Parks

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Heritage Visit to Bromley Palace Park

129DC1BF-B779-4532-9427-FD1B0A949A41On Wednesday we had a very useful site visit with staff from Historic England, an official government heritage organisation. Along with representatives of our Friends group, Bromley Council and idVerde, they discussed how to best restore the listed features currently at risk. These Grade 2 listed features are; Ice House, Pulhamite Rockeries, Ha-Ha and Folly. With significant developments planned for this site it is vital to protect these heritage assets. Historic England will be now be liasing with Bromley council as the site owners, and the Friends group will continue supporting this important initiative. This part of the extensive Civic Centre is an important public park, designated as an Urban Open Space and also now a Local Green Space.

You can find out more about this park and its heritage features on our page Bromley Palace Park (aka Civic Centre).

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Plant Concern

IMG_1713A member of the public has expressed to the Bromley Times concerns about the planting of Ricinus communis planting (see above), which they considered is poisonous. in Library Gardens.

Idverde, in partnership with the Council, have used this plant as a bedding plant for many years as indeed many organisations do across the country, including the RHS as we understand it.  Councillor Smith’s quote below, to the Bromley Times, outlines more about how this plant is used in a Bromley context.

Councillor Colin Smith, Executive Councillor for Environment said, “This plant has been used in Bromley for many years and is used extensively as a decorative plant in many areas across the country, with the plant removed at the end of the season when the particular display is finished which is entirely normal and safe practice.   If left in situ, in common with many other bedding plants, they could grow to a substantial size, which would make it unsuitable as a bedding plant but it could also be at that stage that the plant may produce seed and this is when there may be associated risk, long after the plant has been removed as a bedding plant.”

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Council Park Sell Off Withdrawn

Cedar tree under development threat in Library Gardens

At the  L.B.Bromley Executive meeting on 20 July, Director of Leisure and Culture, Colin Brand reported 40 objections to the public notice, mainly on the grounds of prematurity … That no planning application had yet been approved.
The council is withdrawing or suspending the disposal decision pending a planning decision. The disposal is to be made a result  of planning approval. Mr Brand made it a bit vague as to whether the S123 (i.e. public) notice would be re-advertised.

This is just the start of a long campaign during which the impact on this public park will still be very real!

MORE>

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Parks parliamentary report issued

Flower bed in Church House Gardens

A parliamentary committee enquiring into the status of public parks in England has now issued its report. It recognises the importance of our parks and that they are at a critical point due to financial and planning pressures.

A few selected comments from the report are given below –

“They provide opportunities for leisure, relaxation and exercise, but are also fundamental to community cohesion, physical and mental health and wellbeing, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and local economic growth.”

“However parks are at a tipping point, and failure to match their value and the contribution they make with the resources they need to be sustained could have severe consequences.”

“Planning policy, particularly as a result of pressures to increase housing supply, may not always give enough priority to parks and green spaces, or to other elements of our green infrastructure.”

The full report can be found HERE

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Martins Hill Lodge

Martin's Hill Lodge as it is now fenced off

Martins Hill Lodge as it is now fenced off

The old Lodge on Martins Hill has been sold again and the new owner intends to restore it into a habitable home. Following on from an earlier planning permission, further details have been submitted (Ref: 15/01561/FULL1) showing proposed external finishes. Details can be found on the council online planning page

We look forward to the sympathetic restoration, and occupation, of this local landmark, which has sadly been empty and derelict for many years.