Issue - meetings

Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs) were a group of exciting open spaces due to be enhanced to attract more visitors and provide an alternative to the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.

The Cut Countryside Corridor group of public open spaces was currently undergoing enhancement works as a SANG. Improvements were set out in the Open Space Management Plan for the SANG. The sites included were: Tinkers Copse, Jocks Copse, Garth Meadows, Quelm Lane, Larks Hill, and Piggy Wood. It was reported that a hoggin surface path had been created at the top end of the fields at Garth Meadows. Medium kissing gates, new benches and notice boards had been installed and another kissing gate would be repaired.

The Cut Countryside Corridor route formed a linear walk from Tinkers and Jocks Copse in the east to Larks Hill in the west with linking sites between. Signage had been erected around the route and the Bracknell Forest Council website would be used to promote walking routes.

It was reported that Youth Developer funding may be tied into SANGs to help improve the area at Englemere Pond and at the development at Wykery Copse and Jennetts Park. Planning applications had not commenced for this yet as priority was driven on development.

Bracknell Forest Council and the Crown Estate would work closely together on onsite access management measures and improved habitat areas. Natural England had set up an Access Management Partnership with a project co-ordinator and existing partnership mechanisims would be utilised.

Natural England would invite proposals for competitive bids from organisations wishing to implement access management measures and would draft papers in early October.