Letter: The Stray - It’s a vastly under utilised resource

I am writing in support of the recent views expressed by Graham Hyde and Val Rogers about bringing some biodiversity and variety of social spaces to The Stray.
Is the Stray too sterile looking?Is the Stray too sterile looking?
Is the Stray too sterile looking?

The Stray is a public precious green space for the people of the Harrogate District. But, with the exception of events like the Park Run, weekly football, the UCI or Bonfire Night, The Stray remains a vastly under-utilised resource. Very rarely do you see people using this space for general relaxation, play or respite from a busy working day.

Why do we not see hordes of people celebrating the wonder that is the blossoming of the cherry trees like they do in Japan?

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Why do people not emerge from their offices or nearby apartments to enjoy a bite of lunch in a natural environment?

I would argue that this is largely due to the sterile nature of the large grassy swathes, with only a few trees and paths to delineate the space. Whilst this does provide a blank canvas for multiple usage, it could also prove intimidating to the casual user.

I would encourage anyone involved in managing this valuable space to read ‘The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces’ by William H Whyte, which I discovered while studying for a degree in garden design.

This book, grounded in research evidence, shows how public spaces can be made more human, by considering issues such as scale and protection, and therefore more attractive to people.

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I have long thought that The Stray could benefit from offering more diversity, whether that be through planting, leaving areas to go wild, better division of space, sculpture or more social seating areas.

I would gladly contribute to any initiative to improve this vital, but currently wasted space.

Cate Quinn

Knaresborough

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