Feedback on Queen Elizabeth Circle park design requested from critical friends please! Thame Town Council received requests from families to plant trees around the play area in QEC park owing to difficulties with metal equipment getting very hot in summer, particularly the slides. There is also no shade nearby for example for parents with babies.
We have therefore worked on a design to create a mixed sunny and shady environment in the play areas. If you are familiar with Bury Knowle Park in Headington, the aim is for a similar ultimate effect where trees can be integrated within the play area and children can enjoy a mix of man-made and natural play elements. The design has been developed in collaboration with TTC, discussed with some park users, and carefully planned with advice from tree specialists as to location and species selection and has been assessed and found suitable by our funder. However we would very much welcome constructive feedback from families who use this play area as to the design as you might notice things which need tweaking to make it the best design possible. If you like it as it is, please also let us know so we have the full range of views.
Excuse the IT skills on the mock-ups – this is what it should look like in ten years or so. The trees will be small to start with as they have a better chance of establishing successfully than if large trees are transplanted. They will have metal guards as per the photo of a light metal mesh guard. The one within the young children’s area will have a robust guard as in the picture of the black guard. These will stay on until the trunks have thickened up enough to be unlikely to get damaged by play. There will be sufficient space either side of the guards for children to run between equipment unimpeded (2 metres plus).
The species are suitable for play areas, avoiding edible nuts, thorns, excessive sap, toxic berries, etc. The tree next to the slide will be a semi-evergreen oak which was chosen to make leaf-fall easier to manage near the sandpit. A larger tree has been purchased for this location because this was particularly problematic. There is the option to place a similar tree on the other side of the slide to reduce afternoon overheating, or to place this outside of the young children’s play area – let us know what you think is best. Please send your feedback in by email to [email protected] by 12th March. We need people within walking distance to adopt a tree for watering this summer and next – please let us know if you could do this (no cost) and ensure the trees survive.
Thank you in advance.
The trees for QEC have been funded by a grant from Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment funded from South Oxfordshire District Council and from a memorial fund for a colleague of staff at Lucy Electric.
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