Watermeadows Management Plan 2017-32 Acknowledgements Watermeadows Management Plan 2017-32 The Watermeadows Landscape Management Plan has been written and compiled by Red Kite Network Limited on behalf of Cherwell District Council and South Northamptonshire District Council. Staff from the District Council and the local community have also contributed to the development of the Plan. Red Kite would like to acknowledge the support and assistance from the following people and organisations: Councillor Roger Clarke, South Northamptonshire Council Paul Almond, Street Scene and Landscape Manager at Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils Brian Collins, Landscape Officer at Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils Towcester Town Council Alex Rothwell, Paul Wilkanowski and Helen Chapman from the Environment Agency Towcester Wildlife Trust Group Dr James Littlemore, Senior Lecturer, and Students of Moulton College Further information about the Plan is available from: South Northamptonshire Council The Forum, Moat Lane, Towcester, Northants, NN12 6AD Tel: 01327 322 322 Acknowledgements | 2 Contents Technical overview 3.0 Where do we want to go? Executive summary 3.1 Introduction 19 1.0 Introduction, Context and Background 3.2 SWOT analysis 19 1.1 Statement of Significance 6 3.3 Evaluation 22 1.2 Background to Plan 6 3.4 The Future 23 1.3 Format of Plan 6 3.5 Intervention Areas 25 1.4 Purpose of Plan 7 3.6 Zones and Trails 26 1.5 Development of Plan 7 4.0 How are we going to get there? 1.6 Stakeholder Invovlement and Target Audience 7 4.1 Introduction 27 2.0 Where are we now? 4.2 Action Plan 27 2.1 Context 8 5.0 How will we know when we’ve arrived? 2.2 The Site 10 5.1 Key Performance Indicators 33 2.3 Legal Context 12 5.2 Evaluation and feedback 33 2.4 Policy Context 12 6.0 References 2.5 History 13 7.0 Appendices 2.6 Landscape Character and Views 16 7.1 Appendix 1: Consultation Workshops 35 2.7 Ecology 16 7.2 Appendix 2: Public Survey 37 2.8 Community 17 7.3 Appendix 3: Policy Objectives 39 2.9 Current Management 18 Contents | 3 Technical overview Site name Watermeadows Annual maintenance In summary, key maintenance tasks include: Principal contact Environmental Services operations South Northamptonshire Council - Litter picking The Forum, - Grazing of grassland meadows Moat Lane, - Clearance of watercourses Towcester, - Infrastructure inspections and maintenance Northamptonshire NN12 6AD - Tree inspections and maintenance Location The Watermeadows is located on the eastern periphery of Towcester, off Northampton Road. National Grid Reference SP 69615 48776 Size 58.32 acres (23.60 ha) Brief description The Site comprises two fields of predominantly flat, open grassland, and is bounded by three watercourses: the River Tove, the Silverstone Brook, and the Mill Stream. The Watermeadows form part of the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden of Easton Neston estate. Partners The management of the Watermeadows is the responsibility of the Watermeadows Management Group, consisting of members from South Northamptonshire Council and local organisations. Other key partners involved include: - Towcester Wildlife Trust - Moulton College - Historic England - Environment Agency - Towcester Town Council - Towcester Women’s Institute (WI) Group - Towcester Mill Brewery - Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School Ownership/tenure Freehold Title held by South Northamptonshire Council Access Open access throughout the Site. Pedestrian access via Northampton Road and Moat Lane. Designation Public open space; Part of Registered Park and Garden (Grade II*) of Easton Neston estate; and Adjacent to Scheduled Ancient Monument of Bury Mount and the Towcester Mill (Grade II listed). Techncial overview | 4 • To increase visitor numbers and community participation through proactive marketing and Executive Summary interpretation; • To restore and enhance the Site’s biodiversity, and secure its long term resilience to climate change; The Watermeadows has a long and rich history associated with the development of Towcester and the and surrounding landscape. The Watermeadows was, until recently part of the Easton Neston estate and closed to the public. The Site was purchased in 2009 by South Northamptonshire Counciland was intended to • To ensure effective financial and resource management to realise the overall objectives and action provide the growing population of Towcester with a much-needed community green space, and improve plan for the Watermeadows. the Site’s potential rich ecology. This document has been created to drive and coordinate the management of the Watermeadows over the next fifteen years. An annual action plan has been developed to help steer and guide the management of the park. The plan will be reviewed each year with fundamental review taking place in 2021-22. The Watermeadows is significant and important for a number of reasons: • Ecology - The Site has a rich biodiversity, providing an important grassland and wetland habitat which forms part of wider wildlife corridors; • Health and wellbeing – The Watermeadows is Towcester’s largest public open space, and has the potential to provide the growing community with opportunities for recreation, exercise and wildlife watching; • Economic – The Watermeadows forms part of the major Moat Lane Regeneration Project, seeking to revive and connect the town centre with the Mill Stream; and • Heritage and Culture – The Site forms part of the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden of Easton Neston, the design of which was influenced by Christopher Wren and implemented by Nicholas Hawksmoor. Iron Age remains have also been found on site, and the Watermeadows sits adjacent to the Scheduled Ancient Monument of the Bury Mount and the Grade II listed Towcester Mill. The Landscape Management Plan is based on consultation with key stakeholder groups. The shared vision for Watermeadows is: A valued community green space and wildlife habitat which celebrates the rich heritage and ecology of the Watermeadows; and provides the community of Towcester with opportunities for informal recreation and education. Primary aims of the Landscape Management Plan include: • To provide a safe, accessible and welcoming space for all members of the community; • To ensure that the Watermeadows is maintained to high quality and sustainability standards; • To ensure that the special historical interest and character of the landscape is protected, conserved and enhanced; • To facilitate and enable opportunities for community involvement and healthy living through the provision of high quality facilities, events and activities; Executive summary | 5 1.0 Introduction, context and background 1.1 Statement of Significance A Landscape Management Plan is required to ensure that the Site’s significant ecological, landscape, environmental, social, wellbeing and cultural benefits are protected and enhanced over the coming years. The Site has a rich biodiversity, providing an important floodplain which forms part of wider wildlife corridors. The Watermeadows abuts Towcester town centre and the Towcester Southern Urban Extension project, and is part of the major Moat Lane Regeneration Project. The Site is the largest nearby public open space for residents who are able to use it for recreation, exercise and wildlife watching. The Site is also of great heritage value, as it forms part of the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden of Easton Neston, influenced and designed by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor. It also sits adjacent to the Scheduled Ancient Monument of the Bury Mount and the Grade II listed Towcester Mill, and has an Iron Age ritual burial site in its grounds. 1.2 Background to Plan South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) purchased the Watermeadows (the Site) in 2009 as a public green space and to encourage biodiversity. A Landscape Management Plan was previously created in 2011 to set out the management priorities and actions for the Site for the next five years. This initial plan drew to a close in 2016, and SNC agreed that a new plan was needed to review the past five years’ progress, and needed to guide the future management, maintenance and development of the Site over the next fifteen years. 1.3 Format of Plan The format, style and narrative of this Landscape Management Plan (the Plan) has been developed to reflect the requirements of SNC, local stakeholders and the wider community. It draws on the guidance from the following best practice: • Cabe Space (2004), A Guide To Producing Park and Green Space Management Plans; • Heritage Lottery Fund (2012), Management and Maintenance Plan Guidance; • Keep Britain Tidy (2017), Raising the Standard: The Green Flag Award Guidance Manual; • English Heritage (2014), Conserving Historic Water Meadows; and • English Heritage (2007), The Management and Maintenance of Historic Parks, Gardens and Landscape. Introduction | 6 1.4 Purpose of Plan 1.6 Stakeholder Involvement and Target Audiences This Plan is an overarching document which encompasses a range of policies, strategies and consultation The development of the Watermeadows Landscape Management Plan has been created with the support to formulate a long term plan for the future management of the Site. The Plan focuses not just on the of a number of stakeholder groups, including SNC, Towcester Town Council, Moulton College, Towcester landscape but also considers the balance between heritage, visitors, ecology and the overall function of Wildlife Group, Environment Agency, Historic England, and Towcester Women’s Institute