We’re starting to go through our tree survey data again, as some of it needs revising. The existing data is in a spreadsheet called
We want to revise correlations between ID numbers and tree tags, making note of which trees have died or otherwise changed, and tidying up any other information.
We’d also like to plot these on a map, but the data is currently in national grid reference format, so needs converting to decimal lat/lon to be useful in the various mapping applications.
If you have an interest in any of these tasks, please get in touch. Otherwise, feel free to have a look at the list of several hundred trees mapped by our fabulous crew of volunteer surveyors!
An email from Constituency Play Services Manager Shashi Bhana arrived this week, asking for our views on new play facilities for the park. Shashi apparently works with the Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Partnership, which is sort of a combination of local health trusts and Be Birmingham. We haven’t been given any other details of who is behind the approach, but it’s probably something to do with Play England’s Playbuilder scheme.
Recent examples (without photos) are listed at the BCC’s playbuilder webpage, and mention play items like boulders, climbing net, contemporary slide, labyrinth, overhead rotator, reclaimed logs, rock stacks and grass mounds, rubber matting, see-saw, space net, springie, swing seats, trim trail type play equipment, and zip wire.
Shashi’s query is as follows:
“Essentially this was to query from you about your views re: the establishment of a new play area in Highbury park. I have already contacted primary schools in the catchment for feedback and would appreciate it very much if you (as well as others who you think would be interested), E-mailed me your views, suggestions and ideas. May I please request that these are forwarded to me by Friday (23-7-10) to afford me enough time thereafter to collate all the pertinent information for a report.”
That gives us a week to gather some responses from our members. We think this relates to play equipment for younger children, but as it hasn’t been specified one way or another, it may be an all-ages scheme. So if any of this is of interest to you, pro or con, please let us know your views, or write directly to Shashi at Shashi.Bhana@birmingham.gov.uk.
If memory serves, the previous response to questions about play facilities was along the lines of a) nearer the High street entrance, b) natural materials like logs, rope, boulders, c) in keeping with the semi-wild character of the park.
Proximity to the High Street entrance is of interest because people living near Valentine Road and School Road are not within the recommended distance from play facilities. The High Street end of Highbury Park is the closest amenity space, so it’s the logical spot for a play area.
However, the terrain near the High Street entrance is a bit awkward, and there are potential obstacles in the form of historic landscapes that deserve preservation.
Whilst a play area might be set somewhere between points A and B as shown on the plan, several people have suggested that point B (the former site of farm buildings at the Henburys footpath junction) is both convenient and well suited for a low-profile natural-materials play area.
There’s a further consideration relating to long-term plans for the park, such as the hoped-for restoration to a style in keeping with Joe Chamberlain and Richard Cadbury’s landscape designs. This might mean that both the location and the materials ought to be in keeping with the historic character.
Whilst ‘in keeping with historic character’ is open to interpretation, it might be wise to stick with something simple and/or natural.
As an aside, this question of design style applies to other aspects of park renovation as well, including the new duck pond railings, and the proposed walkway illuminations. If we’re concerned about the long-term appearance of the park, it’s worth thinking about what’s appropriate, and looking at some historic photos for comparison, for example!
Given the above, we think it’s possible to make a play area that’s sympathetic to the landscape, that’s not visually intrusive, using raw or nearly raw materials and landscaping. As for location, the Henbury junction is fairly accessible, and would bring a disused portion of the park back into use.
But before we do make any recommendations, we want to know whether you think our view is sound. Perhaps there’s support for a labyrinth, a zip wire, or other exotic features! So, given the following, which would you prefer?
Location:
a) No play area.
b) Play area near point A.
c) Play area near point B.
d) play area at another point somewhere in the park (please specify).
Style:
a) Natural materials only, such as mounds, downed logs, wood chips, plantings, and/or rope nets.
b) Some natural materials, but also manufactured items, such as boulders, rubber flooring and/or metal fencing.
c) Fully manufactured play equipment, of the sort found at Kings Heath Park Avenue Road play area.
d) Any of the above.
e) A specific style, or combination of things (please specify).
If we hear your views before the 27th, we will compile them and forward the summary to Shashi.
