Latest News

Over two successive week-ends TMAEG has managed to complete its winter maintenance of one of our community’s major assets, the Stonehill Pond. One of our biggest projects, this is a key feature of the Ash Brook Corridor which crosses Two Mile Ash from West to East.

We started with an overhaul of the pond itself; our annual clean-up seeks to remove fallen leaves and branches from the pond bed, to which has now to be added the clearance of the floating duckweed that has appeared in the last few years. This work is timetabled for December or January and needs to be completed before the frogs begin their spawning, an event that happens earlier and earlier each year with climate change.

It is important to recognise that this is a seasonal pond where water levels fluctuate considerably. With the record drought and the soaring temperatures that we experienced last summer it almost dried out; over the last few months it has switched to full following the heavy rain and run-off from the pond’s surroundings.

TMAEG aims to keep our pond ecologically rich, a habitat that supports a varied plant life (including the native flag iris planted by local members) and is attractive to birds and other fauna. That means maintaining an element of cover along its surrounding banks, a feature that we try to balance in landscape terms through retaining views from the path and the approaches to the pond.

Before and after pictures (above and below), each taken from the same spot- the Stonehill footpath.

 

The signs for our local park were looking a little past their best with the Clay Hill one overgrown by pyracantha and an adjacent hedgerow.

So some TMAEG volunteers decided to brave the hot weather and perform a bit of a makeover. Armed with tools, ladders and passion they set to work with some stain provided by MK Council.

Whilst some jumped on ladders to attend to the structure, others tackled that faded ‘local park’ lettering. Step forward Margaret and Roger. Our thanks to Roger for a lot of sanding down and of course to Margaret who has lovingly repainted the lettering in its original colors. She is on the left in the photo below.

Complete with its new lettering two volunteers make the final adjustments to one of the two signs.

That is the High Street sign finished and now the Clay Hill sign.

Well done to the team for their splendid work.  Doesn’t it look great?

Seen from the northwest the sign is particularly striking – for years this face has been largely hidden from public view.

But what inspired this design for the signs when Two Mile Ash was first constructed all those years ago? They look in structure and colour to be vaguely oriental. What do you think?

 

Bluebell Circuit Launch – 23rd April 2022

Setting a suitable date for a launch for the Bluebell Circuit has inevitably been quite a gamble. It made obvious sense that this should coincide with Bluebell time and the emergence of those splashes of blue so characteristic of certain British woodlands. But there is no certainty about when precisely this will happen. So, it was with a sigh of relief that we realised that we had probably got that date right. A comprehensive watering of the woodland floor enabled by a generous local member provided the final tuning needed to bring on the flowering that has so delighted us all.

A focal point for the Launch on the Milesmere/Thorncliffe Green – the gazebo shown above, loaned to TMAEG by MK Parks Trust – provided the base for the catering, pastries from our sponsor Brioche Pasquier, served with coffee and tea.

Our ‘master of ceremonies’ Stan Cohen introducing the Launch and presentations from the Deputy Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr Amanda Barlow and Frank Gill, Operations Manager of MK Parks Trust.

TMAEG Secretary Chris Gossop providing thanks to our partner and supporting organisations, also our volunteer teams. He then introduced the walk and specific features to look out for.

Upwards of sixty people attended the Saturday afternoon Launch, local residents and members of supporting organisations. After the presentations, participants began their walk along the Circuit, led by the Deputy Mayor and TMAEG’s Stan Cohen.

Emerging from the first of the two woodland paths on the Circuit, participants walk towards the green ride which runs along the western edge of Two Mile Ash.

Following this ecological corridor that connects two woodlands, we reach the new footbridge.

The Deputy Mayor cuts the tape and pronounces the Bluebell Circuit officially open.

Our many participants can now cross the bridge to enter the Bluebell Wood.

The paths are lined with newly planted trees protected by a new plastic free type of tree shelter.

The swathes of English bluebells can be viewed from many different places along the curving all-weather path.

Interspersed among the bluebells are sizeable areas of wild garlic providing a stunning combination of blue and white.  Shown above and below.

Please publish your photos of the bluebells on Facebook.

 

A Celebration for Two Mile Ash on the
Afternoon of Saturday 23rd April

The Two Mile Ash Bluebell Circuit is now fully open and its use is steadily increasing. Its centre-piece is that 11m footbridge but this 750m recreational way offers far more.

Working with our partner, Milton Keynes Parks Trust, TMAEG volunteers have been enhancing the Circuit, through the insertion of new sections of all-weather path, the upgrading of older paths, and tree and wildflower planting. You can download a map and read more about this project in a new section of the TMAEG website www.tmaeg.org/bluebell-circuit/

Five months on from the completion of the footbridge, we are now approaching Bluebell Time and the time is right to celebrate this new public amenity.

Our Celebration on Saturday 23rd April will provide an opportunity for attendees to recognise fully the contributions made by our partners and our volunteers to this project, to view the bluebells at their best and to enjoy light refreshments and a get together.

Our chief guest will be the Deputy Mayor of Milton Keynes,
Cllr Amanda Marlow; she will provide an initial address and preside over the opening tape cutting ceremony.

The provisional timetable for the Celebration is as follows:

Gather at Milesmere Green – 2.15pm
Presentations begin – 2.30pm
Tour of Circuit and Opening Ceremony – from 2.45pm
Social, with light refreshments – from 3.15pm

Call for Volunteers – We are going to need more helpers, particularly
for the serving of the light refreshments.
If interested, please call Chris
[email protected] or 01908 561365

All are welcome but it would be appreciated if those interested in coming could register this with our Secretary Chris Gossop, either by email [email protected] or phone 01908 561365 so we can have some idea of likely numbers.

Please come by foot if you can as parking nearby is quite limited.