Draft Green Spaces Strategy – For approval and adoption by Executive 11 March 2008 Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Green Spaces Strategy 2008 - 2018 Draft Green Spaces Strategy – For approval and adoption by Executive 11 March 2008 Introduction to the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Green Spaces Strategy 2008 - 2018 ..........................................................................................................................5 Section 1..............................................................................................................................6 1.1 Green Space Definition .......................................................................................... 6 1.2 What is a Green Spaces Strategy? ........................................................................ 7 1.3 Importance and development of the GSS............................................................... 7 Section 2..............................................................................................................................8 Legislative and Policy Context .......................................................................................... 8 2.1 National Policy and Strategies................................................................................ 8 2.2 Greater London Policy and Strategies.................................................................... 9 2.3 Mayor of London’s Biodiversity Strategy .............................................................. 10 2.4 Local Policy context.............................................................................................. 10 2.5 Local Development Framework............................................................................ 11 Section 3............................................................................................................................12 3.1 The Open Space Assessment Key Findings ........................................................ 12 3.2 Key findings by Neighbourhood............................................................................ 13 Kingston Town Neighbourhood................................................................................... 13 Maldens and Coombe Neighbourhood ....................................................................... 14 South of the Borough Neighbourhood ........................................................................ 15 Surbiton Neighbourhood............................................................................................. 16 Section 4............................................................................................................................17 4.1 The Green Spaces Strategy Framework – Outcomes and Principles................... 17 4.2 Annual implementation Plan................................................................................. 17 The Functions ............................................................................................................. 17 4.3 Opportunities and challenges facing Kingston’s green spaces............................. 19 Section 5............................................................................................................................19 Issues ................................................................................................................................19 5.1 Improving range and quality of green spaces....................................................... 20 5.2 Improving accessibility to pedestrians, cyclists and disabled users...................... 20 5.3 Ensuring green spaces are relevant to all members of the community ............... 20 5.4 Climate Change.................................................................................................... 21 5.5 Infrastructure and Access..................................................................................... 21 Railings....................................................................................................................... 21 Signage....................................................................................................................... 22 Buildings ..................................................................................................................... 22 Memorial benches ...................................................................................................... 23 Public conveniences ................................................................................................... 24 5.6 Security ..................................................................................................................... 24 Fear of crime............................................................................................................... 24 CCTV.......................................................................................................................... 26 Lighting in parks.......................................................................................................... 26 Locking Parks ............................................................................................................. 27 Presence in parks ....................................................................................................... 28 Dogs ........................................................................................................................... 28 5.7 Young People and Play............................................................................................. 29 2 Draft Green Spaces Strategy – For approval and adoption by Executive 11 March 2008 Youth Shelters ............................................................................................................ 29 Play............................................................................................................................. 30 Play Strategy .............................................................................................................. 32 Play in the natural environment .................................................................................. 33 Paddling Pools............................................................................................................ 33 5.8 Sport and Recreation............................................................................................ 34 Playing Pitches ........................................................................................................... 34 Football....................................................................................................................... 34 Cricket......................................................................................................................... 35 Tennis......................................................................................................................... 35 Bowling Greens .......................................................................................................... 36 5.9 Community Involvement ....................................................................................... 36 5.10 Horticultural Development .................................................................................... 38 Green Flag and London in Bloom ............................................................................... 38 Green Flag.................................................................................................................. 38 London in Bloom......................................................................................................... 42 Design, Plant and Maintain......................................................................................... 43 Highway verges .......................................................................................................... 43 5.11 Funding, training and development ......................................................................... 43 External funding sources ............................................................................................ 44 Training for improvement............................................................................................ 46 Development plans for key sites ................................................................................. 46 5.12 Wayside Gardens ................................................................................................. 47 5.13 Cemeteries and churchyards................................................................................ 48 5.14 Green Spaces on Housing Land........................................................................... 48 Section 6............................................................................................................................50 Biodiversity and Nature Conservation ............................................................................. 50 6.1 Biodiversity ........................................................................................................... 50 6.2 Kingston Biodiversity Action Plan ......................................................................... 51 6.3 Sites managed for nature conservation ................................................................ 51 6.4 Local Nature Reserves ......................................................................................... 52 6.5 Lower Mole Countryside Management Project..................................................... 52 6.6 Green Belt and Green