Project Case Studies

Clapton Park - Green Space Maintenance

Project Team/Partners

Clapton Park Management Organisation (TMO) and The Grass Roof Company

Summary

 Clapton Park is an estate of around 1200 properties, mostly leasehold, and includes around 120 separate green spaces. The Estate has been run by residents under a Tenants Management Scheme for around 12 years.The green spaces were maintained using conventional maintenance techniques, by Hackney Council up to July 2002. In 2002 The Grass Roof Company were asked to tender for the grounds maintenance contract after completing some successful design and build projects within the estate. From the start this organisation elected to put forward many of the maintenance techniques used to reduce herbicides and increase biodiversity. The Board was open minded and positive about these ideas and have continued to be closely involved and supportive of this work ever since. It is only because the Estate is a TMO that it allows smaller companies, such as The Grass Roof Company, to have the chance to win maintenance contracts that would traditionally only have been awarded to larger contractors.

Description

 The project was really a change in maintenance techniques. The aim was to get away from the shrub/grass culture and add in vibrant planting, increase biodiversity and establish a link between the contractor and the residents. The feedback from residents has enabled the contractor to adapt the Estate and manage the green spaces in-line with resident's wishes. The most important area of contact is when the work on the estate is taking place. Any comments and suggestions, good or bad are fed back to the resident's board during regular meetings.

Current techniques in use:
  • All areas traditionally sprayed with herbicide such as railings, lampposts etc. are now sown with a native / non native annual mixs
  • 4 new allotment areas have been added to resident's communal gardens
  • All new shrub planting has been of native origins
  • 3 composts bins have been installed - bulk green waste is taken to the local recycling centres
  • Only green waste compost is used throughout the Estates
  • Local tree surgeons are encouraged to leave woodchip, which is then used as mulch within the Estates
  • Waste from tree work on the Estate - stacked logs for invertebrates and stag beetle pyramids, and woodchip for mulchs
  • Links with the local School have been established and are the project is in the process of organising days for the children to make use of and learn about the native colourful annuals, such as poppies, cornflowers etc.
  • Installation of interpretation boards explaining the new maintenance techniques/methods
  • residents have been encouraged to take the seeds from annual flowers for their own gardens which has proved very successful
  • A Green Day is held once a year to gauge resident's thoughts and as an incentive to complete questionnaires the colourful mixes that we use round the Estate are given to residents.
  • Some underused mainly small areas of grass have been sown with a prairie mix, based on some of the work by James Hitchmough of Sheffield University.
  • We have established new herb beds at the base of the tower block of the Estate, the species list was based on questionnaire sent to the residents of the block. Black stemmed mint has proved to be a particular favourite of the West Indian residents.
  • Installed the first green roof within the Estate

    • Process

     The design and consultation process involved the presentation of the tender for the maintenance contract. Ideas were set out then and once the contract was awarded, the successful Grass Roof Company continued to liase with the Board throughout the year on how the contract would be carried out. The group then continued to develop partnerships with the following: Schools, a local Nursery, Local resident community areas, Neighbourhoods Green and Sheffield University.

    Most of the work has been completed within the standard maintenance contract, but extra funding for prairie planting, bulb planting, native shrub areas was provided from within the TMO's budget. Arrangements for ongoing management are to continue working closely with the residents board, and Pinnacle as the Service provider and contract manager.

    Evaluation

     The Green Roof Company have identified a number of stengths and weaknesses to this project which are summarised below:

    Strengths:
    • "Forging a close relationship between the management team, resident's board and us as contractors. This speeds the time between ideas coming to light and their implementation.
    • "The scale of our company means that me or my brother Robert, as partners, are very likely to be working on the Estate, this means we get direct feedback from the residents. This may mean just a chat about the green spaces or we can also relay back other concerns that are not related to what we do, such as repairs or renewals to the building for example.
    • "Because of the relationships talked about above, we have been able to develop our maintenance techniques related to the herbicide / annual display far quicker.
    • "Most of the new initiatives for the Estate have been completed within the standard maintenance budget. This we feel is one of the most important strengths. Because these initiatives are 'cheap' we hope they will be more inclined to be taken up by other Councils / Housing Associations."

    Weaknessess:
    • "Because of the TMO status I feel our links with Hackney Council haven't been as close as they should be.
    • "Lack of formal assessments of our work. i.e. biodiversity surveyings
    • "Not enough links with other conservation bodies such as The London wildlife trust / London Biodiversity Partnerships
    • "There hasn't been enough time spent pulling in outside funding for more ambitious projects such as the greening of the flat roof garages on the Estate. I am sure there is money for these ideas."

    Difficulties faced:
    • "Getting residents used to periods of relatively 'untidy' areas. This problem has been reduced by the use of interpretation boards.
    • "Lack of liaison between Hackney Council and us"

    Learning Opportunities:
    • "Continue with our annual Green Day as this gives us a focus to learn more from the residents. And also to promote wider green issues.
    • "Need to work with academic bodies such as Sheffield University and London Wildlife Trusts
    • "Closer liaison with other TMO's.
    • "Visit other sites or forums in London that work in a similar field."

    Issues with maintenance and management:
    • "Our excellent relationship with the residents board, has been the over riding factor allowing us to implement all the initiatives in this case study."

    Resources

     For more information please email:grassroof.co.uk@fsmail.net
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