Page 36 - link magazine

36 swindonlink.com • January 2009
Ranger support for Shaw Forest Two decades of copse concern

On 1 April Shaw Forest Park will be transferred from Swindon Coun- One of Swindon’s longest running volunteer outdoor groups has
cil’s outdoor development section to parks maintenance to launch a marked twenty years of woodland management and is looking for
new era for the largest open space near the town centre. more people to join its activities.
Work started in 1994 on turning for wildlife, and also human use.
the forty year old landfill site into an Stuart is also tasked with includ-
urban forest park. Huge amounts of ing the community in practical work
topsoil have been imported and ex- in the park such as wildlife surveys,
tensive landscaping has taken place, coppicing trees and creating insect
with some 60,000 trees planted, habitats.
many by residents at community “I’d like to hear of sightings of
tree planting days. butterflies, dragon flies and insect
Over the last 15 months a large life, as well as mammals, from us-
events field has been seeded, a car ers,” said Stuart. “Many now use the
park built and footpaths finished park for exercise and to walk dogs,
off. Signage and benches are to be but it’s early days, the majority of
installed by the summer, as well as people have not come up here yet so
a viewing area on top of the largest we’re going to be looking at events Peatmoor Copse founder member Liz Emerson with volunteers
mound. that will encourage more use.
at an outdoor party in October
From the air the ground has been “The volunteer rangers will
shaped into the Greek god of the start doing practical work later in The Peatmoor Community the ancient Bradon Forest, a Royal
earth Gaia laying on her side. the year and I’d like to hear from Woodland Group was set up in hunting ground that covered North
Landscape architect Chris Annis residents interested in getting 1988 by Thamesdown Council to Wiltshire. It had been managed long
look after the copse at the west end ago but we found a very dark, over-
of Peatmoor Lagoon, as the houses grown area with little birdlife.
were built around it. The aim was to “It’s nice to see the copse has
reintroduce traditional woodland been properly managed. It is a very
management by coppicing trees unusual environment right in the
on a seven year cycle to encourage middle of a housing estate.”
a diverse habitat for birds, insects Now in its third coppicing cycle,
and mammals. the woodland group meets on the
“Residents were invited to a first Sunday of the month and vol-
meeting at Lower Shaw Farm and unteers are always needed to help
were given a guided walk around with the woodland maintenance
the copse to discuss ideas for set- work. Full training in coppicing
Shaw Forest handover from landscape architect Chris Annis, left, with Richard Beale
of the parks department and ranger Stuart Searl, right ting up a management group with and also hedge laying techniques
council officers in August 1988 is provided.
said Shaw Forest is an evolving involved in the maintenance and and we held our first workday in For details call Roger Ogle on
place. “Creating a park out of a development of Shaw Forest. October,” said founder member Liz 608840 or mail: roger_ogle@mac.
very big landfill site has made a Stuart can be mailed at: coat- Emerson. “The copse is a remnant of com
fascinating environment. Nobody [email protected]
knows the extent of the wildlife
there; surveys are needed to find out Phase 3 start All about trees and green stuff
what kinds of plant, bird and insect The first two phases of Shaw For- Acorn Education are running winter workshops at Westmill Farm near
life have colonised the area. est covering some 70 acres will be Highworth (near the wind turbines) on:
The entrance road from Mead increased to 104 acres when the
Way will be completed later in the third phase of development is com- • Saturday 3 January, 10am to 4pm. ID Your Tree. Learn how to identify
year after a leachate drain is built pleted in five years. Work started in trees in winter, looking closely at bark, buds and branches, and discover
(see right). October to cap the recently used folklore and listen to stories about them. £20
Stuart Searl joined the Swindon landfill site. • Saturday 17 January, 10am to 4pm. Green Woodwork. Enjoy a day
ranger team last May and will now As part of this contract a new filled making something rustic for your garden from natural materials without
be responsible for Shaw Forest as ditch is being dug around the first electricity.
well as The Lawn in Old Town. phases of the park to provide a run An organic lunch is provided with course members helping to cook a
His task will be to prepare a off for leachate which will drained cauldron of vegetable soup over an open fire. Reduced fees are given
management plan for the site which into a new reed filtering bed. The for family bookings.
will take a long term approach to public will see machinery at work For details call Rebecca Brain on 07843 050073.
developing a diverse environment off Mead Way in the new year. www.acorneducation.com

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