The hot topic of Jesus Green's trees has once again arisen.
The city council are currently consulting people on its long-term plans for the trees.
In short, there are proposals to chop down a lot of trees, including the horse chestnut trees on Victoria because they are said to be diseased. More controversially, there are also plans to fell the cherry tree avenue - about 20 years old - and replace it with new trees as it is felt the cherries are reaching the end of their lives.
Here is a copy of a Cambridge News article which sums up the issue very well. Below is the council's invitation for people to have their say, which must be done by September 10.
Iconic trees could be cut down after plans to take a chainsaw to Cambridge’s riverside parks were unveiled.
Options on the table for Jesus Green and Midsummer Common could see all of the horse chestnuts along Victoria Avenue chopped down immediately and replaced, and the cherry tree-lined avenue which runs diagonally from the lock to Park Parade razed ahead of the planting of small ornamental trees.
Another option is to replace the trees when they become unsafe.
Jesus Green and Midsummer Common are popular beauty spots but many species are randomly mixed and there is a risk of disease.
Peter Constable, chairman of the Jesus Green Association, said he was opposed to the removal of healthy trees for the sake of uniformity.
He said: “If it was decided to fell the trees, it would be a disaster – the green would look like a shorn sheep.
“The real beauty is in the present and the historic planting, which is what we should be trying to preserve and maintain.” Some £50,000 is available for planting in the coming months and also to plan the area’s long-term future.
A further option for Victoria Avenue is to fell alternate trees now and replace them, while young trees on Midsummer Common’s riverside path could be cut down and replaced with willows and black poplars.
Leylandii next to the tennis courts could be felled and replaced with limes, while copper beech trees on the edge of Park Parade could also be swapped for limes.
Leylandii next to the lido might be exchanged for a hedge, and willows could replace mixed species next to the Fort St George pub, and mixed trees to the west of Victoria Avenue between the river and Jesus College could be swapped for a single species.
Willows and limes could be planted on the Jesus Green towpaths, while Midsummer Common could get more trees to screen the new Brunswick School development and the public toilets.
There is not enough cash to implement all the options now so bosses at Cambridge City Council wants to hear what people’s priorities are.
Changes which are not implemented straight away could guide work over the coming decades.
Alistair Wilson, green space manager, said: “It’s often easier to manage a landscape if you have a long-term vision for it.
“We are trying to make a landscape for the future that recognises the heritage of the site.” Mr Constable described the cherry tree and horse chestnut avenues as “beautiful”.
He said: “The idea is to have a strategy that as trees are felled they are replanted.
“We should be exhorting people to have their say and avoid the chainsaw option because there are other options which are clearly better and would achieve much better results.”
COUNCIL INVITATION
The City Council has recently published proposals for new tree planting at Jesus Green and Midsummer Common.
Trees have an enormous positive impact on the city’s landscape, and we know it’s important to get tree planting right so that these important sites remain attractive and welcoming to residents and visitors.
We aim to restore the historic planting layouts, removing species that are not appropriate for the spaces, and providing a long-term, sustainable management solution for the trees.
This questionnaire is accompanied by a map of the locations concerned and we’d welcome your views on our tree management and planting proposals. In each question, we’ve left space which you can use to expand on your answer or give us more feedback.
You’ll find an electronic version of the survey on our website if you prefer to respond in that way, or you can just send us comments direct by emailing trees@greenrecreation.co.uk. You can also respond by post or fill in a form at our Customer Services Centre or at one of our exhibitions.
Please see details at the end of this form.
Please respond by 10th September 2010.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Litter update
Pleasing though it is to see so many people enjoying Jesus Green in the first flush of summer, the litter situation is fairly horrendous.
The green has become a favoured destination for picnickers (in groups of 20 or more) who then try to place this waste in the public litter bins. While this is preferable than simply leaving mess strewn across the grass (which some groups do), the municipal bins cannot cope with what is essentially huge amounts of domestic waste. Visitors must attempt to take their waste home with them as it is not feasible to expect these small bins (even supplemented by extra ones) to contain all this waste.
And frankly the scenes seen following some hot weekends are simply disgraceful, with litter left all over the place. Council officials described a May weekend as teh worst they had ever seen Cambridge's greens.
Consideration needs to be given to enforcement if people refuse to tidy up after themselves.
And then there is the matter of disposible BARBECUES. These are not allowed on the green. Our association has been promised signs on each of the entrances to the green by the council but these have not yet materialised. Burn marks take up to two years to grow back and the dozens of patches left on the green on some weekends are not acceptable.
How draconian the council is willing to be in enforcing this rule is unclear. But unless a strong message is sent out, this practice will increasingly be seen as a Cambridge way of life, when it is clearly wrong (try lighting a BBQ in Central Park, NY, and see what happens).
And in the age of David Cameron's Big Society, in which individuals are asked to take responsibily for their environment rather than just relying on the state, maybe people might bee willing tell offenders about the rules when they set a BBQ being lit - though it would help if there was a sign to gesture towards.
So let's look after the green this summer
The green has become a favoured destination for picnickers (in groups of 20 or more) who then try to place this waste in the public litter bins. While this is preferable than simply leaving mess strewn across the grass (which some groups do), the municipal bins cannot cope with what is essentially huge amounts of domestic waste. Visitors must attempt to take their waste home with them as it is not feasible to expect these small bins (even supplemented by extra ones) to contain all this waste.
And frankly the scenes seen following some hot weekends are simply disgraceful, with litter left all over the place. Council officials described a May weekend as teh worst they had ever seen Cambridge's greens.
Consideration needs to be given to enforcement if people refuse to tidy up after themselves.
And then there is the matter of disposible BARBECUES. These are not allowed on the green. Our association has been promised signs on each of the entrances to the green by the council but these have not yet materialised. Burn marks take up to two years to grow back and the dozens of patches left on the green on some weekends are not acceptable.
How draconian the council is willing to be in enforcing this rule is unclear. But unless a strong message is sent out, this practice will increasingly be seen as a Cambridge way of life, when it is clearly wrong (try lighting a BBQ in Central Park, NY, and see what happens).
And in the age of David Cameron's Big Society, in which individuals are asked to take responsibily for their environment rather than just relying on the state, maybe people might bee willing tell offenders about the rules when they set a BBQ being lit - though it would help if there was a sign to gesture towards.
So let's look after the green this summer
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Spring update
SPRING UPDATE
Spring is here and Jesus Green will soon become a hub of activity for socialising, sports, skateboarding, public events, swimming, boating and play for children once again.
The Jesus Green Association is happy to update the public on upcoming improvements to Cambridge’s best-loved open space, which will benefit the thousands of visitors who enjoy using it each year – particularly in spring and summer.
Tennis courts – Cambridge City Council have agreed to push ahead with the refurbishment of the green’s tennis courts. The existing hard courts will be resurfaced and two grass courts will be replaced with hard courts. Two grass courts will remain.
Procurement for the courts has begun and work is expected to take place in autumn/winter 2010.
Playground – plans to spend about £130,000 to refurbish the playground are well-advanced. Consultation is ongoing with parents about the type of equipment that they want to see – the park is expected to remain in the same location.
Work is set to start in autumn 2010 pending planning permission.
Skatepark – temporary planning permission for the park was made permanent earlier this year. A second planning application has been submitted for resurfacing and improvements to the ramp – work is expected to take place in autumn 2010. Skateboarders are in contact with council officers to ensure the right changes are made.
Lock-keepers island – using a small amount of money obtained from the Grassroots Fund, volunteers from the Jesus Green Association will be planting flowers in the lock keepers island this spring.
Rouse Pavilion – talks are underway about renovating the Rouse Ball pavilion, which houses the green’s public conveniences. These include the possibility of creating a community cafe at the pavilion. JGA is exploring possible funding streams, including the city council, lottery and Trinity College, which has expressed interest in improving the pavilion (named after former Cambridge councillor and Trinity don)
Plain tree avenue – plans to resurface the plain tree avenue have been adopted by the city council’s west/central area committee as one of its priorities, re the spending of section 106 money.
Drainage – JGA has written to the city council to say it would back any application to the lottery for a grant to improve drainage on the Victoria Avenue side of Jesus Green. Repairing collapsed drains under this area could potentially stop the area becoming a virtual flood plain in the winter and restore the grass, allowing football to be played there in the winter.
Wooden bowls pavilion – due to be demolished. Demolition date not yet known.
Trees – plans on the future of Jesus Green’s trees can be viewed on the association’s website. The JGA has made strong representations on this issue and will be working with city council tree officers to ensure future work on trees is transparent and in the best interest of Jesus Green users.
Jubilee Gardens – Cambridge City Council is undertaking a consultation about moving residential boaters off Jubilee Gardens – opposite Jesus Green tennis court area – and relocating them below to the area immediately below the weir.
River crusing vessels would instead be allocated this area – encouraging the use of the lock (stopping it from silting up) and bringing more tourist boaters on to Jesus Green.
A decision on making the switch will be made in October 2010 pending consultation.
To have your say contact officers at Cambridge City Council.
Other – plans for a “biodiversity zone” and “high-wire zone” for Jesus Green were dropped from a list of possible projects deserving section 106 money.
Jesus Green Association – at our annual general meeting in January we agreed to change the conditions of membership. Full members will asked to pay a £2 annual sub to help cover the costs of running the association, its various work, and it is hoped this will formalise our membership list.
Anyone who wants to join should email the address below – join up and get involved.
For all details about the JGA, our constitution and updates about issues affecting the green, go to www.jesusgreen.org/ or email secretary_jga@hotmail.co.uk
Jack Grove, JGA Secretary, March 28th 2010
Spring is here and Jesus Green will soon become a hub of activity for socialising, sports, skateboarding, public events, swimming, boating and play for children once again.
The Jesus Green Association is happy to update the public on upcoming improvements to Cambridge’s best-loved open space, which will benefit the thousands of visitors who enjoy using it each year – particularly in spring and summer.
Tennis courts – Cambridge City Council have agreed to push ahead with the refurbishment of the green’s tennis courts. The existing hard courts will be resurfaced and two grass courts will be replaced with hard courts. Two grass courts will remain.
Procurement for the courts has begun and work is expected to take place in autumn/winter 2010.
Playground – plans to spend about £130,000 to refurbish the playground are well-advanced. Consultation is ongoing with parents about the type of equipment that they want to see – the park is expected to remain in the same location.
Work is set to start in autumn 2010 pending planning permission.
Skatepark – temporary planning permission for the park was made permanent earlier this year. A second planning application has been submitted for resurfacing and improvements to the ramp – work is expected to take place in autumn 2010. Skateboarders are in contact with council officers to ensure the right changes are made.
Lock-keepers island – using a small amount of money obtained from the Grassroots Fund, volunteers from the Jesus Green Association will be planting flowers in the lock keepers island this spring.
Rouse Pavilion – talks are underway about renovating the Rouse Ball pavilion, which houses the green’s public conveniences. These include the possibility of creating a community cafe at the pavilion. JGA is exploring possible funding streams, including the city council, lottery and Trinity College, which has expressed interest in improving the pavilion (named after former Cambridge councillor and Trinity don)
Plain tree avenue – plans to resurface the plain tree avenue have been adopted by the city council’s west/central area committee as one of its priorities, re the spending of section 106 money.
Drainage – JGA has written to the city council to say it would back any application to the lottery for a grant to improve drainage on the Victoria Avenue side of Jesus Green. Repairing collapsed drains under this area could potentially stop the area becoming a virtual flood plain in the winter and restore the grass, allowing football to be played there in the winter.
Wooden bowls pavilion – due to be demolished. Demolition date not yet known.
Trees – plans on the future of Jesus Green’s trees can be viewed on the association’s website. The JGA has made strong representations on this issue and will be working with city council tree officers to ensure future work on trees is transparent and in the best interest of Jesus Green users.
Jubilee Gardens – Cambridge City Council is undertaking a consultation about moving residential boaters off Jubilee Gardens – opposite Jesus Green tennis court area – and relocating them below to the area immediately below the weir.
River crusing vessels would instead be allocated this area – encouraging the use of the lock (stopping it from silting up) and bringing more tourist boaters on to Jesus Green.
A decision on making the switch will be made in October 2010 pending consultation.
To have your say contact officers at Cambridge City Council.
Other – plans for a “biodiversity zone” and “high-wire zone” for Jesus Green were dropped from a list of possible projects deserving section 106 money.
Jesus Green Association – at our annual general meeting in January we agreed to change the conditions of membership. Full members will asked to pay a £2 annual sub to help cover the costs of running the association, its various work, and it is hoped this will formalise our membership list.
Anyone who wants to join should email the address below – join up and get involved.
For all details about the JGA, our constitution and updates about issues affecting the green, go to www.jesusgreen.org/ or email secretary_jga@hotmail.co.uk
Jack Grove, JGA Secretary, March 28th 2010
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Comments on changes to parks
Anne Garvey, from the Don't Make It Jesus Less Green pressure group, was unable to attend the AGM on December 3, but has asked if these comments on the changes to the parks be communicated.
I wondered , as I couldn’t make the meeting tonight, whether there would be any gap to express the view, which many people attached to the Don’t Make it Jesus Less Green group have made to me, that moving the playground would be a mistake.
Mothers have explained that they like the walk there, the fact that there is a ‘defensible space’ around it – not criss crossed by pedestrian traffic as at the other end and sunnier.
Others interested in Jesus Green express the view that the two sides of the swimming pool are now balanced and moving the playground would concentrate activity at one end, a shadier one.
Safety concerns for children- the propsed move end would bring the children nearer the pavilion which in any incarnation will be haunted by homeless drinkers, now separated from the children side. Also the move would bring the children nearer the water and the fascination of the weir, the river , the lock, an additional hazard now not visible to them.
Waste, a large majority of people took the view that this is simply unnecessary and a waste of public money.
Children at Park Street School, in the top two classes, with whom I had an hour’s consultation, told me that they would prefer some more exciting play equipment for their age group. Would it be a good idea to place THIS at the darker kiosk end and separate younger children who need supervision from older children who can go to the park alone and play? The link would be the skate park but it’s then TOO old for the late primary school children to use.
Safety concerns about the late night use of the skate park and undesirable males hanging about there, this from parents of teenage girls who go down there.
I wondered , as I couldn’t make the meeting tonight, whether there would be any gap to express the view, which many people attached to the Don’t Make it Jesus Less Green group have made to me, that moving the playground would be a mistake.
Mothers have explained that they like the walk there, the fact that there is a ‘defensible space’ around it – not criss crossed by pedestrian traffic as at the other end and sunnier.
Others interested in Jesus Green express the view that the two sides of the swimming pool are now balanced and moving the playground would concentrate activity at one end, a shadier one.
Safety concerns for children- the propsed move end would bring the children nearer the pavilion which in any incarnation will be haunted by homeless drinkers, now separated from the children side. Also the move would bring the children nearer the water and the fascination of the weir, the river , the lock, an additional hazard now not visible to them.
Waste, a large majority of people took the view that this is simply unnecessary and a waste of public money.
Children at Park Street School, in the top two classes, with whom I had an hour’s consultation, told me that they would prefer some more exciting play equipment for their age group. Would it be a good idea to place THIS at the darker kiosk end and separate younger children who need supervision from older children who can go to the park alone and play? The link would be the skate park but it’s then TOO old for the late primary school children to use.
Safety concerns about the late night use of the skate park and undesirable males hanging about there, this from parents of teenage girls who go down there.
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