Environmental Protection and Management
Partnership Working

2.1         Introduction 

2.1.1  

Bournemouth has some 780 hectares of public open space, with 304 hectares set aside for specific active recreational purposes, and the remaining 476 hectares classified either as countryside, woodland, clifftops, gardens, parkland or local amenity areas.   A classification and description of all parks, gardens, countryside and open space areas in Bournemouth is detailed in Appendix 2A at the end of this paper.    

2.1.2  

The town has an outstanding reputation for horticultural excellence, winning the European Floral Champion ‘Entente Florale’ in 1995 the World Floral Championship ‘Nations in Bloom’ in 1996, as well as ‘Southern England in Bloom’ in 1999, 2001 and 2002 and Britain in Bloom in 1995 and 2002. 

2.1.3

In 1997 a ‘Green Flag’ award for good management of Parks was introduced, similar to the ‘Blue Flag’ award for beaches.   The Council has participated in the awards since 1998 and currently has 6 green flags.

2.1.4  

This topic paper considers the importance of parks, gardens, countryside and open space (PGCOS) and considers:-

i)      the popularity of PGCOS and issues of conflict, sustainability, and environmental protection;

ii)     the economic and social benefit of PGCOS to the town - the economic importance of the coastal gardens and the social benefits of PGCOS as an environmental amenity.   The Leisure Strategy 1996 highlighted personal well-being as a key factor, with well managed, diverse PGCOS provision able to provide a respite from the stress of daily life within urban society and the opportunity to relax in a natural environment;

iii)     the importance of ‘reaching out to the community’ to increase dialogue between the Council and the community encouraging community ownership, reducing conflict and by so doing making all PGCOS safer through increased use;

iv)    the impact of increasing National and European Health and Safety and environmental protection legislation.  

2.1.5  

This topic paper will inform the development of a ‘Green Spaces Strategy’ for the town which will review the quality and value of each open space site and set out future proposals.   The target date for completing the draft strategy for consultation is Spring 2005.

2.1.6  

The Household Survey undertaken in February 1999 highlighted the importance of PGCOS in the lives of residents.   The Survey indicated that nearly 80% of residents visited PGCOS, with the most popular activities being relaxing, walking, cycling and play.

2.1.7  

This paper is divided into 6 sections: promoting health and well-being; providing recreational need over a wide area; environmental quality, environmental protection and management; partnership working, and better linking of the town’s parks, gardens, countryside and open space. 

2.2    Promoting Health And Well-Being  

2.2.1  

The Cultural Strategy highlights the important role PGCOS contributes to both physical and mental health and well-being.   By providing local, attractive and safer natural areas, people can undertake many activities including walking, cycling and jogging, as well as self guided and led walks, community events and other informal recreational opportunities like dog walking and casual sports.   Mental health benefits are also derived from passive activities such as sitting in the park, picnics and kite flying.   Sensory stimulation of a garden or country area with wonderful landscape and views, also contribute to a person’s well being. 

2.2.2  

PGCOS provide a focal point for people to congregate and hold a variety of community events and periodic activities such as fetes and funfairs.   Events in parks are a significant feature in providing enjoyment and interaction.   Examples include the candle illuminations and funfairs to locally organised fetes and community sports festivals.   Art in the Park is becoming a popular concept in many towns and there are already examples of community theatre in West Howe and in the Lower Gardens which have proven popular, as well as the occasional works of art that have been displayed.    

2.3         Providing Recreational Need Over A Wide Area  

2.3.1  

Bournemouth has areas of the town where there is little or no open space provision, and other areas where there is considerable provision.   It is important to try to address the imbalance through mechanisms such as:

i)      a landswop requiring the disposal of open space in an area of high provision to acquire ‘white’ land that
        might be available for development in an area deprived of open space;

ii)     partnerships with Schools to maximise the benefit of school playing fields and facilities to the community.

 2.3.2  

The 1996 Strategy highlighted a number of sources of conflicts of use in PGCOS including:-

(i)       anti-social behaviour deterring people from visiting sites

(ii)      dog fouling

(iii)     conflict between formal use for golf and the informal use for walking and jogging, particularly at
          Queens Park and Meyrick Park Golf Courses

(iv)     noise nuisance from young people meeting on sites for informal recreation or the playing of ball
          games adjacent to properties causing damage to fences and gardens.  

2.3.3  

The introduction of the Community Parks Officers Service in 1998 was a significant step towards addressing conflict by developing effective links with local people, residents groups, local schools and other public sector agencies.   The 1999 Household Survey highlighted the desire of residents for more investment in PGCOS and the Cultural Strategy Working Paper highlighted the need to increase dialogue through Community Parks Officers and Parks 'Friends' Groups, to better understand different customer needs and to collectively manage the conflict.  

2.4         Environmental Quality  

2.4.1  

Bournemouth has a proud tradition of horticultural excellence.   It is important that the Council should continue to enter competitions as a way of benchmarking the performance of its parks, gardens and open space, eg: Green Flag Park Awards and 'In Bloom' competitions.   Green Flag Awards have now been achieved for 6 sites - Lower/Central/Upper Gardens; Alum Chine/Argyll Gardens; Winton Recreation Ground; Knyveton Gardens; Seafield Gardens and Redhill Park/Common.   Sites being considered for the future include Boscombe Chine Gardens; Littledown Park; Pelhams Park and a Local Nature Reserve Site.   The town again won its category in the 2002 Britain in Bloom Competition.   These external awards are significant for recognising the high standards achieved and for promoting the resort. 

2.4.2  

The 1996 Strategy highlighted the need to continue with the Gardens of Excellence programme to assist in maintaining the quality of the resort.   Funding for the restoration of Boscombe Chine Gardens has been achieved through the Heritage Lottery Fund.   It is hoped that this investment will stimulate economic regeneration within the immediate area. 

2.4.3  

Bournemouth has a number of nationally and internationally significant countryside sites, e.g.: Hengistbury Head, Kinson Common and Turbary Common.   The designations include Local Nature Reserves (LNR's); Sites of Special Protection Areas (SPA's) and candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC's)   Recently, the Council's first woodland LNR designation has been achieved at Pug's Hole and an additional LNR designation has been achieved for Millhams Mead.   Consideration of additional sites for potential designation will be given in the development of the town’s Green Spaces Strategy (see 2.1.5)  

2.4.4  

The continuing success of the Council in gaining these designations and awards demonstrates the commitment to continuous improvement.