Agenda item

Councillor John Chilver provided the Community Board with an Environment Action Group update. Cllr John Chilver and Councillor Jilly Jordan met with Hugh Ellerton, a Granborough Parish Councillor and wildlife enthusiast, on 15th October in the Glebe Meadow in Granborough. Glebe Meadow was a two acre south facing site, which the Diocese of Oxford had leased to the village. It was allotments until 1995 and since then had lain fallow. Local volunteers cleared much of the undergrowth last winter and two ponds were created in April through the generosity of a local farmer, but the lack of rain had hindered much of the progress on the site.  It was apparent that the larger of the two ponds was unlikely to hold water and would need a liner.  It was hoped that overflow water from the upper pond would flow into the lower pond through a land drain which had been installed in the meadow. Volunteers would continue to manage the site and it was hoped that selected trees would thrive and that wildflowers and pollinators could be planted for the benefit of wildlife. The site was very popular with villagers, as it adjoins the village playground, and had been met with widespread and grateful support.

The next site to be visited was along a public footpath opposite the Crown public house. The footpath rises up a slope to a new pond and the adjoining landowner was keen to plant native trees along the 500m of this footpath, which in the last half of the last century was lined with magnificent Elm trees. 500 native trees and 100 tree guards had been donated to the village and stakes had been obtained, but another 400 tree guards would be required as hungry deer were common in this area. An application had been made for a small grant to cover the costs of these guards.  Most of the saplings would arrive at the beginning of November and it was intended that the weekends of 19th/20th and 26th/27^th November, weather permitting, would be set aside for volunteers to plant these trees. Implements such as spades and hammers had been lent by the National Trust and volunteers were welcome to come, particularly on the first day of tree planting which would be Saturday 19th at 10am.

The last site to be visited was at nearby Christmas Gorse and its adjoining wilded Meadow. The group was joined by the landowner, Andrew Mellow, and two volunteers, who had been instrumental in managing this exceptional woodland over the last two years. Andrew had explained to the Group how the woodland had evolved over the last century. Through neglect, the wood itself became impenetrable.  However, it nonetheless remained a fascinating site for wildlife. Under professional guidance, Andrew and his volunteers had managed to open up clearings in the woods in the hope that it would attract more insects and birds. Specifically, the plethora of mature oaks and goat willow would be ideal as a site for the iconic Purple Emperor butterfly, which already existed on Andrew’s property in nearby Stewkley.

The adjoining 15-acre meadow, which had been untouched since 1993, was a fascinating example of a rare wilded property. The existence of Blackthorn of varying ages had made this exceptional site an established colony of the very rare and endangered Black Hairstreak butterfly.

Cllr Chilver explained that the purpose of the visit was to demonstrate that, with careful management and enthusiastic volunteers, these varied sites could be dramatically transformed for the long term benefit of nature and residents at relatively low cost and that Community Board small grants go a very long way to fulfil these exciting goals.