Nature Conservation Area
Myatt's Fields Nature Conservation Area (NCA) has a pond, orchard, wildflower meadow, willow play huts, and a bug house. (There were even ducks on the pond last spring!) We want to do even more as it is so important to have access to this sort of outside space in such an urban area.
Our park manager has created a ten year plan for the wildlife area. This includes creating zones around the pond, a bulb area, orchard, the meadow and hedgerow areas.
Introduction to the Ecological status of Myatt’s Fields Park
1. Local SINC: Myatt’s Fields Park is a proposed ‘Local Site of Importance for Nature Conservation’ (Local SINC) for the London Borough Lambeth. The SINC boundary includes all areas and features within the park’s external boundary, although obviously the Nature Conservation Area will play a more significant role in terms of biodiversity and access to nature than other areas.
The intention is to include Myatt’s Fields Park as a Local SINC in the Lambeth Local Development Framework (LDF), which will replace the current Unitary Development Plan (UDP) and is due to adoption in 2011. Information on Lambeth’s SINC sites can be found on the Mayor of London and Greater London Authority’s ‘Wildweb’ wildlife information site at: http://www.london.gov.uk/wildweb/
2. AOD: Myatt’s Fields Park is within an ‘Area of Deficiency for Access to Nature’ (AOD) for Greater London; AODs are regions of London where free access to and enjoyment of nature is either limited or restricted. The park is in fact within one of the largest AODs for London, which covers most of northern Lambeth and Southwark.
The Nature Conservation Area
1. Background.
Prior to the restoration of Myatt’s Fields Park there were no areas dedicated to nature conservation or which could be actively managed for both biodiversity and educational purposes. When HLF/council funding was allocated to prepare plans for the restoration of Myatt’s Fields Park, consultation and surveys identified the need and potential for a dedicated wildlife area within the park. This would not only act as a ‘reservoir’ or ‘refuge’ for wildlife during the major redevelopment and disturbance to the park, but would also provide a specific educational resource for use by residents, schools and community groups once the park had been restored.
The need for dedicated area for the wildlife led to creation of the Nature Conservation Area (NCA), based on part of the park occupied by the old putting green and part of one of three tennis courts. Proposed design included the inclusion of a small pond, pathways, mounded features, trees and boundary habitats, all enclosed by low metal fencing and gates. The dominant habitat would be ‘meadow grassland’ although areas of scrub, native bulbs and hedgerows would be included to provide habitat types which had benefit for visual effect and education.
The area to be occupied by the NCA was cleared during the park’s restoration, and gradually laid out during 2008 and 2009. The NCA was formally opened for use in 2009, and has since been integrated into the general management of the park.
2. Current Use
The NCA is very popular with all park user groups, especially young families and children. It is being used for passive recreation and exploring wildlife. Since its creation it has been sued for a wide range of activities, including eco-activities lead by Groundwork London, Myatt’s Fields Park Apiary Project, Invisible Food Project and various volunteering maintenance projects.
3. Management of NCA
Following the restoration of Myatt’s Fields Park and the creation of the NCA, a series of habitats or ‘zones’ have gradually developed within the NCA. These ‘zones’ are not rigidly defined in the NCA, and there is considerable ‘fuzziness’ between where one zone or habitat type changes into another, and zones often contain more than one habitat type. However, the zoning of the NCA helps direct its maintenance and development although this may change as the site evolves over time.
At the present the NCA supports the following core habitats or ‘zones’. Please click here to view the map:
· Meadow Grass Zones: Long Grass Zone, Project Zone, Educational Zone, Wildflower Zone
· Native Bulb Zones
· Orchard Zone
· Western Woodland Boundary Zone
· Eastern Hedgerow Boundary Zone
· Wetland Zone
· Pathways and Access
In 2010 MFPP and Lambeth Parks created five years management plan for the nature Conservation Area. Click here to access the plan for detailed information on each zone and maintenance objectives.
How do I get involved?
Help us during the planting days
Help us planning the development of the nature area as part of our horticulture group
Myatt's Fields Nature Conservation Area (NCA) has a pond, orchard, wildflower meadow, willow play huts, and a bug house. (There were even ducks on the pond last spring!) We want to do even more as it is so important to have access to this sort of outside space in such an urban area.
Our park manager has created a ten year plan for the wildlife area. This includes creating zones around the pond, a bulb area, orchard, the meadow and hedgerow areas.
Introduction to the Ecological status of Myatt’s Fields Park
1. Local SINC: Myatt’s Fields Park is a proposed ‘Local Site of Importance for Nature Conservation’ (Local SINC) for the London Borough Lambeth. The SINC boundary includes all areas and features within the park’s external boundary, although obviously the Nature Conservation Area will play a more significant role in terms of biodiversity and access to nature than other areas.
The intention is to include Myatt’s Fields Park as a Local SINC in the Lambeth Local Development Framework (LDF), which will replace the current Unitary Development Plan (UDP) and is due to adoption in 2011. Information on Lambeth’s SINC sites can be found on the Mayor of London and Greater London Authority’s ‘Wildweb’ wildlife information site at: http://www.london.gov.uk/wildweb/
2. AOD: Myatt’s Fields Park is within an ‘Area of Deficiency for Access to Nature’ (AOD) for Greater London; AODs are regions of London where free access to and enjoyment of nature is either limited or restricted. The park is in fact within one of the largest AODs for London, which covers most of northern Lambeth and Southwark.
The Nature Conservation Area
1. Background.
Prior to the restoration of Myatt’s Fields Park there were no areas dedicated to nature conservation or which could be actively managed for both biodiversity and educational purposes. When HLF/council funding was allocated to prepare plans for the restoration of Myatt’s Fields Park, consultation and surveys identified the need and potential for a dedicated wildlife area within the park. This would not only act as a ‘reservoir’ or ‘refuge’ for wildlife during the major redevelopment and disturbance to the park, but would also provide a specific educational resource for use by residents, schools and community groups once the park had been restored.
The need for dedicated area for the wildlife led to creation of the Nature Conservation Area (NCA), based on part of the park occupied by the old putting green and part of one of three tennis courts. Proposed design included the inclusion of a small pond, pathways, mounded features, trees and boundary habitats, all enclosed by low metal fencing and gates. The dominant habitat would be ‘meadow grassland’ although areas of scrub, native bulbs and hedgerows would be included to provide habitat types which had benefit for visual effect and education.
The area to be occupied by the NCA was cleared during the park’s restoration, and gradually laid out during 2008 and 2009. The NCA was formally opened for use in 2009, and has since been integrated into the general management of the park.
2. Current Use
The NCA is very popular with all park user groups, especially young families and children. It is being used for passive recreation and exploring wildlife. Since its creation it has been sued for a wide range of activities, including eco-activities lead by Groundwork London, Myatt’s Fields Park Apiary Project, Invisible Food Project and various volunteering maintenance projects.
3. Management of NCA
Following the restoration of Myatt’s Fields Park and the creation of the NCA, a series of habitats or ‘zones’ have gradually developed within the NCA. These ‘zones’ are not rigidly defined in the NCA, and there is considerable ‘fuzziness’ between where one zone or habitat type changes into another, and zones often contain more than one habitat type. However, the zoning of the NCA helps direct its maintenance and development although this may change as the site evolves over time.
At the present the NCA supports the following core habitats or ‘zones’. Please click here to view the map:
· Meadow Grass Zones: Long Grass Zone, Project Zone, Educational Zone, Wildflower Zone
· Native Bulb Zones
· Orchard Zone
· Western Woodland Boundary Zone
· Eastern Hedgerow Boundary Zone
· Wetland Zone
· Pathways and Access
In 2010 MFPP and Lambeth Parks created five years management plan for the nature Conservation Area. Click here to access the plan for detailed information on each zone and maintenance objectives.
How do I get involved?
Help us during the planting days
Help us planning the development of the nature area as part of our horticulture group
