Dovecote Lane Recreation Ground Play Area
Work is now well underway on the installation of the new play area at this popular Beeston park. All the old equipment and surfacing has been cleared and in keeping with the Council’s commitment to sustainability the various waste materials have been segregated for recycling. The old bark has been used for soil conditioning on the allotments, the concrete was sent to a crusher for use as construction aggregate, the wood is used by a local farmer as fuel in a biomass boiler.
The scheme costing £128,500 with £78,500 from external funding is expected to open later this month in time for the school half term.
Pear Trees in Bloom
 In early 2020 the Council provided 500 free fruit trees to residents in the Borough as part of the commitment to plant 2000 new trees in the Borough each year. We have had lots of positive stories come back from residents as to how the trees have grown, but one particular picture really sums up the benefits of planting trees.
The value of trees to the environment is well documented but when this doubles up as a source of pollen for bees then we know we are really making a difference.
Thanks to Philly Walker for the lovely picture.
Broxtowe From The Sky
 Last month we provided an image of the Walled Gardens at Bramcote Hills Park with its interactive stone maze.
This month shows the wide variety of sports facilities on offer at this traditional park. A big clue are the tracks in the top left hand corner of the picture.
Highway Grass Cutting and Weed Control
Broxtowe Borough Council are contracted by Nottinghamshire County Council to undertake highways grass cutting and weed killing every summer.
Grass cutting takes place with five cuts across the season from April to September and each takes around three weeks to cover the whole Borough. Verges in rural areas are cut on two occasions during the summer.
Our highway weed control programme commences in early May by our approved weed control contractor. There is a second application in September and each application takes around three weeks to complete. There is an intermediate application in the four Town centres in July.
The programme includes treatment of:
- All pavements and kerbs on residential roads.
- Council owned car parks.
- Public footpaths in residential areas.
- Edges of paths immediately adjacent to walls or buildings when necessary.
Fritillarias
 Our monthly topical update focuses on these very unusual and quite rare bulbs. This image was captured at Brinsley Headstocks where the bulbs were planted by the friends group working with the Council. There are many types of fritillarias that grow in lots of different habitats.
This one is the ‘Snakes Head’ Fritillaria (Fritillaria meleagris) getting its name from the nodding pink and purple chequered flowers which are said to resemble a snake. They enjoy damp meadow land, flowering in April and May and are best planted in the autumn.
Garden Waste Subscriptions
 It’s that time of year, when residents in Broxtowe can renew their garden waste subscription for 2021/22.
Garden waste prices for the 2021/22 season are:
- £36 for 1 brown-lidded bin
- £22 for each additional bin
What does the subscription include?
- Collections are all year round – every two weeks from March to the end of November, then every four weeks in December, January and February when there is less garden waste to dispose of.
- A hassle-free solution in comparison to taking your garden waste to the Local Household Waste and Recycling Site.
- A sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to garden waste disposal.
New Countryside Code
 A new refreshed Countryside Code has been launched by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the original code.
With more people enjoying the outdoors than ever before, the code has been revised to help people enjoy the countryside in a safe and respectful way.
With large areas of Broxtowe being open countryside with extensive public rights of way to explore and enjoy the new code provides:
Advice for people to “be nice, say hello, share the space” as well as “enjoy your visit, have fun, make a memory”.
It also includes the following points:
- A reminder not to feed livestock, horses or wild animals.
- Stay on marked footpaths, even if they are muddy, to protect crops and wildlife.
-
Information on permissions to do certain outdoor activities, such as wild swimming.
-
Clearer rules for dog walkers to take home dog poo and use their own bin if there are no public waste bins.
-
A refreshed tone of voice creating a guide for the public rather than a list of rules - recognising the significant health and well-being benefit of spending time in nature.
-
New wording to make clear that the code applies to all our natural places, including parks and waterways, coast and countryside
May is National Walking Month
 Walking is good for our minds, our bodies and our neighbourhoods, allowing people to stay active and connected.
Within Broxtowe there are lots of short and long walks which can take you the length and breadth of the Borough. Some take you along canal paths, to locks, through woodlands and offer places for a quiet stop and nature-spotting.
Our two major trails cover approximately the whole of the Borough’s boundary, about 40 miles. The Erewash Valley Trail and the Broxtowe Country Trail allow you to see beautiful countryside, wildlife and the waterways. Both are well signposted and have plenty of short cuts and circular routes which you can follow.
Friends of Beeston Station
The Friends group started in 2017 and has gone from strength to strength. Users of the station will now see clean platforms and paths around the station.
The group have joined the Council’s Clean and Green Scheme and taken on the responsibility for maintaining the landscaping in the new car park adjacent to the station.
Working in partnership, the Council has for the last few years provided the friends with bedding plants for the planting beds and installed a new litter bin. This spring the group have cleared a new bed at the back of the car park and sown the area with a mix of annual flower seeds for bees and pollinating insects. The picture shows Nick and Heather Groves from the friends sowing the seeds.
|
Tree Planting - Nottingham Open Spaces Forum's People's Forest initiative
Stapleford Women’s Institute, working in partnership with Broxtowe Borough Council and in support of Earth Day 2021, planted an oak tree in Stapleford as part of Nottingham Open Spaces Forum's People's Forest initiative.
This initiative aims to encourage schools and community groups across the city and county to create a spiraling network of young trees linking back to the Major Oak at the heart of Sherwood Forest.
The tree planted was only a small "minor oak" and was christened "George" to mark the planting on 23 April St George’s Day.
The event was organised by Heidi Platts Stapleford WI President with Sarah Manton, trustee of the People's Forest providing the tree. Heidi Platts, said, "We think this is such a lovely project to be involved in and it's so important to plant more trees and to re-green our spaces for future generations to enjoy". Members of the Stapleford WI will now water the tree over the summer as it aims to achieve the status of its parent tree in the future.
|
Live Well Together Keeping Active and Healthy
Advice and support on keeping active, no matter your ability, as well as tips on healthy eating and losing weight.
There are nearly 50 parks and recreation grounds to choose from in Broxtowe. Find yourself getting back to nature with our 15 designated Local Nature Reserves.
Your health is important as well as being able to find that perfect balance. It's all about making changes to fit your life and make you feel good. Whether you want to lose weight, get active or quit smoking better health is available with lots of tools and tips to help you.
|
Pollarding Willows Nottingham Canal
Over time the willow trees on the far bank of the Nottingham Canal has spread over the water and were almost reaching the towpath. Work has now taken place to prune them back to the main trunk.
The trees will now be maintained as “pollards”, with the new growth cut back to the trunk every few years. This is an ancient management technique for willow, with the pruned shoots being used in traditional basket weaving.
The work will keep the trees in check and the water open, with the pollard trunks providing an important habitat for nesting birds such as Marsh Tit. By opening the water up a wider variety of plants and animals will be able to colonise and already we have had promising signs that the endangered water vole has taken up residence!
|
|
