The Green, Westcott, is a two-acre open space of ‘common land’ owned and maintained by Westcott Parish Council on behalf of the residents in the parish. The Parish Council has developed a scheme that aims to enhance The Green both for its users and the biodiversity of the site, and restricts access to unauthorised vehicles.
Common land comes with many restrictions about how it can be developed; any changes that could impede access need permission from the UK Government’s Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. To avoid this lengthy and costly process the Parish Council has devised a scheme within legal requirements and to complement the rural setting.
In the field beyond the playground, a line of sturdy wooden posts about 70cm tall will run in parallel with the path/access road. These will be placed at intervals close enough to deter most vehicles from being able to cross onto the playing field, whilst still allowing pedestrian and cycle access – a must-have for common land. Space will be left for a lockable barrier to be installed as an access point for maintenance and emergency vehicles.
Nine trees will be planted in the field closest to the High Street and up to the playground. These are a mixture of native British species: silver birch, rowan and black poplar, which will be positioned to fill up spaces between the existing mature trees.
A low hedge of mixed native species – hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple and hazel, will be planted alongside the High Street end of The Green, with another row planted along the edge of the turning circle.
Being keen to support the local economy and be as ‘green’ as practicable, the Parish Council has used businesses in the local area as suppliers.
Lindengate Charity are supplying all the planting. Based on a six-acre site in Wendover, Lindengate are a mental health charity using gardening and conservation to help people of all ages with their health & wellbeing. All profits from sales go straight back to supporting people’s wellbeing and the gardens.
All the plants have been grown by Lindengate, including the two black poplars (Populus nigra) whose numbers are in decline; we’re hoping the male and female trees will thrive in their boggy planting position.
The Lindengate gardens are a great place to visit and they sell plants to the public that they have grown or have been donated by local garden centres.
A full underground utilities survey has been done by RGL Ltd., a business based on the Venture Park.
In 2024 RGL kindly undertook a trace survey at no charge to the parish, however, since this indicated a network of underground services were indeed present, a more in-depth survey was commissioned to ensure identifiable risks can be mitigated during the works.
It’s been a revelation to find out just how many underground cables actually do go under The Green! The survey will also be useful for any future improvements to the playground.
Eight local businesses within a ten mile radius were initially invited to tender for the works. As a result of the competitive and open process, Decorare has been appointed as the principal contractor to install the posts, planting and access point. Decorare are landscape contractors based in Haddenham.
We expect this phase of the works to take three days from Tuesday 15th until Thursday 17th April, then one or two additional days to install the barrier and for any snagging to be done. When everything is in place some more ‘no driving/parking’ signage will be put up. Once this phase is complete the scheme will be assessed to see if any additional measures are needed.
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