Sydney Gardens, Bath PP-16-00071 SD 2.1 Activity Plan 2018 SD 2.1 Activity Plan Sydney Gardens, Bath a 21st Century Pleasure Garden Parks for People HLF Application Activity Plan August 2018 Susan Palmer, Community Ranger 1 Sydney Gardens, Bath PP-16-00071 SD 2.1 Activity Plan 2018 Contents Appendices: ............................................................................................................................... 4 1. Why a Parks for People Project in Sydney Gardens now? ..................................................... 5 2. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Project vision: A 21st Century Pleasure Garden ....................................................................... 6 2.2 The Heritage of Sydney Gardens ............................................................................................. 7 2.2.1 Entertainments and Cosmoramas, Fireworks and Balloon Rides ................................................ 7 2.2.2 Jane Austen .................................................................................................................................. 8 2.2.3 Illuminations ................................................................................................................................ 8 2.2.4 Romans and Horses ..................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.5 The Kennet & Avon Canal ............................................................................................................ 9 2.2.6 The Great Western Railway ......................................................................................................... 9 2.2.7 Before The Georgians .................................................................................................................. 9 2.2.8 From Private to Public ............................................................................................................... 10 2.2.9 Recent history ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.3 Sydney Gardens today .......................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Bath's Historic Parks and Gardens......................................................................................... 12 2.5 The Holburne Museum and Sydney Gardens ......................................................................... 12 2.6 Bath - a World Heritage Site ................................................................................................. 13 2.7 The need for funding ............................................................................................................ 13 3. Where are we now? - context and process ............................................................................ 14 3.1 Recent context leading to the Parks for People Project application ........................................ 14 3.2 Recent proposals for restoration .......................................................................................... 15 3.3 Sydney Gardens Round 1 HLF Parks for People bid ................................................................ 15 3.4 Bath and NE Somerset Council Strategic Policy Context ......................................................... 16 3.5 Policy Context for the restoration of Sydney Gardens ........................................................... 18 3.6 B&NES Parks Service - Structure and Staffing ........................................................................ 19 3.6.1 Sydney Gardens Project Team ................................................................................................... 20 3.7 B&NES Parks Foundation - a new award from NESTA's Re-thinking Parks .............................. 20 3.8 Key Stakeholder Groups engaged in strategic management................................................... 21 3.9 How is Sydney Gardens currently interpreted? ..................................................................... 22 3.10 What we know about our audience ...................................................................................... 22 3.10.1 Our local audience: demographic context ........................................................................... 22 3.10.2 Our wider audience: visitors and tourists ............................................................................ 23 3.10.3 The national context of engagement with green space ....................................................... 24 3.10.4 The use of green space by Bath residents ............................................................................ 24 3.10.5 Park user numbers, profile and visitor observation survey data ......................................... 25 3.10.6 Summary of evidence, including non users .......................................................................... 26 3.11 What we know about previous levels of engagement and activity ......................................... 27 3.11.1 Volunteering in the park ....................................................................................................... 28 3.11.2 Skills and Training in the Park ............................................................................................... 28 4.0 Sydney Gardens Development Phase focus and work 2017 - 2018.................................. 30 4.1 Summary of our Activity Plan development during the Development Phase .......................... 31 4.2 Our Development Phase Public Engagement in Numbers: ..................................................... 33 4.3 Changes from the Round 1 submission ................................................................................. 34 4.4 Working with partners ......................................................................................................... 34 Susan Palmer, Community Ranger 2 Sydney Gardens, Bath PP-16-00071 SD 2.1 Activity Plan 2018 4.4.1 Working with the Friends of Sydney Gardens ........................................................................... 35 4.4.2 Working with The Holburne Museum ....................................................................................... 36 4.4.3 Other strategic partnerships and working relationships developed ......................................... 37 4.5 Public Engagement ............................................................................................................... 39 4.5.1 Public Consultations about Design Plan and Activity Plan......................................................... 40 4.5.2 How we communicated ............................................................................................................. 41 4.5.3 How we grew and broadened participation: Postcode Data Map ............................................ 42 4.6 Activities trialled in the Development Phase ......................................................................... 44 4.7 Evidence and outcomes from trialled activities ..................................................................... 49 4.8 Commissioned research and outreach in relation to priority audiences ................................. 51 4.8.1 Report: Barriers to participation for children and families SD 2.12 .......................................... 51 4.8.2 Report: Barriers to participation for older people SD 2.13 ....................................................... 52 4.8.3 Report: Education & Learning Resourcing SD 2.11 .................................................................... 52 4.8.4 Report: Illuminations Launch Event in Sydney Gardens SD 2.14 ............................................... 54 4.9 Audiences - identified audiences and target / priority audiences ........................................... 54 4.9.1 Local children and their families: ................................................................................................... 54 4.9.2 Teenagers and young adults .......................................................................................................... 55 4.9.3 Over 65s ......................................................................................................................................... 55 4.9.4 Vulnerable people (Homeless, Victims of abuse) .......................................................................... 56 4.9.5 People in poor health (physical and mental health) ...................................................................... 57 4.9.6 Day visitors and tourists................................................................................................................. 58 4.9.7 Learners ......................................................................................................................................... 58 4.9.8 Through routers ............................................................................................................................. 59 4.10 Accessibility and Inclusivity .................................................................................................. 59 4.10.1 Making Sydney Gardens the first Dementia Friendly Park in Bath .............................................. 60 4.11 Volunteering ........................................................................................................................ 60 4.12 Training ..............................................................................................................................