Vision for Greenspaces

 

Vision for Greenspaces

Make the most of greenspace

1. provide for nature 
2. provide for people 
3. maintain

Vision for particular types of greenspace

1. Public parks and gardens 
2. Private gardens or grounds 
3. Amenity greenspace 
4. Playspace for children and teenagers 
5. Sports areas 
6. Green corridors and paths 
7. Natural and semi-natural greenspaces 
8. Other functional greenspaces such as cemeteries
9. Trees

The Greenspace PDF(PDF, 2.7mb) includes more information on relevant legislation and policies, design details and maintenance.

More details are available in Greenspace - Details (PDF, 1.0mb) 

Introduction

Perth and Kinross has potentially some of the finest greenspaces in the UK including:

• The Inches in Perth
• The Birks of Aberfeldy - internationally known
• MacRosty Park, Crieff
• the repeated achievement of winning the Britain in Bloom Awards.

It also has a number of smaller greenspaces which represent the best of their type including:

• the Beatrix Potter Garden
• Greyfriars cemetery, Perth

There are also many magnificent gardens both ones that are formally open to the public, right down to peoples' own private gardens that provide delight to passers by.

It is easy to overlook the role the open spaces of Perth and Kinross play in our lives, from providing places to meet and spend time or play during the course of the day, to providing the setting for major community events.

There is a wide range of different types and sizes of space. Scottish policy is set out in SPP11 and further advice is given in Planning Advice Note 65 which identifies the importance of providing a hierarchy of open spaces that can meet peoples' varying needs:

We need to ensure our greenspaces:

• perform a clearly defined function
• are fit for purpose, and
• are well used.

This applies to new development as well as to existing settlements.

The Vision

Make the most of greenspace

Key principles are:

1. Provide for nature Environmental sustainability Provide for a range of habitats for wildlife Link habitats together
2. Provide for People Economic and social sustainability Face the greenspace Provide access to and within the greenspace Encourage activity Provide amenity and interest
3. Maintain Physical sustainability Design and build to last Good maintenance - funding of up-keep is more important than capital Involve the community and encourage use

These actions will help us achieve the objectives of the council's corporate plan.

The types of greenspace

The types of greenspace refered to below follow the PAN65 Guidance. In addition, spaces managed by Perth and Kinross Council are grouped in the following hierachy;

• regional importance - they should be renowned across Scotland and play a part in drawing visitors into Perth and Kinross.
• settlement importance - they should be of importance to the community within the whole settlement  
• neighbourhood importance - they should be able to provide something special that adds to the distinctiveness of the neighbourhood within a settlement
• local importance - they should provide access to greenspace close to home, with a range of local facilities that reflect local need. The routes to the greenspaces should be safe for all to use.  

1. Public parks and gardens

"Areas of land normally enclosed, designed, constructed, managed and maintained as a public park or garden."

1. Provide for nature - Environmental Sustainability

• Provide for a range of habitats for wildlife.
  • Manage to maximise range of habitats, including different types of grassland, such as unmanaged, flower meadow, right through to bowling green standard.
  • Plant native species in hedges and borders where appropriate
  • Avoid using biocides
• Link habitats together to create wildlife corridors
• Recycling trimmings and cuttings, using recycled products
• Use tree planting to help improve air quality.

2. Provide for people - Economic and Social Sustainability

• Face the greenspace
  • make sure that buildings and communities face on to greenspace, rather than back on to it.
• Encourage activity and life
  • events
  • education
  • activities for mental health and physical activity
• Provide access to and within greenspace
  • make sure there is greenspace within easy reach of where people live and work.
  • provide safe attractive routes.
  • provide routes suitable for people who are disabled.
  • range of routes for different users
  • provide decent signage and attractive entrances
• Provide amenity and interest
  • Park furniture such as benches
  • Nearby toilets or comfort scheme
  • Encourage nearby facilities such as cafe's or shops -all of which can increase use. Think about public art
  • Provide play areas, sports pitches to meet and match the demand
  • Provide a range of opportunities for physical exercise - play for children - or even play areas for adults
  • Spaces for for relaxation, recuperation and quiet enjoyment

3. Maintain - Physical sustainability

The quality of public parks and gardens is all to do with inspired but practical design followed by devoted maintenance. It makes the difference between something that is exceptional and something that gets ignored. Quality maintenance creates a feeling of care and security, all of which encourage use. Dilapidation and neglect create fear.

• keep litter under control
• sort out graffiti and vandalism
• put resources into maintenance first, and capital improvements second.

We also work to the Green Flag Scheme for the major parks. There are eight criteria under this scheme.

• A welcoming place 
• Healthy, safe and secure 
• Clean and well maintained 
• Conservation and heritage 
• Community involvement 
• Marketing 
• Management 
• Sustainability

2. Private gardens or grounds

"Areas of land normally enclosed and associated with a house or institution and reserved for private use."

Private gardens and grounds contribute immensely to the enjoyment of the public spaces, and the sense of place. In streets they can provide interest and even charm and intrigue. Gardens in urban areas are also valuable in increasing biodiversity. The Council does not have direct responsibility for private gardens, but as a community and as individuals we have both responsibility and power.

Small gardens

A well-tended front garden provides pleasure to passers-by

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provide for nature

• private gardens and grounds are the major natural environment in urban areas, and can support a wide range of animals and wildlife if looked after in the right way, such as by planting some native species of tree, shrubs or flowers.
• don't turn front gardens into hard surfaced car parking areas.

Provide for people

front gardens should add to the charm of street, and the pride of an area. Attractive front gardens makes walking more of a pleasure too.

• don't seal-off gardens with 6 ft fences. They are ugly, prevent surveillance and can create a sense of fear - and require planning permission where they face the road.

Maintain

• use powers to tackle untidy land and buildings - further details
• encourage quality gardens using award schemes

Major public gardens open to the public

An extra principle here is to:

• ensure that the routes to major tourist attractions are themselves attractive, and show Perth and Kinross at its best.

 

 

Amenity greenspace

Landscaped areas providing visual amenity or separating different buildings or land uses for environmental, visual or safety reasons i.e. road verges or greenspace in business parks, and used for a variety of informal or social activities such as sunbathing, picnics or kickabouts.

There are many pieces of amenity greenspace that are of little value, and are a cost to the community.

Key principles are: provide for nature; provide for people; maintain and manage, and in addition:

• make sure the space has a value
• redesign it
• let the community run it
• sell it or let it for use, for example, as a garden. 

Playspace for children and teenagers

Areas providing safe and accessible opportunities for children?s play, usually linked to housing areas.

In the UK, playspaces are normally separated from the rest of the community often being put in the corner of a park. The play facilities used to be very formal: a small collection of play equipment set into concrete.

The the best play areas today are designed and landscaped for a wide range of activities. The facilities provided allow children to play in a more imaginative and less structured way. In Europe there play areas can be found in the middle of streets, right at the very heart of communities.

Special principles

• provide a range of active and imaginative play equipment for the full range of children who are likely to use it.
• consider the needs of disabled children
• provide a stimulating play environment in a landscaped setting - that is fun to use, and pleasant to look at.
• make sure play areas are over-looked
• access - make sure that children can get safely from where they live to where they play
• playing in the street - consider the possibility of play streets and home zones.

Sports areas

Large and generally flat areas of grassland or specially designed surfaces, used primarily for designated sports i.e. playing fields, golf courses, tennis courts, bowling greens; areas which are generally bookable.

• provide a range of sports areas based on an assessment of local community needs, and an audit of existing facilities their needs as part of a long term Playing Pitch Strategy
• all weather surfaces
• provide lighting that does not cause light pollution
• provide amenities including well maintained changing facilities
• give the chance for local communities and clubs to manage their own facilities.
• keep the equipment well maintained, and the surfaces, such as goalmouths
• think carefully about car parking - it can rob an area of valuable greenspace, and may discourage walking and cycling.

Green corridors

Routes including canals, river corridors and old railway lines, linking different areas within a town or city as part of a designated and managed network and used for walking, cycling or horse riding, or linking towns and cities to their surrounding countryside or country parks. These may link green spaces together.

• develop a network of off-road routes for walking and cycling that provides an attractive alternative to vehicle use
• ensure the routes are linked to town centres
• provide for people in wheelchairs.
• consider surfacing - ranging from tarmac through to crushed stone
• keep litter free
• carefully designed and landscaped with attractive alignments, and good visibility
• lit where needed
• vegetation kept clear of the path
• Link habitats - an isolated habitat is worth far less to wildlife than one linked to others and ideally the surrounding countryside.

Natural/semi-natural greenspaces

Areas of undeveloped or previously developed land with residual natural habitats or which have been planted or colonised by vegetation and wildlife, including woodland and wetland areas.



Perth excels with the finest natural greenspaces in the country such as The Birks of Aberfeldy and the falls of Moness

These greenspaces are under a careful management regime that maximises their value to both nature and people.

 

Provide for nature

These greenspaces are under a sensitive management regime that aims to maximise the value and diversity of habitats.

Provide for people

• range of circular walks 
• interpretation and education 
• viewpoints 
• parking and access 
• safety - warnings for hidden danger 
• routes for cyclists, horse-riders as well as disabled persons, children and people of varying levels of fitness

Other functional greenspaces

Allotments, churchyards and cemeteries.

Provide for nature manage the spaces to provide for wildlife and minimise the use of pesticides.  consider green graveyards
	Provide for people landscape interest  historic interest

provide an attractive environment - consider creating some graveyards that are more like gardens

It is possible for cemeteries There is a wide range of cemeteries, The Scottish tradition is for sombre cemeteries, but this example from Denmark shows that they can be created to be more like gardens as well as remembrance.

Trees & woodland

Perth and Kinross is home to trees that are exceptional by world standards; including the world's tallest hedge, and the oldest tree in Europe. Trees do not live for ever, and if we are to maintain this beauty then each generation needs to plant trees. Issues include:

Choosing the right tree for the right space

Protecting the trees we have -

• Species suitable for location 
• Street trees 
• Avenue Trees 
• Parkland Trees 
• Woodland

Further Information:

The Greenspace PDF(PDF, 2.7mb) includes more information on relevant legislation and policies, design details and maintenance.

More details are available in Greenspace - Details (PDF, 1.0mb)