The Grove Park Refurbishment, Burton Joyce Approved Outline Plan Version 2.1

For Consultation with Burton Joyce Residents up to October 31st

8^th September 2009

By Cllr Richard Potter and Cllr Steve Cluff

In association with:

Contents

1.0 Overview

2.0 Refurbishment Goals

3.0 Targeting Users

4.0 Achieving the Goals: The Proposal

4.1 Conservation Area

4.2 Leisure Space and picnic area

4.3 Entrance drive and pathways

5.0 Maintenance

6.0 Other Interested Parties

7.0 Costings

7.1 Burton Joyce Parish Council costings

7.2 Building Better Communities costings

8.0 Scaled down plan

9.0 Nott’s Wildlife Trust Assessment Document

1.0 Overview

The Grove is public park space in the centre of Burton Joyce next door to the Burton Joyce Primary School. It was once a Manor house on an acre of land and after a series of events and exchanges has been donated and now owned by Burton Joyce Parish Council who have been responsible for its up keep for several years.

The Grove is surrounded on 3 sides by houses and one side by a school. It has been used traditionally as a quiet area of relaxation. It has no facilities or sports or play equipment at present. It is approximately 60% mowed playing field 20% wild tree line or bush and 20% pathway and part cultivated bedding.

It has no passing traffic and access is only legitimately through one point at the top of Willow Wong road. Some access has been used by youngsters from the opposite side over fence line but is discouraged due to encroachment on local gardens.

2.0 Refurbishment Goals

BJPC wishes to encourage more use of this quiet space by it residents and the school. It is a safe retreat and is an opportunity to satisfy its detractors with a plan that aims to achieve 4 primary objectives

1. To encourage a conservational area within the park as the BJPC has many cultivated and mown areas already around Burton Joyce and an area that can be used to sympathetically to encourage native plants, birds and animals would be a benefit to the residents.

2. To tidy up specific areas currently overgrown, unkempt that lower the perceived quality of the surroundings e.g. overgrown entrance drive and sprawling ivy.

3. To maintain the quiet peaceful aspect of the park by not adding play equipment or other entertainment items that can be found in our other Robert Recreational Park in the village.

4. To encourage more use and more input from the local community

3.0 Targeting Users

Any refurbishment must look to cater for a wide variety of residents and locals within our catchment area. It was felt that there were some key ages that could be easily and cost effectively addressed by a general plan to encourage more use.

Ø School children in particular Burton Joyce Primary School, which 20 yards from the perimeter fence has show particular interest in developing part of the site for conservational and educational activities.

Ø Family groups of parents/guardians and children for picnic and quality time together in a quieter environment than a play area.

Ø Senior citizens and residents of which Burton Joyce has a high proportion who could access the park during the school day.

4.0 Achieving the Goals: The Proposal

The refurbishment is to be split into 3 parts and can be reference on the attached map with character references displayed in red.

4.1 Part 1 Conservational Area

In association with the Nottingham Wildlife Trust and The Conservation Department of the Building Better Communities fund the BJPC has sought to reserve an area specifically in the Grove for promotion of natural habitat and native species and education within those areas. It is proposed to develop and area primarily for educational use by the staff and children of Burton Joyce Primary School towards the bottom of the park next to the school as a conservational area that can be accessed directly from the school via its own locked gate through a small wooded track into a newly planted wildflower meadow.

· WM1 Newly planted spring wildflower meadow in the lower half of the grove level to the finish of the drive curve and returning to the fallen deadwood log on the west wall. This would be of a seed mixture recommended by Naturescape and approved by Nott’s Wildlife Trust. It will reach it maturity in two seasons.

The seed mix comprises of a variety of grasses and wild flowers to give a show through the season. It would be 80% grasses 20% wild flower. (Any higher percentage would leave the ground bare like a flower bed over the winter) These would be planted in Oct 2009 for first small show in spring 2010 and a better show in spring 2011. The area would be kept unmown apart from seasons end and demarked from ordinary mown grass by 3 x 3x3 posts with NWT Blue Butterfly scheme markers on.

· WM2 WM3 Shaded areas under trees to the right of entry and to the left are to be planted in October 2009 with 200 bluebells , 200 snowdrops in the green and 100 wild cyclamen. These would give early colour and hopefully generate up into a natural attractive blanket of colour later in summer. BJ Primary School has offered to help plant these.

· WM3 This area also has a series of approved bat boxes and bird boxes placed under guidance in the tree line. There will also be a bird box webcam and bird feeder webcam linked directly across the 40m distance. Provision has also been made for a bird feeder, insect boxes and roosting pockets. The feeder webcam and Birdbox camera live pictures wil be beamed into the school for use on their TV and/or internet. Further discussions are ongoind as to if the webcams will be available on line to all on the Grove own website (bandwidth considerations are needed)

· A3 A membrane and gravel area is allowed for within A3. This is proposed to be a series of log seating arranged to form an educational seating arena for the school classes. The log is to be provided by BJPC.

· G1 covered elsewhere is a gate to access the school grounds from one side only this is expected to be paid for by the school together with their own access ramp.

· A6 is a clearing of a 1.2m wide path for disability access through the tree line and bushes to the wild flower meadow. This area is rich in habitat for insects and birdlife and will form part of the educational remit for the school. This area will be prepared by BJPC.

· A3 is an additional 4 x 1.8m green wire fence panels. This is to blank off a “rat run” of access to the Grove through a private drive by youths and the nuisance to the local residents it has caused.

4.2 Part 2 Leisure Space and Picnic Area

It is proposed that the two main mown field areas are kept and maintained as usual. These will be used as leisure spaces for picnic and light family activities. BJPC will remove old goal posts and kerbed edge to upper driveway A7. We shall also supply 6 loads of topsoil to level the path and chafer into the RH flower beds.

This will be seeded with standard lawn seed and a feathered into existing beds.

In the middle of the park is an overgrown metre high stone wall hiding a rockery is overgrown with brambles and shrubs. We propose to clear this and replant with native species. Decision making will be when the area is cleared and our advisory bodies can view the area.

4.3 Part 3 Entrance Drive and pathways

The curved overgrown entrance drive way at the gates is to resurfaced up to the straight/steps. An additional path of crushed stone is to be laid up to a newly formed circle with two wrought iron seats set in. The circle centre will be planted with a high intensity circle approximately 1.5m in diameter of wild flowers and no grasses in keeping with the general theme but a more prolific display. This would be viewed from the two new seats inset on plinths around the circle. A further path up the gradient to the top with another circle and seat would provide a view across the length of the park.

A further seat would be put around the top left of the park on an existing plinth.

A 1.2 m wide crushed stone path would also bisect the main field in the same place as the original weathered path . This would head slightly at an angle to the Rockery

5.0 Aesthetics and Maintenance Schedule

Its is proposed that the Grove styling is not a formal one. The style and look should be as a country park rather than a formal highly cropped and bordered garden. With that in view the path style is of crushed stone with timber borders ..

Rockery plants will again be of wild flower type and the outcrops of bluebells and snowdrops will give a more informal feel. Care must be taken however to make sure that the area does not look unkempt and that the policy is deliberately less formal. The meadow grass area will be bordered only by mowing to a line with marked “blue butterfly scheme” posts preventing the area looking like it has just not been cut.

The wild flower path circle uses the taller more wild looking flowers rather than more formal bedding plants etc which are not native to the area. The entrance drive must be in tarmac however due to movement of BJPV maintenance vehicles and withstanding rainwater fall off that crushed stone could not at that gradient. The lawns would be mowed in accordance with normal practice up to the wild flower boundary area. A 1.2m band of meadow would be mown to keep access to the rear school path. Wild Flower Meadow mowing would be rare and in accordance with instructions from our advisory bodies.

5.1 Rules and Regulations

Several years ago the Grove was beset with troublesome youths and indication of drinking and drugs issues. There are still rare occasions of some alcohol bottles and cans being dumped that are cleared by council staff and often local residents. The council is aware that this issue may return if incorrectly monitored.

The council also has regular reports and notice of dog mess within the boundaries and a survey 8/10/09 found 5 items of fresh dog faeces in the general area, 3 of which were in the newly proposed education area for school children. This clearly is a health hazard and is also not wanted in picnic areas and places with small children. Within 50 yards of the Grove there are suitable footpaths to open spaces where dog walkers can take their dogs.

The following ideas have been submitted for consideration by the BJPC and residents to help deal with the general. This list is yet to be ratified and is only under consideration as of 7/10/09 and is an area of consultation with the local residents.

Reinforce the current No Dogs allowed rule with signage and fines

Instigate a no alcohol law with signage and fines

Instigate a no fires/bonfire rule

Consider locking gates at dusk and reopening in morning.

6.0 Other Parties

The following agencies have been involved and given valuable input into this project

6.1 Building Better Communities Fund

Most of the contracting and funding is handled by the Conservation Department of the Building Better Communities Fund of the NCC. Tendering process and payment of contractors and schedules are to be run by them under the plan submitted by the BJPC. They have also provided experience and advice on all aspects of the plan. BBC Funding approval is monitored Nottingham County Council Cllr Allen Clarke

6.2 Nott’s Wildlife Trust

After a series of visits Mark Speck from Nott’s Wildlife Trust came up with a report attached to this document (The Grove, Burton Joyce 01.06.09.doc) listing an overview of the site and preferences for conservation and nature control.

This document would form the basic outline for species conservation within the Grove. It will require some updating and revising as further items are discovered and ideas progressed particularly towards the rockery area which is a later addition

6.3 Burton Joyce Primary School

Consultation between the Head Teacher Margaret Gretton and us has agreement on the outline of this plan. Finer details need to be agreed with regard to educational items and discussions have begun with NWT education dept and the Head. It is our opinion that we should be the provider of the area and let the school come up with a suitable conservational education plan under the remit of maintaining a conservation area for the benefit of the children and the residents.

· Tree Species labeling and identification

· Bug Hunting (Insect identification)

· Bird Feeder monitoring and species identification

· Bat Box monitoring

· Bird Box Monitoring

· Wild Flower species identification

· Preferred natural Habitats

Ms Gretton has also propose the use of school “Rangers” to do useful community work around the village centre and The Grove would fit the criteria for assistance in some of the items such as litter control, bird feeder replenishing and planting.

6.4 Residents – Communication

It is proposed that the approved document is posted on the BJPC website http://www.burtonjoyceparishcouncil.org.uk

An abbreviated version will be posted to all residents in the immediate vicinity. Laminated A4 notices to be placed up around the area and near the school gates giving brief in formation and links to the website. Communication through the school letter will be organized and hard copies placed in Burton Joyce library.

It is proposed to set up a working group or “Friends of the Grove” amongst the residents who could assist in the upkeep, tending and advancement of the Grove

7.0 Cost Plan

7.1 BJPC items for costing and approval

A6 Path clearance by BJPC

A7 Kerb Removal by BJPC Cost Status@ Sept09

Supply of Logs for seating area TBC

Hire of mini digger for kerb lifting and path leveling £250 approved 7/10/09

Additional Labourer to assist David List £250 approved 7/10/09

First phase BJPC has already contributed to additional fence and tree pruning in the 2008 year as part of the refurbishment to a cost of £3000 approved at Council

7.2 Building Better Communities Fund

Tendering process has been carried out by the B.B.C from a list of approved NCC contractors. BBC conservation dept is responsible for the procurement and quality control of the installations within their funding package.

Burton Joyce			The Grove Proposed Refurbishment Version 2.1
Works/Equipment		Part Ref	Cost	Details
Landscaping		A1		Path creation with circle
		A2		Resurface existing driveway up to end of curve
		A3		Remove old fencing and replace with 4x green mesh panels
		A4		Installation of 2 benches and outdoor classroom seating.
			£6,000	total above
Wildflower Meadow		WM1	£952	Creation of Wildflower Meadow, estimate, less than £1000
Bulbs		WM2	£291	Native bluebells x 200, snow drops x 200, Wild Cyclamen x 100
Wildlife Equipment		WM3	£1,029	For bat boxes, bird boxes, 2 x bird boxes with wireless cameras, feeders,
				insect boxes, roosting pockets and table.
			£8,272	Total To date (A)
Still awaiting quote
Log Seating		L1	£200	(Installation already catered for)
Rockery Clearing & replanting		R1	£1,000	Estimated
School Access Gate		G1	£400	Estimated
Extension to Path		A5	£700	Estimated
Extension Path to rockery			£1,200	Estimated
Extension Path across field			£900	Estimated
			£4,400	Estimated Total So Far (B)
			£12,672	Project Total to date (A+B)
Interpretation Panels		S1		History of Grove signage
		S2		Species and Conservation signage
		S3		NW.Trust blue butterfly posts and signage
			£2,328
	Variable Amount left to spend on signage from project total of £15,000

8.0 scaled down plan

9.0 Document: The Grove, Burton Joyce 01.06.09.doc by NWT