Pinecliff Gardens Wildlife Play Sculpture Trail

BOROUGH OF POLE

CANFORD CLIFFS AND PENN HILL AREA COMMITTEE

6th June 2007

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES

PINECLIFF GARDENS WILDLIFE PLAY SCULPTURE TRAIL

1 / Purpose of Report
1.1 / To inform and receive feedback from Area Committee on the proposals to install a play sculpture trail area at Pinecliff Gardens.
2 / Introduction
2.1 / Leisure Services intend to install a wildlife play sculpture trail in and around Pinecliff Gardens picnic area and to resurface a section of path along the cliff-top. This would allow wheelchair access in a loop around the picnic area, and a 2nd loop through the woodland to the shelter above the sunken garden. The scheme would be completed using funds generated by developer funding.
2.2 / The scheme is consistent with the Borough of Poole Open Spaces Strategy policies PO 20 Use open space to promote community development, healthy living, social cohesion and inclusion, and PO 27 Encourage better use of open space by children and young people.
3 / Information
3.1 / Pinecliff Gardens is a mainly wooded area situated between Canford Cliffs Library Car park, Beach Road Car Park, Branksome Chine Car Park and the cliffs above the promenade. The woodland has many surfaced paths, but these were little used as they had a dark enclosed unsafe feel. Now that much work has been done to open up the woodland, more people are visiting the gardens and they have a much safer feel.
3.2 / Despite its large capacity and proximity to the beach and other open spaces, Beach Road Car Park is little used, particularly the large upper area near the gardens. Improvements to the car park have already received funding and once completed will reduce pressure on other car parks. The attraction of the sculpture trail, combined with improvements to access for Beach Road car park planned for this summer, will increase the use of the car park and gardens. This will deter anti-social behaviour, make the area safer and generate more revenue.
3.3 / There is currently a lack of play equipment provision in this area and a sculpture trail would be a new attraction for Poole and would attract more people to the quieter Eastern end of the beach. There would be four sculptures 120 cm (4feet) tall and up to 450cm (15 feet) long surrounded by a base of woodchips retained by timber edging. As well as fuelling children’s imagination, it would develop balance, strength, suppleness, agility and co-ordination fitting the national agenda of encouraging children to be active.
3.4 / The trail would highlight the importance of local wildlife, particularly to youngsters. The sculptures include specialist heathland wildlife found on theadjoining slope, such as a sand lizard that children could slide down and a green tiger beetle that could be climbed on. The third sculpture could be a wood ant, as there are many wood ants’ nests in the woodland and the fourth would be a dolphin representing the marine environment.
3.5 / Small interpretation boards, with brief text, describing the habitat and lifestyle of each creature will provide an educational purpose and a notice-board could feature poems and pictures by children from local schools Leisure Services hopes to involve in the project.
3.6 / A 30m stretch of new block paved path would link the tarmac path around the picnic area with the car park near the shelter, creating a wheelchair accessible loop, involving the community. Some blocks will be painted by pupils to represent habitats. A further 100m of path will form a link with the large shelter above the sunken garden, half of this could be done in tarmac and half in painted slabs.
3.7 / Currently there are insufficient funds in the Equipped Children’s Play fund and the Casual Play and Amenity Open Space fund for Canford Cliffs to finance the scheme. At the end of March 2007 the funds stood at £10,923 (ECP) and £11,226 (CP&AOS). Some money could be requested from the Beaches fund but this will have to be balanced against works that are required for showers, lighting and CCTV. Leisure Services are exploring private sponsorship. Total cost of the project is likely to be around £60,000.
4 / Conclusion
4.1 / Leisure Services are promoting this scheme but accept that the funding will have to build up before it can be delivered. We invite views and comments from the Area Committee meeting about the use of Canford Cliffs Planning Obligations money for this project.
4.2 / Feedback from this Area Committee meeting will be reported to the Planning Obligations Sub Group.

CLIVE SMITH

HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES

Contact Officers:

Dave Price Area Ranger ()

Richard Nicholson Technical and Development Team Leader ()

Clare Freeman Open Spaces Manager ()

Background Papers:

None