Landscape Management
Plan
Document Control
Document No. POL-P25
Adoption Date 12.7.23
Last Review Date Apr 2026
Next Review Date Nov 2026
Parish Office
Whittle Hall Community Centre
Lonsdale Close
Great Sankey www.greatsankeypc.org.uk
Warrington enquiries@gs-pc.net
WA5 3UA 01925 712279
GSPC Landscape Management Plan
Contents
Pg
1 Introduction 2
2 Green Agenda 2
3 Aims 3
4 Objectives 3
5 5-year Plan 5
6 Projects 5
7 Budgeting 6
8 GSPC Sites 7
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GSPC Landscape Management Plan
1. Introduction
Mission Statement
“Great Sankey Parish Council is committed to making our green spaces more beautiful,
sustainable and inspiring places to be for the wellbeing of our residents and visitors.”
This document contains details of the maintenance and management over a 5 year period of the
landscape features and soft landscape treatments for Great Sankey Parish Councils Green Agenda.
The overall aim is to adopt a coherent, strategic and integrated approach to the management of the
soft landscape components associated with GSPC sites and to ensure that the natural resources of
wild flora and fauna are conserved and, wherever possible, enhanced.
This document will be used as a basis to inform any long term maintenance and management
strategies for all land owned and managed by Great Sankey Parish Council, in conjunction with the
council’s biodiversity policy.
2. Green Agenda
Great Sankey Parish Council is committed to making its green spaces more beautiful, accessible,
sustainable and inspiring places to be.
The council’s green agenda started in 2017 with the development of Lingley Green. The landscaping
project was undertaken in response to concerns about vehicle speeds and had dual aims of traffic
calming through the introduction of planting to provide screening and improving the overall visual
amenity of the traffic island. The scheme has been a huge success and has inadvertantly changed
how the area is used by local residents.
Vicarage Community Park gardens were opened 2020 on the tail end of the Covid pandemic. The
joint project between Warrington Borough Council and the Parish Council has turned a previously
waterlogged space into a beautiful park area for residents of all ages to enjoy.
The council recognises that open, green spaces are more important than ever to residents and has
pledged to do more, giving residents welcoming spaces that are healthy, safe & secure, well-
maintained and clean, and enhance biodiversity.
Community involvement is a key factor in the development of GSPC green space and the council is
keen to give residents a bigger say in how green spaces are developed and used for the benefit of all
who use them.
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GSPC Landscape Management Plan
3. Aims
To retain and improve the council’s green spaces to
• Improve the health & mental wellbeing of residents by providing safe and accessible sites
for exercise, recreation and socialising.
• Encourage play and social activities for children by creating exciting, healthy outdoor
spaces.
• Promote and encourage community involvement.
• Conserve and enhance biodiversity across the parish.
• To manage GSPC sites and maintain to a high standard.
• Maximise the use of GSPC sites.
• Address issues such as speeding traffic through innovative landscaping.
4. Objectives
The following objectives benefit everyone living and working in the parish including councillors,
residents and local businesses whilst improving the environment.
Objectives Reason Status/Actions
Green Flag Award The Green Flag Award® scheme recognises and Long-term objective
rewards well managed parks and green spaces, setting which will drive the
the benchmark standard for the management of implementation of all
recreational outdoor spaces across the United actions for the council
Kingdom and around the world.
Purpose & aims
To ensure that everybody has access to quality green
and other open spaces, irrespective of where they live.
To ensure that these spaces are appropriately
managed and meet the needs of the communities that
they serve.
To establish standards of good management.
To promote and share good practice amongst the
green space sector.
To recognise and reward the hard work of managers,
staff and volunteers.
Solar Panels Reduce council electricity bills. Installed at Whittle
Reduce the councils carbon footprint. Hall, Bewsey Barn and
Tim Parry Community
Centres. Hood Lane &
Hoood Manor
Community Centres
unsuitable for
installation
Battery Operated Equipment Less noise pollution. All grounds equipment
Reduce carbon footprint. is battery operated and
Less HAV’s (Hand Arm Vibration). charged via solar
Less maintenance. panels
Reduce long term costs.
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GSPC Landscape Management Plan
Electric Vans Less noise pollution. Electirc vans leased
Reduce carbon footprint. from 2023 and charged
Less maintenance. via solar panels
Reduce long term costs.
Facilitate Community-led Encourage greater interest and involvement in outdoor Community Projects
projects and Involvement spaces. Committee to oversee
Promote improvement of local areas. proposed community
Education on the environment and wildlife activities/projects.
Promotes friendships and reduces social isolation
Go Peat Free Going peat-free is great for the environment and the
climate. Preserving our rare and precious peat bogs is
vital, both for the unique biodiversity they support, as
well as for the wider environment.
Links in with Green Flag Award.
Recycling Reduce carbon footprint.
Sustainability of limited natural resources.
Grow our own plants Cost control as well as quantity & quality assurance Long-term project
Wider variety/flexibility
Known availability
Control over growing practices
Control over planting times
Earlier flowering and harvest versus direct sowing
outdoors
Reduced exposure to insects and disease
Ability to grow for seed saving
Seed better suited to region and location
Cut & drop (“grasscycling”) Healthy for the grassed areas Implemented
Supports a strong and nutrient-rich soil. Eliminates
need for bagging waste disposal, reducing costs
(policy to cut and drop
implemented)
Wild Flower Meadows Supports pollinators such as bees & butterflies. Some areas of
Increases biodiversity & wildlife habitats wildflowers sown each
(Some provision – not year throughout the
permanent: WBC contracted to parish on verges and
sow areas of wildflowers each traffic islands.
year throughout the parish on Additional options under
verges and traffic islands) consideration.
Bulb planting Supports pollinators such as bees & butterflies. Small areas planted.
Increases biodiversity & wildlife habitats Additional options under
Provide long-term, sustainable flowering consideration for larger
scale planting.
Generate income for the Work with external partners to help offset the cost of Possible future project
Parish Council. maintaining Great Sankey green space.
No Mow May Supports pollinators such as bees & butterflies. Possible future project
Increases biodiversity & wildlife habitats
Reduces costs
Outdoor Gym Make exercise fun and available to all. Possible future project
Eco friendly.
Promotes friendships and reduces social isolation.
Improves health.
Attract new users to outdoor environments.
Free to use.
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GSPC Landscape Management Plan
5. 5-Year Plan
This will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, and at least annually. The plan will be designed
to meet the goals and intentions set out in within this document.
Year 1 Purchase grounds equipment;
(2023-24) Resolve storage requirements and security for equipment;
Undertake gradual handover from current contractors;
Assess current sites and identify immediate actions needed;
Determine site requirements and resource needed on a seasonal basis to maintain
to the current standard;
Establish and implement procedure for Councillors to raise grounds issues and
enquiries through Parish Clerk, and determine resource available for this;
Identify and implement small projects for low cost (‘quick wins’) for Yr 1, such as
re-siting unused bird/bat boxes, bulb planting.
Years 2-5 Consider potential projects within the scope of this document –
(2024-28) Larger projects for GSPC sites, e.g. Childs Wood Field, Tim Parry Recreation
Ground;
Investigate options for community involvement;
Review available resource and options to increase.
Under consideration:
• Recruitment of horticulture apprentice
• Large-scale bulb planting and wildflower scheme
• Small-scale projects with community involvement (through Community
Projects Committee)
6. Projects
All initiatives relating to grounds management for GSPC will
embrace the specified objectives within this document.
Type
1. Enhancement of GSPC sites. May include increasing or improving the soft or hard landscaping
in current green spaces.
2. Community projects
• Working with existing groups & organisations within community centres e.g. preschools,
to help with their green initiatives.
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GSPC Landscape Management Plan
• New community initiatives on GSPC sites, e.g. community garden, bulb planting, bat/bird
boxes, Men’s Sheds
• Helping residents’ groups or organisations to improve their local area by facilitating the
set-up of ‘Friends of’ groups, providing advice and information on green projects and
considering small donation requests.
3. Partnership working with external bodies, e.g. Landtrust, WBC, Housing Associations, Mersey
Forest, Environment Agency, Woodland Trust, Local Schools, Scout Association, North West
Wildlife Trust, RSPB.
Considerations
Projects will impact GSPC in a variety of ways but should not detract from the council’s main priority
to maintain the council’s green spaces to a high standard.
New projects will be assessed in terms of their cost and resource implications for staffing,
equipment, funding (both set-up and ongoing costs) as well as their benefits to the community.
Ideas may be brought to the council’s attention by residents, community groups, councillors or staff
and will be considered by the appropriate committee. The Clerk and Head Gardener will be an
integral part of any discussion of new projects to help the council determine the sustainability and
practicality of any proposal.
7. Budgeting
Regular operating costs for grass cutting, pruning and general site maintenance are constantly
monitored and considered in detail during the budget review process each year. Regular operating
costs form the base level for ongoing grounds maintenance budgets to allow for upkeep and
replacement of both soft and hard landscaping on the council’s current sites.
An allowance for new projects and/or enhanced service provision will also be provided within each
annual budget. Enhanced service, or new projects may include more frequent grass cuts, increasing
the amount of soft landscaping on current sites or extending the number of sites managed.
When considering new projects, the additional cost to the council in terms of both time and resource
(both short and long-term costs) will be assessed and fully considered along with the benefit of the
project to both the council and the wider community. Projects will only be taken on if they can be
achieved without negatively impacting the basic level of maintenance for GSPC sites and may involve
engaging the community, partnership working or increasing GSPC staffing levels.
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GSPC Landscape Management Plan
8. GSPC Sites
Community Centres
1. Whittle Hall Community Centre, Lonsdale Close, WA5 3UA
2. Tim Parry Community Centre, Cromdale Way, WA5 3NY
(next to Park Road Primary School – not the Peace Centre on Cromwell Avenue)
3. Hood Lane Community Centre, Hood Lane North, WA5 1ET
(corner of Crosfileds Recreation Ground, access via Hood Lane North)
4. Hood Manor Community Centre, Raikes Close, Dorchester Road, WA5 1UH
5. Bewsey Barn Community Centre, Bewsey Farm Close, Old Hall Road, WA5 9PB
1 3 5
Open Spaces
6. Tim Parry Recreation Ground, next to Tim Parry Community Centre
Grassed recreation area with childrens play area and MUGA
7. Lingley Green , junction of Park Rd & Lingley Rd, nearest postcode WA5 3PG
Landscaped traffic island
8. Childs Wood Field, Canons Rd adjacent to St James Church, WA5 1EU
Grassed area surrounded by trees
9. Parish Playing Field, Lingley Green Avenue, adjacent to Sankey Hub, WA5 3AA
Football pitches and public open space
10. Vicarage Community Park, Liverpool Rd/Parsonage Way, nearest postcode WA5 1RS
Landscaped park area with childrens timber trail.
7 8 10
Total Area: 13.5 Acres
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