A series of works are in progress further improve the public open space at Iford, following on from the construction of a new shared path through the playing fields and meadows during 2017.

The aim is to develop the site as a destination where residents and visitors can walk, cycle, play and exercise, to promote health and wellbeing. These improvements will help the future aspiration for a Green Flag Award for this site.

The proposals were informed by visitor surveys undertaken in September and October 2019 by the Urban Heaths Partnership.

Works include:

• installation of visitor counters during summer 2020 at key locations
• upgrading the existing circular path route to the south east of the car park - carried out during summer 2020
• improvements to the car park surface - carried out during autumn 2020
• installation of new site furniture (new seats and dog bins installed late 2020-early 2021)
• installation of new signage - due to be undertaken during 2021-2022
• creation of a large meadow area on the unused lower pitch adjacent to Iford Lane and additional scrub and grassland management to Iford Meadows
• new tree planting - carried out early 2020.

As the lower area adjacent to Iford Lane is no longer used as a playing pitch because of poor drainage, we are letting it revert to a more natural meadow.

To begin with, the grass will be allowed to grow long, so we can see what plant species are already present. We can then develop appropriate management techniques to create a flourishing wildlife meadow.