Nature Reserve Projects
- Ponds and streams clear out - July to September 2013
The contractor started on 19th July and was expected to take two weeks to clear and re-instate the ponds and streams. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the excavator and it went off for 3 weeks for repairs. It came back on site on 23rd August and work was completed just in time to clear the equipment away before the Village Hall Fete.
The three ponds in the north west corner, west side and north east corner of the meadow which were substantially overgrown have been re-instated. The two ponds on the west of the meadow were marshy areas in recent times but with careful attention to clearing, levelling, sealing and raising the outlets we have been able to manage the levels of water in these ponds with water sourced from underground streams which rise to the surface on the west side of the meadow. Overflow from these ponds feeds the existing pond in the north east corner of the meadow which has also been cleared and re-instated. All three ponds have already filled to their target levels showing just how much source water is present.
There is a stream running through the woodlands on the east side of the meadow and the Friends of the Flitch Way have constructed two wooden bridges across the stream to make the woodland walk much more accessible.
- Dipping Platform - November 2013
"A dipping platform will be constructed at the large pond. This cannot be built before the ponds are cleared and pond boundaries are set but it will be built before the pond fills with water which would make its construction a bit more difficult and wet."
The paragraph above reflected our initial plans for the dipping platform but as the ponds were filling when we were digging we have revised our plans and have constructed a site which will allow us to build a platform across a cut out. platform has been designed and materials purchased and delivered. We are now just awaiting confirmation of the build date from the Friends of the Flitch Way.
- Interpretation & Notice Boards - December 2013
We plan to install three main notice boards, one at each of the entrances to the meadow. Each board will have a map of the meadow showing the areas of interest. These boards cannot be produced until the final ponds and streams layout is established.
Lectern boards will be installed at each point of interest
- Tree Management - October 2013
We have been advised to undertake some tree management work on safety and preservation grounds. Similar advice has been given by both an independent woodland expert and Braintree District Council Landscapes department.
Some young oak trees in the woodlands area have been removed to provide more light and space for the large veteran oak tree. Another veteran oak tree near the football field has been reduced to remove potentially dangerous branches and restore the tree to a healthy shape.
The tree sections produced by this work have been used to provide benches and stools around the BMX track and youth shelter. Smaller branches and limbs will be mulched and used to feed the woodlands floor.
We have been successful in obtaining funding for this work from Essex CC CIF.
- Hedge Planting - November 2013
We received 420 hedge saplings from the Woodlands Trust which were planted by a volunteer working party to form a perimeter hedge between the Nature reserve and the sports fields.
Two working party sessions cleared rubble from the excavated heaps on the meadow and used this to build ramps for the two bridges.
Two working party sessions completed the bridge ramps and created a hard surface past the pond to allow tractor access to the bottom of the meadow.
Urban Forestry returned to clear away the fallen tree. The woodland path is now open again. Grant received from Essex CC CIF for 50% funding for this work.