Thames Landscape Strategy - Hampton to Kew -

Arcadian Diary February 2008

The River Thames is one of the reassuring factors in our busy lives and a place that for many people is the jewel in London’s crown particularly as the world around us changes at an ever increasing pace. At least the river, although in a perpetual state of movement, is a constant in all our lives. It is no surprise therefore that any change or threat to the riverside is often met with concern whether this is from the risk of flooding, invasive species, inappropriate development or even litter.
One of the dilemmas we have in looking after the river environment is how to maintain a balance that responds to the character of each place. The River Thames is a dynamic feature and as such some change is often necessary if only as the best way to keep things pretty much the same. Take for example the work we are currently carrying out on the Ham Avenues. At present we are about to start work on the Great South Avenue that stretches from Ham Common to Sandy Lane. The challenge that we have is how to retain the character of a country lane and ensure the long term viability of the avenue as a historic feature in the local landscape whilst maintaining the environment as a habitat for wildlife to live in and move through. We are confident that the plan gets it just about right.
By far the largest piece of work will see the coppicing of all of the elm trees along the avenue. Coppicing means chopping the tree to the ground in order for the plant to vigorously regenerate itself quickly sending up new shoots. This method of managing trees has been used for millennia and is regarded by most conservationists as one of the most valuable tools in maintaining a rich and diverse habitat.
The reason for coppicing the elm trees on the Great South Avenue is due to Dutch elm disease. The current stand of elm were last coppiced about twenty years ago and have all grown up at the same rate. As such, they are now at a height where they are susceptible to the ravages of Dutch elm disease. Unfortunately this is largely all at the same time, with the majority of trees showing all of the signs of infestation. If we do not act now within a couple of years the avenue will consist largely of dead elm trees strangling the surviving vegetation. This of course has a wildlife merit in its own right but is not an appropriate management regime for such a well used footpath in a residential area.
One of the benefits of coppicing is to let light into the avenue. This will allow us to plant many new trees that will quickly grow and replace the coppiced plants. In all, we are proposing to plant 44 semi-mature native lime trees along the line of the historic avenue. By far the most exciting part of the plan however, is the planting of two wonderful new hedgerows each side tree line. We started this process in 2001 when local school children and volunteers planted a hedgerow of mixed thorns and holly at the back of the lane alongside Grey Court School. Against all the odds this survived and has grown into quite a mature hedgerow. Under the current works this will be expanded to form a traditional English hedgerow. A mixture of plants will be chosen both for their wildlife value and for their impact on the landscape including different types of thorns, wild rambling roses, damson, sloes, elderflower, wayfaring trees, field maple and brambles. The coppiced elm will be allowed to regenerate behind the line of lime trees growing up within the new hedgerow quickly lending an air of maturity to the avenue.
It will look different when first carried out but within a short space of time will mature into a magical place – half country lane / half formal avenue – in fact pretty much as it is now. A good case of how we need some short-term change if we are to keep certain environments as they are at present.
A more substantial form of change however, is the ever constant pressure on our riverside from development. Many would argue that this is a good process regenerating disused areas breathing new life into forgotten places but to others it is a step too far ruining the traditional riverside scene. It is often the sheer scale of the development that worries local people and the impact that this has on their community or their well-loved stretch of the Thames. The pressure from development increases the further downstream one travels but even in our neck of the woods there are many places, large and small, that are under pressure.
One such site is the old Jolly Boatman pub between Hampton Court Station and the river. Everyone would agree that the current situation is unacceptable. Leaving such an important space directly outside Hampton Court Palace derelict for so long is a national disgrace. The dilemma is what to do with the space – how should it change? Some would see a new park – a place to sit and gaze at the splendour of Hampton Court on the opposite bank, whilst others feel that development is the best option. Whatever happens it must be what is best for the benefit of the river, its wildlife, the Royal landscape of Hampton Court and the communities that live alongside the site. Change on this scale will always be controversial.
The Thames is not just threatened from change on the ground it is also under aerial attack from above. The proposed expansion of Heathrow could have more of an impact on how we enjoy the open spaces along the river than everything else put together. There is little point in having world-class parks and gardens to relax in if all day long they are blighted by the constant noise from aircraft. Under the current proposals no-where would escape: Kew Gardens, the Old Deer Park, Syon Park, Waterman’s Park, Richmond Hill, Richmond Park, Ham Lands, Marble Hill Park, Bushy Park, Hampton Court, Runneymede, Windsor Great Park and just about all of the towpaths could cease to be the quiet open spaces we cherish so much today.
Change is strange thing. If carefully managed it can be positive, often proving the best way to sustain natural environments in the long term. In other cases change is forced upon us as in the case of rising sea levels and global warming. In these cases it is important that we react now and manage our open spaces in a way that is one step ahead of predictions so that the landscape can adapt slowly over time. Change can be fought such as in the case of inappropriate development along the river and in these cases often stopped or modified for the better. Or change can be abrupt and devastating as would be the case if the Heathrow expansion took place as proposed.
In 1902 local people joined together to fight change united by a common cause to protect the View from Richmond Hill from being devastated by housing developments on Petersham Meadows, Ham Lands and Marble Hill Park. The ‘Great Indignation’ campaign of 1902 was successful and the riverside lands we cherish today were saved for us to enjoy. One hundred years later these open spaces are once again under threat from an expanding Heathrow and a new ‘Indignation’ campaign is needed if our generation is to pass on a river environment as wonderful as our forbearers gave to us.

> Read other Arcadian Diary entries
> Back to the homepage