Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council

Appendix B - 2
Trees and the Public Realm (Draft)
1 Opportunity Council-owned parks and open spaces
Character
The Royal Parks (Regents Park, Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James’s Park) provide by far the largest areas
of open space within Westminster which are not under the control of the Council; nevertheless the council
maintains approximately 120 acres of open space. There are few large council-managed parks in the city,
Paddington Recreation Ground (10.8 hectares) and Victoria Embankment Gardens (4.5 hectares) are the
largest. However, there are many smaller open spaces, often known as ‘pocket parks’ which owing to their
location, and abundance of mature trees, and in some cases historic landscapes (as set out in English
Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest), provide levels of amenity that are much
greater than their modest size would suggest.
Trees
Trees, especially large mature trees, are frequently the dominant landscape component of the park and can
define the layout of recreational space. Westminster’s parks are generally well stocked with trees, and as a
consequence it should be recognised that opportunities for new planting are limited without encroaching onto
areas of open space. The edges of parks should be explored to ensure all opportunities have been taken to
enclose the space in accordance with the landscape design intent.
Planting principles
1. Identify and evaluate the age and species structure of the tree population with a
view to strategic renewal programme over the long-term which maintains, as a
minimum, current standards of amenity and biodiversity.
2. Plant species appropriate to the conditions and character of the site, and where
appropriate of known provenance, and ensure that new tree planting does not
reduce the value of the existing landscape or townscape.
3. Ensure that new planting considers, and makes a positive contribution towards,
the ecological character of the site. Where possible, standing dead wood will be
retained for its contribution to biodiversity.
4. Remove specimens where it is justified to implement an agreed landscape plan,
or, if it is appropriate, to assist the preservation or restoration of historic
landscapes or views.
5. Where major replanting schemes are proposed, the City Council will consult with
interested parties such as neighbours, amenity associations, and area forums.