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We have some important new infrastructure in Two Mile Ash.

Through a partnership between a generous benefactor, Milton Keynes City Council and TMAEG; and with the support of Abbey Hill Parish Council and residents living nearby, we can now enjoy the benefits of two sturdy double benches.

Installed at the beginning of June by MKCC’s contractors, the benches adjoin our High Street redway, close to the golf course.

This route connects the shopping, bus stops and other facilities of Two Mile Ash with the far end of the High Street, together with Fairways, Westcliffe and Thorncliffe.

They are intended for use by the entire community. But they are likely to be of particular importance for the elderly for whom walking these distances and the steepish slopes they will encounter can be quite a challenge. The new seats will provide resting places along the way.

In sustainability terms they will reduce dependence upon the car. Also, they re-use existing materials – recycled plastic and they are likely to have a long life.

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?