Enjoying Our Public Open Space Responsibly

By Nige on July 18, 2026 at 10:17 am
Type: Post Category: Estate Management
Tags: Announcements

The Public Open Space is one of The Dovecote’s greatest assets. It provides somewhere for residents and visitors to walk, relax, exercise, enjoy nature and spend time outdoors.

The Board actively wants the space to be used and enjoyed.

However, because the Public Open Space is intended to be owned by Dovecote (Drayton) Management Company on behalf of all homeowners, the Board of Directors has a responsibility to ensure that it remains safe, welcoming and available for everyone’s benefit.

A Few Things to Clarify

Many people understandably assume that because the area is called Public Open Space, it is “public land”. In reality, there are three separate concepts at work:

• Ownership determines who owns the land. At The Dovecote, the Public Open Space is to be privately owned by the Management Company on behalf of all homeowners.
• Access Rights determine who may use the land. The Public Open Space is intended to be available for informal public recreation, meaning residents, visitors and members of the public are welcome to enjoy it.
• Management Rights determine who is responsible for looking after the land and making decisions about how it is used. That responsibility rests with the Management Company, acting through its Board of Directors, who must balance public enjoyment with safety, maintenance, ecology, legal obligations and the interests of all homeowners.

These three concepts work together. The fact that everyone is welcome to use the Public Open Space does not mean that everyone can decide how it can be used.

Everyday Use

The Board fully supports the everyday recreational use of the Open Space. Examples include:

• Walking.
• Sitting and relaxing.
• Enjoying nature.
• Family picnics.
• Children playing informally.
• Dog walking (in accordance with the estate rules).
• Informal games and exercise.

These are exactly the kinds of informal recreational activities the Open Space exists to support.

When Board Approval May Be Needed

Occasionally, residents may wish to use the Open Space for something larger or more organised. Examples might include:

• Organising a football tournament or other sporting event.
• Hosting a community gathering or celebration.
• Bringing temporary equipment onto the land, such as a bouncy castle or inflatable play equipment.
• Arranging activities involving large numbers of participants or spectators.

These activities can be a great way of bringing the community together, and the Board is keen to support them wherever possible.

However, they also bring additional responsibilities. Directors must consider issues such as:

• The safety of participants and other users.
• Potential damage to grass, planting or other communal assets.
• Whether the activity could prevent others from enjoying the space.
• Insurance and liability considerations.
• Any additional maintenance or clean-up that may be required.
• The impact on other residents that live nearby.

The Board’s role is not to prevent residents from enjoying the Open Space. Rather, it is to ensure that everyone can continue to enjoy it safely, fairly and sustainably.

This does not necessarily mean that activities such as community events or inflatable play equipment cannot take place. However, they should not be organised without first discussing them with the Board. In some circumstances approval may be given; in others, the activity may not be appropriate because of safety, insurance, liability or other practical considerations.

Working Together

If you are thinking of organising an event or activity that goes beyond normal everyday use of the Open Space, we would encourage you to speak to the Board first.

In many cases we will be delighted to support the idea and help make it happen. By discussing plans in advance, we can work together to ensure that activities are enjoyable, safe and considerate of everyone who shares this valuable community space.

After all, the Public Open Space is a shared community asset. Enjoying it is everyone’s right; looking after it is everyone’s responsibility.