Lampton Park Hedge Planting and Coppicing, Saturday March 15th, 2014

Following on from a very successful hedge planting session with ninety Year 4 children from Alexandra Primary School in Hounslow, the Environment Trust's volunteers descended on Lampton Park to do their bit. As well as planting a few more hedge saplings, we cut hazel poles and binding material from the nearby woodland to construct a section of dead hedge/hurdle. The intention is to use some of the local materials to provide some protection for the newly planted hedge.
This was a section of the park that was a little unloved, and was previously dominated by Japanese knotweed. It had been thought that the use of herbicide had successfully killed this most hardy of plants, but sadly a small node was found just starting to shoot skyward. This was dug up and left on a dry surface, hopefully to dry out.
The newly planted hedge will hopefully fill the space left by the knotweed to create a natural barrier to protect neighbouring properties from trespassers, and provide additional habitat for wildlife. We shall, of course, be back to check on the progress of the plants, and next year the aim will be to plant more hedge and make use of more coppiced materials.
Today we were joined by a local photographer, Paul Franklin, who with an artistic eye for detail helped to give the project a different perspective than usual. Except where stated, all today's photos were taken by Paul. Our young Duke of Edinburgh photographer, Ashleigh, also did an excellent job of capturing the coming of spring.

Although relatively small, the woodland at Lampton Park has a good variety of species. 

Chris explains the basics of hedge planting and care. 

Next, a course in how to build a dead hedge. 

Volunteers collect hazel poles and binders for use in the dead hedge. 

Hazel catkins are some of the first tree flowers to emerge in early spring. 

Hazel ripe for coppicing. (Photo by Ashleigh)

Volunteers get busy building the dead hedge. 

The hedge quickly takes shape.

A row of tree guards protect the newly planted living hedge. 

A horse grazes nearby. 

Although we're on the edge of an urban park not far from Heathrow Airport, you're never far from nature. 

Hawthorn leaves are beginning to appear. (Photo by Ashleigh)

Along with goat willow. (Photo by Ashleigh)

And, dogwood. (Photo by Ashleigh)

We thought the Japanese knotweed had been successfully killed. (Photo by Ashleigh)

Japanese knotweed making a final stand. (Photo by Chris)

Sadly Lampton Park isn't immune to inconsiderate homeowners dumping their rubbish in the public park. (Photo by Chris) 

Red dead nettles add a splash of colour (Photo by Chris)

Hedge Planting, Mill Road, Twickenham/Fullwell. Saturday March 8th, 2014

It's always good to work at a new site, and so this was our first visit to a newly opened area of Crane Park at Mill Road in Twickenham. The site was previously owned by the Environment Agency, but was recently transferred to council ownership. Along with partners, such as the Friends of the River Crane Environment and TCV, the Environment Trust was asked to help plant a new native hedge to provide additional habitat and a natural border with the neighbouring allotments.

The weir at Mill Road, Twickenham. 

The newly opened area of Crane Park. 

The old mill pond.

A new hedge of hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, spindle, guelder rose and field maple is planted.

Boys from Tower House School prepare the ground for planting by Archdeacon School.

The recently unveiled stag beetle bench provides an excellent spot to sit and take in the peaceful scene.

A non-native American signal crayfish was found lurking in an old vacuum cleaner pulled from the murky waters of the mill pond.

The established hedge at Mill Road, planted five years ago, and recently laid by TCV and others.

Items pulled from the mill pond.

 

Some information regarding the now demolished mill at Mill Road, taken from:

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22290

 

After the Duke of Northumberland's River had been constructed in the 16th century, two mills were built on the reinforced stretch of the Crane in Twickenham. The first of these was referred to in 1753 as the New Mill: it stood where Mill Road crosses the southern stream of the Crane by the former Fulwell Park. It may possibly have been used for a while as a copper mill, but by 1767 was an oil mill. In 1799 part of the buildings had formerly been used for drying tobacco and part had been erected as a windmill. Linseed oil and cattle-cake were made at the mill in the late 18th century and the early 19th, and between 1845 and 1865 it was converted to papermaking. This also seems to have been given up fairly soon afterwards and the mill had gone out of use by 1880. 

 

From: 'Twickenham: Mills', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 151. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22290  Date accessed: 15 March 2014.

 

An image of the New Mill in 1780, probably looking upstream. It's no wonder that we found so many bricks and roofing tiles when we were planting the hedge...

At the link below, it's possible to view a much enlarged and detailed version of this picture.

(http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/kinggeorge/v/003ktop00000030u019ee000.html)

 

 

 

 

Tolworth Brook Woodland Management, Tuesday March 4th, 2014

Yet again, the Environment Trust's Kingston Greenspace Volunteers returned to the small patch of woodland running alongside the Tolworth Brook. Our task today was to complete the removal of dumped rubbish behind a garden fence and to construct a dead hedge in a bid to discourage further dumping, to provide wildlife habitat, and to make use of the coppiced materials. We'll be returning to this site again to plant a native hedge. Thus far, a small area has been coppiced, opening up the woodland to increased light levels, and improving the ground flora to benefit butterflies and other species. Sycamore seedlings have also been removed to improve the ecological value of the woodland.

With all the rubbish removed, only marks on the fence show where dumped garden waste once was. The first dead hedge fence posts have been installed. 

The home owner, in the process of repairing their fence, thought it was acceptable to dump unwanted materials and garden waste into the public area. 

A one-eyed frog was just one of several curious items amongst the rubbish.

Elliot poses by the completed dead hedge. 

The trailer is again filled with rubbish, all from one inconsiderate homeowner.

As a result of repeated fly-tipping a consultation is being conducted to decide the future of the Meldone Close recycling area.

In early April 2014, we returned to plant the first new hedge plants.

 

 

 

 

St. Mary's Church, Chessington, Hedge Repair, Saturday March 1st, 2014

A rare event was witnessed on March 1st, the sun shone. So, it was appropriate that a group of enthusiastic volunteers from St. Mary's Church in Chessington turned out to help repair the hedge around the old graveyard. Hazel poles and binders had been previously harvested from the adjacent Churchfields Recreation Ground, and these were used in a traditional fashion by creating hazel hurdles to plug gaps in the hedge. Hazel is much more flexible than the sycamore we used previously, so the results were rather satisfying. As well as plugging the gaps with hurdles, hawthorn and blackthorn whips were planted, and a few select hawthorn and elm were laid to reinforce the natural fencing, and to deter hurdlers. The whips will eventually grow up and replace the fencing which will rot away after a few years.

St. Mary's Church bathed in sunlight behind a repaired section of hedge.  

The St. Mary's Team enjoy the sunshine and the satisfaction of a job well done. 

Another local resident admires the newly created hazel hurdle. 

Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) flowers open in the sunshine. 

A native five-spot ladybird also enjoys the warmth of the sun. 

An interesting and curious occupant. Sir Monier Monier-Williams, a Victorian academic, born in Bombay, died in Cannes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monier_Monier-Williams).

Another interesting memorial to George Masters Emery, son of Michael and Maria Louisa Emery, of Lancers Cottages, Colgate, Horsham. Possibly killed at the Battle of Verdun.(http://www.britishpathe.com/video/verdun-battle-scenes/query/weapons - Warning: Unpleasant images of Verdun. A far cry from the peace and tranquillity of St. Mary's Churchyard).

Meanwhile, at the neighbouring Churchfields Recreation Ground, the trees planted in November 2012 are just awaking from dormancy, with buds of hazel beginning to appear. Even the longer course grass provides additional wildlife habitat, compared the bowling green style next to it.