum in the west to 216 ft. above ordnance datum in the east, where the Ouzel is liable to overflow its banks. Until the end of the 18th century the river here was crossed by a bridge, known as Monxton's Bridge, connecting Walton and Woughton parishes. From: A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 4 (1927), pp. 515-519. The area that makes up the Park was previously farmland with original hedgerows and ditch lines still extant. This has been verified from parish records and early OS maps. The park was developed during the construction phase of Eaglestone between 1970 and the mid 1980’s as part of the new town of Milton Keynes with the addition of the two play areas and the adjacent local centre. The principal architect of Eaglestone was Ralph Erskine, responsible for notable developments such as the Byker Wall estate in Newcastle and the Greenwich Millennium Village in London. Milton Keynes Council manages around half of the parks and open spaces within the borough (the Parks Trust being responsible for the linear parks within the new city development). Eaglestone Local Park is one of approximately 161 parks varying in size and location which are managed by the council. Figure 1. Aerial view of Eaglestone Local Park. In the above image, the park dominates the centre of Eaglestone, the remnants of the field boundary system can be clearly seen. Golden Drive snakes round the area to the South East and the local centre and Falconhurst School can be seen to the North West. The housing stock in the South of Eaglestone is predominately owner-occupier; the Everglades sheltered housing complex on Great Denson to the West of the park and significant 6 levels of tenanted properties to the North. A Redway runs North to South through the park providing a safe through route for cyclists and pedestrians away from the roads. This Redway links to the centre of Milton Keynes 1km to the North and to the Peartree Lane wildlife corridor to the South providing a gateway to all areas of the city by foot or by bike along the 273km of Redway routes. 4. Location of Eaglestone Local Park and Site Context Eaglestone Local Park is located within the grid square of Eaglestone south of the centre of Milton Keynes. The site is the largest open space in Eaglestone and dominates the centre of the estate. The site is bordered by Golden Drive to the East and is overlooked by residences on other sides. There is no public motor vehicle access. Access for pedestrians is via footpaths at 20 locations around the parks 2km perimeter and by the Redway (cycle path) from the North by the local centre and from the South via Kite Hill, Golden Drive and Peartree Lane. Legend Woodland Shrub bed Amenity grass Street light Wet Ditch Play area Meadow grass Bench Tree Redway route Status Grid reference Local Park SP 866 376 GB Area Access 3.8 hectares Open throughout the year. 9.3 acres Figure 2. Layout of Eaglestone Local Park (See Appendix 1 for larger version) 7 5. Eaglestone 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 & open spaces that provide opportunities for recreation. o Manage and inspect parks and open spaces on a programmed basis, against national standards, to ensue 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 and 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. 8 • Council Corporate Plan 2012-16 o Living in MK. o Visiting MK. o Cleaner, Greener, Healthier, Safer MK • 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.