Campbell Park now and in the future
Do real live farm animals have a place at the heart of a city lampooned by the rest of the nation for its concrete cows?That's the question The Parks Trust is asking following a complaint about sheep fouling footpaths in Campbell Park.
As caretakers of around 4.500 acres of the landscaping which is really what makes Milton Keynes different from any other city, The Parks Trust is always keen to hear people's views.
Chief Executive David Foster explains why the sheep are there, looks at how Campbell Park has developed and outlines exciting plans for the future.
Should we have sheep in Campbell Park? At the Parks Trust we believe they are part of what makes Milton Keynes unique: confirmation that we have succeeded in creating the 'city in the country', with fingers of countryside extending right into the places where people live, work, shop and socialise.
Even though they live in an urban area our children can see farm animals. But there are also strong environmental reasons for having livestock in Campbell Park.
Any large area of grassland has to be managed and using livestock rather than machinery to control growth allows many more plant species to flourish, creating a much richer diversity of wildlife - and being more sustainable at the same time.
That is why we've got sheep and cattle grazing on about 700 acres of the Trust's parkland throughout the city and why the Trust is frequently commended for the way it works hand in hand with nature. We're so proud of the fact that there are more breeding butterflies in the city than in the countryside around and one of the reasons for that is our ecological approach.
The Campbell Park flock has the run of around half of the park, with paths being swept of droppings once a week - and more often if necessary.
We would like to keep the sheep in the Park and our feeling is that the vast majority of people would agree but if there really is a groundswell of feeling against having sheep we'll think again.
I know some dog walkers would like to let their dogs have a completely free reign in the park but most are happy to keep them under closer control and enjoy the sight of sheep grazing and the wonderful meadow that results.
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| sledgers enjoying the snow |
A park for all seasons and all reasons Meanwhile, Campbell Park's 100 acres remain a work in progress.
There is already outline planning permission for a huge amount of development on the fringes of the park and, in the next ten years or so, as the vacant land on the northern and southern boundaries is developed many more facilities will be added.
We already have the events plateau, the open air theatre, and a world-class cricket pitch, all in a wonderful setting with a rapidly maturing woodland ridge, and some striking formal gardens and sculpture. We hope to introduce pavilion buildings at each of the four main entrances off Silbury and Avebury Boulevards and these will provide refreshments, toilets, ranger stations and other facilities.
There are also plans for a landmark cultural building at the park's west end along with a new bridge or deck over Marlborough Street to better link the park to the city centre. We hope that in years to come many people visiting the shops or the Theatre and Gallery for example will come across into the park for a stroll or to see an event or maybe for a bite to eat.
And work has started on the first of the four new park extensions which will provide beautifully designed green corridors that will provide much better walking and cycling connections to and from Downs Barn and Springfield.
Campbell Park is already a fabulous place but we have always said it is also a park in waiting. In the years to come it will become a more vibrant, lively city centre park, surrounded by high quality development, and boasting all the facilities people expect.
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| autumn scene in campbell Park |
In the meantime, although the park is quiet at this time of year, it remains the venue for all the city's high days and holidays, as well as a key resource for the Trust's environmental education programme.
In 2005 alone over one hundred schools have brought groups to study its wildlife with Parks Trust staff, while more than 100,000 visitors enjoyed everything from Twenty/20 cricket, Proms and Jools Holland in the park, the city's first youth festival and, of course, the annual fireworks, as well as parks and run events, orienteering, tai chi, yoga, circus skills, kite flying, and much more - part of the Trust's annual programme of more than 200 free events.