 |
June 2015
|
Chairman's
message
Summer is well upon us and the sites look lovely. In part this is
because a lot of people are working hard to make them so! In
particular, the Forum meeting on May 12th agreed that the programme of
regular Wednesday working parties will continue. Simon Braidman and Sue
Kabel have put a lot of work into this programme, which means that
anyone interested in working on a nature reserve can simply turn up at
10:30 AM at the Stanmore Common car park on a Wednesday; from there
they will walk or take cars to the work site, usually Stanmore Common,
Stanmore Country Park, Wood Farm or Bentley Priory, but sometimes
further afield - Roxbourne Rough or Newton Farm. The summer jobs have
been varied: recently they have been scything meadows in Stanmore
Common, bramble bashing on Bentley Priory, and digging up goats rue on
Wood Farm.
Yes, we are indeed working on Wood Farm - Harry Lines, the volunteer
warden, supervised the working parties on May 6th and June 3rd. Jaysam,
the developers of the housing estate, allowed us to use the visitor
centre, which we have equipped with a kettle and cups. However, the
site is not formally open to the public nor ours to manage yet. As I
understand it two things have to happen. First, the “attenuation
tank” (which stores rainwater and treated sewage from the housing
estate and releases it slowly to the pond) needs to be moved into the
area of the housing estate itself. This was ongoing when we worked on
site on June 3rd and should be completed by mid June. Second, the
Council and the developer have to agree a “Deed of
Easement” allowing the discharge of treated sewage and rain water
into the pond on Wood Farm. It is this agreement that should define how
the sewage treatment system is maintained and how the management
company interacts with the Greater Stanmore Country Park Management
Committee. I have emphasized to Tony Donetti at the Council that we
(which in this case means the Greater Stanmore Country Park Management
Committee) need to review and agree the wording. This is a make or
break test of the concept behind the Greater Stanmore Country Park
Management Committee, that is, a full collaboration between the
volunteer wardens, councillors and Council officials.
A collaboration that does work very well is the Green Grid, now in its
(I think) fourth year. This funds capital projects that improve open
spaces and the walking routes that lead to them, with the aim of
increasing health and happiness in Harrow by encouraging exercise and
contact with nature. The notable projects on our sites in 2014-2015
were the creation of a good quality path from the Roxbourne Park car
park to the western entrance of Roxbourne Rough, and the building of
two bridges over a stream on the way from Stanmore Country Park to
Scouts Field and on to Pear Wood. As an aside, this stream does not
have a name - I’m suggesting “Red Brook” because it
is usually coloured red from rust leaking from the landfill under Wood
Farm. There are two projects that will improve our sites in 2015-2016.
Firstly, a complete refurbishment of the Bentley Priory Circular Walk,
including new signage throughout and a boardwalk at the infamous mire
at the Aylmer Drive entrance to Bentley Priory. Secondly, improvement
of paths at a number of locations in Stanmore Country Park and Wood
Farm.
I’m conscious writing this
that the works in both 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 represent improvements
for people, not wildlife. This need not be the case: in 2012-2013 the
Green Grid funded clearance of young trees to link two areas of acid
grassland in Stanmore Country Park, improving the site for grassland
invertebrates, while in 2013-2014 it funded works to stabilize and
improve the old orchard at Grimsdyke. It’s up to us to think of
capital works that will improve our sites for wildlife and propose
these for Green Grid funding.
On May 12th our Forum meeting was addressed by Amy Scoville-Weaver, a
Masters student at the London School of Economics. She is conducting
research on the Green Belt and the ongoing debate on whether areas of
it should be opened for housing development. She wants to interview
Harrow residents, so if you’d like to contribute, contact her at A.L.Scoville-Weaver@lse.ac.uk.
I have suggested to her that the results should not languish in the LSE
library but should be sent to the Campaign for Rural England to help
them fight development in the Green Belt.
Newton Farm Ecology Park is the southernmost of our reserves and one of
the smallest. It certainly has potential - it has a permanent pond with
a dipping platform and its location next door to the Shaw Trust
horticulture training site opens up possibilities for collaboration
(and access to toilets for visiting schoolchildren). The Home Group,
which built the large housing development between Rayners Lane and the
elevated Piccadilly Line, supports our work on the site and provides
both meeting rooms and a place to store tools. Simon Thomas, the
volunteer warden, does sterling work in clearing rubbish and bringing
schoolchildren on to the site. However the site does not enjoy good
support from the local community, whose main contribution is to drop
trash of all shapes and sizes. Building up a local friends group who
can look out for and cherish the site as well as helping the warden is
a high priority. Over the past year a grant from the Big Lottery Fund
to the Home Group has paid for a number of training days on the site as
well as working parties that have planted some flowers along the edge
of the old Healing Garden. The indefatigable Russell Sutcliffe has been
involved in some of this work. The Big Lottery Funded project is
culminating in a “celebration day” - basically a fair - on
the site on July 4th 2015. By coincidence, Simon Braidman will be
leading a guided walk through this site and Roxbourne Rough on the day
- meeting at Rayners Lane station at 10:330AM - so join him then stop
off at the fair to see the stands. The hope is that we can interest
some local residents enough to put their names down to form the core of
a Friends group to support Simon and Russell in their work on the site.
To my considerable surprise Harrow Council has announced a small grants
programme for 2015-2016. It does not cover the whole financial year -
we are already in June! - and offers a reduced amount, a maximum of
4000 GBP rather than 5000 GBP, but it would be worth getting all the
same. As in previous years the majority of the requested money would go
on reprinting leaflets and TCV days. However we are also going to
request a day’s training in scythe use and maintenance, to be
held at Newton Farm. This will both continue the program of events
there and hopefully interest local residents, and teach those of us who
use scythes in the bigger sites how to maintain them including the
mysteries of “Peening”!
Lastly the nature trail at Stanmore Common - it still doesn’t
exist! The bollards are in place, and I have the roundels, but I need
to create a first draft of the leaflet. Hopefully the Harrow Council
small grant will be the last bit of “very urgent - must do
first” paperwork and I can spend some time on the leaflet.
Steve Bolsover
Site
reports
BENTLEY
OLD
VICARAGE AND ALL
SAINTS CHURCHYARD
Rev James Mercer reported that after many years Betty Brown has stood
down and will now take the role of treasurer and Jane Skelly will take
over as secretary and assistant warden.
South of the pond small trees have been thinned. The bees in the
churchyard have over wintered well and have been seen taking water from
the pond. The butterfly meadow has been cleared so it does not scrub
over. On the western side the building work on the Harrow College site
will be noticeable particularly in the winter.
The Forest School is in its third year and has got funding for 3 more
years benefitting young people and families.
More leaflets are needed and Steve will supply them (using funds from
the Harrow Small Grant).
Jill reported that the Churchyard has been looking lovely. The
Primroses have been a real sight. There have also been Bugle and Wood
Anemones amongst other flowers.
BENTLEY PRIORY
Peter Peretti reported that this year will see the end of the Heritage
Lottery Fund project and a Finale Celebration is planned for 23rd June
(details have been circulated). The site is full of flowers.
Peter highlighted some of the major projects that have been carried out
over the years on the site. Camilla gave an update on the situation
regarding the Princess Alexandra Home and the land adjacent to Bentley
Priory.
Sue Kabel reported that they had an estimate for 30 head of Long Horn
cattle to graze the site (just under £5000). The removal of the
mound will be carried out by the contractors on site.
Steve reported that he is leading two groups of cub scouts from the 1st
Stanmore Scouts Group, based on Marsh Lane, Stanmore, around Bentley
Priory tomorrow and then again on 18th May.
NEWTON
FARM ECOLOGY PARK
Steve reported that he met with Simon Thomas, Paul Brogan, Mark
Patterson, Russell Sutcliffe (assistant warden) at the Beacon centre on
5th May. We agreed to put on an end of year "celebration" at which we
would try and collect names to form a ‘friends’ group.
Provisionally this is timetabled for 4th July. HNCF would do a
‘pond creatures’ display and also a before and after
display showing images of the site before it was converted into a park,
and now. Paul will organize a leaf hunt using materials from the
Woodland Trust.
Mark Patterson has been organising regular working parties including
volunteers from Pop-up Harrow and ourselves.
PEAR WOOD
Claire reported that all the bird boxes with the exception of the owl
box which had not been used. They had all been used and we recorded the
contents. One had been occupied by tree bumblebees (Bombus hypnorum)
which we are very pleased about. We relocated two boxes as they had
proved too inaccessible.
The fence along Wood Lane has been repaired. Two rotten sections had
come down due to high. This is an ongoing job and we managed to repair
it this time without new materials but it is getting increasing
difficult with no funding. I had requested £10 for metal
brackets. Thank you to Peter Elton for his help with this.
We have been doing a great deal of work in the old orchard in PW.
Traditional old orchards are BAP priority habitats nationwide and we
have had a couple of heritage orchard groups come to see ours. The
Urban Orchard Project arranged a corporate volunteer work day but it
fell through and so we arranged our own. A lot of ivy was removed that
had completely smothered some apple trees and caused others to fall
over due to the sheer weight of it. We have also created paths, sown
wild flower seeds collected from other parts of the wood and done some
other jobs. Surveying of species there will be ongoing. We intend to do
some careful pruning next winter.
A giant bird table appeared. Over several weeks we left notes on it
asking whoever had put it there to please get in touch and let me know
what they are doing. It was finally moved and hidden.
A new path has been created leading from the fishermen’s track to
The Scrape. The remaining part in Wood Farm will now be completed.
The TCV visit to carry out work on the Dyke on 26th Jan was well
attended with 9 volunteers.
The toad population has suddenly crashed and there was no frogspawn at
all this year. There have been a lot of rats recently and they may have
contributed to the problem. It was agreed that the best way to deal
with them was to try to locate the actual nests.
The question of purchasing roofing felt to make refuges for snakes was
discussed. It was noted that currently the HNCF has no uncommitted
funds.
The issue of rough sleepers was discussed. As well as contacting
appropriate Council Officers (details will be circulated) Rev James
Mercer explained that Julian Saunders, Manager of the homeless charity
Firm Foundation, could be contacted for advice or a visit if necessary
on 020 8426 5515.
The question of spending some of the Wood Farm section 106 money on the
10 Acre Field was raised as this was what the Greater Stanmore Country
Park Management Committee wished to do. There was no money available
from the Neighbourhood Investment Scheme to provide a gate for access.
Cllr Keith Ferry pointed out that the 10 Acre Field was handed over to
the Council two to three years ago and thus the Wood Farm section 106
was not relevant. The Council has a Parks Maintenance Fund which should
be used to provide a gate etc. The matter will be raised at the meeting
with Council Officers on the 13th May.
ROXBOURNE ROUGH
Dave Bolton reported work has continued clearing ditches and litter.
The wind has meant that there has been quite a bit of fallen timber to
clear and the grass cut of the path borders has been carried out for
the first time this year. A Wednesday working party carried out
clearance work on the site and they were thanked for this. More
tadpoles have been taken from the pond and only a few remain. The good
news is that work has been carried out on laying the path from the car
park to nature reserve. Also volunteers are arriving via “Pop-Up
Harrow”. The single gate next to the five bar gate is now open
and there have not been any problems.
Dave again expressed concern about the safety of the exit opening out
on to the road at the top of the steps. A gate, opening inwards, is
needed at the foot of the steps and it has been agreed that this will
be installed.
STANMORE COMMON
John Winter is now officially an assistant warden for the site.
Simon reported that 20 hours of work have been carried out on Bluebell
Heath and Steve now has the Roundels to generate the information
leaflet for the nature trail.
588 hours of work have been carried out over the rest of the site. Work
has including clearance work around Greater Brewers Pond, clearing
carefully to get more light in. A bank has been cleared at New Heath. A
lot of work has been carried out controlling Holly. Work has been done
to benefit a Wild Service Tree and a Spindle (some seedlings of the
latter and layering offshoots will be relocated). Also some of the
excess young trees and shrubs from the Glenthorne planting have been
introduced (keeping a note of where they have been planted for
recording purposes). The Acid grassland is also looking good and an old
Hawthorne where clearance work has taken place is flowering well.
At least six Guided walks have taken place including a Moss walk on the
31st Jan and a bat walk/survey on 8th May. A spider walk with Edward
Milner is planned to start at 10.30 am on 20th June.
Regarding the Grove ponds Steve reported that he spoke to Mr Clifford
on the 14th Jan and he said that he intended to clean out the western
pond himself, removing the tractor tyre etc. He did not want any input
from Simon's team. He was also interested in the horse ride. Simon
clarified that users of the ride would need to employ a Hydrology
expert at their own expense before major improvements could take place.
STANMORE COUNTRY PARK
Maya Dodwell has resigned so the warden team of the east was now
looking after the whole site.
Maria Crastus is now a Deputy Warden for Public outreach for Stanmore
Country Park. She is thanked for the work that she has done in
producing articles highlighting the area.
Steve reported that Mark Richardson had been contacted with regard to a
complaint about shooting sounds coming from the Country Park. We have
not had incidents reported to us recently and there has been a lot of
noise associated with adjacent building works. Any evidence of shooting
activity should be reported to us and the police. Steve will reply to
the concerned individual.
As Cllr. Anderson suggested, we are now recording loose dog incidents
to the Council. Cllr Perry contacted Mick Wynne and he promised to send
a Council representative to ‘have a quiet word’ with the
main culprit; a professional dog walker. The dog walker was not
impressed
The first butterfly of the year, was found by Simon Braidman whilst
cutting bramble on January 14th. Marian also found a 7 spot ladybird.
Work has been done to clear a bramble patch and saplings near Ant City.
Also all the birch stumps from the BTCV clearance two years ago in
Upper Blue Pond Field have been dealt with the help of Steve Bolsover.
Blocking trees were also removed by Steve and Sue Kable.
April We are now winding down on large working parties for the summer.
Margaret and I found the pipe that is the main source of Cloisters
Brook. However surface water is also coming from the Temple enclosure
above it and a wooden bridge has been erected to cross it previous to
the temple taking over that site. It would be useful to find out the
real source of this water. We have arranged to meet and inspect the
source of this water in the Temple grounds.
The public car park is now open for 24 hours but will be shut once a
month at 4.30pm as the sign says. Thanks to Steve for this. We are also
investigating the ditch at the edge of Seven Acre Field. Seven Acre
seems to have become wetter since the Green Grid work was done.
We have also been coppicing some of the willows in 6 acre Field with
the help of Steve Bolsover.
Recently the fire brigade has been called out to dowse a fire in a
stack of logos in Upper Blue Pond.
The recent moth evening went well but the attendees got too cold for
comfort. A list is available. On the Bluebell and Butterfly walk, we
were joined by Malcolm Hull, the new chairman of our local Butterfly
Conservation branch.
Many thanks go to all the volunteers that help us out; Maria, Simon and
Sue particularly and Marian and Norman. Peter Elton with his
‘machine’ has been invaluable. Peter is also submitting a
monthly bird report for the whole Greater Stanmore Country Park area to
the London Bird Report.
STANMORE LITTLE COMMON
The Broad-leaved Pondweed and the NZ Parrot’s Feather were
removed from Spring Pond by Harrow Council contractors. The Pondweed
has returned but not the Parrot’s Feather (not yet Ed.). The pond
weed is native to this country but the Parrot’s Feather is an
invader.
Mark Richardson of the Parks Dept. came to look at the gap created by
the contractors when removing the weed Into this gap some
builder’s waste has subsequently been dumped. The rubble has now
been removed and the tree trunks replaced.
A local vet has been given permission to dispose of any terrapins in
Spring Pond caught by John Winter’s trap. (None so far. Ed.)
WOOD FARM
A working Party has taken place to pull out Goat’s Rue.
Thanks to Yu Xuan for the
photograph of the saw
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