This was the result of a pamphlet drop in the area, and an evening workshop in the Pulteney Arms where to our amazement some 50 people participated ( top floor and half the ground floor ).
From this we formed the Friends group and our initial aims still hold: to work with the Council to maintain the park as a beautiful green space, to further community cooperation, to discover the old planting of the Park and to restore and develop it in the spirit in which it was donated. These comments reflect the 5 groups we organised at the workshop.
| Likes | Dislikes | Amelioration | Action |
| Drug Dealing | greater Police Presence | Set up friends group and liaise with others | |
| Lack of maintenance without gardener | Shrubs rather than flower beds (low maintenance) | Establish Police liaison | |
| Neglect of Sensory Garden | Entrance and exits improved | Establish priorities for resources with council | |
| Abandoned flower beds ( mud bank) | Sensitive lighting | Planting group. | |
| Public loo surrounds poor (used as loos) | |||
| Likes | Dislikes | Amelioration | Action |
| Wonderful community park; all sorts of activities as well as time for yourself | Improve maintenance | Liase with BANES as to maintenance schedule and plans | |
| Access for all | Emphasise the natural beauty and reflect on the integrity of the Park | Keep status quo through Development of Friends group | |
| Sensory garden | Happy as it is as long as it is maintained as it has been till recently | Protect and maintain qualities of the past 10 years. | |
| daffodil banks | Reinstate planting in front of loos as meadow/wild garden but not grass ( too wet) | ||
| Flat tarmacked paths (no mud) | Minimise introduction of bike racks, pay as you go toilets and modern clutter | ||
| Grass great for picnics and families | |||
| Peaceful | |||
| Wonderful green space for users | |||
| History and magnificent trees | |||
| Local community usage – there will always be someone you know in the park. | |||
| Small intimate”natural” garden in middle of city reflecting historical nature. Go to other parks for more formal features. | |||
| Likes | Dislikes | Amelioration | Action |
| Badgers damaging park | |||
| Sea gulls spreading rubbish | |||
| Overflowing rubbish bins | |||
| Poorly kept plants, lawns and flowers etc. | Residents help, scout club, schools, volunteers | ||
| Dog poo round toilets | |||
| Drugs, needles booze near toilets and near gardener’s shed | Police presence | ||
| speeding traffic | 20mph speed limits, chicanes, signs | ||
| Likes | Dislikes | Amelioration | Action |
| sensory garden | Local events to fundraise and increase awareness | ||
| new tarmac paths | Heritage notice boards at park entrances | ||
| disabled car space | Find way to engage non-local visitors to contribute in some way. | ||
| no playground ( makes everyone integrate) | |||
| Free, unfenced space | |||
| quiet, no pubs or bars around park | speed bumps in Henrietta Street and more signage | ||
| no furniture – no picnic tables etc. | |||
| ancient water fountain | refurbish | ||
| Likes | Dislikes | Amelioration | Action |
| Poor lighting | Make the park a green space | ||
| Preserve the special ambience of Henrietta Park | Bring back Simon the gardner | ||
| Low maintenance of garden – trees/bushes | |||
