More trees and wildflowers have been requested by the public in a series of consultations concerning a proposed £2m project to improve Shoreditch Park.
Other proposals included maintenance of playing pitches, toilets, a cafe, designated dog areas, improved running and cycle paths, and more activities for children and adults.
The campaign, which ran throughout October, included up to 30 consultations with local groups, a public event at Shoreditch Trust Healthy Living Centre, leafleting and online questionnaires.
Users of the park want more wildlife and biodiversity to be introduced by adding natural woodland and wetlands. Brigid Philip, who lives in Gainsborough Studios, which overlooks Shoreditch Park , said: “what we need is more trees and plants and shrubs…it would be nice to have a wild flower meadow.”
The council faces the challenge to find the right balance between conflicting uses. According to Liz Redbourne, a landscape architect: “some people say [they want to] enhance the Park for wildlife, but…people also want to improve it for dogs [and] sometimes dogs off leads can be a threat to wildlife.”
Similarly, lighting requested for public safety can have a negative impact on nocturnal animals. Emma Winch, who runs the consultation for the Council, added: “Our job is to look at how to introduce more trees…but to keep that sense of openness that people really like about the Park.
A second round of public consultations will be held next spring with construction projected to start in autumn. The new park is currently scheduled to open in early 2021, at the same time as the adjoining new Britannia Leisure Centre.
Councillor Steve Race, who sits on the Shoreditch Park Development Board, said: “we need to make the park famous for something…it could be much more biodiverse.
“We want to hear what all residents have to say and work from that,” he added.
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