SOUTH HILL PARK, BRACKNELL TEN YEAR MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE PLAN 2012 – 2021 November 2012 Last updated January 2019 of SOUTH HILL ~~ -l~~I Ci:\lottery fund I~W PARK ~ shp · __.,1t,)I Bracknell Grounds . Forest LOTTERY FUNDED -- Council South Hill Park: Management and Maintenance Plan 2012 – 2021. V6 January 2019 SOUTH HILL PARK, BRACKNELL TEN YEAR MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE PLAN 2012 - 2021 November 2012 Contents: Page 1 Context 6 2 Introduction 10 2.1 South Hill Park – A Brief History 10 3 Policy Context 12 3.1 Planning Status and Designations 12 3.2 BFC Parks and Open Spaces Strategy 13 3.3 Bracknell Forest Sustainable Community Strategy 15 3.4 Biodiversity Action Plan 16 4 Key Site Information 18 4.1 Site Location and Park Boundaries 18 4.2 Ownership and Leases 20 4.3 Character Areas 23 4.4 Geology and Topography 26 4.5 Hydrology 26 4.6 Water Bodies 27 4.7 Ecology 30 4.8 Formal Planting 34 4.9 Trees 34 4.10 Rhododendrons 36 4.11 The Arts Centre 36 5 Site Description and Green Flag Analysis 38 5.1 A Welcoming Place 38 5.2 Healthy, Safe and Secure 46 5.3 Well Maintained and Clean 53 2 South Hill Park: Management and Maintenance Plan 2012 – 2021. V6 January 2019 5.4 Environmental Management 59 5.5 Biodiversity, Landscape and Heritage 64 5.6 Community Involvement 70 5.7 Marketing and Communication 83 5.8 Management 87 6 Vision 88 6.1 Vision Statement 88 6.2 South Hill Park Arts Centre Mission Statement 88 6.3 Aims and Objectives 89 7 Management of South Hill Park 92 7.1 Management Structure 92 8 Site Maintenance 100 8.1.1 North Wood 100 8.1.2 East Park 101 8.1.3 West Park 102 8.1.4 North Lake 103 8.1.5 Balancing Pond 104 8.1.6 Arts Centre 105 8.1.7 South Lawn 109 8.1.8 Birch Hill Banks 110 8.1.9 South Lake 110 8.1.10 Shrubbery 112 8.1.11 Birch Hill Woodland 113 8.1.12 Ice House 115 8.2 Annual Work Plan 116 9 Financial Plan 124 10 Monitoring and Review 125 11 Appendices (separate document) 126 3 South Hill Park: Management and Maintenance Plan 2012 – 2021. V6 January 2019 Figures: Page Figure 1 South Hill Park location map 18 Figure 2 South Hill Park boundaries 19 Figure 3 Land ownership and leases 21 Figure 4 Map of land ownership and leases 22 Figure 5 Landscape character areas 23 Figure 6 South Lake de-silting works 27 Figure 7 Floating island installation in the North Lake 29 Figure 8 View across wildflower meadow 32 Figure 9 Rhododendron ponticum in Birch Hill Woods 33 Figure 10 Heritage tree survey 35 Figure 11 Cycle route network through South Hill Park 39 Figure 12 Main entrance sign 41 Figure 13 Visitor map of South Hill Park 42 Figure 14 Waymarkers for walking trails 43 Figure 15 Main gates in front courtyard 43 Figure 16 Front courtyard planting and sculpture 44 Figure 17 Four walking trails around South Hill Park 47 Figure 18 Park facilities 50 Figure 19 Community litter picking event at South Hill Park 54 Figure 20 Boardwalk over the Balancing Pond 61 Figure 21 Bench in Birch Hill Woodland character area 61 Figure 22 Decayed monolith 62 Figure 23 Construction plan of no-dig path 65 Figure 24 No-dig path through the woodland 65 Figure 25 Bat boxes in the woodland 66 Figure 26 Terrace piers overlooking South Lawn 68 Figure 27 Ripple Wall by William Pye, South Lake 69 Figure 28 Park notice board 85 Figure 29 South Hill Park management structure 93 4 South Hill Park: Management and Maintenance Plan 2012 – 2021. V6 January 2019 Figure 30 Maintenance plan – Bracknell Forest Council 94 Figure 31 Maintenance plan – Bracknell Town Council 96 Figure 32 Maintenance plan – South Hill Park Trust 98 Figure 33 Maintenance plan – Continental Landscapes Ltd 99 Tables: Page Table 1 Clay/acid meadow wildflower mix 31 Table 2 Outdoor events at South Hill Park 2018 77 Table 3 Proposed outdoor events at South Hill Park 2019 79 Management and maintenance plan aims and Table 4 89 objectives Table 5 South Hill Park 10 year revenue budget 124 Appendices (see separate document) Page Preliminary report on rhododendrons at South Hill Appendix 1 126 Park by Michael Lear Associates Appendix 2 Site inspection proforma 137 Appendix 3 BFC quality assessment criteria 141 Appendix 4 Park user survey 2009 summary results 143 Appendix 5 Comparison of visitor survey results 2009, 2018 144 Appendix 6 Visitor count sheet and map 147 Appendix 7 Audience Development Plan 149 Appendix 8 Volunteer Action Plan 165 Appendix 9 Training Plan 172 Appendix 10 Commemorative Trees and Benches 178 Appendix 11 Conservation management plan policies 181 Joint management committee (grounds group) terms Appendix 12 184 of reference 5 South Hill Park: Management and Maintenance Plan 2012 – 2021. V6 January 2019 1. Context In 2004, Bracknell Forest Council secured a Project Planning Grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) under the Public Parks Initiative. This grant funded the production of a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) and an Audience Development and Access Plan (ADP). A major review was carried out as part of the preliminary stages of plan preparation, including extensive consultation with a wide range of interested bodies, groups and individuals. The South Hill Park Conservation Management Plan, Audience Development Plan and Access Plan were subsequently published in November 2005. The resulting vision statement was: “To revitalise the park as a thriving, vibrant, varied open space which builds on the special qualities of its historic landscape, its natural beauty and its art activities, as a safe and attractive oasis in Bracknell town which benefits the whole community.” Following on from publication of the Conservation Management Plan, a business plan was produced setting out how this vision would be realised. This formed the basis of an application for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund Parks for People programme. Project actions centred on objectives relating to: • Understanding and protecting the significance of the site • Natural features: Geology, Topography, Hydrology and Nature Conservation • Designed features: Archaeology, Landscape and Setting, Buildings, Structures • Social features: Past, Present and Future Works were grouped around three key themes: A. Audience Access Improvements Interpretation Furniture Design and Provision 6 South Hill Park: Management and Maintenance Plan 2012 – 2021. V6 January 2019 B. Heritage Conserving Structures and Stonework C. Landscape Garden Restoration & Biodiversity New Planting Lake Conservation Woodland Management The total project cost was approximately £4.4m including, development, implementation and ten year management and maintenance. Projects of this scale have to be delivered through a two-stage process. A Stage One application was made to the Heritage Lottery Fund / Big Lottery Fund Parks for People programme in September 2007. This application was successful and a Stage One pass was awarded in April 2008 which funded detailed design and costing work. A sum of £298,832 was allocated as the Stage One costs and a grant of 70% (£209,900) was provided. Stage One was successfully completed in March 2009. The detailed scheme was submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund / Big Lottery Fund as a Stage Two application on 31st March 2009. The Stage Two Grant award of £2.3m was confirmed on 20 July 2009. This provided funding to implement landscape restoration works at South Hill Park, together with access improvements and conservation of heritage features Objectives and associated actions included making the park welcoming and attractive to people of all ages and backgrounds; making it accessible regardless of physical ability; increasing understanding and enjoyment; making more people aware of the park; making it a safe place; managing it as a resource for both the local community and Bracknell as a whole; and increasing arts-related activity and involvement in the park. Related activities included implementation of an Audience Development Plan, Volunteers Plan, and Training Plan. This has supported initiatives such as 7 South Hill Park: Management and Maintenance Plan 2012 – 2021. V6 January 2019 appointing artists (Fred Baier Associates) to work with local community representatives to create a new trails network; the forming of a Friends of South Hill Park Grounds, photographic recording by Bracknell Camera Club; conservation volunteering through Bracknell Conservation Volunteers; and the Partners in Youth project led by the local Neighbourhood Action Group (encouraging young people to enjoy the park and participate in looking after the site). An outline Ten Year Management and Maintenance Plan (MMP) was first produced in July 2007 as part of the above referenced business plan and Stage One application. This was then refined for the Stage Two submission and prepared in March 2009 in accordance with the Heritage Lottery Fund guidance set out in ‘Parks for People: Ten Year Management and Maintenance Plan Guidance’ (HLF January 2009). The Stage Two version of this Ten Year Management and Maintenance Plan (MMP) was prepared by a Working Group comprising: • Richard Scrivener, Project Officer, South Hill Park, Bracknell Forest Council • Richard Walton, Head of Parks and Countryside, Bracknell Forest Council • Graham Pockett, Development Officer (Parks and Countryside), Bracknell Forest Council • Allan Moffat, Recreational Facilities Manager, Bracknell Town Council • Ron McAllister, Chief Executive, South Hill Park Trust • Mike Aslin, Operations Manager, South Hill Park Trust • David Withycombe, Land Management Services Ltd • Jon Collins, Land Management Services Ltd This updated version of the Ten Year Management and Maintenance Plan for South Hill Park has been produced to reflect the completed project. It was prepared in November 2012 by: • Kath Moss, South Hill Park Manager, Bracknell Forest Council 8 South Hill Park: Management and Maintenance Plan 2012 – 2021.