Keep The Ridge Green
Members of: The Sussex Wildlife Trust, South Downs Network, Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) Butterfly Conservation
Chairman: Ron Murray, 88 Bramble Rise, Brighton, BN1 5GF, Tel. 01273 503152
Secretary: Maureen Holt, 26 Green Ridge, Brighton BN1 5LL, Tel. 01273 552438
Windmill Drive Co-ordinator: Charlotte Hastings, 2 Windmill Drive
Hill Top Co-ordinator: Brian Oram, 6 Hill Top
www.keeptheridgegreen.com e-mail: info@keeptheridgegreen.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SPRING 2011 Newsletter
Dates for your diary & Please mark on your calendars too!
Conservation Days-meet at Windmill@ 10.30 on the following dates:-
Can you spare just a couple of hours on these days :
Sun.15th May, Sun. 26th June, Sun.4th Sept.
The site provides volunteers with a variety of worthwhile tasks aimed to create valuable wildlife habitats in hedges, scrub and woodland. Working with council rangers on pre-arranged days enables insurance cover.
Social events – Butterfly walk- Sunday 3rd July meet 10.30 at the cafe,
AGM Friday 22nd July –an occasion to celebrate our 20th anniversary !
History- in 1991 KTRG was initiated by local residents concerned after construction of the bypass had caused the realignment of Mill Road. This Green not only lost a huge chunk of its land but also direct, easy connections with the rest of the Downs when fears of infill south of the motorway became a real issue. The first project for this newly created site, after becoming legally recognised by the council owners, was pressing for compensation land. By adding Coney Wood and grassland opposite Windmill Drive (then under development threat) further scope for a wildlife corridor enabled us to obtain money for putting a safe access path and finally 100 steps down through the steep gradient leading to Patcham Place.
To help conceal the impact of Mill Road, fencing and planting a new multi- species hedge along it was initiated, while the parallel ancient boundary hedge was in need of attention and this work eventually paid off when it also became the boundary to the new South Downs National Park. This status means the area should enjoy statutory rather than the discretionary maintenance rights previously in place when it was valued as an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)/SNCI (Site of Nature Conservation Importance) site. Several copses (at the cafe, in front of and behind the windmill) were planted and to celebrate the millennium the dewpond was restored. The Green was formerly part of the West Blatchington Estate and purchased by the council on condition it remained a green space in perpetuity.
The South Downs National Park Authority became fully operational from April and was launched with a reception at Lewes Town Hall, where Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Fisheries and the Natural Environment was one of the speakers. Presently the NPA has delegated everyday running of sites like ours back to the owners, BHCC, encouraged by local community involvement. The linear, 100 mile long, National Park consists of very many different communities which it is hoped will eventually come to regard themselves as one successful unit whose main aim will be to protect this important area in the future.
Green Ridge has planted six specimen trees around the site in recognition of both these momentous events.
Conservation days - thanks go to all volunteers who gave their time during March for a much needed renewal of the ancient boundary hedge line (see maps). During three work mornings they planted, staked and put protective tubes around 200 new whips (necessary for location purposes once nettles grow high!). Garden waste has, over time, rotted down to produce ideal conditions for nettles/ brambles and rampant convolvulus. Last Autumn for a second year, Westdene school assisted the group by planting English bluebells in Coney Wood to improve undergrowth in this secondary wood. The Spanish type must not be planted in countryside as it produces hybrids; only native plants/grasses/trees should be put on downland sites. At a recent meeting Ron agreed to get signs placed at the dewpond to deter dogs from disturbing potential wildlife and also hopes to secure extra dog bins as the site becomes more popular.
Bikers in Coney Wood are causing problems to wildlife – photographs have been passed to the Countryside Section who are looking into the problem. Notices are needed to explain to bikers why keeping to paths is necessary and that jumps/moving logs is not allowed. Community Police are powerless to act without these warning notices. Police run, Local Action Team meetings currently take place at Withdean Stadium and may give an opportunity to raise certain policing issues, councillors are also present. Would anyone care to volunteer to attend and raise issues of importance to the group?
Boundary hedge - Authorised rights of ‘back exits’ through this are currently in need of legal confirmation to ascertain what is permitted on council owned (not 'common') land directly behind properties – paths, etc.? While residents are welcome to join KTRG workdays, ‘doing their own thing’ is not permitted. Unfortunately a precedent was set 40-50 years ago when the hedgerow became enclosed within eight gardens leaving just grass behind the fences. But for obvious reasons new residents must be dissuaded from clearing vegetation behind their property. Distinctions need to be made between ‘planting up where nothing existed' to the recent trend of removing hedgerow vegetation and mowing/strimming there! Where very old trees exist in gardens this groups has for many years attempted to place Tree Preservation Orders on them - so far without success. Green Party leader and our MP Caroline Lucas visited the Green recently on an initial visit and was impressed by our work and the site generally.
HLS & sheep grazing/fences - The council’s bid to obtain funds for the countryside service's management of open spaces by means of a Government Higher Level Stewardship Grant has been successful. Sheep returned last October to the ‘Green,’ with the whole site being grazed in sections - apart from the field behind the Mill which will be allowed to return to scrub. Maintenance plans for the wildlife area at the top of Coney wood will also be in place. English Nature submitted the grant application - to be implemented by BHCC- after members of local groups were given an opportunity to input - on this site we stated it would be preferable for sheep to have finished grazing by the end of March when butterfly eggs hatch. KTRG has become a member of Butterfly Conservation and been sent a request asking us to record species seen during the year and the location. Hopefully the council will reduce the size of mown paths as agreed last year -especially next to Mill Road - in order to prioritise wildflowers and anthills of benefit to wildlife.
Attractive gates and new fencing is already in place at the cafe and more is promised for along Mill Road and Windmill Drive. Priority should be given to danger zones such as a gate at Mill Road exit, but these measures will not protect wildlife from the dangerous speeds on Mill Road.
Management Plan - Matthew Thomas will be looking into plans for the KTRG site during this summer according to our ranger Emma, but he is keen to obtain more records from all BHCC owned countryside in order to provide the correct management for it.
Grants - unfortunately our application for a Community Spaces Grant placed early January (minimum 10K) was unsuccessful despite Hailey's hard work, but we have hopes that having another attempt at the Environment Sustainability Grant for a more down to earth £2,500 might pay for site leaflets and nature notices for a start.
2010/2011 Membership Subscriptions - £5.00 per multiple household or £2.50 single is still being collected - thanks to all who continue to give much appreciated support. Please pass any further payments to Valerie Smith at 22, Green Ridge if you have not already done so yet..
Thanks go to Tony & Rosemary Dowd for kindly hosting the March meeting. The next one is scheduled for Tuesday 13th September 2011@ 19.30 at the Mill House.
After 20 years I would be grateful if others could now take a more prominent role, especially with regard to organisation of workdays.
Maureen Holt, Secretary - Spring 2011
Members of: The Sussex Wildlife Trust, South Downs Network, Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) Butterfly Conservation
Chairman: Ron Murray, 88 Bramble Rise, Brighton, BN1 5GF, Tel. 01273 503152
Secretary: Maureen Holt, 26 Green Ridge, Brighton BN1 5LL, Tel. 01273 552438
Windmill Drive Co-ordinator: Charlotte Hastings, 2 Windmill Drive
Hill Top Co-ordinator: Brian Oram, 6 Hill Top
www.keeptheridgegreen.com e-mail: info@keeptheridgegreen.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SPRING 2011 Newsletter
Dates for your diary & Please mark on your calendars too!
Conservation Days-meet at Windmill@ 10.30 on the following dates:-
Can you spare just a couple of hours on these days :
Sun.15th May, Sun. 26th June, Sun.4th Sept.
The site provides volunteers with a variety of worthwhile tasks aimed to create valuable wildlife habitats in hedges, scrub and woodland. Working with council rangers on pre-arranged days enables insurance cover.
Social events – Butterfly walk- Sunday 3rd July meet 10.30 at the cafe,
AGM Friday 22nd July –an occasion to celebrate our 20th anniversary !
History- in 1991 KTRG was initiated by local residents concerned after construction of the bypass had caused the realignment of Mill Road. This Green not only lost a huge chunk of its land but also direct, easy connections with the rest of the Downs when fears of infill south of the motorway became a real issue. The first project for this newly created site, after becoming legally recognised by the council owners, was pressing for compensation land. By adding Coney Wood and grassland opposite Windmill Drive (then under development threat) further scope for a wildlife corridor enabled us to obtain money for putting a safe access path and finally 100 steps down through the steep gradient leading to Patcham Place.
To help conceal the impact of Mill Road, fencing and planting a new multi- species hedge along it was initiated, while the parallel ancient boundary hedge was in need of attention and this work eventually paid off when it also became the boundary to the new South Downs National Park. This status means the area should enjoy statutory rather than the discretionary maintenance rights previously in place when it was valued as an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)/SNCI (Site of Nature Conservation Importance) site. Several copses (at the cafe, in front of and behind the windmill) were planted and to celebrate the millennium the dewpond was restored. The Green was formerly part of the West Blatchington Estate and purchased by the council on condition it remained a green space in perpetuity.
The South Downs National Park Authority became fully operational from April and was launched with a reception at Lewes Town Hall, where Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Fisheries and the Natural Environment was one of the speakers. Presently the NPA has delegated everyday running of sites like ours back to the owners, BHCC, encouraged by local community involvement. The linear, 100 mile long, National Park consists of very many different communities which it is hoped will eventually come to regard themselves as one successful unit whose main aim will be to protect this important area in the future.
Green Ridge has planted six specimen trees around the site in recognition of both these momentous events.
Conservation days - thanks go to all volunteers who gave their time during March for a much needed renewal of the ancient boundary hedge line (see maps). During three work mornings they planted, staked and put protective tubes around 200 new whips (necessary for location purposes once nettles grow high!). Garden waste has, over time, rotted down to produce ideal conditions for nettles/ brambles and rampant convolvulus. Last Autumn for a second year, Westdene school assisted the group by planting English bluebells in Coney Wood to improve undergrowth in this secondary wood. The Spanish type must not be planted in countryside as it produces hybrids; only native plants/grasses/trees should be put on downland sites. At a recent meeting Ron agreed to get signs placed at the dewpond to deter dogs from disturbing potential wildlife and also hopes to secure extra dog bins as the site becomes more popular.
Bikers in Coney Wood are causing problems to wildlife – photographs have been passed to the Countryside Section who are looking into the problem. Notices are needed to explain to bikers why keeping to paths is necessary and that jumps/moving logs is not allowed. Community Police are powerless to act without these warning notices. Police run, Local Action Team meetings currently take place at Withdean Stadium and may give an opportunity to raise certain policing issues, councillors are also present. Would anyone care to volunteer to attend and raise issues of importance to the group?
Boundary hedge - Authorised rights of ‘back exits’ through this are currently in need of legal confirmation to ascertain what is permitted on council owned (not 'common') land directly behind properties – paths, etc.? While residents are welcome to join KTRG workdays, ‘doing their own thing’ is not permitted. Unfortunately a precedent was set 40-50 years ago when the hedgerow became enclosed within eight gardens leaving just grass behind the fences. But for obvious reasons new residents must be dissuaded from clearing vegetation behind their property. Distinctions need to be made between ‘planting up where nothing existed' to the recent trend of removing hedgerow vegetation and mowing/strimming there! Where very old trees exist in gardens this groups has for many years attempted to place Tree Preservation Orders on them - so far without success. Green Party leader and our MP Caroline Lucas visited the Green recently on an initial visit and was impressed by our work and the site generally.
HLS & sheep grazing/fences - The council’s bid to obtain funds for the countryside service's management of open spaces by means of a Government Higher Level Stewardship Grant has been successful. Sheep returned last October to the ‘Green,’ with the whole site being grazed in sections - apart from the field behind the Mill which will be allowed to return to scrub. Maintenance plans for the wildlife area at the top of Coney wood will also be in place. English Nature submitted the grant application - to be implemented by BHCC- after members of local groups were given an opportunity to input - on this site we stated it would be preferable for sheep to have finished grazing by the end of March when butterfly eggs hatch. KTRG has become a member of Butterfly Conservation and been sent a request asking us to record species seen during the year and the location. Hopefully the council will reduce the size of mown paths as agreed last year -especially next to Mill Road - in order to prioritise wildflowers and anthills of benefit to wildlife.
Attractive gates and new fencing is already in place at the cafe and more is promised for along Mill Road and Windmill Drive. Priority should be given to danger zones such as a gate at Mill Road exit, but these measures will not protect wildlife from the dangerous speeds on Mill Road.
Management Plan - Matthew Thomas will be looking into plans for the KTRG site during this summer according to our ranger Emma, but he is keen to obtain more records from all BHCC owned countryside in order to provide the correct management for it.
Grants - unfortunately our application for a Community Spaces Grant placed early January (minimum 10K) was unsuccessful despite Hailey's hard work, but we have hopes that having another attempt at the Environment Sustainability Grant for a more down to earth £2,500 might pay for site leaflets and nature notices for a start.
2010/2011 Membership Subscriptions - £5.00 per multiple household or £2.50 single is still being collected - thanks to all who continue to give much appreciated support. Please pass any further payments to Valerie Smith at 22, Green Ridge if you have not already done so yet..
Thanks go to Tony & Rosemary Dowd for kindly hosting the March meeting. The next one is scheduled for Tuesday 13th September 2011@ 19.30 at the Mill House.
After 20 years I would be grateful if others could now take a more prominent role, especially with regard to organisation of workdays.
Maureen Holt, Secretary - Spring 2011
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