FRIENDS
OF DUKE'S MEADOWS LANDSCAPE PLAN
This
Page has been reproduced my kind permission of the
Editor of
the Chiswickw4.com
Website
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.
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
3. Road
and pavement in poor repair and little used |
|
|
4. Ugly
and unnecessary fences |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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) |