Park Bench

News from around the London Parks

Royal Parks Police Merge with the Met

THE Royal Parks Constabulary is to be absorbed into the Metropolitan Police Service from 1st April.

Policing in the Royal Parks dates back to 1872, when the Parks Regulation Act created a force of Royal Parks Keepers. Unusually for that time, the Parks Keepers were given all the powers of police constables within the parks. In 1974 the Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act was passed and the Royal Parks Keepers became the Royal Parks Constabulary.

The two police forces cannot be merged formally without legislation, but the parks police will become an operational unit of the Met on an interim basis.

Twickenharn MP Vincent Cable has supported the merger, hoping the change will benefit Bushy Park, where there has been vandalism and late-night problems.

Dulwich Park Closes In On £4m Restoration

HERITAGE Lottery Fund money continues to benefit London's parks. As project after project wins approval, the next big HLF restoration is likely to be Dulwich Park in the LB Southwark.

Last year Southwark joined forces with the park's Friends group to make an HLF submission, with the goal of returning the park to its Victorian splendour. The submission received a provisional grant of £3.9m subject to detailed restoration plans to make the most of the park's unique character. Final plans were submitted to the HLF at the end of January.

Dulwich Park was created in 1890 to protect part of Dulwich Commons before the land was swallowed up by development. The park was laid out by Charles Barry Jr and doyen of Victorian Park design JJ Sexby. Restoration will include returning the park's design to Sexby's original vision with a strong emphasis on sustainable ecology. 

A new car park means drivers will no longer be allowed to park along the roads inside the park The lake, one of the main attractions of the park, will have updated vistas and a new water cleaning system. A fence will deter the Canada Geese and a boathouse on stilts will have a retractable entrance to deter overnight vandals.

The curving path around the lake is to be resurfaced and its verges replanted in line with the original design. The American garden, planted by Sexby with a fine collection of rhododendrons, will be given some tender loving care to set it back to its original look.

Sports facilities will be overhauled and two historic shelters will be restored to their 1890s appearance with thatched roofs.

To give your views as work progresses you can contact: Jennette Emery-Wallis, Land Use Consultants, 43 Chalton Street, LONDON NW1 1JD or Dulwich Park Friends, PO Box 16860, LONDON SE21 7ZQ.

But Will It Be Sustained?

AS the public row rages over spiralling levels of Council Tax in London, the Evening Standard has run a story suggesting where different boroughs are considering making economies.

Among 'savings' allegedly being considered by Southwark is £1 m off the annual parks maintenance bill. Southwark is responsible for 130 parks and open spaces. Major parks in the borough include Dulwich Park, Southwark Park and Russia Dock Woodland. 

No one at Southwark was available for comment.

HLF Overhaul for Red Cross Garden

ALSO in Southwark and in the news is the Red Cross Garden at Bankside.

In late 2003 the Garden was awarded £524,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The scheme, put forward by Bankside Open Spaces Trust, will see the historic Garden, originally installed in 1888, recreated. A layer of topsoil currently covers the original Victorian layout.

Situated in a Conservation Area, the garden is considered to be one of the best surviving examples of the social housing and environmental schemes of National Trust founder Octavia Hill.

The restoration will reflect original design features such as railings and furniture and recreate lawn and planting beds. A full-time Community Gardener will be employed.

Where Victoria Reigned

OUTGOING Tory MP for Kensington and Chelsea, Michael Portillo, has recently got approval from the local council for his plans to upgrade Victoria Square where he lives.

Built in 1838 by Matthew Wyatt, the square currently contains crumbling paving and overgrown trees. Portillo's plans include re-landscaping and a central statue of the young Queen Victoria. The scheme is estimated at £250,000 and local residents have been asked to donate £10,000 each towards the cost.

No Singing Please - We're Lewisham

LEWISHAM Council wants to ban loud singing in its parks in a bid to make them more attractive to visitors. The council is also pressing for changes to by-laws that will rid the borough's green spaces of people playing instruments, throwing javelins and landing helicopters.

Cllr. Andrew Brown insists that the regulations are not draconian. "If you are singing in a drunken manner, why should you be allowed to stay in the park when you are spoiling everybody else's fun?"

New Sculpture Reflects History

A NEW sculpture has been installed in Weavers Field, Bethnal Green, LB Tower Hamlets. Steel ribbons symbolise the cloth woven by the Huguenot weavers associated historically with the area.

The sculpture, created by local artist Peter Dunn, has been constructed around a stainless steel pole carrying CCTV cameras. The sculpture was paid for with £40,000 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and £34,000 from Cityside Regeneration.

A Host of Golden Daffodils

WATCH out for daffodils in West Ham Park this spring. Last November 550 children from ten schools surrounding West Ham Park took part in the first annual planting of 9,000 daffodils at the Park.

James McCulloch, Superintendent, Parks and Gardens, Corporation of London said: 'It's fantastic that we are engaging with the schools in Newham and encouraging the children to come and plant bulbs at West Ham Park.'

West Ham Park, the largest park in the LB of Newham, has been owned and maintained by the Corporation of London since 1874.

Dogs Create No-go Areas on Heath

A PET owner who was punched during an argument with another dog walker has warned that parts of Hampstead Heath are becoming no-go zones. The victim, in her 60s, told how she was on Parliament Hill when a dog pinned down her pet and its handler refused to take action.

The Hampstead resident added: It's getting worrying now because a lot of these dog handlers have 10 or 11 dogs and they can't keep them under control. There are certain parts of the Heath that I won't go to now because there are always these large packs there."

St. Paul's View Saved

THE 300-year-old historic view of St Paul's Cathedral from King Henry VIII's Mound in Richmond Park, 10 miles away, has been saved from developers, despite London Mayor Ken Livingstone's indifference. 

Livingstone visited Richmond Park last year and claimed he was unable to see the view. He wanted to remove its protected legal status in pursuance of his policy of increasing the number of tall modern buildings in London.

However a public enquiry into the London Plan recommended rejecting plans for large buildings which would have obscured the view and the view is now designated as part of the London View Protection Framework.

• Car parking at the Pen Ponds car park in Richmond Park has been reduced by the Royal Parks Agency from 280 to 95 spaces, despite protests from Richmond Council.

Council leader Cllr Tony Arbour commented, "If the guidance of Richmond Council was to be ignored, why was the council consulted in the first place?"

Greens Target Cars In Queens Wood

QUEEN'S Wood, Highgate should be made traffic-free says the Deputy Mayor of London.

Green Party member Jenny Jones is calling for traffic to be banned from the majority of London's parks including Queen's Wood, which has roads connecting Highgate to Hornsey.

Tenth Anniversary

Trust News from Chair BARBARA SIMMS

THE London Parks & Gardens Trust was launched in May 1994 and this year it celebrates its tenth birthday!

During those ten years, guided by the aims and targets set out in its first strategic document, the Trust has become a well-established organisation with a strong voice in the promotion and protection of London's historic green spaces. The Trust is planning several events and activities to mark this tenth anniversary including a travelling exhibition to promote the Trust; a bigger-than-ever garden party to which we will be inviting those who were involved in the 'early days'; and a drinks reception for patrons, trustees and life members.

This will be an excellent opportunity for patrons and trustees to meet informally and also the occasion for the Trust to thank its increasing number of life members for their support. However I hope all members and their guests will join us in July at the summer garden party, being held this year in delightful Mecklenburgh Square.

Spring is Sprung

Spring is always a busy time of year for the Trust. Not only are we organizing summer and autumn events and the AGM (19th May at the Lindley Library) but plans for Open Garden Squares Weekend (note the new name) are well underway. As the name indicates the event takes place over two days this year (12th & 13th June) and already over 100 squares are participating!

The Heritage Lottery funded London Parks Discovery Project is also making rapid strides with project manager Deborah Jarman leading the way. This schools project to develop a web-based resource to raise children's awareness of their local green heritage will be piloted from the autumn in four London boroughs - Enfield, Greenwich, Newham and Wandsworth. The IT consultants,  Footmark Media of Rochester, have just been appointed to develop the resource over the next few months.

This is an exciting venture for the Trust. It will be our first major venture into children's education and make practical use of the London Inventory of Historic Green Spaces, launched last year.

Sally Williams, as Keeper of the Inventory, receives an increasing number of enquiries for information from both professionals and those conducting private research. With a database of over 2000 historic green open spaces throughout Greater London the Inventory is not only a valuable resource for the Trust but also one accessible to all members of the Trust. For further information on the details held and how you can access this, please contact the Trust office.

London Wins 42 Green Flags

A TOTAL of 42 parks and open spaces in Greater London were awarded Green flags in 2003. The Green Flag Award Scheme represents the national standard for parks and green spaces across England and Wales.

Run by the Civic Trust and funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister through CABE Space, the Award is an independent benchmark against which the quality of public parks and green spaces can be measured. Parks are judged against a list of eight criteria including cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

Full list of London awards:

CIP Group:

Bedfont Lakes Country Park,
Cranford Countryside Park

LB of Barking & Dagenham:

Dagenham Parish Churchyard (St Peter and St Paul's),
Eastbrookend Country Park.

LB of Bexley

Danson Park,
East Wickham Open Space,
Foots Cray Meadows,
Hall Place House and Gardens (Bexley Heritage Trust in partnership with Bexley Council),
Lesnes Abbey.

British Airways in partnership with Glendale Countryside:

Harmondsworth Moor.

LB Bromley:

Croydon Road Recreation Ground,
Kelsey Park,
Queens Gardens.

Brent Parks Service:

Roundwood Park

Corporation of London:

Ashtead Common,
City of London Cemetery & Crematorium, Coulsdon Common,

Epping Forest,
Farthing Downs,
Hampstead Heath,
Highgate Wood,
Kenley Common,
Queen's Park,
Riddlesdown,
West Ham Park.

LB of Croydon:

Happy Valley Park.

LB of Ealing:

Acton Park.

LB of Enfield:

Jubilee Park,

Trent Country Park.

Glendale Grounds Management in partnership with LB of Lewisham:

Chinbrook Meadows,
Manor House Gardens.

LB of Haringey.

Bruce Castle Park.

LB of Islington:

Gillespie Park Local Nature Reserve,

Priory Park.

Horniman Public Museum & Public Park Trust:

 Horniman Gardens.

LB of Newham:

Forest Lane Park.

LB of Greenwich:

Well Hall Pleasaunce.

RB of Kensington & Chelsea:

Holland Park.

City of Westminster:

Paddington Recreation Ground,
St John's Wood Church Grounds,
Victoria Embankment Gardens.

LB Tower Hamlets:

Weavers Fields.

Green Heritage

A NEW award this year is Green Heritage Site status. Sponsored by English Heritage, this promotes the care and upkeep of parks and green spaces in England that are of historical interest. Winners in London for 2003 were two of the Corporation of London's open spaces, Epping Forest in northeast London and Farthing Downs, Croydon.

Nigel Temple 1926-2003

Hazelle Jackson writes:

Dr Nigel Temple, RWA, Honorary Registrar of Research to the Garden History Society for many years, died on 4th November 2003 after a short illness. Nigel Temple had many talents: as an artist, a collector, a writer, a teacher, and a historian but above all he had a wondrous gift for friendship. He was greatly liked and admired by his many friends and colleagues.