What does the Council do and what does FOLP do?

Who’s really in charge of the park and it’s future?

Lowndes Park is managed by Chesham Town Council. The management of the park is guided by a Management Plan written by the Council’s Policy and Projects Officer in consultation with the Town Clerk, Parks and Premises Manager and the Friends of Lowndes Park.

The Friends of Lowndes Park is a voluntary community group designed to protect and improve the park now, and for future generations. It raises money to improve the park, organises working parties and works a liaison between the people of Chesham and the Council.
The day-to-day implementation of the park plan is the responsibility of the Parks and Premises Manager and the majority of the work is undertaken by the Parks and Premises team, with additional work undertaken by contractors and volunteer groups, such as the Friends of Lowndes Park.

Administration is performed by the Council’s administrative officers, who are based at the Town Hall.

The management of the park is influenced by feedback from community groups, the general public and guidance from experts.
The Parks and Premises team members have undergone a broad range of training, including horticultural practice, health and safety, First Aid, IT, maintenance, equipment operation and customer care.

As a result, the work of the Parks and Premises department is a flexible combination of scheduled tasks (e.g. weekly bin emptying), seasonal tasks (like mowing) and reactive tasks (such as repairing play equipment). The Parks and Premises Department is based in the Depot in Lowndes Park which places them ideally to have a frequent and visible presence in the park. However, the department is responsible for a number of additional open spaces and the department’s man hours are spread across all sites. On average, the team spends 32 hours per week in Lowndes Park.
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