Page 43 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • January 2006 39
Restoring the Ray. Phase 2 gets underway
Work on the next stage of putting the bends back into the River Ray, between Rivermead and Barnfield Road, gets underway towards the
end of January.
Leading the project is 4: ' perfect storage areas for the In the meantime, for more infor-
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's ` t flash floods that will hap- mation, call Jo on 526229, email or
water officer Jo Sayers, who pen more often with climate mail: [email protected]
cannot wait to see the river r - change," said Jo. www.wiltshirewildlife.org
attracting a wider range of '' The restoration project is
wildlife and also people to k - ^ ,a^.;w_" `- , a partnership managed by
itsbanks. "Manyyearsago, .c-- ' Wiltshire Wildlife Trust I I 3.
the River Ray was a lovely, with funding from the En-
T^S
winding stretch of water. , vironment Agency, Biffa ^
N
Later it was straightened E ^ Waste, RWE's Thames Wa m M •^ ,/
out in order to carry the " :. ter and npower, Hills Waste,
water away from the town Swindon Borough Council
faster, and so that the land and Swindon Services. ts'
around it could be drained ' The work due to start in • 1 r^
and used." l late January will involve
ve
flood at the Ray in early December. The canalised J y
"Since February 2005 river can be seen on the right. The Rivermead industrial bringing diggers onto the
we've been working along estate and Shan, Forest is in the background site. It will be possible to
a 1.2 kilometre stretch from view the progress from the
the Swindon sewage works to the buntings, which roost in wet mead- vantage point of the River Ray pe-
Great Western Way bridge at ows in winter. destrian cycle bridge.
Mannington recreation ground, to "If you walk through the area at Jo is conducting a guided tour of l
build in bends, banks and water the moment, the roosting snipe will the site on Sunday 19 February,
plains. This has all improved the fly up from around your feet." 2pm, and welcomes all interest in
river habitat so that dragonflies, "Getting rid of the bends turned the restoration.
kingfishers, otters and water voles the river into little more than a
can return." drainage channel with almost no
"Today we know that flood de- wildlife. Already, the work we've
fence sometimes means allowing a done is turning this area into a
river to burst its banks, letting the year-round living spectacle."
meadows alongside it fill with While bringing back the bends
water. The docks and other plants is restoring the river to a more
that have gone to seed on the un- traditional shape, the project will
cut grassland provide a rich larder also help Swindon cope with cli-
for birds such as snipe and reed mate change. "Wet meadows are

RYAN All' GA1U)EN Chelw'orth DAVID HAWKINS
MAINTENANCE SERVICES Landscapes TREE SURGEON
All types of tree services
& SERVICES LTD Every client & every garden is different Fencing & Garden Maimenanr r'
Tofu hi the potential of your garden • Fencing and gates and landscaping
Call Gary for we offer a planning & design service that is Closeboard trellis. panels. Hedge cutting
• Wall & Floor Tiling ` individually tailored to suit your taste & home picket chain/ink security etc
• Laminate Flooring We can offer a complete or phased project to suit Turfing • Fencing
your budget and circumstances from renovating • Lardscaping
• Wall Papering a tired garden to designing a new one Slum p/a. paving, water features,
• Decking We also offer planting plans, beds turfing and planting Fruit tree pruning
• Fencing and border designs • Garden maintenance Fully insured
• Gutters & Fascias General garden maintenance & landscaping Gras scutting. tree and shrub Free estimates
also undertaken pruning, clearance etc.
Ring 01793 485800 Fully insured in respect of public liability II Fears ('Xperience
For free quotation phone
or 07778 865385 Call to arrange for a free estimate or guide to costs 01793 823257
[email protected] Tel/Fax: 01793 850595 (01793) 702029 07050 383060
6 Brindley Close. Cheney Manor Ind Est Mobile: 07919 543733

LANDSERVE ACER
Garden Maintenance LA I I D ^C A rl l'lr 3
& Landscaping PAVING
GENERAL GARDEN MAINTENANCE
Professional care Ott/,y ,o'% Specialist paving & & CONSTRUCTION
for your garden landscaping contractors • Fencing - closeboard, panels etc. LAWN & l (EDGE CUTTING
Grass Cutting -regular • Drives and patios - slabs,
• Driveways • Patios PATIO & TURF LAYING
maintenance concrete, shingle
• Decking • Fencing • Patio cleaning, grass cutting. GENERAL GARDEN TIDY
Landscaping - Patios & Paving
- repairs & cleaning • Walling • Pergolas gardens tidied up FENCE ERECTION,
• Turfing and grass seeding
Iledgc Cuttin & Pruning Quality work and innovative ideas STAINING & MAINTENANCE
• Ponds & pergolas
No Job Too Small. All works insured. 01793 729200 or • Contact: 01793 692687 Give your garden a makeover
Call Martin Emery MI Hort. 07802 752576 Mobile: 07711 253508 ?! Tel: 01793 873630
for free quotation Mobile: 0781 8430556
on 01793 7113306 Visit our comprehensive website at -mail: [email protected]
or Mobile 1) 7771 9562`)-1 www.acerpaving.co.uk www.garden-groomers.com