| |
| Publication Type:
| Proceedings |
|---|
| Author(s): | Brooker, Richard |
|---|
| Author Affiliation: | Assistant Director of Leisure Services, Outdoor Division, Kirklees Metropolitan Council, High Street Buildings, Huddersfield |
|---|
| Title: | Standards for amenity and informal recreation areas |
|---|
| Meeting Info.: | Nottingham University: September 25-27, 1985 |
|---|
| Source: | Proceedings of the Third National Turfgrass Conference [UK]. 1985, p. 42-58. |
|---|
| Publishing Information: | National Turfgrass Council [UK] |
|---|
| # of Pages: | 17 |
|---|
| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Parks; Landscape; Costs; Standards; Native vegetation; Landscape design; Natural areas
|
|---|
| Abstract/Contents: | "A traditional approach to the maintenance of our parks and open spaces has become established over a long period. It can be argued that this traditional approach has matured into a response to maintenance requirements alone and the "management" of these landscaped areas is often neglected completely. Management implies a rational, considered response to changing circumstances whereas maintenance may only be a routine physical solution to a practical problem. In spite of numerous excellent examples of a traditional maintenance, locations can be identified where there is an opportunity to apply an alternative technique. Examples of a positive response to natural environmental circumstances such as the vegetation cover on moorlands, sand dunes and the like, suggest that a naturalistic approach by design could be acceptable. This gives another option, based on ecological and conservation principles, for the design and management of landscapes in urban areas. New materials and design solutions must be tried, tested and analysed before being applied on a wider basis but, with care and on carefully chosen sites, a naturalistic method can provide greater variety and interest than a traditional approach, while still retaining the necessary quality of environment. It is particularly important that a naturalistic scheme should be monitored as part of an ongoing process of management assessment, because of its early vulnerability, the emotive issues which can be raised if standards are not achieved, and the need for the different approach to be accepted by the client and the general public alike. A naturalistic approach to the management and maintenance of a site certainly does not equate with total neglect. In the long term there may well be financial savings to be found, but the short-term demands, although different, may be just as onerous as traditional requirements. The idealistic approach to conservation areas in parks and open spaces is not a panacea in terms of conservation, economics, or user requirements. It is merely one more option available to the designer or landscape manager. There are a number of aspects which are critical to this type of approach. Subsoil may be adequate as a growing medium for many species, especially for temporary landscaping. Chemicals may be needed in the early stages, particularly for spot exclusion of unwanted species. Training is an essential part of the process: the operative must understand what he is required to so [do] and the purpose behind it. The pool of machinery may have to be adjusted to relate to the special requirements of this approach. Comparisons of cash and standards must be carefully monitored, if a successful but balanced result is to be achieved." |
|---|
| Language: | English |
|---|
| References: | 3 |
|---|
| See Also: | See also related article "Playing standards for natural turf sports surfaces" Proceedings of the Third National Turfgrass Conference [UK], 1985, p. 31-41, R=85680. R=85680
See also related article "Questions to Steve Baker and Richard Brooker" Proceedings of the Third National Turfgrass Conference [UK], 1985, p. 59-65, R=85682. R=85682 |
|---|
| Note: | Summary appears as abstract
Pictures, b/w
Graphs |
|---|
| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Brooker, R. 1985. Standards for amenity and informal recreation areas. p. 42-58. In Proceedings of the Third National Turfgrass Conference [UK]. Nottingham University: September 25-27, 1985. National Turfgrass Council [UK]. |
| Fastlink to access this record outside TGIF: https://tic.msu.edu/tgif/flink?recno=85681 |
| If there are problems with this record, send us feedback about record 85681. |
| Choices for finding the above item: |
|---|
| 
MSU catalog number: b12296353 |
| Request through your local library's inter-library loan service (bring or send a copy of this TGIF record) |
