FRIENDS OF DUKE'S MEADOWS LANDSCAPE PLAN

FRIENDS OF DUKE'S MEADOWS LANDSCAPE PLAN

OVERALL AIMS

o Enhance bio-diversity

o Improve public access, use and enjoyment

GENERAL PROPOSALS (not in priority order)

Create attractive entrances to park area	Improve play facilities
Restore historic features such as railings, benches and avenues where appropriate	Establish footpaths next to roads
Provide water safety equipment and better access to and from the river foreshore	Improve wheelchair and pushchair access
Improve links with cycle network o Provide and manage litter collection facilities at entrances and parking areas	Define informal footpaths and mow path edges
Screen obtrusive fences, buildings, masts and lights	Open up views of the river
Reduce impact of traffic and parked vehicles	Improve existing and create new woodland, meadow and wetland habitats and manage using ecologically appropriate techniques
Remove and control Japanese Knotweed	-

Make your comment on these proposals

PEVRAL PIER
A triangular open area near Corney Reach with access from Thames Way, the riverside walk and riverside promenade and with the remains of a concrete pier structure projecting over the river bank.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Entrance to park area unattractive and poorly defined	1. Surface path from riverside walk and install barriers to slow cyclists
2. No information or safety equipment and no access to or from the river foreshore	2. Provide information, litter bins and safety equipment
3. Litter and dog mess	3. Create access to/from the river foreshore
4. Stinging nettles overgrow paths and dominate the ecology of the open area	4. Consider providing seats in the viewing area
5. Pier structure unattractive and underused	5. Plant native trees, shrubs and climbing plants at boundaries and next to the concrete structures to soften views and improve habitats
6. Lombardy poplars block sunlight and views of river and are of limited ecological value	6. Remove and control Japanese Knotweed
7. Area of Japanese Knotweed liable to spread	7. Mow path edges 3 times/year
8. Adjoining buildings obtrusive	8. Cut open areas annually with 1/3rd rotation to generate young nettle growth and encourage butterfly caterpillars

PROMENADE APPROACH
A lime tree avenue associated with Chiswick House leading from Edensor Road with ornamental gates, metalled road and pavement and a pumphouse surrounded by Lombardy poplars near the river.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Rubbish dumped across entrance and gates and notices covered in paint and graffiti	1. Examine historic links with Chiswick House and potential for heritage trail from Chiswick Pier
2. Notice boards ugly and uninformative	2. Clear rubbish, remove paint and graffiti from entrance gates and clean or remove notices
3. Road and pavement in poor repair and little used	3. Install high security bollards to prevent unauthorised vehicle access and to allow gates to be open for pedestrians and cyclists
4. Ugly and unnecessary fences	4. Provide better and more information and litter disposal facilities
5. Trees cast dense shadow and block views along avenue	5. Examine potential use of roadway e.g. arts and craft fairs, funfairs, circus, boot sales
6. Lombardy poplars block sunlight and views of river and are of limited ecological value	6. Repair road and pavement and consider applying a tar and shingle finish
7. Pumphouse in poor decorative order and repair	7. Gap up lime avenue, lift and thin crowns and brash bases of trees
8. Lombardy poplars dominate end of avenue, block views and may threaten the stability of the pumphouse	8. Remove redundant chain link fences
9. Access to and from the river promenade is overgrown and ill-defined	9. Examine ownership, condition and purpose of pumphouse and create a focal point at the end of the avenue
	10. Examine future of Lombardy poplars
	11. Form paths to the riverside promenade and the plateau

PLAYING FIELDS
Well-used and extensive open and smaller fenced areas with two football pitches, some play equipment and dewatered paddling pools.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Poor access for pushchairs and wheelchairs from Promenade Approach	1. Form 5-a-side/basketball pitch on one of the existing tennis courts
2. Paddling pools, sand pit and drinking fountain disused and in disrepair	2. Provide ramps from Promenade Approach through wild rose arbours
3. Play equipment is limited	3. Examine and establish arrangements for management of paddling pools
4. Limited facilities for older children	4. Refurbish building, paddling pools, sand pit and drinking fountain
5. Quality of pitches restricts use	5. Consider providing fenced wildlife pond in paddling pool area
6. Fences untidy and in disrepair	6. Provide more and better play equipment
7. Bleak views across sports pitches	7. Install facilities for older children e.g. assault course, death-slide, half- tube
8. Lack of seats and shelter	8. Improve pitches and form cricket oval and dedicated cricket square
	9. Plant trees and shrubs at edges and climbing plants along fences
	10. Repair fences to play area
	11. Install more seating and consider providing shelters

PLATEAU
A raised open area between the river and the playing fields used for informal play, picnics, kite-flying and exercising dogs.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Unattractive open views of housing estate and sports grounds	1. Plant trees and shrubs to create a contained open area, to screen unattractive views and to improve habitats
2. Mown grass has limited ecological value	2. Check soil and incorporate wild orchard in new planting if suitable
3. Litter and dog mess	3. Plant wild flower seed in grass areas
	4. Mow central area 3 times annually and edges once
	5. Provide litter and dog mess collection facilities at entrances to park

PAVILION AREA
A car park and 19th century farm building used by the Masonian Bowls Club adjacent to the allotments with access from Alexandra Gardens

Problems	Opportunities
1. Car park and building are underused	1. Establish farmers' market in car park and examine potential for additional appropriate use of building as a means of generating income for improving Duke's Meadows
2. Approach and boundaries are untidy and unattractive	2. Plant allotment boundaries and create community garden and wildlife areas and ponds on disused plots adjoining road
3. Rubbish in corners	3. Clear rubbish and provide litter collection facilities and information
4. No information or litter collection facilities

RIVERSIDE DRIVE (Staveley Gardens to River)
Provides vehicle access to the riverside areas and extensive sports grounds and facilities

Problems	Opportunities
1. Intensified sports club use makes road dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists	1. Create or delineate a foot/cycle path on roadway
2. Untidy verges caused by casual car parking, especially near Fuller's Sports Club	2. Provide dedicated parking bays for use of allotment holders
3. Ugly and redundant fences	3. Examine possibility of removing redundant fences
4. Dead and diseased trees and bushes, pockets of Japanese Knotweed and sparse vegetation generally create a poor environment visually and ecologically	4. Remove diseased/dead trees and bushes and remove and control pockets of Japanese Knotweed
	5. Plant native trees, shrubs and/or hedges on disused allotment plot and on both verges to create a more attractive entrance, to screen adjoining sports facilities, and improve wildlife habitats

RIVERSIDE DRIVE (to Barnes Bridge)
Originally a lime avenue, this section of road affords open parkland views and vehicle access to the riverside areas and extensive sports grounds and facilities.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Car parking between road and river is intrusive	1. Install bollards to deter parking on riverside grass area
2. Need to accommodate boat trailers on race days	2. Make bollards near boat houses removable for race days
3. Cycle route undefined and awkward at humps in road	3. Provide bollarded by-passes at humps in road
4. Gaps in lime avenue	4. Gap up lime avenue and reinforce existing planting next to sports grounds with native trees and shrubs
5. Unattractive views of lights and sports buildings, especially near pagoda	5. Provide litter collection facilities at parking areas
6. Litter, especially from picnickers coming by car	6. Establish footpath next to road behind boathouses
7. Lack of footpath next to road behind boathouses

RIVERSIDE PROMENADE (Corney Reach to Barnes Bridge)
Formal and informal pathways (part of Thames Path) and cycleway on walled terraces with vantage points overlooking the river.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Self-seeded bushes on terraces block path and may damage terrace walls	1. Remove self-seeded bushes on terraces where they are a problem
2. Some paths become overgrown and restrict use	2. Lay bark/wood chippings to define informal paths
3. Trees and shrubs on river bank restrict views (especially at vantage points), inhibit marginal vegetation and may damage bank	3. Mow edges of paths and strim terraces next to walls 3 times/year
4. Lack of seats, especially at vantage points	4. Examine possibility of establishing reed beds at rivers edge
5. Dog mess, litter and spraying of chemicals to control vegetation	5. Provide seats, safety equipment and access to the river foreshore at vantage points
6. Lack of safety equipment and access to and from the river foreshore	6. Provide litter collection facilities at entrances to park
7. Cyclists use footpaths	7. Manage vegetation on river bank, especially at vantage points
8. No wheelchair or pushchair access and no cyclepath over Barnes Bridge	8. Direct cyclists towards road
	9. Examine with Railtrack feasibility of creating cycle/footpath over upstream side of Barnes Bridge with ramped approaches at each end

PAGODA AREA
Hexagonal bandstand and shelters surrounded by semi-circular terraces and extensive paved areas arranged symmetrically about an axis formed by steps and an ornamental access to/from the river. Disused toilet blocks are still standing at the other side of the road.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Buildings in poor condition and underused	1. Examine condition and future use of buildings e.g. events, education, interpretation
2. Paved areas are unattractive	2. Improve paved areas and install planting to suit building use
3. Access to river is difficult and there is no safety equipment	3. Improve access to the river and provide safety equipment
4. Vegetation obscures views to/from river	4. Prune/thin riverbank vegetation
5. Unattractive view of sports ground lights	5. Plant trees and shrubs behind pagoda to screen sports ground lights from river and riverside

EMMANUEL'S HOLLOW
A low-lying, overgrown and neglected area between the railway and boathouses.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Self-seeded sycamores shade out other species	1. Examine feasibility of creating secluded pond/marsh area for wildlife
2. Japanese Knotweed threatens to overrun the area	2. Remove and control Japanese Knotweed and remove or thin sycamores
3. Unattractive fencing and litter	3. Create new bog and woodland habitats
	4. Re-fence area, and provide limited access, information and litter collection facilities

RAILWAY EMBANKMENT
Steep partially-wooded banks, supporting the railway that passes over Barnes Bridge, comprising a significant physical and visual barrier between the north and south parts of Duke's Meadows, but also providing a wildlife corridor.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Self-seeded sycamores near bridge shade out other species	1. Examine with Railtrack possibility of replacing sycamore with hawthorn and birch (see also proposal for cyclepath ramps above)
2. No tree/shrub cover elsewhere	2. Examine with Railtrack options for managing Knotweed and rest of embankment
3. Some areas of Japanese Knotweed

DUKE'S HOLLOW
A nature reserve of Metropolitan Importance, significant for its intertidal zone and succession of vegetation leading to damp alder and willow woodland, providing a habitat for two rare species of snail and a wide range of birds, some locally uncommon.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Self-seeded sycamore is beginning to dominate the woodland area	1. Remove and control sycamore, Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed
2. Pockets of Japanese Knotweed and some Giant Hogweed threaten to spread	2. Coppice willows nearest foreshore
3. Willow is beginning to migrate into the herb areas on the foreshore	3. Reduce levels to create ponds in low-lying areas
4. Woodland is beginning to dry out wet areas	4. Discuss use of foreshore with rowers and define limit to protect marginal vegetation
5. Herb area on foreshore is susceptible to trampling by rowers using slipway	5. Relocate bat boxes and provide nest boxes for sparrows and tits
6. Bat boxes poorly positioned	6. Create informal pathway based on sycamore removal
7. Lack of access	7. Tidy the area with great care, as debris provides habitat for snails

PLAYING FIELDS
Extensive mown area lying between the golf range and the Great Chertsey Road (A316) divided into pitches. The area is presently the subject of development proposals by a consortium of local sports clubs.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Noise and unattractive conifers along boundary with A316	1. Install mounding and native tree and shrub planting next to A316
2. Lack of native trees and shrubs on boundaries	2. Plant native trees and shrubs at edges and in pockets where no pitches
3. Some pockets of Japanese Knotweed	3. Plant allotment boundary with small fruit trees and bushes and climbers
4. Development could lead to more traffic using Riverside Drive	4. Remove pockets of Japanese Knotweed (see below)
	5. Monitor development proposals
	6. Mow pitches about 13 times/year, 1-3 times/year around pitches

RIVERSIDE DRIVE (Barnes Bridge to Chiswick Bridge)
Provides vehicle access to the riverside areas and extensive sports grounds and facilities

Problems	Opportunities
1. Intensified sports club use makes road dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists and causes congestion, especially at bends and at tunnel under railway	1. Establish footpath alongside road
2. Development proposals are liable to intensify traffic	2. Examine feasibility of creating a separate foot/cycle tunnel nearer river linking to possible new ramped cycle/footpath over Barnes Bridge
3. Car parking and traffic will be intrusive when Knotweed is cleared from riverbank	3. If this is not possible, provide bollarded approaches to tunnel to protect pedestrians
4. Traffic on A316 intrusive at Chiswick Bridge approach	4. Oppose development proposals that would intensify traffic using Riverside Drive
	5. Plant native shrubs to screen parking areas and traffic from river and riverside path
	6. Plant native trees and shrubs at Chiswick Bridge approach

RIVERSIDE PROMENADE (Barnes Bridge to Chiswick Bridge)
An informal pathway (part of Thames Path) linking to tunnel and steps at Chiswick Bridge.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Path is poorly defined and becomes overgrown	1. Cut back vegetation and lay bark/wood chippings on path
2. Extensive Japanese Knotweed on river bank and pockets elsewhere block views and stifle native flora (see below)	2. Remove Japanese Knotweed (see below)
3. Trees and shrubs on river bank restrict views, shade marginal vegetation and may damage bank	3. Manage vegetation on riverbank to improve views and protect structure
4. Traffic and parking intrusive in some areas (tree cover inhibits undergrowth)	4. Prune/thin (especially sycamore) and protect important existing trees
5. Lack of seats	5. Plant native shrubs to screen traffic/parking areas & encourage wildlife
6. Dog mess and litter	6. Provide seats, safety equipment and more access to river foreshore
7. Lack of safety equipment and access to river foreshore	7. Provide litter collection facilities at entrances and in parking areas
	8. Mow path edges 3 times annually

JAPANESE KNOTWEED
A non-native, invasive and very persistent plant that frequents the upper river bank and which spreads by underground rhizomes and by small parts of the stem or rhizome becoming detached and growing elsewhere. Large areas of the river bank between Chiswick and Barnes Bridges have been colonised and numerous pockets elsewhere threaten to spread.

Problems	Opportunities
1. Large areas are or threaten to become ecologically degraded because the plant does not support native flora and fauna	1. Examine alternative methods of removal, disposal and control
2. Views to and from the river are blocked	2. Establish available resources e.g. Thames 21 and volunteers
3. Control is difficult and requires significant resources	3. Carry out and monitor agreed control measures
4. Health and safety concerns about the widespread use of chemicals	4. Analyse results and establish long-term management regime

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