| FOAP Long-term Plan |
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Friends of Allestree Park - Long Term Plan -
2010 to 2015
1. Introduction
Allestree Park is the largest, wildest and most scenic of all the parks in Derby. In contrast to many of them, especially Markeaton Park, which provides more commercial facilities, Allestree Park provides a place to enjoy splendid landscapes and wildlife. In this Allestree Park is an important asset of the city in providing a place for the people of Derby and beyond to relax from the pressures of modern day life. In order for the park to continue to fulfil this role the environment needs to be maintained, conserved and enhanced and the public encouraged to use the park responsibly.
Much of the park, the woodland and fields surrounding the Golf Course and the lake, has been designated a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) by Derby City Council who own and run the park. LNR status is a statutory designation made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by principal local authorities.
A comprehensive management plan for the LNR was produced in 2002 by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, working with officers of Derby City Council. As part of the LNR management plan objectives, the Friends of Allestree Park (FOAP) group was set up in 2005. Since then the FOAP have organised events within the park (woodland walks, lake clearance, veteran tree walks, etc.), and identified a number of areas for improvement in the largest area of woodland (path restoration, invasive sycamore and rhododendron clearance, native tree and shrub planting), and begun projects to tackle these areas. The constitution states that the purpose of the FOAP is: ‘For the benefit of the public to promote conservation and the improvement of Allestree Park and the surrounding area and to advance the education and enjoyment of the public in all aspects of the built and natural environment, amenity value and history of Allestree Park and its environs.’ The plan described below identifies the objectives and commitments the FOAP will work towards over the next 5 years (initially) to best serve the park and preserve it for future generations. The plan identifies what the FOAP would like to achieve, either by its own efforts or by involvement with other organisations, whilst recognising the limitations of available funding, resource etc.It is intended that the plan is a live document that is reviewed and updated, on an annual basis, to record our achievements against the extant plan and identify further objectives and projects for the coming years.
2. Conservation
2.1 Protect the environment within the park
The aim of the FOAP, together with Derby City Council, is to ensure that existing habitats for wildlife is maintained generally for native species whilst managing invasive native and non-native species. In addition the FOAP want to be informed and to influence decisions taken by Derby City Council that may impact on the park environment.
2.1.1 Specific Projects a) Work towards the elimination of Himalayan Balsam by removal on a regular basis around the park. b) Removal of rubbish/debris from the ‘Evans Avenue’ corner of the lake on a regular basis. c) Assess the effect of introducing a reed bed to clean the water in the Lake and, if beneficial overall, implement. d) Reduce the presence of Sycamore trees in the park and replace them with native tree species. e) Work towards the elimination of Rhododendron bushes solely within the woods on a regular basis and replace with native under-shrub species. Note that there is no intention of removal of the rhododendrons within the ornamental garden at the Hall, and these will be retained. f) Provide nest boxes for birds and bats g) Promote the expansion of uncut wild grassland areas in appropriate parts of the park to sustain and promote the population of wildflowers, insects, birds and other wildlife. h) Record and report to Derby City Council concerns relating to the park environment and the condition of the park. Encourage users of the park to inform the FOAP and Derby City Council of their concerns, e.g. litter, garden waste, vandalism.i) Seek to secure the future of the Allestree Hall Ice House.
j) Bring pressure upon Derby City Council to preserve the fabric of Allestree Hall.
k) Influence the decisions/plans on the future of Allestree Hall and its related historic features such as stables and coach-turning area by identifying options for the future of Hall, including ones that will benefit the public and provide open access. Some ideas have already been proposed by the FOAP in a paper issued in November 2007. This paper is available on the FOAP website.
l) Engage with Derby City Council to become informed about and influence maintenance/repair proposals for the park e.g. the dam wall, and any other work undertaken by Derby City Council staff or other organisations such as BTCV and Broomfield College.
m) Explore possibilities for restoration of the walled garden to develop it as a demonstration/working garden in organic techniques and include some traditional, now rare, varieties of fruit and vegetables which would have been grown when the Hall was in its heyday.
2.2 Support the Allestree LNR Management Plan
The LNR Management Plan proposed the setting up of a ‘Friends Group’ to help the site rangers to carry out management tasks at organised events, to run events, help with site surveys and to form a focus for awareness about the park.The FOAP have been active in organising events and in assisting the rangers. The nature of the activities undertaken by the FOAP to date has helped to meet some of the objectives of the plan. However, there are a number of areas within the management plan that the FOAP should undertake to help Derby City Council met the plans objectives.2.2.1
2.2.1 Specific Projects
(a) Record on an ongoing basis, the occurrence and changing population levels of fauna and flora within the park, including veteran trees. The extent of what FOAP intend to or can record, and the need to recruit local specialists in the various plant and animal groups to help with this work, will be assessed initially and implementation commenced.There are also a number of activities in the LNR Plan that are covered by the FOAP proposals under sections 3 and 4 below.
3. Improvement
3.1 Ensure that the park is safe for the general public to use.
Derby City Council is responsible for Health and Safety; although the FOAP can assist by identify potential hazards in the park and proposing possible solutions, and by ensuring that any potential harmful activities within the park are reported to the appropriate authority.
3.1.1 Specific Projects
a) Identify sections of the lake shore where erosion presents a hazard to pedestrians and reduces amenity and biodiversity and make proposals for Derby City Council to restore the eroded ground.
b) Publicise the need to report unlawful events in the park to the police via notices delivered to households adjacent to the park, the FOAP website and notices on display boards within the park.
c) Arrange the maintenance and improvement of the anti-litter notices within the park encouraging visitors to take their litter home or to put it in the bins provided. Identify areas requiring additional litter bins and seek their supply.
d) Identify areas in the park that require repair/maintenance/improvement to enhance the safety of the park such as the provision of steps from Big Wood down to the Golf Course, already undertaken.
3.2 Encourage wider use of the park
Allestree Park provides a variety of recreational amenities, from wide open grassed areas suitable for picnics, games etc, to walks of varying lengths and difficulty. The perception is that Allestree Park is not promoted as much as other parks in Derby, yet has much to offer, recognising that there is room for improvement. At the same time, the FOAP believe it is important to preserve the non-commercialisation of the park, so that the public can enjoy the pleasures of open spaces, lakeside or woodland walks and quiet spaces. 3.2.1 Specific Projects a) Improve signage to the park:
i) Keep signs at the main entrances to the park clear and unobstructed by foliage.
ii) Provide additional signs to Woodlands Road, Evans Avenue and Evergreen Hall entrances.
b) Improve signage within the park:
i) Provide directional signs to entrances/car parks/exits/hall/animal enclosure from within the park.
ii) Provide signs to the toilets by the hall/golf club.
iii) Provide information panels at all main entrances to the park. The information on the panels should include maps of the park, the facilities within the park, some of the wildlife to be seen and the main footpaths.
iv) Provide a memorial to Alex Kilpatrick, FOAP’s first chair, near the Hall in the form of a stone plinth which includes an information panel about the park.
It is intended that any additions to the signage within the park should be limited to a minimum whilst providing sufficient information to the public.
c) Liaise with Derby City Council and the bus companies to promote access to the park by public transport via the Allestree and Sixes buses.
d) Make proposals for Derby City Council to complete the footpath around the lake by providing a section on the north side.
e) Define a series of walks around the park of varying lengths and difficulties, including the existing nature walk. Way-mark the routes and provide ‘walk’ leaflets showing the routes.
f) Promote the orienteering course in the park. The publicity for the park states that there is an orienteering course in the park. However, it is not clear where the course is or where it runs.
g) Provision of a refreshment facility within the park. Ideally this would be by use of the existing clubhouse facility. However, this would need to be more explicitly publicised with standard opening times and expanded menu, which will require some investment from Derby City Council and the golf club. In the short term, give greater publicity to the facilities available within the club house.
h) Work with Derby City Council and the Rangers to repair and maintain the wooden park benches within the park as necessary.
i) Work with Derby City Council and the Rangers to repair and maintain the wooden picnic benches within the park.
j) Create additional picnic areas in appropriate parts of the park.
k) Improve the animal enclosure e.g. perhaps include a wider range of animals, improved shelters, and improving the landscaping of the area.
l) Seek via consultation with the public areas for improvement/changes/additional facilities etc.
3.3 Improve the environment around and within Allestree Lake
The aquatic wildlife within Allestree Lake is presently not as varied and healthy as it could be. The ornamental pond, by comparison, is rich in aquatic life. There are also a small number of problems around the lake with litter, noise and antisocial behaviour.
3.3.1 Specific Projects
a) Liaise with Derby City Council in improving the management of the fishing activities around the lake.
b) In conjunction with the Pond Wardens, identify measures that can be undertaken, either by the FOAP or in conjunction with Derby City Council, to improve the quality of the water in the lake to encourage a more diverse range of aquatic life.
3.4 Provision of a Visitor Centre
There is no central information centre within the park, other than the notice board by the animal enclosure, which gives minimal information about the park. A number of the proposed FOAP projects in this plan will require information to be available for the public to gain the maximum enjoyment/education from their visit.
Such information could be delivered by information boards, as planned in 3.2 above, or by some form of Visitor Information Centre, either un-manned or manned full or part time. Clearly there are a number of issues with providing a Visitor Centre; its location, manning, what information will be available, security, costs etc. It is proposed that as part of the five year plan, the FOAP discuss the possibilities to identify suitable locations, define what form a Centre might take, what information to have available, and then discuss these ideas with Derby City Council. 4. Education 4.1 Provide educational opportunities regarding the park, hall and environment for the general public Over the last 5 years the FOAP have provided a number of educational walks, such as woodland/bluebell walks, veteran trees walks, dawn chorus walks etc. In addition a number of events have been held in conjunction with other organisations e.g. history walks, bat and badger spotting and the Allestree Park Discovery Day. A large amount of information is readily available via the FOAP and other internet websites, but the possibility of supplementing this via, for example leaflet information in libraries, doctors/dentists waiting rooms etc, or information boards or through a visitor information centre will be examined. 4.1.1 Specific Projects
a) Identify a programme of regular walks/events annually to be provided by FOAP in conjunction with other organisations.
b) Provide appropriate information boards around the park, as 3.2 b) above.
c) Identify and produce additional educational information either directly on the FOAP website or via links to other sites.
d) Continue to update, improve and expand the FOAP website, including a summary table detailing the plans objectives and progress to date, and encourage input from the FOAP membership and the general public.
4.2 Liaise with the local schools and youth organisations to engage the next generations in preserving/enhancing the park The future of Allestree Park ultimately lies with the next generations of the people of Derby. To enhance and preserve the park for future generations the FOAP will seek ways to involve, encourage and enthuse the youngsters of today. Consequently, the FOAP will seek to involve the local schools and youth organisations (cubs/scouts brownies/guides etc) to engage with the park and to take part in FOAP projects. 4.2.1 Specific Projects
a) Identify local schools and organisations that would be interested in liaising/interacting with FOAP.
b) Provide talks in the schools and organisations identified in a) above.
c) Produce or contribute a teacher’s pack specifically relating to Allestree Park.
d) Identify projects that could be undertaken with assistance from schools and other organisations, e.g. fauna and flora surveys, non-native species control etc.
e) Involve local organisations in generating ideas for improvement, conservation, etc.
5. Additional Objectives
5.1 Greater liaison with other organisations such as the Friends of Markeaton Brook, Pond Wardens, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Partnership, Derbyshire Conservation Volunteers, and seek their input to the plan.
5.2 Improve communication with the FOAP membership and seek to improve their greater involvement in FOAP projects.
5.3 Identify ways to increase the FOAP membership, especially across the younger age groups.
5.4 Review the FOAP committee structure in the light of this plan to identify more clearly specific roles and responsibilities for committee or FOAP members in carrying out its objectives. This would include, for example, a dedicated membership secretary or schools and youth representatives.
5.5 Review and agree the Terms of Reference with Derby City Council and agree working relationships with the various areas within the Council, whilst retaining our independence from the Council.
5.6 Identify the various funding sources available for FOAP projects and seek their financial support where appropriate. 5.7 Monitor the ranger presence in Allestree Park, and if necessary lobby Derby City Council, to ensure that it is appropriate to the needs of the park.
Friends of Allestree Park - 28th December 2009
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 04 January 2010 ) |