Environment flood maps

The Environment agency have recently published new maps showing flood areas in Oxford. The bad news is that the areas at risk of flooding have increased dramatically. Making it even more important that the open spaces, which act as natural flood overspill are retained.

Oxpens meadow is one of those natural flood areas, which is one reason why we are campaigning to have this green space retained for future generations.

A reminder of what happens when the area floods can be seen in this photo taken in the winter of 2007 - taken from the meadow.

Open spaces society

The open spaces society are one of Britain's oldest preservation societies. They support town greens because as they explain,

Town and village greens are the essence of rural England and Wales. Story-book images of village greens tend to be of an expanse of grass in the centre of a village complete with oak tree and seat, or a carefully-manicured recreation ground just outside the village, where cricket is played in the lengthening shadows of a summer evening, and the villagers dance round the maypole. In fact they are much more than that, and very varied.

A green is any land on which a significant number of inhabitants of any area has indulged in lawful sports and pastimes, for 20 years, as of right.

The open spaces society believe there to be about 3650 registered greens in England and about 220 in Wales, covering about 8150 and 620 acres respectively.

The open spaces society webpage is at

http://www.oss.org.uk/village-greens/

World class places

The government has recently published its guide to successful cities (World class Places). http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/worldclassplaces

With endorsements from CABE, English Heritage, The homes and Communities Agency, and Natural England, the publication identifies four criteria for a successful city:

–The range and mix of homes, services and amenities;
–Design and upkeep of buildings and spaces;
–Provision of green space and green infrastructure;
–Treatment of historic buildings and places.

The report highlights that parks and green open spaces are both a highly valued and highly used feature of the built environment. Three out of four people visit a public green space at least once a month – more than a quarter do so at least three times a week.

Safe and attractive parks, with good play and sports facilities and quiet areas, are particularly important to families with children, older people and those without gardens. Time spent in contact with nature has been shown to help mental well-being, with people reporting feeling much happier after a walk in a park, than they do after a shopping trip.

Parks also help foster community life and local involvement – through friends groups, community activities and volunteering.

This guidance, at the heart of national best practice of successful cities certainly rings true, and Oxpens Town green has the potential to be part of that solution, which is why local residents have been campaigning for it to be protected as a green space. The photo - of the 2008 London to Oxford bike ride shows how the green space is well used throughout the year - but events such as this would have to go elsewhere if the site is developed - as the city council proposes.