If you know your music, you will know that the successful Britpop band Blur have been gearing up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their ParkLife album. Whilst their version of Park Life caught the imagination back in 1994, there is no doubt that today we are as likely to associate Park Life with pollinator actions as we are music.
This was brought sharply into focus at the latest meeting of the Park Managers Forum run by the urban greenspace charity greenspace scotland held on Midsummer’s Day 2023 in Falkirk. The theme was ‘nature restoration in urban greenspace’.
NatureScot were delighted to offer funding support and grateful that the team at greenspace scotland and Falkirk Council brought together 14 councils’ staff from a range of greenspace and planning specialisms to look at issues including the challenges of naturalising amenity grass and promoting nature restoration in a public park setting.
So, what were the highlights?
The Falkirk team had laid on a series of visits to illustrate particular talking points. At Camelon, which lies to the west of Falkirk, there was an opportunity to look at sustainable grass management on road verges and parks and see what was involved in wet meadow creation.
A constant in the Camelon discussions was the value of relaxed mowing.
At the intriguingly named Policy Bing, visitors were invited to take a closer look at nature restoration in an urban open space, and consider areas where previously industrial and derelict land had been enhanced for access and recreation alongside nature.
The evidence gleaned from viewing this site is that partnerships and shared objectives make it possible to reclaim heavily degraded land to improve the environmental quality of our towns.
Over at ever-popular Callendar Park, the story was one of discussing what could follow on a site where nature enhancements are already happening. Colleagues were invited to share ideas on future use/enhancement of the old golf course area.
This transformation desire has echoes of what happened at Fernbrae Meadows in South Lanarkshire, where the Blairbeth Golf Course was transformed into an urban park following support from Scotland’s Green Infrastructure Fund.
Ian Robertson of greenspace scotland was instrumental in organising the day. He gathered some comments across the day and noted a few things of interest.
“One thing that cropped up was the scale of arisings – material that is cut and needs to be removed to sustain new habitats – in this kind of work. There are significant issues around disposal and the associated costs. As local authorities increase the amount of naturalised grassland in their estate, this is an issue that will have to be addressed. And how far will local authorities be able to generalise an approach to disposal of arisings, versus needing to take a site-by-site approach?”
Scaling up nature restoration work of this kind will likely also mean new or more equipment is needed. And some participants in the discussions thought there is merit in, or scope for, large-scale joint composting disposal schemes between local authorities.
“Communicating what is happening was viewed as important too. In dealing with arisings a local authority might opt to create an onsite disposal or ‘rotting down’ area. One view is that this is best practice, and that it minimises carbon footprint and cash costs. Yet people reported that some residents see this as untidy or akin to a form of fly-tipping, so there is a job to explain what is happening.”
“That same issue of perception applies to some places where a relaxed grassland maintenance regime is in place, because at the end of the growing season (and before the cut-and-lift exercise) things can look a bit unkempt to some eyes. Again there is a job to raise awareness of the benefits of these areas for wildlife.
“On that same theme, in more than one council naturalisation has caused debate around perceptions of a neglected space and negative impacts for well-being and safety. One answer is to have some short grass ‘frame’ relaxed or naturalised grassland management.
“In other places, some people were reported as feeling and voicing a loss of open space – people felt they were losing an amenity – for example areas to walk dogs and to play ball games. So Councils are finding out that naturalisation won’t be for every urban greenspace.”
In related examples to the work in Falkirk, Aberdeen City Council is extending naturalised greenspace management by improving and creating blue/green habitats in two high profile parks in the city. Under the banner ‘Aberdeen Flagship Parks for Pollinators’, Duthie Park beside the River Dee and Seaton Park on the River Don have been chosen to show how this approach can benefit both people and wildlife. The parks also serve more deprived areas of the city, include extensive areas of traditional horticultural layouts, and are heavily used. The project was awarded Scottish Government Nature Restoration in Parks funding, part of the Scottish allocation of the Levelling Up Parks Fund provided by the UK Government. The fund is being managed by greenspace scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
What were the take home messages that proved most pressing on the Falkirk day?
Many local authorities and their staff are working strenuously on the nature restoration and biodiversity agendas and are keen to progress changes. There are challenges, particularly around resourcing, along the way. It’s about finding solutions for specific sites that will be sustainable in terms both of management regimes and financially. It is crucial too that they have community support.
There is a strong desire to accelerate nature restoration work in multiuse parks and urban greenspaces. What is being achieved in the likes of Falkirk and Aberdeen shows the potential to connect such work, with benefits for nature and people.
With many thanks to Ian M Robertson (greenspace scotland), Programme Manager at the Park Managers Forum.
Find out more:
Park Managers Forum – June 2023
Aberdeen Flagship Parks for Pollinators
Scottish pollinators 