Harlestone Manor Parish Council was pleased to finally open the Jubilee Wildlife Garden to the residents of Harlestone Manor Parish on Friday 3^rd June 2022 as part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. The event was well attended by residents from both estates, and many took the opportunity to explore the garden in brilliant sunshine, trying out the new benches and taking in the views.

This was the result of a huge piece of work undertaken by the Parish Clerk and Parish Councillors from Harlestone Manor Parish Council which started before the Loxton Fields estate was built, when David Wilson Homes took ownership of the site from Althorp Estate.

The Parish Councils had the option of taking on the ownership of the land, which if not acted upon, would have resulted in the land being managed by a Management Company such as Greenbelt. Many residents expressed dissatisfaction over their experiences of management companies in the community and following a series of meetings between HMPC and residents in 2021, the Parish Council made the decision to adopt the land for the benefit of the whole community. Since then, Harlestone Manor Parish Council have worked closely with David Wilson Homes and residents over a number of months to ensure the smooth transfer the land to the Parish Council in April 2022

Following the handover, The Parish Council then became responsible for the whole site including maintenance and planting. The original decision to adopt the land was made with a view to maintaining the land as was originally intended (and for which planning permission had been already granted),  as meadow land and a natural space for all to enjoy.

Developing the green space for the future has been the subject of much discussion at public meetings of the parish council. Recent articles in the parish newsletter and on the Council’s, website explored the background to the project and our intention to utilise the expertise of organisations such as the Wildlife Trust to help us with the ongoing management of the site.   A number of residents from Loxton Fields have attended meetings with the Parish Council and taken an active interest in helping shape the use of the Jubilee Wildlife Garden.  In the first Parish Council newsletter there was an article about the space and residents were invited to contact the Parish Council if they wanted to join the working group – this offer still stands, and further information will be published shortly on how residents can get involved in looking after the site and even take part in wildflower and planting opportunities.

The ‘working group’ is being established for the public open space, with the hope that some young people will be keen to get involved in actively looking after the space. The working group will aim to utilise funds from our Climate Change grant to enhance the current space with new planting consistent with the meadow environment and with the hope to encourage more wildlife. We are also exploring opportunities to put on some activities and events for children over school holiday periods, to help stimulate their interest in the environment and ensure they too can learn the value of the local wildlife that frequents the area.

Initially David Wilson Homes funded two benches for the open space and then other Community Infrastructure monies enabled the Parish Council to purchase a Jubilee bench and statues as long-lasting memorials to commemorate the Queens Platinum Jubilee

Following a thorough Health and Safety risk assessment being undertaken, the Parish Council has had to put a number of measures in place to fulfil its legal obligations including some limitations on what activities can be undertaken whilst using the garden e.g., no ball games, no bikes. We have also asked for children to be supervised whilst using the area. We are aware that not everyone in the community feels this decision was fair. However, we must stress that the Council is responsible for mitigating any health and safety risks to all visitors to the garden and these decisions have been made with everyone’s safety in mind.

The decision was not taken lightly by the Parish Council and is the result of a detailed risk assessment highlighting a number of safety concerns particularly for children.  As owners of the site, the Parish Council is responsible for minimising any risks to health and safety of ALL visitors and this also ensures adherence to our insurance policy.

As individuals (and volunteers) the Parish Councillors are unable and unwilling to take responsibility for the behaviour of children who are unsupervised, as we as individuals would be liable. The council is sure that residents put in our position would be equally unwilling to take that level of responsibility when we cannot be assured that all unsupervised children would be equally well behaved, or not cause injury to themselves or others. The site has a few identified risks that cannot be completely mitigated at this time and will, for the time being, require parents to assess any risks on behalf of their children.

A copy of the full risk assessment will be made available on the parish council website which residents will be able to familiarise themselves.

There is a play park built specifically for play on Harlestone Manor which we are very lucky to have in our parish and the residents of Harlestone Manor pay a sum to Greenbelt Management company each year to be maintained. In addition to this, over the next few years, Harlestone Manor Parish will have additional parks and open space facilities made available to residents, including a number football pitches, cycle paths and play park area, created through the new Bloors Development that will be built off New Sandy Lane. The Parish Council have to consider the provision of facilities for everyone who is paying a precept, and for this reason we have been careful to consider the parish as a whole, not individual estates, when plans are put together.

Parish Councillors are all volunteers who give up their free time for their local community. On average our councillors are working 15-20 hours a month for the council – this is often on top of working full-time and family commitments. We are always looking for people to join our working groups to help lighten the burden of the work. If you would like to join the Jubilee Wildlife Gardens working group or any other working group, residents are more than welcome.

Over the summer the Jubilee Wildlife Gardens Working Group will be putting on an event to share information with residents about our local wildlife and inviting people to help build insect houses, bee or butterfly hotels, bat and bird houses to help encourage and support our local wildlife.

It is hoped residents will enjoy the peaceful meadow land, take part in wildlife spotting, come picnic or just simply play in the field.

The opening hours of the Jubilee Wildlife Gardens will be as follows:

The park will open at 8am all year round.

Closing hours:
January – 4pm
February – 5pm
March – 6pm
April – 7pm
May – 8pm
June – 9pm
July – 9pm
August – 8.30pm
September – 7.30pm
October – 6pm
November – 5pm
December – 4pm

The Parish Council reserve the right to close the Jubilee Wildlife Gardens in inclement weather in line with risk assessments and the pre-planned unavailability of our volunteers.

If you would like to be a part of the Loxton Fields Public Open Space working group, please email: cllr.lucillewatts@harlestonemanorpc.org.uk or cllr.russburke@harlestonemanorpc.org.uk

Harlestone Manor Parish Council are delighted to bring a number of events for residents over the Jubilee weekend.

Thursday 2nd June

9:pm:   Tommy Lights Switch On.

9:45pm:     Residents asked to place a lit candle in their window.

 Friday 3rd June

10am:    Opening and naming of the Jubilee Wildlife Park and unveiling of the Jubilee Statues at Loxton Fields with Kathryn from St.Andrews Church.

4pm:     Service at St.Andrews.

 Saturday 4^th June

10am:    Jubilee Quiz gets underway!

Sunday 5^th June

Midday: Best Dressed Houses ready for judging.

12-2pm: Harlestone Manor Big Jubilee Lunch, children’s entertainer, Kings and Queens parade, bring your own picnic.

Watch this space for more updates!

Jubilee Sculptures

1. The Parish Council has an important role to play in maintaining and improving local services and facilities, including the management of Public Open Spaces and support for the arts. In June 2021, a working group was established to plan for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, and to consider how we as a parish could help commemorate this historic event. Parish Councillors felt it appropriate to mark the occasion with an event which would celebrate the fact that in 2022, the Loxton Fields green space was to pass to Parish Council ownership, with the potential to create a lasting memorial for the occasion.
2. The Jubilee Project commenced with a working group which included representatives from the Parish Council, Community Group, and St. Andrew’s Church. We have also had input from one of our residents who expressed an interest in tree planting as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy. This has therefore, been a collaboration from a range of people across the parish.
3. Following discussion, the Jubilee Working Group came up with the idea of installing a permanent reminder of the Platinum Jubilee in the form of natural sculptures, to form part of a sculpture trail around the parish. Precedent had already been set a few years ago with the installation of our Tommy Statue at the entrance to Harlestone Manor, and this could be followed by other sculptures in future years to mark specific events or special occasions. As a parish made up of mainly new housing estates and no other local infrastructure, the working group and council all agreed this would help to create an identity for the parish for everyone to enjoy and to enhance the quality of our local green space.
4. The Jubilee Working Group collectively agreed the theme for the sculptures to be local wildlife, as this matched the similar views of the residents who attended parish council meetings who had expressed a wish that the Loxton Fields green space be dedicated to preserving local wildlife (a matter which was subsequently voted on by the Parish Council). Two specialist wood carvers have been sourced to create the sculptures to an agreed design and cost. Following discussion and advice from the sculptors, the Working Group recommended that three sculptures be created: a carved bench, an owl, and a fox. The bench and an owl will be installed on the appropriately named “Jubilee Wildlife Park”, set to be opened on Loxton Fields over the Jubilee weekend in June. To ensure equity across the two estates, it was also recommended that a sculpture be installed on green space in Harlestone Manor. Following further research, the Working Group identified a suitable spot next to the balancing pond at the edge of the Harlestone Manor estate.
5. The carved bench will depict a range of local wildlife and enable anyone using the Park to sit and enjoy the area. The owl was selected to commemorate a local resident from Duston who supported the parish and passed away during the Pandemic, and who had a particular love of owls and actively supported their conservation. The fox was identified from a selection of animals by a child from Harlestone Manor estate. All animals chosen for the sculptures are reflective of animals that we see and hear every day, given our proximity to Harlestone Firs, the rural parts of Harlestone and the wider neighbourhood.
6. The working group spent 5 months exploring options for the sculptures and it was not until this point that the cost of them could be determined. At the Parish Council meeting in November, quotes for the sculptures as provided by the sculptors were discussed. The council agreed that subject to other outgoings anticipated before the end of the financial year, there would be budget available to purchase the sculptures. However, the budget would not be allocated until costings had been approved for the purchase of a Vehicle Activated Sign for the Road Safety project, which was designated to be the priority. Later, once the costs of the sign had been obtained, it was determined that there would be approximately £3,200 remaining which could be allocated to pay for the sculptures. This is a maximum budget for all three items, not the actual cost of the items themselves. All sculpted pieces will be hand made and as they are bespoke, the exact costs will not be available until the finished item has been approved and handed over to the Parish Council. Formal quotes for the bench and fox are awaited but it is envisaged that the cost for both items will be in the region of £2,000 – £2,500. A quote for the owl has been received and is approximated to be £400, including installation. The bench will be paid from the Community Infrastructure Levy budget pot (known as CIL) that was handed to the Council from the local authority from the development of HM and LF and must be spent within 5 years or will be required to be returned ( 3 years have already elapsed). The remaining costs will be taken from the council’s revenue budget for 2021/22.
7. As the council do not own the green space on Harlestone Manor, HMPC approached Greenbelt for permission to site the Harlestone Manor sculpture on the edge of the balancing pond. The council also sought the views of all residents who overlook the pond to ensure they were happy with our approach; no negative feedback has been received. The Council were planning to communicate these plans to all residents in their Spring newsletter, in the run up to the Jubilee Period. We had no prior warning that Greenbelt were intending to issue a letter to residents regarding our request and their letter pre-empted our own communications. We appreciate that the arrival of the letter to Harlestone Manor residents, without any other communication from the Council, has understandably caused concern for some residents on the estate. The Parish Council would like to reassure residents that this was not their intention, that we fully respect the views of all our residents and are happy to receive any feedback on this project at any point. Permission to site the sculpture is still being discussed with the management company. Should it be determined that Greenbelt require any payment for the installation or maintenance of the area around the sculpture, consideration will be given to siting that sculpture on the Jubilee Wildlife Park instead, where no costs would be incurred. The council is committed to ensuring that there will be no impact to residents on the management fee charged by Greenbelt arising from installation of the sculptures.
8. All decisions and spending regarding the Jubilee preparations, including the creation of the sculpture trail, have been discussed at monthly meetings of the Working Group and at Parish Council meetings, which any member of the public can attend. Decisions reached are fully transparent and are audited. Minutes of these meetings are displayed on the notice board in Harlestone Manor and can be downloaded from the HMPC website (insert link).

We hope this communication has helped to provide the background to the sculpture project. Should you have any further questions or comments, please contact the clerk in the first instance.