Crane Valley Park

Overview

In early 2009, the Mayor of London launched a competition where the public could vote for the local park that they felt most needed to be improved. Crane Park topped the vote, and £400k was allocated for the improvements.

Survey

Using previous consultation, six areas of improvement work were identified under these headings: 

1) A Welcoming Park

2) An Accessible Park

3) A Comfortable Park

4) A Natural Park

5) A Wildlife Park

6) An Informing Park.

An online survey was developed that presented images under each of these themes, offering a variety of designs and styles for the public to respond to.

Plans on display

Crane Park plans went on display, outlining proposed changes and improvements, which residents were invited to comment on. Dates included:

- Saturday 20 February 2010, 12pm - 2pm, Heathfield School

- Wednesday 24 February 2010, 6pm - 6pm, Crane Park Primary School.

What happens next

Over 250 completed surveys were received. The findings were presented to the Steering Group at the end of March.

The areas for improvement were as follows:

Entrances ('a welcoming park'): The majority of comments expressed a preference for natural materials to promote a relaxed feeling, and the most popular image was the natural woven willow. We are continuing to look at ways of marking the entrances with natural but durable materials such as timber and stone.

Bridge/paths ('an accessible park'): Residents were concerned about the construction of a bridge over the River Crane. In order to make an informed decision about the bridge, the Steering Group will look at other Parks that have experienced similar concerns, and we will have further discussions with the local police and local ward councillors in the forthcoming months.

Seating ('a comfortable park'): The majority of comments expressed a preference for natural materials which had character and blended in with the landscape. The project will include a new carved bench on both sides of the River plus traditional seats with back and arm rests on the main paths. Informal seating will be placed adjacent to secondary or woodland paths.

Use of on-site materials ('a natural park'): The majority of comments expressed a preference for natural materials and the idea of a maze was also popular.

Biodiversity features ('a wildlife park'): This category received more votes than any other. The most popular image was for the log pile but all conservation features were extremely popular.

Signage ('an informing park'): The majority of comments expressed a preference for natural, unobtrusive and educational signage.

In addition to the above areas of proposed work, people also put forward their own suggestions which included play areas, picnic areas, wildlife areas, self closing gates, motorbike-free entrances as well as requests that the Park be kept clean and tidy.

Crane Park is known and loved for its wildlife, and much of the work we will carry out will have to be carefully planned around birds and bats and their breeding seasons. This timing of natural events is known as phenology, and is likely to mean that areas of vegetation clearance will have to wait until September, and tree felling will be restricted to the months of October and November.