There are four registered Village Greens in Kingsley. They are Upper Green (the children’s playground), Lower Green, Goose Green and the Cricket Pitch on the common.
The Parish Council owns and maintains two of these greens – Upper Green and Lower Green.
The maintenance of village greens has to strike a balance between the often conflicting requirements of maintaining the rural environment of the village with habitats for flora and fauna, keeping the areas looking tidy and cared for and ensuring that the areas are accessible and safe for all to enjoy; whilst acting within the law and very limited budgets!
Parish councils are duty bound to ensure that village greens are protected in accordance with the law. The most important principle is that everyone has the Right to go onto a green for recreational purposes and it is illegal for anyone to act in such a way as to curtail the enjoyment of this Right.
Upper Green (the Playground)
Upper green is a registered Village Green owned by Kingsley Parish Council. The Council has provided and now maintains a range of children’s play equipment and play areas on the green.
The play equipment is open to all to use at any time. The equipment is inspected regularly.
Parents and guardians are asked to make sure the equipment looks safe before their children use it and to make sure they use it sensibly
If you spot any damage to the equipment or play area please report this to the Clerk.
The current ground maintenance plan for Upper Green is to regularly cut the grass around the play and picnic areas and to maintain a hedge to buffer the play area from the main road. The remaining areas are left for the flora and fauna to flourish.
Lower Green
The plan for Lower Green is to keep it primarily as an area for Flora and Fauna and wildlife, but with some improved access for people to enjoy the area.
To achieve this, some areas of Lower Green are strimmed once a year in the Autumn, other areas are cut and strimmed more often as needed to control the bracken. The rest (approximately half the area) is allowed to grow as it will.
Dog Owners
Members of the public have a legal right to use Village Greens for recreational and leisure purposes.
It is very much appreciated when dog owners clean up after their dogs on the Greens (and other public places) and deposit the faeces with their own household waste or in waste bins.
Unfortunately, a few irresponsible owners do not do this. Dog mess left in public places can be unpleasant, offensive and a health risk, especially in areas used by children. Dog faeces may carry a disease called toxocariasis which can occasionally cause severe problems to children’s and older peoples health.
So please can we ask all dog owners to clean up after their dogs on the Village Greens.
The Parish Council would also like to ask dog owners to discourage their dogs from going onto the playground and the play areas on Upper Green.