parva close field - st albans city & district council - your ... close draft...1. site summary...

ParvaClose Field

Greenspace ActionPlan 2018 - 2023

Further copies of this management plan are available from:

Green Spaces and Cemeteries Team LeaderCommunity ServicesSt Albans City and District CouncilDistrict Council OfficesSt Peter’s StreetSt AlbansHertsAL1 3JE

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 01727 819584

AMENDMENTDATE

SECTION UPDATED DETAILS OFFICER

CONTENTS

1. SITE SUMMARY

2. SITE DESCRIPTION

2.1 Location Map

2.2 Site Description Map

2.3 Introduction

2.4 Geography and Landscape

2.5 History and Archaeology

2.6 Habitats and Wildlife

2.7 Access, Facilities and Infrastructure

2.8 Community, Management and Events

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

4. ACTION PLANS AND MAPS

5. SPECIFICATIONS

6. APPENDICES

1. SITE SUMMARY

Site name Parva Close Field

Site address Parva Close

Harpenden

Hertfordshire

AL5 1RQ

Grid Reference TL 146129

Size 0.77 ha (1.9 acres)

Owner St Albans City and District Council

Designations Green Belt

Vision Statement

The aim of this Greenspace Action Plan (GAP) is to maintain and enhance Parva Close

Field (PCF) as a well-used green space in St. Albans. PCF will provide both recreation and

biodiversity for the local community to be involved with and enjoy.

This will be achieved through the following objectives:

• To provide clear and welcoming access into and throughout the site

• To ensure that visitors to PCF feel safe and able to enjoy the site at all times

• To ensure the standard of maintenance is maintained and relevant

• To ensure ongoing costs are sustainable and secure external funding for capital

works

• To protect and enhance the biodiversity and heritage that can be found on the site

• To support and encourage community involvement at PCF

• To promote awareness and interest in PCF

The GAP for PCF sets out the management, maintenance and development framework of

the site over five years.

The GAP is reviewed annually, so that any outstanding tasks can be rescheduled as

necessary. The GAP is also frequently reviewed in conjunction with the Countryside

Management Service and any other relevant bodies.

2.1 LOCATION MAP

Harpenden Common area, with Parva Close within the red ring bottom right of the map.

2.2 SITE DESCRIPTION MAP

2.3 INTRODUCTION

Parva Close Field is an area of green space within an urban setting; it is approximately 1.9

acres of mainly short cut amenity grass with an ancient hedgerow on its south east side. A

small children’s play area is fenced off on the west side, and a goal post sits against the

expanding hedgerow.

The Stakeholders for this site are;

St Albans City and District Council– The local Authority that owns the land.

John O’Connor Grounds Maintenance- Maintain the green area on behalf of St Albans

C&DC.

Southdown Playground Areas Working Group- This charity was set up to raise funds for

play areas in Southdown area of Harpenden, one of which is on site.

Harpenden Town Council- Who has ownership of the Oakley Road play area

Countryside Management Service - An agency supported by Hertfordshire County Council

and local district and borough councils. It provides voluntary support and advice to help

communities care for and enjoy the environment.

2.4 GEOGRAPHY AND LANDSCAPE

This area of greenspace sits within urban development, a thin path with mature trees to the

south links the site to the open fields south of Harpenden to the rear of gardens along Mons

Close. The site slopes gently to the north east and is fairly flat with one linear raised area

that may be a buried pipe line as maps do not show any historic boundaries at this point.

2.5 HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY

Parva Close Field is the remnant of old agricultural fields that belonged to the parish of

Harpenden Urban. The mature and overgrown hedgerow to the south is all that remains in

the area of the old parish boundary between Harpenden and Wheathampstead. This was

moved south in 1935 having been in place since the land was divided, Edward the

Confessor having granted it with impunity to Westminster Abbey in 1060. As such this

boundary is of historical importance to the local area.

Parva Close area 1897, the parish boundary is the hedge line at Parva Close.

Parva Close area 1938, parish boundary moved south to present alignment.

2.6 HABITATS AND WILDLIFE

The main open area is of short grass with a mix of plantains and clovers. At the very north

eastern end, where the site narrows and the grass was not cut as short, small Cuckoo

Flowers were seen. These and other wild flowers would thrive if the current amenity cut

regime were replaced by a conservation hay cutting regime. The boundary hedge seen on

historic maps still exists in places, with mature trees showing the original line. Smaller

scrubby regrowth along its outside edges has pushed out and encroached on the path along

the southern edge, making it almost impossible to use but for someone cutting back the

growth enough to allow limited access.

The hedge consists of Ash, Holly, Hawthorn, Elder, Field Maple, Hazel, Cherry and

Blackthorn. The spreading growth is mainly made up of cleavers, brambles, nettles, and cow

parsley.

Apart from the hedgerow area there is little wildlife to be seen. Common garden bird species:

Blackbird, House Sparrow, Starling, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Robin and Wood pigeon

are frequenting the bird feeders in the local gardens and returning to the hedge line for

cover. It is possible with the age of the trees in this area that some of the veteran trees may

contain a bat roost. The linear nature of the hedgerow, with lights from back gardens and

houses makes this a good hunting spot for Pipistrelles and other common species of bat.

View along the path between Parva Close Field and Eastcote Drive.

2.7 ACCESS, FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Access to the field is gained via five entrances. A surfaced path runs from the entrance at

Bewdley Close to Broadstone Road; this is crossed by a surfaced path that runs from

Welbeck Rise to a path that connects Magna and Parva Close. On site there is a small

enclosed play area with play equipment and a small football pitch area with one goal post.

The remainder of the field area is cut for short amenity grass. There is a plan to expand the

play area equipment this is detailed in the map below.

2.8 COMMUNITY, MANAGEMENT AND EVENTS

It is hoped that the local community will be willing to get involved with the planned works. All

visits by the Countryside Management Service volunteers will be advertised locally to allow

those who wish to join in to attend. It is intended that the majority of the aftercare work will

be taken up by local people with assistance from the stakeholders.

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this action plan is to engage the local community in taking ownership and

improving the green space, saving an historical feature and improving the site for wildlife. To

make sure that this green space and its historic aspects are maintained for future

generations. We propose to bring the hedge line back into management respecting the

mature trees that are now providing structure to this open space. There will be a need for an

information panel next to the first years hedging works to explain the historic nature of the

hedge and the benefits to wildlife by managing the hedgerow. We intend to sow wildflowers

into the edges of the grassland to improve the floral content for the public and wildlife.

4. ACTION PLANS AND MAPS

ANNUAL ACTIONS

Action When Responsibility FundingEst.Cost

Spec.Ref

Status

Leave a boundary area of longer grass inspecified areas to allow wild flowers toestablish.Cut as a hay meadow once the wild flowersare established.

2018-19

2019-23SADC contractors

To be populated with additional groundsmaintenance activities undertaken by SACDC

YEAR 1 ACTION PLAN 2018 – 2019


Spec.Ref

Status

Scarify existing grass sward and scatter wildflower seed in border areas and edge withspring flowering bulbs

Feb-Mar CMS / Volunteers

Amenity cut grass in first year to establishWildflowers.

May-Sep SADC contractors

Clear scrub back to hedge line along entirelength.

Oct-Feb CMS / Volunteers

Remove scrub from hedge line, in markedsection plant new trees.

Oct-Feb CMS / Volunteers

Fence in newly planted section of the hedge. Oct-Feb CMS / Volunteers

Locate Information board by entrance. Feb-Mar CMS / Volunteers



Spec. Ref Status

Hay cut the wildflower areas. Jul-AugSADC contractors

Clear regrowth of scrub back to hedge linealong entire length.

Oct-FebCMS / Volunteers

Maintain and monitor all new tree plantingsand fences.

Mar-OctCMS / Volunteers



Spec.Ref

Status

Hay cut the wildflower areas Aug-SepSADC contractors

Clear regrowth scrub back to hedge line alongentire length.


Maintain and monitor all new tree planting andfences.




Spec.Ref

Status




Remove scrub from hedge line, in markedsection plant new trees.


Maintain and monitor all new tree plantingareas and fences.


Fence in newly planted section of the hedge. Oct-Feb SADC contractors



Spec.Ref

Status




Maintain and monitor all new tree planting andfences.


4.1 ACTION PLAN MAP 2017 -22

5 SPECIFICATIONS

5.1 Meadow Mix

We would recommend a basic general purpose meadow mixturethat is suitable for a wide

range of soil types.

Wild Flowers

Latin name Common nameAchillea millefolium Yarrow

Centaurea nigraCommonKnapweed

Daucus carota Wild CarrotGalium verum Lady's BedstrawLeucanthemum vulgare Oxeye DaisyPrunella vulgaris SelfhealRanunculus acris Meadow ButtercupRumex acetosa Common SorrelSilene dioica Red Campion

Sowing

Seed is best sown in the autumn or spring but can be sown at other times of the year if thereis sufficient warmth and moisture. The seed must be surface-sown and can be applied bymachine or broadcast by hand. To get an even distribution and avoid running out divide theseed into two or more parts and sow in overlapping sections. Do not incorporate or cover theseed but firm in with a roller, or by treading, to give good soil/seed contact.

Aftercare

First year management

Most sown meadow wild flower species are perennial; they will be slow to germinate andgrow and will not usually flower in their first growing season. The annual grass growth iseasily controlled by topping or mowing allowing the wild flower species to establish.

Mow newly sown meadows regularly throughout the first year of establishment to a height of40-60mm, removing cuttings if dense. This will control annual weeds and help maintainbalance between faster growing grasses and slower developing wild flowers.

Management once established

In the second and subsequent years sowings can be managed in a number of ways which,in association with soil fertility, will determine the character of the grassland. The best resultsare usually obtained by traditional meadow management based around a summer hay cut incombination with autumn and possibly spring mowing.

Meadow grassland is not cut from spring through to late July/August to give the sownspecies an opportunity to flower.

After flowering in July or August take a 'hay cut': cut back with a scythe, petrol strimmer ortractor mower to c 50mm. Leave the 'hay' to dry and shed seed for 1-7 days then removefrom site.

Mow the re-growth through to late autumn/winter to c 50mm and again in spring if needed.

5.2 Hedgerow Mix

Mixed Hedgerow Pack (200 Plants)

• 150 x Hawthorn (40-60cm 1+0)• 50 mixed species (40-60cm 1+0) to include Field Maple, Hazel, Common Dogwood &

Dog Rose• 200 x Spiral guards (60cm x 38mm diameter)• Supporting canes (90cm x 3lbs)

The planting will cover 40m when planted at the suggested rate of 5 plants per metre.

5.3 Protective Fencing

During the establishment phase the newly restored hedgerow will be protected by the

installation of a “box fenced enclosure”. The fence will provide protection from browsing

animals, accidental damage by users and provide a delineation of the site boundary until the

hedge begins to mature.

The fence shall be constructed as per illustration below using rabbit netting (hexagonalmesh) to a height of 1050mm, 31mm mesh, wire gauge 18, 150mm to be turned out atbottom and pegged down with wire loops. Stakes are to be peeled round 1.7m x 63mm (min)diameter at 2.5m centres, straining posts to be peeled round 2.1m x 125mm (min) diameter,struts round 2.1m x 100mm diameter. Four lines of wire 4mm mild steel, fixed at heights of50mm, 450mm, 900mm (top of mesh) and 1.05m from ground level, stapled to posts using4omm staples and fasten the mesh to the wire using netting rings (pig rings).

5.4 Arisings

For the time period that this plan covers it will be necessary for the arising from the

hedgerow maintenance to be stacked and then removed by the SADC contractors. Some of

this material can be made into Habitat stacks for Hedgehogs and other wildlife to use over

winter. These stacks would be best placed in the wooded area to the east of the site where

they will get minimal disturbance from the public.

6 APPENDICES

List of mature trees;

Ash Fraxinus excelsior

Elder Sambucus nigra

Swedish whitebeam Sorbus intermedia

Field Maple Acer campestre

Hazel Corylus avellana

Holly Ilex aquifolium

Hawthorn Cretaegus monogyna

Oak Quercus robur

parva close field - st albans city & district council - your ... close draft...1. site summary...

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