Traditionally, recreational urban green space in towns and cities has mostly been intensively managed, with mown grass, neat shrubberies and flowerbeds, and formal plantings of trees. Other managed green spaces such as roadside verges, roundabouts and other areas were usually also mainly mown grass. The perception was that any other type of management would make the area look untidy and neglected. Mainly led by the need to cut costs, management and perceptions have changed. Many roadside verges of grass are cut much less frequently, or are densely planted with shrubs and trees, often of native species. Roundabouts and other small spaces in town centres and residential areas are more often planted with shrubs, albeit of a rather small selection of garden varieties usually chosen for ease of maintenance.
More natural styles of planting and vegetation management have advantages for wildlife, and are cheaper in labour and other resources than intensive management, but they are not the answer for all urban greenspace. Many people instinctively see long grass as ‘untidy’, and associate with neglect some natural species of herbs and shrubs, such as nettle, bramble, elder and thorn, however high their wildlife value may be. Fear of woodland and shrubs harbouring unsocial and criminal activities is justifiable in many areas. To most people’s eyes, buildings, both in town and countryside, are enhanced by managed vegetation, whether a lawn, shrubs and trees or elaborate garden. In managed urban green space, the challenge is to make a landscape that is attractive, especially in juxtaposition with roads and buildings, is used by a broad section of the community for various activities, and has value for wildlife.
There are common elements in different landscapes that combine to make people feel comfortable. This has been linked with our ancient survival instincts, which lead us to choose environments that combine places of security with clear unimpeded views of the terrain – to see without being seen. Favourite landscapes nearly all have these elements of distant views, small woodlands and clumps of trees, high places, water and green pastures. The same elements can be seen in national parks all over the world, through to pastoral landscapes, parks, small gardens and pictures in a calendar. They are landscapes that are instinctive to us, that relieve stress and encourage feelings of well-being, and entice us to explore. Most people need encouragement to set off across monotonous landscapes with no promise of view or variety, and are even more reluctant to venture into woodland without well marked paths or the promise of something to see or do. The best managed urban green spaces can reproduce these favourite landscapes which most people find attractive, and which they feel comfortable to use.
In the example of Furnace Parade, the loss of the scrub habitat and full range of woodland layers needs to be balanced against the gain for the local community of a site that is now attractive and safe to use. Woodland and scrub habitats in some urban areas can be a particular problem, and the creation or retention of full woodland layers in areas close to housing may not be a realistic aim. In other areas, it may be possible to retain thickets and scrub whilst managing the area in such a way that crime is actually reduced, or that the fear of crime, which may or may not be occurring, is reduced. Management may include opening up of paths, frequent wardening, guided walks and other activities within the wood, to make it a place in which people feel safe.
Urban green space includes many areas which are not managed as parks. These include ‘derelict’ land of various types, comprising abandoned industrial areas and sites awaiting development, redundant railway land, canal banks, old churchyards, allotments, common land and fragments of woodland. Many of these areas are of high value for wildlife, mainly due to the fact that they are unmanaged. How they are perceived will depend on people’s values and uses for the site. Dog walkers, children and naturalists may see them as valuable; others may view them as neglected areas which harbour unsocial activities. This latter view is often based on fear rather than fact. The visible part of the site is of course the most important for influencing perceptions, and an attractive boundary, with mown grass or a well-maintained fence, wall or hedge, and no litter or fly-tipping, will avert most perceptions of neglect.
Fear of crime and unsocial activities is a major problem which affects people’s decisions to use a site, and affects not only informal green spaces but parks as well. Whether they perceive it as being safe or unsafe will depend on signs of care or neglect, the number of people using the site, whether the site is visible from adjacent roads and buildings, and whether it is open or wooded. The reputation of an area is also very important. Positive publicity in the local press is helpful. Design of the site, with wide paths and open views, can help lessen fears, but far more important is the amount of use the site receives.
Tipton, West Midlands
Furnace Parade, Tipton, West Midlands is a strip of land of about 2 hectares, which was cleared of condemned housing. An area of about 1 hectare was planted with trees, and the remainder maintained by the local council as mown grass. The wooded area had become overgrown with scrub and was a haven for unsocial and criminal activity. The local council wanted to clear it all, but a few locals wanted to keep it because of its habitat value, particularly for resident foxes. TCV and about 15 local residents worked together over several weekends to remove the perimeter fence, cut down areas of scrub, thin out the trees and open up parts of the woodland so you could see through it. The aim is to create a ‘meadow woodland’, with standard trees that have a high, light canopy with grass and herbs beneath. Three days of woodland activities such as charcoal burning and woodland crafts were held with Groundwork, and over 400 people attended. The crime and vandalism has completely disappeared from the site, which has been transformed into a local asset instead of a liability. It’s even been possible to safely leave ‘heeled-in’ trees on the site over a period of a couple of weeks, which would have been unthinkable a year previously. Locals have also planted bulbs, and the council are continuing the scrub clearance work by spraying herbicide.
