Work day Sunday 11th November 2012

Welcome back! Many apologies for the lack of information for the last few months. We have been having our usual monthly meetings at the park. Various jobs have been done: more steps added in our new woodland path. Rogue oak saplings in the process of being removed from the meadow area. This is an ongoing problem and their removal will continue for some time to come. Litter picking is done at every meeting. Fence repairs around the lake where it had been damaged, and burnt !

This work day we had several jobs lined up, all of which we managed to complete. They were: to repair the dipping platform which had been burnt by a bbq, or similar. This meant it was dangerous to use. Below is a picture of the repairs being carried out and also the two pieces that were damaged. We also made part of our woodland path safer for walkers, as due to the very wet weather it was becoming very slippery, especially where a fallen tree trunk has to be negotiated. 'Ground guard' and hoggin was put down to improve the surface grip. Willows were planted at the south east end of the lake which will eventually improve the habitat for nature in this area. The small stream leading into the lake was also cleared of overgrown grass etc to allow water to flow more freely into the lake We then moved on to the meadow to remove more oak saplings. Whilst we were doing all of these tasks two of our volunteers were moving relentlessly around the park litter picking.

First Work day of 2012 - Sunday 8th January

Well the year's off to a good start. Lovely day, dry and sunny. And what's even more important - lots of volunteers turned up. This enabled us to tackle 3 tasks on one day. 1) did a bit more clearing on the damselfly pond, this should be it until next winter, 2) cleared more of the ditch along the main bridleway towards Lower Bedfords Road, including partially clearing underneath the track where it turns towards the main pond. We would have cleared it more but Elliot refused to be dragged through the pipe to clear it. You just can't get the (unpaid) staff these days! We'll have to get some drain rods and try again. The 3rd job was to clear out some of the stream that leads into the main pond. This gets very overgrown with grass etc which isn't helped by rubbish and branches etc. And of course we collected litter, about 6 sacks of it. The dipping platform was in the process of being repaired by the Essex Wildlife Trust and was taped off, as can be seen from the photo.

Work Party 11th December 2011

As you can see from the above photos it was a wet and muddy work day ! We continued the work done on the November work day in clearing some of the reed mace from the damselfly pond. The reed mace gradually takes over the pond if not cleared and we are restricted to the winter months as this is a site where Great Crested Newts live and breed. We will continue in January with a bit more clearance and some edging work.

Work day Sunday 11th September 2011

Fortunately the weather was dry for most of the day. We split into three groups this time. One group repairing and replacing the fencing which was burnt a few weeks ago by the overnight camping 'fishermen'. The second group set about finishing off the steps that we've been working on for several months. Almost complete now, we just need to put some 'sides' on a few steps to retain the hogging. The 3rd group worked in the walled garden, digging up potatoes which, with the kind permission of Havering Council, were to be sold in the Essex Wildlife Trust visitors' centre and the money to go into their funds. For those of you interested, there is a small video clip on Youtube of some of our younger 'helpers' digging spuds, cut and paste the following link into your browser to view - www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRxvh7RKXJY

some pics from the day:

September Works Party

Our next work party is due on Sunday 11th September, starting @ 10.00 in the visitors' centre. Please try to come along. Various jobs to be done including litter picking (not very strenuous) to finishing off our steps, which can be as strenuous as you want it to be ! Strong footwear recommended for the steps work and maybe wet weather gear, just in case !

'Fishermen' Damage Our Park

Many apologies for not updating the blog for a few months.

We've recently had instances of so called fishermen camping by the lake. They've torn down and burnt a length of chestnut paling fence that 'The Friends' put up a few months ago to protect the wildlife along one side of the lake. Yesterday (31st August) the remains of yet another fire were found together with an old 'duvet' which had been thrown on top of it and lots of drinks cans. This time branches had been broken off to be burnt. The cans have been cleared up by a good friend of the park. The Parks Protection Service have visited the park at least twice during the last week and have apprehended several of these so called 'fishermen'. CAMPING in the park is NOT ALLOWED, as are FIRES.

I hope to have some updates and photos soon ...............

Havering Parks Protection Service

We now have a really successful Parks Protection Service. Led by Steve Rawlins they are responsible for security in our parks and open spaces. If you spot anything you think is suspicious, but not really the responsibility of the Police, then please contact them on 07904 805872, or email them at parksprotection@havering.gov.uk - anything from dumping of rubbish to anti-social behaviour to motor bikes. If in doubt please contact them anyway. They are NOT there to replace the Police though - if you think it is an emergency then please call 999.