Issue - meetings

• Shepherd Meadows

New funding was being used to rejuvenate areas of the Borough such as Shepherd Meadows. Funding of approximately £5,200 per annum for 10 years from 2010 would be used over an area of 29 Hectares. Shepherd Meadows was a relatively large area of Bracknell Forest but it made up 28% of flower rich grassland area in Berkshire as a whole.

The grey water management scheme had an impact on the meadows due to the loss of water to the area. The river was now deeper and straighter but the meadows were continually drying out. Ideas to keep the meadows wet would need to be considered.

A plan was in place to promote Shepherd Meadows and the memorial parks in the borough. Work would be undertaken on woodland coppice, headland management, replacing old notice boards and signage, and interpretation panels would be placed strategically around the Shepherd Meadows site. The boards were resilient but the edging was less durable and could pose a problem.

The Forum discussed the draft proposals for signage at Shepherd Meadows and the main points were:

• Reduce the amount of wording and have larger pictures.
• Information would need to be accessible to a range of people as many people did not read well and people with sight problems would likely appreciate different background colours.
• Possible dual signage for younger and older people.

The area of Shepherd Meadows in Hampshire was owned by Bracknell Forest Council.