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TMAEG is making great progress with its work to open up the Ash Brook, the stream and related hedgerow corridor that is such an important feature in our ‘village’.

Volunteers from TMAEG and from outside Two Mile Ash (the Green Gym) have now carried out working sessions on four mornings, the most recent of which was on Saturday 10th of November.

Peter, a first time volunteer for TMAEG gives here his report and impressions:

Transport by Tarpaulin
TMAEG’s volunteers are an innovative bunch. As Kevin’s latest poem relates, we turned the slipperiness of the Park’s grass (after the overnight rain) to our advantage….. and thanks to Sally!

Sally you’re a saviour
With your blanket for the weeds
It made the job much easier
Fulfilling many needs
So many volunteers today
The progress good to see
If we could do that every time
The stream would soon be free !!

How are we doing?
We have now reached the second, middle, section of the hedgerow, the one between the two footbridges. Here, our approach is aimed at cutting ‘glades’ into the southern face of the hedge, openings which provide views of the stream and diversify the habitat of the corridor. Imagine how the hedgerow could look if those openings were planted with wild flowers, and the land managed to support butterflies and other fauna! TMAEG is currently looking into that possibility

There is to be one more session of the Stream Project before Christmas – on Saturday December 15th. As before, this will start at 9.30 and finish by 1.00pm. More work is planned for 2013.

You can read more about the purpose and scope of the Stream Project in the news stories posted earlier

Join Us, Learn new skills, Meet new people

Over the past year, your local environmental group, TMAEG, has been engaged in a number of practical projects, notably the enhancement of the Stone Hill pond, works adjacent to Ashbrook School, including bulb planting by school children and the creation of an all weather footpath through an area of woodland at Milesmere.

Spurred on by the success of these schemes, we are now working within the Two Mile Ash Local Park on our biggest project to date, a major tidy up of the hedgerow and stream that runs through it. While these are fine features of TMA, the hedge has become badly overgrown and the stream (known locally as the Ash Brook) has been lost from view.

So on two mornings in September (Thursday 20th and Saturday 22nd), volunteers from TMAEG and other organisations began work on the first section of this ‘green and blue’ corridor. Our partners were the national organisation, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), Milton Keynes Council and the Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG). The project has already proved to be very popular, especially on the Thursday when our team comprised a total of 17 people – a substantial number for any local conservation project.

The first task was to clear much of the self sown vegetation adjacent to the hedgerow on its southern side which enabled the volunteers to begin the work of trimming the hedge itself. We have sought to retain the fine mature trees that form the spine of this attractive landscape feature, while selectively removing many of the self sown trees and shrubs that have grown up between them. At the same time we have kept ‘understorey’ vegetation where it adds to the variety of species in the hedgerow and/or provides valuable habitat for birds and other fauna.

At an early stage in the work we created safe ways down to the stream bed so that we could operate on two fronts – up and down the length of the stream and from above. Those working within the brook bore the brunt of the litter clearance work, the objects found including bales of free newspapers, a twisted bike wheel and the globe cover from a street lamp. But the main thing to slow progress at both levels was the astonishing tangle of brambles that has risen to the height of the smaller trees. We also encountered dead trees – usually these were cut into sections and taken to a nearby log pile, in other instances, the lower part of the tree was left in situ, if safe. In both cases their wood will continue to contribute to our environment by providing habitat for beetles and other insects, creatures that will, in turn, be a source of food for many birds.

We can all be very proud of what has been achieved so far. Work on the first 35m long section of the hedgerow is now complete and a substantial section of the stream has been opened up to view. This would not have been possible without the dedication and enthusiasm of our dedicated volunteers who have worked incredibly hard. Their work is a heartening example of what can be achieved by committed people towards the active improvement of their area and their city. But the benefits are more than environmental. Projects such as this inspire people and bring them together. They foster a real feeling of community.

Some quotations and a poem

Among the feedback we had from the team are the following:

A well organised and fun event. It was great to meet new people and contribute to an activity that enhances the environment for everyone to enjoy. We all worked hard and shared our experiences over a much needed cuppa half way through the morning. Can’t wait for the next event. Well done to Chris and Monique (Lydia);

What a perfect opportunity to make a huge visible difference to the centre of Two Mile Ash and have a lot of fun, with a great bunch of people at the same time (Dave);

If you go down to the Park today, you better believe your eyes
Some volunteers have been clearing the stream, some Gals and also some Guys
There’s lots to do, a bit of a task, so come on down just phone and ask
The more that help the quicker the next two stages (Kevin R)

TMAEG wishes to thank all the volunteers involved and everyone who has provided support in any way. We are especially grateful to Monique van Assouw of TCV for the leadership and training she has supplied, to Tony Higgins of MKC for his practical support and to the MK Community Foundation for their help in the setting up of TMAEG.

The Next Steps

There will be three further working sessions on the stream project:

· Saturday, October 20th 0930-1300 (TMAEG/NAG)
· Saturday, November 10th 0930-1300 (TMAEG/NAG)
· Saturday, December 15th 0930-1300 (TMAEG/NAG)

To book yourself a place on one or more of these sessions please e mail Chris Gossop on [email protected] or ring 561365.

The Stream Project – Two Mile Ash

Briefing Note for Residents and Volunteers

Background

At the beginning of 2012, and following our aim of safeguarding and enhancing the local environment, TMAEG embarked upon a number of environmental projects across Two Mile Ash. Based upon those successful pilots, we are now developing a programme for the autumn/winter of 2012/13 and over the next four months we plan to concentrate first on the Local Park and, specifically, the stream and hedgerow corridor that runs through it. The intention is that this work should be carried out primarily by volunteers.

There has been significant investment in the Local Park recently, notably in respect of the children’s play area and other games/exercise facilities. However, the hedgerow that passes through it has become overgrown and is in need of substantial management. It includes some fine maturing trees that should stay as part of the structure of the Park but, below that canopy, there are self sown trees some of which would beneficially be removed and there are dead shrubs like elder and much bramble growth.

We will also be able to reveal a ‘lost feature’, the stream which has largely disappeared from view. In deciding on the precise details of the scheme we would hope to be able to take account of the views of local residents, including those who take part in the practical voluntary work.

Our Partners and the Practical Sessions

We will be working closely with Milton Keynes Council (MKC), The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and with the Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG), and we have the support too of Abbey Hill Parish Council (AHPC). The first two sessions on 20 and 22 September will be carried out as part of the TCV’s Green Gym programme.

We aim to work our way along the corridor, starting at the High Street entrance to the Local Park. The present aim is to continue the work right up to the Play Area. There will be five work sessions in total:

· Thursday, September 20th 0930-1300 (Green Gym)
· Saturday, September 22nd 0930-1300 (Green Gym)
· Saturday, October 20th 0930-1300 (TMAEG/NAG)
· Saturday, November 10th 0930-1300 (TMAEG/NAG)
· Saturday, December 15th 0930-1300 (TMAEG/NAG)

There will be a mid morning coffee/tea break.

The Project’s Aims

In the context of the wider plans of the two Councils for the Local Park, we see the Stream Project as having the following main aims:

· to revive and enhance the hedgerow corridor as an important structural feature within the Park.
· to open up and enhance the stream/ditch that the hedgerow encloses.

The Practical Tasks (to be assigned to volunteers at the project briefing)

These will include:

Enhancing the outside faces of the hedge: trimming the hedge and the ground flora immediately adjacent to it; removal of self sown saplings, brambles and deadwood; removal of ivy etc from wooden bridges.

Providing safe access points to the stream/ditch bed: remove brambles etc.

Working within the stream/ditch: trimming back of vegetation from the stream bed and its banks; clearance to each end.

Creating new openings so that the stream bed is visible from outside.

Litter clearance.

Note to Volunteers – be well prepared and stay safe!

It is strongly recommended that you wear your oldest clothing and that you come prepared for inclement weather. Bring tough gardening gloves and wear sturdy boots, tough trainers or wellingtons. The stream has steep slopes, there are lots of brambles, and many of the tools are very sharp. So please take the utmost care in respect of your own safety and that of the people who will be working alongside you.
Enjoy yourselves!

This is a very important project for TMA and we are sure that you will enjoy the challenges, particularly once you have got going!

First Come, first served!

To book yourself a place on one or more of these sessions please e mail Chris Gossop on [email protected] or ring 561365.

On two Saturdays in April members of TMAEG refurbished an existing woodland path in Two Mile Ash.

The work took place on Saturday  April 7^th and 14^th and was undertaken by residents, drawn largely from the houses in Milesmere.

The restored path ran through woodland towards Watling Street and presented a real challenge for the team, as you can see in the picture (left). 

 

Kevin Reed, one of the hard working team, wrote a poem that says it all!

Ten of us stood round one day, decided what to do

With shovels, Loppers, Secateurs, we made a clearing through

We set the path with logs and stakes, then barrows did their bit

 The chippings down and spread around, then back home with the kit

 Sorted…………………

 

 

…and look what they achieved, an excellent effort by residents of Two Mile Ash.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to everyone involved for their hard work,  and to Milton Keynes Council for supplying the log chippings!

 

 

 

This work has been assisted by funding from the Milton Keynes Community Foundation

Back in November Two Mile Ash Schoolchildren enjoyed a break from the classroom, planting bulbs in the local park.  Now we can see the results of their hard work.  Well done children.

The Two Mile Ash Environmental Group and Ashbrook First School children joined forces with Milton Keynes Council Environmental Department to plant daffodil bulbs in Two Mile Ash Local Park.

We hope the residents of Two Mile Ash enjoy the contribution the children made to our local environment.

On a dry and cold day back in November groups of children from Mrs Healey’s class at Ashbrook School began planting the daffodil bulbs

The children were supplied with gardening gloves and in groups of four took turns to place the bulbs in the newly dug holes.

Over 600 daffodil bulbs were planted in just ninety minutes at the High Street entrance to the local park and further down on the grassy ‘island’ opposite the bridge over the stream.

On seeing the daffodils the children of Ashbrook were moved to comment:

Thank you for buying the bulbs.
Thank you for asking us to plant them.
Thank you for helping us to plant them.
They have all come up so nicely! They are so amazing!
I can’t believe how fast they grew!
It was a good place to plant them because everyone can see them.
They are so lovely! We are all amazed and surprised!
When you see them from Ashbrook they look so nice.
There are so many daffodils, we can’t even count them!
It’s a bit like when a tiny baby grows into an adult. You give it food and drink and somewhere nice to live and then you don’t do anything! It just grows!!
Spring smells so beautiful.

 

The current landscaping and construction works to our village centre are now almost complete.  From the feedback that we have obtained there is considerable satisfaction locally at what has been achieved, in particular the opening up and tidying up of an area that had become neglected and overgrown.  Reviewing the works, the TMAEG committee recognises that, to a considerable extent, they correspond to the range of ideas that we ourselves had developed.  Beyond that, however, we had a particular worry about the possible effect of the works at the eastern end of the site (at the rear of One Stop) on the root systems of our distinctive double avenue of Silver Maples.  Indeed, TMAEG was formed following an earlier threat to their survival, and out of the campaign that eventually saved them.

In summary, the following works have been carried out to date in the western end of the landscape strip, our ‘central garden’:

Some additional parking spaces have been provided.  They are parallel spaces – three next to the ambulance bay, and four within the island area – and your Committee agreed to them last year on the basis that the former, destructive, echelon proposal would not proceed.  We have also stated that these small extensions to parking should now be the limit for our village centre.

One of the two cherry trees in this western section has been cut down and two new birch trees have been planted nearby.  The Silver Maples have had their crowns reduced and some extraneous growth lower down has been removed.

All of the previous shrubs have been removed and they have been replaced in the western part of the central garden with a mixture of new shrubs, including Fatsia japonica (Castor Oil Plant) and Phormium tenax (New Zealand flax),  and ornamental grasses.

Many of the walls in this section have been reduced in height which has opened up the area considerably, while also providing some informal seating.

A conifer – described by the Parish Council as a ‘christmas tree’ – is to be planted within the grassed area at the western end of the strip.  We have expressed support in principle, subject to the details.

Eastern section – The original drawings for this section showed a couple of rectangular spaces between the two rows of maples, these being surfaced with breedon gravel – like the central reservations between the plane trees in Central Milton Keynes.  Your Committee expressed strong concerns about this particular proposal, in particular about the effect of constructing these surfaces so close to the trees.  We argued that that would pose a particular threat to their highly vulnerable root systems;  while the gravel surfaces would be porous, roots would be likely to be severed, ground compaction can reduce the oxygen flow on which trees depend, and rainfall has been unusually low.  This combination of factors could result in the loss of these trees.

We were delighted to learn that MKC’s tree expert agreed with us and the result has been a redesign of these spaces with significantly smaller areas devoted to gravel treatment.  Also, these will be constructed without the significant excavation needed under the original plans, which would have proven to be so damaging.  Providing that the works are carried out in accordance with the appropriate standards and guidelines, the TMAEG committee decided that it could now support MKC’s revised proposals which should fully safeguard these fine trees for the future.  Indeed, we would like to think that they will still be around at the turn of the next century, giving pleasure to future generations.