DAISY PARK - SPACES

4 - Daisy Park: Play & Learning Garden

As a direct response to the feedback and comments from the community during the consultation process asking for a real focus of biodiversity, habitat creation and education part of the site has been defined as a garden designed to meet these aspirations.

The garden will form a rich and wild interface between the existing woodland to be retained around the western edge of the claypit and the more formal park areas to the west. Combined with the retained existing woodland this edge will provide a variety of habitats and green corridor wrapping around the claypit.

Enclosed by a low hedge the garden itself will be designed to include a rich mix of plant species with particular focus on habitat creation and improving biodiversity. A mix of trees, shrubs and grasses will be included to provide nesting areas for birds and foraging areas for birds, bats, mammals and invertebrates. The garden will also include bird and bat boxes.

A sinuous path with multiple entrance points will weave through the garden connecting various spaces and features such as sensory gardens, toddler play areas, seating areas, bug hotels and butterfly planters. Education boards and plant identification boards will also be a key feature. These features will be spread through the garden along the path to provide a real focus on play and learning in the outdoors.

5 - Woodland walk

The existing woodland area to the south east of the park is to be protected and retained. Due to the topography of this area it is very difficult to access and as such currently provides a valuable habitat within the centre of Winchburgh and as such it is to be retained with minimal impact from development. The woodland will be tidied up and managed as part of the park with new planting where required.

A path link is required to be provided from Daisy Park to Station Road. The path will be designed to pass through this area, using a combination of timber steps, board walks and raised walkways to weave through the existing woodland with minimal impact. The exact alignment and form of the route is to be designed by specialists on site. The path will also provide another opportunity for public access to the claypit for fishing and swimming.