Sefton Council Green Space Strategy – Draft for consultation

Annex A

June 2008

2 of 32

A Green space strategy for Sefton – Draft for consultation June 2008 Contents 1. Introduction – the Green space strategy and Steering Group 2. Vision for green space in Sefton 3. What do we mean by green space? 4. Why is green space important to Sefton? 5. Setting and applying the Sefton green space targets 6. Key green space issues in Sefton – why is a Green space strategy needed? 7. Aims for green space in Sefton 8. Green space policies, opportunities and priorities in Sefton 1. To improve the quality, variety and accessibility of all types of green space. 2. To increase community involvement in and use of all green spaces. 3. To make the most of the ways in which green space can help reduce the

impacts of climate change.

4. To increase wildlife value of all green spaces. 5. To work with partners, especially to make the most of funding opportunities. Consultation responses to the draft Green space strategy issues report (Sept

2007) – A summary

Case studies 1. Derby Park, Bootle 2. Sefton’s Green Gym 3. Litherland Sports Park 4. Sefton Coast Biodiversity and Access Project 5. St Luke’s church grounds, Crosby

3 of 32

1. Introduction – the Green space strategy and Steering Group 1.1 This green space strategy has been prepared by a Steering Group which met on a number of occasions from late 2006. 1.2 The group comprised representatives from the following organisations:

o Sefton Council - Planning, Leisure and Technical Services Depts; Community Safety team

o Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service o Sefton Primary Care Trust o Sefton Council for Voluntary Services, including ‘Transform’ (network of environmental

organisations in Sefton) o The Mersey Forest

1.3 The group was assisted by a representative from CABE Space, a government agency set up to champion green spaces and their potential contribution to our communities. 1.4 Public consultation on a draft green space strategy issues report took place in 2007. (See summary of responses towards end of the document). 2. Vision for green space in Sefton To create a mosaic of green spaces which will be cherished by this and future generations 3. What do we mean by green space? Green space is…. …the network of publicly accessible parks, play areas and other provision for children and teenagers; country parks, natural and semi-natural green spaces; outdoor sports facilities; amenity spaces; allotments; cemeteries and churchyards; waterways; trees - notably street trees; community woodlands; coastal habitats; and other green, open spaces. . 3.1 This green space forms an important, publicly accessible component of Sefton’s green infrastructure. Green infrastructure is defined in the North West Green Infrastructure Guide (see www.greeninfrastructurenew.co.uk) as “the region’s life support system – the network of natural environmental components and green and blue spaces that lies within and between the North West’s cities, towns and villages and provides multiple social, economic and environmental benefits”. Green infrastructure includes both urban and rural, green and blue, and public and private space.

4 of 32

4. Why is green space important to Sefton? 4.1 The many benefits of green space and trees are nationally recognised. These benefits apply to Sefton and are reflected in many of the targets in Sefton’s Sustainable Community Strategy. They include:

• Active recreation, pleasant access routes and quiet enjoyment, leading to better physical and mental health:

• Opportunities for community events, and meeting other people; • An attractive environment and positive image for the area, increasing property prices

and investment; • Opportunities to help reduce the impact of climate change; • Wildlife - green space contributes greatly towards biodiversity; • Wider environmental benefits – e.g. a buffer between different land-uses, absorbing

pollutants. 4.2 There are factors specific to Sefton which make green space important here. 4.3 Parts of Sefton, notably south Sefton and central Southport, include some of the most deprived areas in the country (e.g. in terms of income, health, educational attainment, employment). These areas tend to coincide with high housing densities and the lowest levels of tree cover in Sefton (less than 5%). Green space has a particularly important role in these areas. 4.4 Tree cover is relatively low across Sefton as a whole, compared to many urban areas. The green space strategy can help promote the importance of tree planting in Sefton. 4.5 The Sefton Coast is a major regional resource – amongst other things for informal recreation, wildlife and biodiversity, as an economic resource and as coastal defences. Together with some of Sefton’s larger and best-equipped parks it forms an important green space resource.

5 of 32

5. Setting and applying the Sefton green space targets 5.1 The figure shows the two key areas of work that allowed us to develop the Sefton green space targets. More detail about all of this is set out in the background study. Technical research Included:

• Assessing the character of Sefton and national, local and regional policies for green space and recreation;

• Measuring the amount and types of green space; (e.g. urban greenspace audit, playing pitch strategy, play space audit, computer mapping and analysis, accessible nature space analysis);

• Assessing the quality and value of green space, especially parks and children’s play areas (e.g. urban greenspace audit, Leisure department’s asset management research);

• Computer mapping of accessibility distances around parks and accessible nature space.

G R E E N S P A C E

Public consultation Included:

• Face to face and telephone surveys of Sefton residents and follow-up focus groups in south Sefton;

• Exhibitions, questionnaire surveys and newsletters to a wide range of voluntary and community groups;

• Consultation with young people in after school and holiday clubs;

• Consultation via Youth Advisors; • Consultation with Sefton Borough Partnership,

Area Committees and Parish Councils; • Consultation on draft Green Space Strategy Issues

Report • Views of Green Space Strategy Steering Group • Past research

T A R G E T S

6 of 32

5.2 The Sefton public green space target is: [Issue: We have suggested this accessibility target for two main reasons:

• people have told us they are prepared to travel further to use better, larger green spaces,

• lack of money means we will focus on improving existing green space rather than creating new space.

Approximately just over half of the population of Sefton’s urban areas are within 15 to 20 minutes walk of a larger park. Is this a suitable target, or should it be something else? e.g. everyone to live within 5 to 10 minutes walk of a smaller (local) park (400m) – which would means that around half of the urban areas in Sefton would not meet this target]. 5.3 In arriving at these targets, the 4 key issues were:

• The total amount of green space per thousand population varies considerably in different parts of Sefton and the amount of each type (e.g. parks) also varies considerably; although most people are happy with the amount of green space in their area;

• The variety of types of green space varies considerably in different parts of Sefton.

Most people are satisfied with the variety, although fewer people are happy with the provision for children’s play - especially for older children and adventurous play;

• Quality of urban greenspace (visual, strategic, urban quality, recreation, wildlife, trees

and for community events) varies considerably from site to site and in different parts of Sefton, but overall is reasonable. However, people are concerned about the quality and maintenance of parks and green space, and some are deterred from using them by anti social behaviour (real or perceived).

• In terms of accessibility, most people live within15 to 20 minutes walk (1 kilometre) of

larger parks and accessible nature spaces (those with a wider range of facilities). 5.4 The figure below uses ‘faces’ coding (details set out in the figure) to indicate the situation in each of Sefton’s 7 Area Committee areas, and to identify shortages of green space in accordance with Policy DQ4 ‘Public greenspace and development’ in the adopted Sefton Unitary Development Plan (2006).

Quantity: Based on existing provision, and specifically 1.2 hectares per 1000

population for parks

Quality: Based on Green Flag

criteria – national quality standards

Accessibility: Everyone to live within 15 to 20 minutes

walk of a larger park or accessible nature space

7 of 32

Area Committee area Quantity of green

space

Accessibility to parks and accessible

nature space

Quality of urban

greenspace

Variety of green

space

Public perceptions

Crosby ☺ ☺ Formby ☺ ☺ Linacre & Derby Litherland & Ford Sefton East & Parishes ☺ Southport ☺ ☺ St Oswald, Netherton & Orrell

☺ The ‘faces’ coding means: ☺ = above the target; ‘Good’ for Public perceptions

= variable or just below the target; ‘Fair’ for Public perceptions = below the target: ‘Poor’ for Public perceptions

8 of 32

6. Key green space issues in Sefton – why is a Green space strategy needed 6.1 Nationally and locally in Sefton, there is a shortage of funding and other resources, both to create new green space but especially to continue to maintain it to a high standard. A Green Space strategy will help make the case for additional resources for green space, to make the most effective use of all resources available, and to set clear priorities for spending. 6.2 The key issue for the community is the need to improve the quality of green space. 6.3 All of this suggests that improving the quality - and also the variety and accessibility - of existing green spaces in Sefton is a higher priority than creating new green spaces. So, generally it is not proposed to provide new green space unless there is an extensive area with no green space at all. This means that green space will not be closer to where people live but that existing green space is likely to be easier to get to and move through, and more worth going to. 6.4 Part of increasing variety is making the most of the purposes of existing green spaces, and increasing these as much as possible, e.g. recreation, health, wildlife and reducing the effects of climate change. [Issue: do you agree with this – that the emphasis should be on improving quality, variety and accessibility of existing sites rather than on new provision?] 6.5 While most money is likely to be spent on parks; other green spaces (e.g. pitches, Local Nature Reserves, community woodlands) will also benefit from further investment. 7. Aims for green space in Sefton 7.1 Five aims for green space in Sefton have been developed, as follows.

1. To improve the quality, variety and accessibility of all types of green space.

2. To increase community involvement in and use of all green spaces.

3. To make the most of the ways in which green space can help reduce the impacts of climate change.

4. To increase wildlife value of all green spaces.

5. To work with partners, especially to make the most of funding opportunities.

7.2 Objectives have been developed for each of these aims, and these are set out in the following sections, together with information about the existing situation (‘What we already know …’), key opportunities and priorities for the Action Plan. The Framework Plans set out below bring together current opportunities and priorities for green space in Sefton.

9 of 32

10 of 32

11 of 32

12 of 32

13 of 32

14 of 32

8. Green space policies, opportunities and priorities in Sefton Aim 1 To improve the quality, variety, and accessibility of all types of green space. “The North Park, I think that is a brilliant park and it’s always used.” Litherland and Ford focus group participant “We just want them to be looked after.” St Oswald, Netherton and Orrell focus group participant Objectives 1.1 To improve the quality of green space in Sefton. 1.2 To improve the accessibility of green space in Sefton. 1.3To widen the variety of types of green space and the green space experience in

Sefton. 1.4 To make the most of appropriate opportunities to increase the amount of green space

in Sefton. What we already know…

• Sefton Council’s Leisure department manages over 250 green spaces in or next to its main settlements; including parks, playing fields, allotments, coastal areas and two country parks, and looks after trees in parks and street trees. Other urban parks and green spaces are managed by Sefton’s Tourism department, Town and Parish Councils and OneVision Housing.

Hierarchy of parks and other green spaces Sefton Council’s Parks and Green Spaces Asset Management Strategy contains a hierarchy of parks and other green spaces, and sets out which level each park falls into. These levels are:

• Smaller parks (local parks) – many, smaller sites with a small range of less intensive facilities and experiences (e.g. small play areas set in grass), aiming to attract people who live within a 5 to 10 minutes walk away (400 metres);

• Larger parks (neighbourhood parks) – small to medium sites with a reasonable and varied range of facilities and experiences, promoted locally and aiming to attract people who live within a 15 to 20 minutes walk away (1 kilometre);

• Large parks (district parks) – fewer, good-sized sites, with a good and diverse range of facilities and experiences, promoted over a large area and aiming to attract people from up to 3 kilometre distance (about 45 minutes’ walk, or 5 to 10 minutes in a car);

• The largest parks (borough parks) – the largest sites with the best and most diverse range of facilities, promoted across Sefton and aiming to attract people from more than 3 kilometres distance.

15 of 32

• The Sefton Coast is an important resource, used by the local community in Crosby, Formby and Southport, and by many visitors from further afield. A variety of partners manage land for a range of purposes including recreation, wildlife and agriculture. Sefton’s countryside includes other recreation areas such as Sefton Meadows Community Woodland and has a good local public path network linking to borough-wide routes like the Coast Path, Trans Pennine Trail and canal towpath.

• The Leeds and Liverpool canal and towpath is an important green space providing

access, recreation, wildlife, visual and other benefits to rural and urban areas, including the Housing Market Renewal Area.

• The Parks and Green spaces Asset Management Strategy sets out the priorities for

spending in parks and other green spaces managed by Sefton’s Leisure department. Southport Investment Strategy sets out the priorities for the Pleasure Gardens, green space and trees in the Seafront and Town Centre. There is a range of other strategies and documents which relate to aspects of green space in Sefton, e.g. the Coast Management Plan and The Mersey Forest Plan.

• Further detailed studies and strategies are needed for other types of green space,

notably allotments, play facilities and tennis courts and bowling greens. They may also be needed for areas of major change such as the Housing Market Renewal Area.

• Given the overall shortage of resources, one of the most effective ways of reducing

deficiencies in green space in Sefton (in terms of the quantity, quality and accessibility standards) is to focus on improving quality. Most people who were consulted are happy to travel further to use high quality green spaces with a wider range of facilities.

• Achieving the Green Flag award is a good measure of improved quality, and the long

term aim is to make sure that at least one park in each Area Committee area has the Green Flag award.

• Improving quality should also mean that variety, access for all within and around the site

increases too. Green space in the Housing Market Renewal Area Within the large area of south Sefton covered by the Housing Market Renewal Initiative it is important to make sure that that green spaces meet community needs into the future. This may mean building on some existing green spaces as well as enhancing existing green spaces and providing some new green space on cleared sites. This will be within the context of improving access to green space; and redevelopment, refurbishment and enhancement of the wider Housing Market Renewal area. For example, in the Klondyke Area new green space is being provided in a canalside park, which will be linked to the existing Mellanear Park on the other side of the canal by a new footbridge. This will provide both new and improved green space close to major areas of housing development and redevelopment. It will help to meet the needs of residents long into the future, as well as improving access to wildlife and creating a better environment.

16 of 32

Opportunities

• Partners’ capital and revenue programmes and external funding bids, and existing, draft and forthcoming strategies for green spaces should take every opportunity to improve the quality, variety and accessibility of green space, e.g. funding packages and bids to improve specific green spaces, Sefton Coast Management Plan, Southport Investment Strategy, The Mersey Forest Plan, Parks and green spaces asset management strategy, Play initiatives, Allotments strategy;

• Money provided in association with development allows the Council to enhance existing

green space, or provide green space as part of much larger development sites;

• Significant numbers of new trees are provided in association with development - either within development sites or in streets or parks nearby. The Mersey Forest’s ‘Green Streets’ programme also aims to increase the numbers of street trees;

• Improving access to, and within, green spaces for everyone, including those with

disabilities. This can be achieved by creating new routes, improving existing routes and removing barriers, linked to a wider programme of ‘access for all’ improvements drawing on Merseyside Local Transport Plan funding, and green space improvements;

• There are likely to be some school closures in the next years, together with the disposal

of other Council sites. Many of these sites are designated urban greenspaces. Despite this strategy’s emphasis on improving existing green space, this offers opportunities for new publicly accessible green spaces; especially in areas with no public green space.

Priorities for the Action Plan Action Key Partner(s) Timescale Funding Implement the Supplementary Planning Document ‘Green space, trees and development’ - to give guidance to developers about providing or enhancing green space in relation to development.

SMBC Planning SMBC Leisure SMBC Children’s Services Developers

On-going Developers

Prepare and implement the Play facilities strategy – to set out in some detail the priorities for play facilities and play spaces.

Play Sefton SMBC Children’s Services SMBC Leisure

Draft strategy by December 2009 Spending based on emerging draft

SMBC core funding Big Lottery Fund, Play partnership, Lottery

Prepare the Allotments strategy – to set out the priorities for improving existing and providing new allotments.

SMBC Leisure Allotments Associations Sefton Primary Care Trust

Draft strategy by March 2010

SMBC core funding

Target resources – including money in association with development – towards improving:

SMBC Leisure SMBC Tourism SMBC Planning Developers ‘Friends of Parks‘ groups

On-going SMBC core funding Developers Play partnership Lottery funding

17 of 32

Action Key Partner(s) Timescale Funding parks quality, and

achieving green flag status; Priority 1* sites in the

Parks and green spaces asset management strategy; and the green space

priorities in the Southport Investment Strategy.

Other - various

Establish priorities for green space spending other than on parks.

Green Space Strategy Steering Group

First rolling programme by end March 2009, on-going review

Steering Group partners core funding Other - various

18 of 32

Aim 2 To increase community involvement in and use of all green spaces. “In a park it is a nice combination to see anybody and everybody.” Crosby Area focus group participant. “Sefton have been trying things over the summer holidays in different parks… face painting and juggling and all sorts of things.” Crosby Area focus group participant. “There is no point spending millions of pounds. You have got to get the security there first.” St Oswald, Netherton and Orrell Area focus group participant. Objectives 2.1 To encourage more people to use a greater range of green spaces more often. 2.2 To increase use of green spaces by groups who don’t use them much. 2.3 To increase the positive use of green space by groups who consider themselves

outsiders or may mis-use green space, especially within teenagers and young adults age groups.

2.4 To encourage more community involvement in designing and caring for green space,

and in training schemes. What we already know…

• In line with local and national targets and emphasis on health and fitness, there is a need to encourage greater use of green spaces by more people, more often.

• Some green spaces – notably the large parks, coastal areas and pitches - are very well

used already but there are opportunities to encourage more use of these facilities and a greater use, by a wider range of people, of a variety of green spaces. For example, in Bootle, Litherland and Netherton the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is generally under-used; although the current Mersey Regional Park funding to improve linkages between the Pier Head (Liverpool) and Crosby Coastal Park is helping to enhance the canal corridor and increase its community access and use.

• The Council and other partners already work to increase community use of green

spaces – such as events in parks, on the coast and in the Rimrose Valley including fun days, cycling, guided walks; leaflets and publicity and special projects. See the Coast, Green Gym and Litherland Sports Park case studies. All partners are committed to supporting and extending this work which increases community use of and involvement in green space.

• There is an especial need to extend this work to target groups who traditionally don’t use

green spaces much, such as older people, women and teenage girls, people with disabilities, those with mental health problems, low income groups and ethnic minority groups.

19 of 32

• There is public perception that some green spaces are unsafe and it those perceptions and results of anti-social behaviour (misuse, vandalism, litter, large groups of people) deters some those who want to use parks.

• In 2007/08 Sefton Council ran a ‘Free and Active’ programme targeted at school children

and young people during school holidays. Activities were focussed around its sports centres and green spaces. This was successful in increasing activity rates and corresponded with a reduction in ‘minor crime’ rates during school holiday periods. Funding has been secured for 2008/09 but not yet for beyond this date.

• The Council and its partners operate a 3-tier model of 'safer and stronger', to improve

security of green spaces. Increased security may reduce anti-social behaviour and help everyone to realise that parks and green spaces are safe, attractive places to visit. At the moment funding for part of this approach is for a temporary period only.

• The police, Police Community Support Officers and Sefton Security provide the ‘safer’

aspect, reacting to problems and issues. Park rangers provide the 'stronger' aspect - proactively working with the community to increase use of sites and discourage anti-social behaviour in the first place.

• There are 70 uniformed Police Community Support Officers who patrol throughout

Sefton. 14 of them have the specific job of patrolling parks and green spaces in the Area Committee areas where anti-social behaviour in parks is of particular concern to the community. The remaining 56 Police Community Support Officers routinely patrol parks elsewhere.

• There are already opportunities for people to be involved in managing green spaces,

and a lot of scope for greater community involvement, e.g. ‘Friends of Parks’ groups; helping manage sports clubs or allotment societies, community and residents’ groups e.g. those managing churchyards, plus ‘local groups’ affiliated to larger organisations such as Lancashire Wildlife Trust, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the National Trust. See the Coast, Green Gym and the St Luke’s community garden case studies. As well as providing practical help this also increases a range of personal skills. All partners are committed to supporting and extending this work.

• Schools are already encouraging innovative ways for pupils to make more use of school

grounds and other green spaces. There is scope for these to develop further within schools and through the ‘extended schools’ initiative which draws in nursery, outside-school-hours clubs and the wider community. These include the Healthy Schools initiative, sports, ‘Grow your own’ schemes and school allotments, nature/wildlife gardens.

Opportunities

• Partners’ capital and revenue programmes and external funding bids, and existing, draft and forthcoming strategies for green spaces should take every opportunity to increase community involvement and use of green spaces, e.g. Sefton Coast Management Plan, , Parks and green spaces asset management strategy, Play initiatives, Canal access initiative, Allotments strategy;

• The Play strategy, Big Lottery funding and Play partnership funding will help encourage

more use of play facilities and spaces by more children, families and young people;

20 of 32

• Increasing the positive use of parks and targeting groups who consider themselves outsiders or those who are simply bored should help to reduce dog-fouling, anti-social behaviour and public perception of it. See the Coast case study.

• Extend the existing Council and partner programmes which encourage community use

and involvement in green spaces, as resources allow;

• The ‘extended schools’ initiative may encourage wider sections of the community to become involved in using or looking after school grounds;

• There is an opportunity to build on the success of the ‘Free and Active’ initiative for

children and young people;

• There are many opportunities to extend partnerships with voluntary and community groups.

Priorities for the Action Plan Action Key Partner(s) Timescale Funding Target efforts at increasing use of and involvement in green spaces to specific groups, including those groups who don’t use the green space at all, or those who abuse them.

SMBC Leisure Sefton Primary Care Trust SMBC Community Safety SMBC Children’s Services SMBC Adult Services Play Sefton Sefton Youth Service Sefton Drug Action Team Sefton Youth Offending Team Sefton Intermediate Labour Market Team Positive Futures Voluntary organisations

On-going SMBC and other partner core funding ‘Greener, Safer, Greener’ funding Play partnership Working Neighbourhoods funding Lottery funding Other - various

Upgrade, and enhance access, accessibility, and community use, of the canal towpath in south Sefton, and seek to extend the scheme and its scope beyond 2008/09.

SMBC Planning SMBC Leisure Housing Market Renewal North Merseyside Biodiversity Manager British Waterways

Implementation – on-going Future strategy and long-term funding in place by March 2009.

Mersey Waterfront Regional Park funding SMBC and other partner core funding British Waterways

Secure long-term funding for ‘Free and Active’ holiday schemes for children and young people beyond 2008/09.

SMBC Leisure SMBC Community Safety SMBC Children’s Services

Funding for 2009/10 in place by end of March 09, long-term funding strategy agreed by March 2009.

To be established

Monitor the impact of the approach to security of green spaces, and seek new funding sources to make this service permanent and extend it.

SMBC Leisure SMBC Community Safety

Long-term funding strategy agreed by March 2009

To be established

21 of 32

Aim 3 To make the most of the ways in which green space can help reduce the impacts of climate change. “Climate change is real and is happening now.” Consultation draft of the government’ Supplement to PPS 1 ‘Planning and Climate Change’ (2006) “Green spaces, particularly those with trees and bushes, have been shown to reduce air temperatures in the local area around them quite significantly ” The Mersey Forest’s Green Infrastructure Officer. Objectives 3.1 To increase community awareness of the important contribution that green space

makes in reducing the impacts of climate change; 3.2 To increase the contribution of green space in Sefton to reducing the impacts of

climate change. 3.3 To increase tree cover in Sefton. What we already know…

• Generally in Sefton, climate change will see warmer annual temperatures, wetter winters, hotter, drier summers but more intense rainfall and storms through the year. Sea levels will rise, and the frequency and intensity of flooding from all sources is likely to increase. Sefton is a low-lying, coastal area, and the impact of climate change must be taken into account.

• Green space and trees have a small but important role to play in absorbing and storing

carbon, so helping reduce the rate of global warming. Their produce (e.g. wood, timber and food) can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels directly, replacing materials which require more energy to produce, and reducing food miles. Also they provide an attractive environment on people’s doorsteps and an alternative route to travel, reducing the need to travel by car.

• Green space and trees have a substantial role to play in helping us to adapt to climate

change – reducing the impacts of climate change at a local level. They can help to control temperature extremes (by shading and evaporative cooling), reduce flood risk, reduce soil erosion, buffer against storms and winds, and provide corridors to allow for the northwards migration of wildlife.

• Urban areas are already ‘heat islands’ in a ‘sea’ of colder rural areas (e.g. as buildings

store more heat, for longer, than green space does) and global warming will increase these differences. Green space – especially if it includes trees – has been shown to reduce air temperatures significantly in the surrounding local area. In a changing climate, we will need to use innovative ways of watering green spaces during droughts (e.g. collecting and storing rainwater), so that that they continue to provide cooling through evaporation.

22 of 32

• Green spaces and trees absorb water, which can then be discharged slowly to sewers and rivers, and infiltrate into the ground. They act as ‘sustainable drainage systems’ to channel, direct and store excess surface water or floodwater, away from people’s homes, workplaces and vital services. Hard surfaces shed water, which means that water discharges very quickly into sewers and rivers and increases the tendency for flooding.

• The government is considering whether to make people to apply for planning permission

to pave over front gardens and green areas around other buildings as a way to reduce flooding.

• Increasingly, new development is required to include sustainable drainage systems

(SuDS) – e.g. filter strips, swales, detention basins, retention ponds and wetlands – which are green spaces with dual uses e.g. woodlands, sports pitches, play areas, wildlife habitat, amenity ponds.

• Green spaces whose main purpose is for something else – e .g. parks, play areas,

countryside recreation, sports pitches, wildlife areas, ponds, green space around buildings including homes – still make a significant contribution towards reducing the impacts of climate change, especially if it is specifically designed or enhanced with this in mind.

• Government advice increasingly stresses the importance of green spaces which have a

variety of functions including helping to reduce the impact of climate change. This is at the heart of the regional ‘Green Infrastructure’ initiative.(see www.greeninfrastructurenw.co.uk)

Opportunities

• All partners’ schemes involving development, refurbishment or environmental improvements should include measures to reduce the impact of climate change within their overall design, e.g. extensions to buildings or parking areas and their associated landscaping works, improvements to parks and other green spaces, highways maintenance;

• Partners’ capital and revenue programmes and external funding bids, and existing, draft

and forthcoming strategies for green spaces should take every opportunity to reduce the impact of climate change, e.g. funding packages and bids to improve specific green spaces, Parks and green spaces asset management strategy, Play initiatives, Allotments strategy;

• Specific partner strategies focusing on trees or wildlife should make the most of

opportunities to reduce the impact of climate change, e.g. Sefton Coast Management Plan and associated documents, The Mersey Forest Plan, Sefton Street Tree Strategy, North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan;

• Developers’ provision of new or enhanced green space or trees - including green space

and trees around buildings, and street trees - can enhance the capacity for reducing the impacts of climate change as well as providing other green space benefits or uses;

• The wider public acceptance of the need to reduce the impacts of climate change,

including flood risk.

23 of 32

Priorities for the Action Plan Action Key Partner(s) Timescale Funding All partners to make sure that enhancement of parks, other green space and space around buildings is designed to reduce the impact of climate change (even where its main purpose is for something else).

SMBC Leisure Other Steering Group partners One Vision Housing

On-going SMBC and other partner core funding

Prepare (and implement) guidance for developers about the need for all green space, space around buildings and trees to be designed to reduce the impact of climate change (even where its main purpose is for something else).

SMBC Planning Developers

Draft guidance prepared by autumn 2008 Implementation – on-going

SMBC core funding Developers

Adopt and implement the Street Trees Strategy for Sefton.

SMBC Leisure SMBC Highways The Mersey Forest Parish and Town Councils One Vision Housing

Adopt Strategy by March 09.

SMBC and The Mersey Forest core funding Developers

24 of 32

Aim 4 To increase the wildlife value of all green spaces. "While looking after the biodiversity value of a site should not be seen as the cheap option, there are usually some 'quick wins' for biodiversity that are easy to do; such as changing mowing regimes to be more wildlife friendly".North Merseyside Biodiversity Manager ‘We have got plenty of nature areas around here. In the Pine Woods there are the famous red squirrels and loads of lovely walks that you can do. The Rimrose Valley country park has lots of wildlife and there are frogs and newts in the wetland.” Crosby focus group participant Objectives 4.1 To make people more aware of the extent and importance of wildlife and biodiversity

to Sefton. 4.2 To make it easier to get to wildlife sites and other green spaces with high wildlife

value. 4.3 To make the most of opportunities to create new wildlife sites and to increase the

wildlife value of existing green spaces, especially those with low wildlife value. What we already know…

• Sefton Council and other public bodies now have a legal duty to consider biodiversity in all their activities.

• The whole of the Sefton Coast is of national and international importance for biodiversity

– that is, wildlife species and habitats – and this wildlife interest is recognised by site designations and protected by law. Much of the coastal area is accessible to the public.

• There are other protected, designated sites of local wildlife importance in Sefton which

cover a range of wildlife interests and focus on sites and habitats rather than species. Many of these sites are in or close to Sefton’s urban areas and the public uses them – e.g. the Rimrose Valley wetland which is a Local Nature Reserve, the section of the canal which passes through Bootle, other proposed or actual Local Nature Reserves – but a significant number are private sites with no public access.

• There are other public green spaces in the urban area, which have high wildlife value

(including good tree cover). These include parks, pitches and cemeteries and churchyards. There are also country parks – including Sefton Meadows Community Woodland which have good wildlife value or a ‘natural’ feel. Together with publicly accessible designated local, national and international sites, these make up Sefton’s network of accessible nature space. Around half of Sefton’s urban area lies within 5 to 10 minutes walk of accessible nature space.

• The North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan, which covers Sefton, includes 44

species and habitat plans e.g. Red Squirrel, Song Thrush, Coastal Sand Dunes – and these habitats and species include those of local, national or international importance.

25 of 32

• Government advice increasingly stresses the importance of green spaces which have a

variety of functions including wildlife value. The regional ‘Green Infrastructure’ initiative promoted by The Mersey Forest stresses this too.

• A significant number of Sefton’s green spaces, including school sites, have low or

average wildlife value, and even sites with high value could be enhanced. - there is considerable scope to increase wildlife value in Sefton.

• The community welcomes the opportunities to visit wildlife sites and there is already a

flourishing events, publicity and volunteering programme for sites managed by the Council and other partners, and other involvement from individuals and local community and voluntary groups and organisations. Wildlife is an important part of environmental education.

Opportunities

• All partners’ schemes involving development, refurbishment or environmental improvements should include measures to increase wildlife quality, e.g. extensions to buildings or parking areas and their associated landscaping works, improvements to parks and other green spaces;

• Partners’ capital and revenue programmes and external funding bids, and existing, draft

and forthcoming strategies for green spaces should be designed so that they increase wildlife quality, e.g. funding packages and bids to improve specific greenspaces, Parks and green spaces asset management strategy, Play initiatives, Allotments strategy;

• Specific partner strategies focusing on trees or wildlife should make the most of

opportunities to improve wildlife value, e.g. Sefton Coast Management Plan and associated documents, The Mersey Forest Plan, Sefton Street Tree Strategy, North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan;

• Developers’ provision of new or enhanced green space or trees - including green space

and trees around buildings, and street trees - can provide for wildlife as well other green space benefits or uses. .All developers should consider biodiversity at the earliest stages of the planning process for all planning applications, e.g. green roofs (which can also help to reduce flood risk, provide insulation and reduce solar heat gain to the building in summer), green rather than hard-surfaced surroundings, bat bricks and swift bricks;

• Development which in itself promotes wildlife, such as the River Alt wetland project;

• Increased government, regional and local recognition of the importance of wildlife and

that a single green space or tree has many functions;

• Opportunities to make key Council and partner green space and site maintenance contracts more positive for wildlife, when they are next renewed;

• Working with volunteers and voluntary organisations to increase public access to wildlife

site -e.g. schools, ‘extended schools’ initiative, churches, promotional leaflets.

26 of 32

Priorities for the Action Plan Action Key Partner(s) Timescale Funding Increase corporate awareness within the Council and for partners of the legal duty to consider biodiversity.

North Merseyside Biodiversity Manager SMBC Planning SMBC Leisure Sefton Primary Care Trust Other Steering Group partners

On-going SMBC and other partner core funding

All partners to make sure that enhancement of parks, other green space and space around buildings is designed to increase wildlife quality (even where its main purpose is for something else).

SMBC Leisure Other Steering Group partners One Vision Housing

On-going SMBC and other partner core funding

Prepare and implement guidance for developers about the need for all green space, space around buildings and trees to be designed to increase wildlife quality (even where its main purpose is for something else).

SMBC Planning Developers

Draft guidance prepared by March 2009 Implementation – on-going

SMBC core funding Developers

Create 2 new ‘demonstration’ wildlife areas as part of enhancement to 2 existing green spaces;

North Merseyside Biodiversity Manager SMBC Leisure

By end of March 2010

SMBC and other partner core funding Developers Other - specialist grants

Agree and implement a programme to make all key Council and partner green space and site maintenance contracts more positive for wildlife when next renewed.

North Merseyside Biodiversity Manager SMBC Leisure SMBC Highways SMBC Children’s Services (schools) Sefton Primary Care Trust OneVision Housing

Programme agreed by end March 2009, milestones depend on contract renewal dates

SMBC and other partner core funding

Set out a programme to bring forward all the remaining proposed Local Nature Reserves for ‘adoption’ as full Local Nature Reserves.

SMBC Leisure

Programme agreed by end of March 2009, first LNR adopted by October 2010

SMBC core funding

Strengthen partnerships with individuals, groups and organisations who are keen to promote wildlife in Sefton.

Green Space Strategy Steering Group Other partners – e.g. community groups, local Wildlife Trust.

On-going SMBC core funding

27 of 32

Aim 5 To work in partnership, especially to make the most of funding opportunities. Objectives 5.1 To strengthen the partnership for green space between Sefton Council and other

partners and extend it to other organisations, voluntary groups and the wider community;

5.2 To actively seek partners and promote a joint approach to proposals and funding,

especially for priority projects; 5.3 To make the most of appropriate revenue-generating, self-supporting or voluntary

projects and sponsorship opportunities. What we already know…

• For all partners there is a shortage of funding to create and enhance new green space and especially to continue to maintain it to a high standard into the future..

• There is a clear need to set and focus on priorities in order to make the most of green

space and funding opportunities available now and in the future;

• Maintenance is a particular issue because most external funding (e.g. European funding, lottery and other grants, contributions from developers) can only be spent on one-off improvements or projects rather than long-term maintenance.

• The most secure, day-to-day sources of funding -even thought they are relatively limited

- are Council and partner capital and revenue programmes, and contributions from developers in relation to planning permission for new development. See the Derby Park case study. There are other ‘external’ funding sources – national or other grants e.g. Lottery funding - which have already been secured for particular projects (e.g. play), and opportunities to submit further bids.

• Working in partnership to achieve shared goals can make the most of all funding

sources available, help identify new funding opportunities and result in a much better green space that has the most benefits for the most people, and for wildlife and reducing the impact of climate change. A number of case studies demonstrate the benefits of a partnership approach. (See Litherland Sports Park and Derby Park case studies.)

• The Green space strategy Steering Group has worked well. There is a need to

consolidate and strengthen this partnership and to draw in new partners including other local organisations, voluntary groups and the local community. There is also a need for the Council and other large partner organisations to strengthen their corporate working across departments This wider partnership working is essential to the successful implementation of the green space strategy.

• Continuing partnership working will allow all partners to make the most of opportunities,

funding, and other support, to ‘add value’ to proposals and projects.

28 of 32

Opportunities

• To make the most of funding for green space within partners’ existing and future capital and revenue programmes;

• There are opportunities to strengthen the information exchange between partners in

order to help to identify the potential for green space schemes to meet the objectives for more than one department or partner, increase the potential sources of funding, and reduce overlap or competing demands from similar projects;

• Money provided in association with development to provide trees, enhance existing

green space, or provide green space within large development sites is an important source of funding, which the Council can use to ‘match’ external funding;

• There may be opportunities to consider realistic green space development or

management proposals or joint venture projects put forward by other parties;

• There may be opportunities to identify and develop commercial and self-supporting projects and sponsorship, e.g. cafes in parks especially those close to town or employment centres;

• There are opportunities for green space providers to review the scale of charges for

activities (e.g. allotments, sports pitches). Priorities for the Action Plan Action Key Partner(s) Timescale Funding Establish a Steering Group to implement the Green space strategy, and a working group to meet regularly to monitor progress on the Action Plan.

Existing Green space Strategy Steering Group partners Other potential partners

On-going SMBC and other partner core funding

Consolidate and extend existing partnerships, e.g. through meetings, newsletters, regular information exchange.

Green space strategy Steering Group Parish and Town Councils One Vision Housing Play Sefton ‘Formal’ Sefton-based organisations e.g. Sefton Youth Offending Team Other community and voluntary organisations.

On-going Green space strategy steering group partners core funding New partners’ core funding Other - various

Identify priority projects in each year and focus on identifying and drawing in all potential partners, and identifying and bidding for relevant sources of funding;

Existing Green space Strategy Steering Group partners Other potential partners

On-going SMBC and other partner core funding Developers Other funding -various

29 of 32

Consultation responses to the draft Green space strategy issues report (Sept 2007) – A summary Comments on the draft Green space strategy issues report were received from:

• British Waterways • English Heritage • The Environment Agency • Formby Civic Society • Formby Pinewoods Theatre Group • Mr Gribble • Government Office for the North West • The Mersey Forest • Natural England • Queensway Allotments Association • SUSTRANS • The Theatres Trust • The Woodland Trust.

Key issues arising in these comments were:

• The need to make the most of the green corridor role of the Leeds and Liverpool canal corridor for wildlife, walking and cycling;

• The need to recognise the value of green spaces to their area’s history and character;

• The need to look at different ways of managing green space to increase any or all of its

benefits, including safety.

• The need to make the most of the opportunities for green space and trees to help reduce the impact of climate change.

• Welcomes the recognition of the importance of public access to natural green space.

• The need to increase the wildlife value of all green spaces.

• The importance of trees, woodlands and new tree planting in areas accessible to the

public.

• The need to make the most of green space and funding opportunities available now and in the future, including funding from developers linked to development schemes.

• The value of a Green Infrastructure approach to looking at green space. This

emphasises that a single green space may have many purposes and benefits, the need to make the most of these, and the importance of a Green Infrastructure network.

• To improve the network of public green space, greenways and public access routes

linking them, and to look at new ways of increasing provision of green space in areas where there is a deficiency.

• The need for future long-term investment to all allotment sites in Sefton.

• The important role and benefits of green spaces in Formby.

30 of 32

Case Study – Derby Park, Bootle Improving parks and green spaces is rarely straightforward. A steering group put together a proposal for funding of £2m funding for improvements to Derby Park, mainly from the Heritage Lottery Fund. However this bid was not successful. An alternative proposal was assembled comprising £300,000 Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund (NRF) funding, £100,000 Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) funding, £250,000 from the Council. A further £100,000 came from the Sefton Children’s Fund, the Linacre and Derby Area Committee and money which was available as a result of development in the area. Detailed consultation was held with the community about what type of play area should be provided. The consultation proved to be very effective and the preferred play area, which was completed in spring 2007, attracted wide support. To date, other works completed include the replacement of the three sets of steps and a ramp and the refurbishment of the old bridge and entrance pillars. On-going works include the refurbishment of other historic features including a drinking fountain, ships’ mast and memorial statue. There is still much to do, but significant progress has been made. Derby Park has been entered for the Green Flag award in 2008. Case study - Sefton’s Green Gym There is more to some types of green space than meets the eye.

The Green Gym is based at the Queensway allotment site in Waterloo. It offers people of all ages and abilities the chance to learn new skills through growing organic produce, meet new people and improve their health and the benefit the environment at the same time.

Going to gyms and sports centres doesn't appeal to everyone. The Green Gym is a great alternative offering a regular programme of outdoor sessions. Increasing physical activity and being outside in green space also has proven benefits for mental health, helping to reduce stress and overcome depression.

The group has attracted a wide range of participants from local school children to people new to the area from different cultures and countries.

Originally, the Green Gym was set-up through a partnership between the charity BTCV, Sefton PCT and Sefton Council. The scheme provided training and guidance with the aim of to establishing a group of volunteers to take over the running of the group. Just over two years later and the Green Gym has gone independent.

Linda Evans, Health Promotion Specialist for Sefton PCT, noted: “The success of the Green Gym has been entirely due to the volunteers who have dedicated so much of their time and energy into making the project sustainable”.

Committee member, Carol Clarke, commented “I started coming to the Green Gym a couple of years ago and quickly got hooked! It helped me cope with the pressures we all face in our daily lives. I’ve felt a lot healthier from doing more physical activity”.

The local community have benefited to by having thriving use of green space sites instead of run down derelict areas within their community.

Sefton’s Green Gym has won a prestigious award, naming it the best project of its kind in the North of England.

31 of 32

Case study – Litherland Sports Park Litherland Sports Park (LSP) began as a project to improve school sports facilities and a home for an athletics track. The old Moss Lane playing fields, which had become a hub of anti-social behaviour, has been transformed into a multi-million pound sports and health complex, with a massive positive impact on the local community, drawing on 10 funding streams & partners. LSP is one of the first and most innovative schemes in the country, housing cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation NHS services, which were relocated from Aintree Hospital. It is home to more than 25 sports clubs and a sports venue for over 30 schools, as well as a real driving force for economic and social regeneration in the area. It is also an operational base for a multi-disciplinary team of development staff, with responsibilities for the many sport, physical activity and educational development programmes, which are engaging the entire community. At its opening, Richard Caborn, MP, said: “The Litherland Sports Park is an excellent example of how good partnership working can help provide a range of local services that will improve the quality of lives of local people.” The community of south Sefton has benefited by the regeneration of derelict playing fields, the provision of jobs and training, improvements in basic health and educational achievements, a reduction in anti-social behaviour and fear of crime and the creation of a range of new clubs and activity programmes. Litherland Sports Park was one of the three national finalists under the ‘Best sport project’ category of the National Lottery Awards 2007. Case study: Sefton Coast Biodiversity and Access Project

Much of the Sefton Coast is of national and international nature value. Sefton’s Coast and Countryside Service - led by the estate and workshop teams -has established a truly inclusive programme based on the Sefton Coast; titled the Biodiversity and Access Project (BAP).

This has created numerous training, work experience and job opportunities for some of the most vulnerable, socially excluded and difficult to engage members of our community. The project works in true partnership with Social Services, Children’s Services, Sefton Drug Action Team, Sefton Youth Offending Team, the Sefton Intermediate Labour Market Team, Positive Futures and others.

Adults with learning disabilities and autism, young people at risk of or excluded from mainstream education (looked after children, young people from local Pupil Referral Units and the Behavioural Improvement Programme, youth offenders and individual referrals from other agencies), unemployed adults looking to find permanent employment and volunteers take part in the very real work activities (no simulated activities undertaken) on offer by the BAP.

Projects include small and large on-going environmental, landscaping and conservation projects in coast and countryside areas including access (e.g. boardwalks) for all trails, a squirrel trail and timber countryside products (from bird-feeders to signs, picnic benches and boardwalks) using trees felled as part of woodland works – Sefton is the only Local Authority in the north west to achieve UKWAS Standard Woodland Certification for the sustainable management of woodlands.

Participants receive formal training in all aspects of the work being undertaken and gain the very real benefit of working with other groups of people, gaining excellent work ethics and a great sense of enjoyment and achievement. The Mersey Forest (ICEP) part- funded new equipment for the workshop and estate teams.

32 of 32

Case study: St Luke’s church grounds, Crosby

St Luke’s church grounds are a 2 hectare green space in the centre of Crosby. In December 2006 the church decided to apply for Big Lottery funding to improve its grounds as part of the BBC’s Breathing Places initiative. A question on the application form stopped it in its tracks: ‘How do you know the local community want this project?’

A discussion started with local schools, traders, the history group and the North Merseyside Biodiversity Manager. This helped to shape the bid for a community garden and more accessible paths within the graveyard. The enthusiasm generated enabled planting to go ahead along the graveyard boundary before the church heard its bid for £10,000 was successful.

What was most surprising was the number of organisations who wanted to be involved, either helping with the planting, or funding further parts of the project. School groups have planted ornamental hedging and a wildflower meadow; the Pram Club has planted a border with summer bedding and the Guides have planted bulbs. Sefton Council has provided summer bedding and bulbs to support its entry in ‘Crosby in Bloom’.

The Mersey Basin Campaign supported activities held during Mersey Basin week, and The Mersey Forest contributed to the cost of a wildlife activity morning during which trees were planted and bird boxes and hedgehog homes were made.

Biobank (a Merseyside biological recording centre) are working with local teachers to enable school groups to use the grounds as an outdoors classroom – one school has decided to run a conservation club in the grounds every month. Work parties to manage the grounds take place on Saturday mornings, once a month, and are advertised in the Crosby Herald. Once things started there was no end of advice and support. In summer 2008, 18 months into the project, St Luke’s grounds are being assessed for the Green Pennant award – the equivalent to the Green Flag award for community and voluntary groups.