Richard Exell

Horticulture Week reports that “almost nine-tenths of park managers fear recent Government cuts will damage their green spaces.” Just under half thought that the cuts would be substantial and a third thought that the number of parks would fall, due to asset transfers. What will be especially depressing for those with memories of visiting neglected local authority parks in the Eighties is the fact that the managers feared that standards would fall, with maintenance lining up to be the main casualty. Other items likely to be at the sharp end include community involvement projects, floral displays, bowling greens and ornamental grass-cutting.