Verulamium Park Management Plan 2012-2017 v2.1

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• Main Entrance signs (see section 5.2.4 above) • Lake, river and wildlife signs • Roman walls and remains interpretation • Signage for proposed cycle routes and woodland walk See Appendix 6 for the Signage and Interpretation Design Brief The project represent a significant investment and is being funded partly by the Council and via a section 106 contribution. The new signage is to be installed early summer 2013. 5.2.10 Lakes The condition of both lakes is far from perfect with room for improvement. They have become heavily silted and the over-population of waterfowl and associated problems with fouling has lead to the water having its oxygen content depleted by organic nutrients. This has greatly reduced the lakes ecological value and its aesthetic appeal. A key factor is the large population of birds being fed by the public. Though we recognise the community and social value of feeding the birds the Council has, through consultation, decided to ask the public to not to feed the birds. The two islands provide a safe habitat for waterfowl, most notably the herons and the Council will continue to work with partners to improve the island habitat by removing vegetation that does not provide a stable base for nests. There is a need to create an area of wetland vegetation alongside the south east bank of the larger lake to include wildfowl exclusion fencing during establishment. The lake surrounds are concrete edged and abut either footpaths or amenity grass. In some locations, amenity grass is proving to be an inappropriate option with areas becoming scrappy and rutted from the use of maintenance equipment on damp ground. These areas could be achieving a lot more with regards to their biodiversity carrying potential, in addition to their visual appeal. However, due to the scale of the work and the cost involved it will not be possible to make significant improvements to the lake during the life of this management plan. The Grounds Maintenance Contractor is required to ensure that that lakes are maintained in a clean and attractive condition. Work that they carry out is detailed in Appendix 5 – Park Facility Maintenance Program The Council has considered installing life preservers but following advice from a Health and Safety Consultant has decided against this option as the practicalities outweigh the level of risk. 5.2.11 River Ver The River Ver is an ecologically significant chalk stream, with the capacity for supporting a diversity of flora and fauna. However, when the lakes were created in the Park in the early half of the 20 th Century, the River was canalised, forming an unnatural channel. Currently, the section of the river 44
that runs past the lakes is very slow moving, leading to deposition of silt. In many areas the river is also covered by a dense tree canopy, allowing little light through and leading to deposition of leaf litter, as such the Council has crown reduced a large number of tree to improve this situation The River is a great asset to the site, both with regards to ecological value and visitor appeal. There are however, limited opportunities for visitors to get near to the more interesting stretches of the River, such as in the east part of the Park, where footpaths are separated from the channel by a fairly dense band of vegetation. There is a need to improve access to the river and install a surfaced section of path along the southern section of the river (adjacent to Westminster Lodge Meadow) over an existing sight-line path. The Council work closely with the Environment Agency and reports any of obstructions to the river that could result is flooding. In addition, the Grounds Maintenance Contractor regularly checks for and remove litter. 5.2.12 Grassland There is abundance of grassland in the Park and it is important to think whether the current maintenance regimes are appropriate and cost effective. For example, there are many sports pitches which, although subjected to more intensive maintenance and higher costs, serve a valuable recreational function. There are also areas of amenity grass which receive fairly regular cutting through the growing season and, although low in biodiversity value, serve the function of providing space for informal recreation. In other areas where recreation isn’t as desirable, the focus is more on biodiversity value and associated relaxed maintenance regimes. Grassland management should consider how the site is used and where maintenance regimes could be adapted to provide most benefit. See Appendix 4 – Grounds Maintenance Specification for further information. 5.2.13 Woodland The woodland in the Park is fairly limited and mainly concentrated in the south side of the Park around the Roman Wall which is currently maintained by English Heritage. The area has significance for both biodiversity and visitors, and management of it should aim to benefit both. For example, current access through the woodland, along the path from King Harry Lane, is quite dark due to dense canopy; therefore there is a need to thin the canopy. This would not only increase the attractiveness and security of the path, but also help encourage woodland flora and enhance the visual character and structural stability of the Roman Wall. There is a need to improve public access to other parts of the woodland and making them more of a visitor feature. The creation of the “Woodland Walk” will be the first of this type of project (see 5.2.5). There is also a number of existing projects in operation, carried out in partnership with the Friends Group and CMS, that aim to manage parts of the woodland to assist the regeneration of self seeded trees and these need to be developed further. 45
Page 1 and 2: Verulamium Park Management Plan 201
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Vision Statement .........
Page 5 and 6: Vision Statement VERULAMIUM PARK MA
Page 7 and 8: Chapter 1 Historical and Geographic
Page 9 and 10: 1.2 The Geographical Context 1.2.1
Page 11 and 12: 1.2.2 The Local Neighbourhood The l
Page 13 and 14: Roman Walls and the London Gate. Ac
Page 15 and 16: Athletics Track and Abbey View 9 Ho
Page 17 and 18: www.stalbans.gov.uk/parking Appendi
Page 19 and 20: oth form significant habitats for w
Page 21 and 22: 1.2.7 Landscape Description The Par
Page 23 and 24: the Park as a key viewpoint locatio
Page 25 and 26: Cricket Pavilion Thames Water Pumpi
Page 27 and 28: • Fitness Groups The Council has
Page 29 and 30: 2.2.1 The Corporate Plan, the Local
Page 31 and 32: the contractor, which formed part o
Page 33 and 34: Chapter 3 The Organisational Contex
Page 35 and 36: • Staff support for special event
Page 37 and 38: 4.2 Verulamium Park Consultative Fo
Page 39 and 40: Park Leaflet 4.5 Council Web Site T
Page 41 and 42: 4.8 Verulamium Park Facebook Page I
Page 43: 5.2.6 Cycle Paths Historically cycl
Page 47 and 48: Middlesex Wildlife Trust, the plan
Page 49 and 50: 5.2.21 Cricket Squares and Pavilion
Page 51 and 52: A2 A3 Conserve the landscape charac
Page 53 and 54: • Feedback from the park users. 6
Page 55 and 56: Date: 18/02/2013 Scale: - 1:8000 ©
Page 57 and 58: RISK ASSESSMENT FORM Activity / Are
Page 59 and 60: Ref 6 7 8 9 Hazard Asbestos Toilets
Page 61 and 62: Ref 13 14 Hazard Vehicles moving ar
Page 63 and 64: RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE 1. Methodo
Page 65 and 66: APPENDIX 3 - Grounds Maintenance Pl
Page 67 and 68: APPENDIX 4 Grounds Maintenance Stan
Page 69 and 70: Regime Shrub borders Standard requi
Page 71 and 72: Regime Children’s play area and a
Page 73 and 74: Regime Spring Meadow Standard requi
Page 75 and 76: Regime Pavilions Standard required
Page 77 and 78: Park Buildings Maintenance Programm
Page 79 and 80: season maintenance Daily routine ma
Page 81 and 82: Verulamium Park Access and Interpre
Page 83 and 84: 1 INTRODUCTION SITE DESCRIPTION Ver
Page 85 and 86: 2 DESIGN GUIDELINES The following s
Page 87 and 88: We would like the contractor to com
Page 89 and 90: FINGERPOSTS No: 6 Directional arms:
Page 91 and 92: 4 CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES PRELIMI
Page 93 and 94: 5 BILL OF QUANTITIES 1a Description
Page 95 and 96:
ST ALBANS CITY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL
Page 98 and 99:
Document 5 Visual Aids 8 12 14 1 16
Page 100 and 101:
Document 5 Visual Aids 4. The Lake
Page 102 and 103:
Document 5 Visual Aids 9. RSPB ‘A
Page 104 and 105:
Document 5 Visual Aids 17. Entrance
Page 106 and 107:
YEAR 1 Action Plan 2012 ‐ 2013 Ob
Page 108 and 109:
Increase existing areas of meadow g
Page 110 and 111:
C4 C5 C6 D1 D2 D3 D4 E2 Manage wood
Page 112 and 113:
YEAR 3 Action Plan 2014 ‐ 2015 Ob
Page 114 and 115:
Plant new hedgerow along the remain
Page 116 and 117:
%U VERULAMIUM PARK Action Plan Year
Page 118:
%U VERULAMIUM PARK Year 5 Action Pl
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Verulamium Park Management Plan 2012-2017 v2.1

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