Agenda item

To present the Committee with a proposal from the Ewell Astronomical Society for the creation of a Solar System Exploration Walk in Nonsuch Park.

The Committee received a report presenting a proposal from the Ewell Astronomical Society for the creation of a Solar System Exploration Walk in Nonsuch Park.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Options and Cost. In response to a question from a Member, the representatives of Ewell Astronomical Society stated that option i., as set out on page 4 of report’s appendix, would be the most expensive option, costing c.£12k for 12 A2 sized information boards at a cost of each £1k each, plus installation costs. They stated that the alternative options of using QR codes linking to a webpage for information, or smaller (c.A4 sized) information plaques, or a combination of any of the above, could significantly lower the cost. If cheaper option, could go on both routes? Yes. They advised it may be possible to provide a solar system walk on both of the proposed paths, depending on the cost.

b)            Length of Walk. In response to a question from a Member, the representatives of Ewell Astronomical Society advised that the 12 information markers would be best placed at distinct points along the walk to represent particular points of the solar system, and suggested a distance of one kilometre as a suitable length for the walk in order to best represent the scale of the solar system. 

c)            Digtial and Printed Material. The Committee considered that many people do not have or do not wish to use smart phones to access digital information. The Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) explained that the Nonsuch Voles had recently established a ‘tree trail’, which did not make use of QR codes and instead provided A4 information leaflets at the start of the trail – she stated that the leaflets had been received well by park visitors and had not resulted in any issues with respect to littering. She suggested a possible option for a hybrid QR code/leaflet option for the solar system walk. The Committee considered that a physical item to hold and read would be preferable for young children in particular. The Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) confirmed that QR codes for the public were already being utilised in the Park – she added that outdoor QR codes require occasional maintenance and reprinting as they deteriorate over time.

d)            Project Funding. The Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) confirmed that the Ewell Astronomical Society would be responsible for sourcing funding for the project and that the Committee did not have budget to provide any funding.

e)            Link to Nonsuch Park. The Committee considered that the Solar System Exploration Walk could provide information linking the project in some way to Nonsuch Park, such as what was known about the solar system at the time of King Henry VIII and when the Palace was built, etc.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree in principle to the creation of a Solar System Exploration Walk within the Park.

(2)          Nominate and Authorise the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) to investigate the viability of a Solar System Exploration Walk within the Park.

(3)          Agree to receive a further report to approve arrangements for the implementation of a Solar System Exploration Walk within the Park at the 24 March 2025 meeting.