ST JAMES’S PARK AND THE GREEN PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN The Royal Parks 2008 - 2018 Updated project register 2014 CONTENTS PART 1: CONTEXT AND RESPONSIBILITIES ................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................... 2 The Royal Parks ........................................................................................................................................... 2 St James‟s Park and The Green Park ...................................................................................................... 2 The Management Plan ................................................................................................................................ 3 Aims of the St James‟s Park and The Green Park Management Plan .............................................. 3 The Conservation Statement ................................................................................................................... 4 Structure of the Plan .................................................................................................................................. 5 2.0 General and Management Context ................................................... 7 Location ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Park Management Structure ..................................................................................................................... 7 Management structure of TRP ................................................................................................................. 8 Landscape Maintenance .............................................................................................................................. 9 Policing and law enforcement ................................................................................................................... 9 Neighbours ................................................................................................................................................ 10 3.0 Strategic Framework ........................................................................ 12 National Designations and Policies ...................................................................................................... 12 Regional Strategic Planning Context .................................................................................................... 13 Local Planning Context ........................................................................................................................... 15 4.0 Historical Context ............................................................................. 19 St James‟s Park .......................................................................................................................................... 19 The Green Park ........................................................................................................................................ 21 5.0 Physical Description .......................................................................... 27 Topography ................................................................................................................................................ 27 Geology ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Soils ............................................................................................................................................................. 27 PART 2: DESCRIPTION, USE AND CHARACTER ........................... 31 6.0 Natural Fabric .................................................................................... 31 Trees ........................................................................................................................................................... 31 Grassland .................................................................................................................................................... 32 Horticultural Displays.............................................................................................................................. 33 Ecology and Wildlife ................................................................................................................................ 34 Water body and Lakeside ...................................................................................................................... 35 7.0 Buildings and Hard Landscape Fabric ............................................. 37 Buildings and Main Structures ............................................................................................................... 37 St James‟s Park and The Green Park Management Plan (January 2008) - i - Monuments and Main Artefacts ............................................................................................................ 38 Boundaries and Gates ............................................................................................................................. 40 Road and Path Network ......................................................................................................................... 41 Park Furniture and Signage ..................................................................................................................... 41 8.0 Public Use ........................................................................................... 45 Public Access ............................................................................................................................................. 45 Visitor Profile ............................................................................................................................................ 45 Events .......................................................................................................................................................... 46 Visitor Amenities ...................................................................................................................................... 49 Informal and Semi-Informal Activities .................................................................................................. 51 Visitor Satisfaction .................................................................................................................................... 53 9.0 Landscape Character ........................................................................ 54 Views: St James‟s Park ............................................................................................................................. 54 Character Areas: St James‟s Park ......................................................................................................... 57 Views: The Green Park ........................................................................................................................... 59 Character Areas: The Green Park ....................................................................................................... 63 PART 3: LANDSCAPE STRATEGY ..................................................... 67 10.0 Significance .................................................................................. 67 Statements of Significance ...................................................................................................................... 67 Summary of Key Significance ................................................................................................................. 68 11.0 Key Management Issues ............................................................. 71 St James‟s Park Headline Issues ............................................................................................................. 71 The Green Park Headline Issues .......................................................................................................... 74 12.0 Landscape Management Strategy ............................................. 77 The Long Term Vision for St James‟s Park ......................................................................................... 77 Guiding Principles for Conservation .................................................................................................... 77 The Long Term Vision for The Green Park ....................................................................................... 80 Guiding Principles for Conservation .................................................................................................... 80 PART 4: MANAGEMENT POLICIES ................................................... 83 14.0 Guiding Policies for Conservation ............................................. 85 Physical Context ....................................................................................................................................... 88 Natural Fabric ........................................................................................................................................... 88 Horticultural Areas .................................................................................................................................. 91 Built Fabric ................................................................................................................................................. 93 Public Access and Enjoyment .............................................................................................................