Parks, Golf Courses and Cemeteries

Parks

The town-park movement in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries provided ornamental parks for people living in urban areas. Initially, many were created as pockets of countryside-like open space in which people could walk. As the number of people using the parks grew, policies were introduced to keep the public off the grass and on tougher paths. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, interest in gardening led to the introduction of more formal flowerbeds. As a result of their origins, many public parks are recreational and attractive retreats rather than rich wildlife reserves. However, there is an increasing tendency to reduce the formalised appearance and return to areas more like the countryside.

Golf Courses

As other wildlife habitats disappear, golf courses are becoming increasingly important for wildlife, especially in urban areas. When landscaped sensitively golf courses can be ideal habitats for plants and animals. Large areas are manicured, but there is a sizeable amount of rough, which has some importance for wildlife. Trees and hedges are used for nesting, roosting and food sources for several species of birds. Wild flowers, invertebrates and small mammals can be found in the rough areas. Ponds and other watercourses can be rich in invertebrate, plant and bird life.

Churchyards and Cemeteries

Many churchyards were originally grasslands enclosed either when the church was built or as a later extension. They range from manicured lawns and tended flowers beds to neglected wildernesses. Churchyards are often refuges for meadow plants such Cowslips. Over 100 species of plant may occur in an average sized churchyard. Typically, older churchyards have more native species, with mature Yew (Taxus baccata) and Beech (Fagus sylvatica) dominating, mixed with Lime and exotic conifers which were often planted in Victorian times. Shrubs including Holly (Ilex aquifolium) and climbers like Ivy (Hedera helix) are also typical. Churchyards and cemeteries are often similar in terms of wildlife and both may attract wildlife because of their lower disturbance and greater habitat diversity compared to surrounding areas. The gravestones themselves support a huge variety of lichens. Older stones laid on their side may provide basking sites for reptiles such as the Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara). Many cemeteries support an important range of wildlife and, in some cases, act as valuable refuges for rare and uncommon species.

Parks, cemeteries and golf courses all provide insect rich feeding areas for bat species especially pipistrelles (Pipistrellus spp.) and Whiskered bats (Myotis mystacinus).

Current Status

Parks

Public parks are found in urban areas all over Great Britain. Parks are generally well used and their high level of management appreciated. However, there is scope to improve their wildlife value. The open space that public parks provide in Hull is invaluable. Many of the public parks in Hull are designated by Hull City Council as Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI), for example, West Park, East Park, Pickering Park, and Pearson Park. Many of the parks within Hull contain lakes or ponds that are very important for birds.

Golf Courses

There are over 2,500 golf courses in Britain, covering about 1,500 km2, at least 0.5% of the land area. There are approximately 90 golf courses in England that are designated as SSSI, because apart from the intensively managed trees and greens they have other habitats with high wildlife value. Many other golf courses exist within designated Heritage Coast sites, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or listed Historic Parklands.

Hull's golf courses, situated on the fringes of the city on former agricultural land, contain many well-established trees and hedgerows, wetlands and areas of rough grassland. Springhead Golf Course and Sutton Park Golf Course, between them cover an area of over 50 ha; they are designated as SNCI and are important links in the green network.

Churchyards and Cemeteries

There are over 20,000 churchyards and cemeteries in England covering about 10,000 ha. Hull has some important churchyards and many cemeteries distributed across the city. The churchyard at Sutton-upon-Hull with its mature trees and borders of long grassland is a haven for wildlife. Twelve cemeteries, covering an area of nearly 70 hectares, are recognised as SNCI. The old General Cemetery on Springbank West, Northern Cemetery on Chanterlands Avenue and Hedon Road Cemetery also act as important links in the green network.

Current Factors Affecting the Habitat

• Parks are generally provided for sport and recreational activities and this use may sometimes conflict with conservation.
  
  
• Some parks are too intensively managed, making them unattractive to wildlife. Most mature trees in the parks lack under-storey layers of bushes, wild flowers or bulbs of native origin.
  
  
• Pesticides and fertilisers are often applied to golf courses and there are concerns about their potential effects on the habitat and associated wildlife.
  
  
• Intrusive lighting from clubhouses, car parks and driving ranges may disturb animals and birds, causing them to move from the habitat.
  
  
• When high numbers of people use golf courses the disturbance affects many species, particularly birds.
  
  
• Some churchyards and cemeteries are too intensively managed leading to loss of biodiversity; however, lack of management can also cause problems.

Current Action

Legal Status

Planning Policy Guidance exists for development of new golf courses (PPG 17). There is no local planning guidance for golfcourses.

Management, Research and Guidance

Most of the parks within Hull are highly managed and maintained.

The Living Churchyard & Cemetery Project being promoted through Wildlife Trusts, the Council for the Care of Churches, English Nature and other agencies, supports the principles and practices of nature conservation in all types of burial grounds throughout the country. The project originally focused on rural churchyards and burial grounds. However, while continuing its work in this field it has also developed into urban and secular burial grounds.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust organises the 'Yorkshire Living Churchyard Project'. The Project aims to survey wildlife present in churchyards, provides information and gives management advice for the protection of wildflowers, lichens, butterflies and other wildlife. There are training days for YWT and parish volunteers in surveying and management, and leaflets are available for display in churches.

The British Lichen Society produces a 'Churchyard Lichens' fact sheet, which gives information on lichens, the importance of churchyards and how people can help.

Action Plan Aims

1. To plant native hedgerows along boundaries, and enhance existing hedgerows by further tree or shrub planting using plants of local origin.
   
2. To make ponds more wildlife friendly e.g. indented margins, planting of native marginal vegetation.
   
3. To extend the provision of bird and bat boxes.
   
4. To create areas of less frequently mown grass in parks, golf courses and cemeteries and manage some areas as meadow.
   
5. To provide basking places for reptiles on golf courses, such as paving slabs in areas of rough away from busy thoroughfares.
   
6. To encourage local churches and cemeteries to participate in 'Living Churchyards and Cemeteries Project'.
   
7. To develop wildlife areas within parks and as 'contemplative zones' in cemeteries.
   
8. To promote planting of commemorative native trees and shrubs in gardens of remembrance.
   
9. To increase awareness of the value of parks, cemeteries and golf courses for wildlife.
   
10. To increase knowledge of species present in parks, golf courses and cemeteries.

What We Are Going to Do

What We Can All Do

• Encourage your local churchyard or cemetery to get involved in the Yorkshire Living Churchyard Project.
  
• Help record plant, animal and insect species and report these to the Hull Biodiversity Partnership.
  

Links With Other Action Plans

This plan should be considered along with those for Grassland, Freshwater Habitats, Gardens and Allotments and Trees, Scrub and Hedgerows. Parks, Golf Courses and Cemeteries also provide important habitat for species such as Elm, Cowslip, and Lichens. Amphibians and reptiles such as Common Toad, and Common Lizard, birds including Song Thrush, Mute Swan and Spotted Flycatcher and mammals such as Hedgehogs and Pipistrelle bats.

References

Ausden, M., Treweek, J. (1995) Grassland. In: Managing Habitats for Conservation, ed. Sutherland, E.J. & Hill, D.A. pp.197-229. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Chester, T., Palmer, K. (1994) Churchyard Lichens. British Lichen Society.

Wheater, C. P. (1999) Urban Environments. Routledge, London