VCS AGM

Well hasn’t the year gone fast!

As always, the continuing support from VCS volunteers is to be commended. Recruitment of volunteers from the residents for the weekend work parties has been slow but numbers are increasing.

We have finalised a new management plan. This is a combination of a plan done by Chris Songhurst of Vinters park and an arboriculturist report done by Treecraft. Unfortunately, a few of the horse chestnut trees, that form part of the avenue, are not fairing too well and will be monolithed over the year.

We have planted a new hedge along the south inner fence, this should aid small mammals in getting around the reserve. We hope to get more planting along the fence done over the coming months. We also have replanted an area adjacent the pond and aim plant more trees around fence and areas that have been coppiced. This was aided with plants donated by OVO energy.

Coppicing can also help to increase the diversity of trees in a woodland, by leaving certain species to reach maturity, whilst other, more numerous species, can be repressed. The wood gathered can then be left in piles, providing great habitats for a large variety of invertebrates, mosses, lichens and fungi. Creating different levels of shade and vegetation density creates a wider variety of habitat niches, which are filled by a diversity of plants and animals

The trust has also repaired a section of the wall along Hayle Mill rd. This required a road closure and due to the time constraints, we employed a contractor to carry out the work.

At last we have planning permission for the tractor/storage barn. We hope to have this completed by this time next year. Plans are on the table at the back for those who are interested.

The grass has been cut and this year will be cut a further three times. This is so it can be planted or sown for a spring and summer meadow.

We will be installing three new notice boards at the main entrance, Bockingford lane entrance and KB31 footpath entrance.

We have acquired the land behind Mt Ararat from MBC and the area around the pond; these are on long-term leases and we are reviewing how to develop these area for the benefit of wildlife. We are also in talks with MBC about acquiring the old tip site at Dean street/ Farleigh Hill - this area is around 28 acres.

With all of this I am confident that we are in a strong position to have a successful year in 2018 and once again I would like to thank all the hard work that the VCS put in to making Hayle Park a better place for us and nature.

 

Paul Wilby

 

Chairman, Hayle Park Nature Reserve