Parks set to be a big issue in local council elections

Parks set to be a big issue in local council elections

‘Parks set to be big issue in local council elections’

Horticulture Week 22 April 2021, by Matthew Appleby

Peter Fawcett, a professional award-winning gardener of 52 years experience has written to local politicians to highlight the value of parks ahead of council elections on 6 May.

Fawcett, who worked for 32 years for Kirklees Council Parks Department, asked four questions to West Yorkshire Mayoral candidates and says they should be asked to every MP and councillor in the country.

"Horticulture and parks are now more popular than since the 1950s. So the subject and the gardeners deserve better," he said.

He added: "I have been a campaigner for the improvement of the situation of Public Parks and the gardeners who work in them for 15 years. The public parks are a valuable heritage handed down to us through the ages. Created by people like John Claudius Loudon (1783-1843) and Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) who in fact created 'Peoples Park' in Halifax. 

"But unfortunately in the last thirty years the value our public parks to the community has been wholly underestimated.

"During the pandemic, parks became more popular than they have been for over five decades, and were there for people to enjoy and keep their spirits up in the difficult times. There was a big increase in public interest and visitors to the parks and horticulture, this is set to continue. Parks and their gardeners have never been more important in these difficult times. 

"The parks staff has been reduced year after year. For instance 10 years ago my own parks area in Spenborough had a total of 18 gardeners now it has but 7. It has become impossible for them to do their work to the high standards of yesteryear.

He asked politicians if they support the work that the public parks departments do and their value to tourism, whether they agree that parks bring in visitors to towns, and whether they regard parks as being important to the everyday lives and wellbeing of the general public, and finally will you support and work to champion the reinvestment and revitalisation of our public parks?

He said: "Horticulture by its very nature requires constant attention (think of your own garden, if you have one). If your lawn is not attended to and your flower areas are not hoed and kept weed free it becomes very hard. Working under such conditions also takes away a lot of the interest in the job, because the gardener realises that it has become an impossible task and morale becomes lower as a result.

Meanwhile, former HW editor Jim Deen is campaigning in Brighton's council elections for Labour. He says parks and green spaces policy is being rethought in many authorities as a consequence of substantially increased use and demand for parks and green spaces as a result of Covid and lockdowns. "So for us, it's a significant issue with clear water between us and our demand for more resources to go into the sector and the Tories wanting to continue the squeeze on parks and street horticulture spending.

"I'm also aware that horticulturally trained parks staff are struggling to retain an identity in many local authorities where their staff are primarily parks rangers more concerned with bigger issues of environmental management rather than horticultural excellence.

"So amenity horticulture is quite an important issue in these elections around the country on the ground, although it hasn't made the headlines as a national issue."

 

I began my working life as a fifteen year old apprentice gardener at Buile Hill Park working for the Salford Parks Department as they were then called. The park was magnificent with all its summer bedding, neatly mown grass all edged off. A blind garden full of fragrant plants. A magnificent conservatory, unvandalised play areas a very popular museum. A workforce I was in awe of due to its dedication and skills. I am sure most towns and cities could boast of equally good if not better parks. Unfortunately I spent my entire working life watching them decline. Who or what is to blame? Budget cuts have played a massive role without any doubt. That doesn’t explain the vandalism. Why are the staff not as skilled or dedicated ( is that unfair ? ) Health and Safety has rightly or wrongly played its part due to tasks now taking longer therefore being more expensive. I am retired now. But when I reflect back on my working life it really saddens me.

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