Tree Planting
 November is the month when we start to plant trees at various sites across the Borough. It is also the start of National Tree Week, which this year runs from Saturday 27 November until Sunday 5 December. It is run by the Tree Council and is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration.
This year following a successful bid to the Urban Tree Fund we have secured £23,500 for the planting of 56 Extra Heavy Standard trees. The allocation includes funding to water and maintain the trees for 3 years.
The fund is designed to increase urban tree cover, helping mitigate climate change and increase biodiversity. The assessment of the bids was weighted based on fixed scoring criteria. The sites chosen took this into account:
- Priority places (locations that have lower tree canopy cover)
- Proximity of healthcare establishments (close to a GP surgery)
- Proximity of educational establishment (close to a School)
The successful sites are:
Cator Lane Recreation Ground, Chilwell - 10 trees
Manor Farm Recreation Ground, Toton – 14 trees
Pasture Road Recreation Ground, Stapleford – 10 trees
Sherman Drive Open Space, Toton – 10 trees
Pit Lane Recreation Ground, Trowell – 12 trees
The picture shows a small copse area planted 2 years ago at Queen Elizabeth Park, Stapleford which is already starting to develop and enhance the park visually and promote biodiversity habitat.
Flying the Flag as Some of the Country's Best Parks
 Five Broxtowe open spaces are celebrating after retaining their Green Flag awards.
Bramcote Hills Park, Colliers Wood, Moorgreen, Alexandrina Plantation/Sandy Lane, Bramcote, Brinsley Headstocks and The Old Church Tower, Bramcote are all celebrating once again retaining the prestigious Green Flag Award.
This year with COVID-19 restrictions, the sites were assessed by ‘‘Mystery Shopper’’ judges experienced in the management of Green Spaces. All the sites came out with very favourable reports reflecting their popularity as people have stayed locally during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The role the Friends Groups and the Community play in helping to manage and develop these sites was seen as very important as well as the high standards achieved during very testing times.
The Green Flag Awards recognise and reward the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag is a sign to the public that the space boasts very high standards, is well maintained and has good facilities.
Chair of Broxtowe Borough Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee, Councillor Helen Skinner said: “Our Green Flag sites are amongst the most popular Green Spaces in the Borough with very important environmental qualities and we are delighted to be celebrating the Green Flag Awards.”
Sunflowers
These sunflowers at the northern end of the Nottingham Canal are enjoying the last of the autumn sunshine. They are part of a “Bird Feeding” mix which is sown to provide a splash of colour in late summer and early autumn, and then a habitat for birds who feed on the various seed heads within the mix.
If you look carefully you can also see 2 bees making the most of the flower head. A “win win” with benefits for both bees in the summer and birds throughout the autumn and winter.
Kimberley Footpath Improvements
 The public right of way across the Borough Council open space that runs from Newdigate Street to Main Road has recently been resurfaced with a porous tarmac surface. Drainage has also been installed to provide a safe and more accessible route.
Previously this path was a loose stone surface and became very wet and muddy throughout the winter. Working with the contracting arm of Nottinghamshire County Council Via, (East Midlands) £46,000 of funding was secured to implement the scheme. The route is well used providing access to both Kimberley School and Kimberley Leisure Centre.
 The path also provides a direct link to the Great Northern Railway path. In the October Newsletter we highlighted the good work done by local residents to improve the railway path at the top of High Street, Kimberley.
The work by the volunteers has now been extended to a section of the path from Newdigate Street. Again painting has been undertaken, this time to highlight significant references to the towns history. Vegetation has also been cleared to make the path more accessible.
Bed Time for Hedgehogs
A mix of things prompts hedgehogs to hibernate at this time of year. This includes longer nights, falling temperatures and waning food supplies.
During hibernation hedgehogs are not really asleep. Instead they drop their body temperature to match their surroundings. This allows them to save a lot of energy and slows down all other body functions.
What isn’t often known is that each hedgehog is likely to move nesting sites at least once during the hibernation period so you may sometimes see one out and about during the winter, particularly if it is mild. We are trying to encourage hedgehogs onto our green spaces by providing habitat areas with piles of brushwood in strategic locations.
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Queen Elizabeth Park, Stapleford
 As part of the Pride in Parks initiative new play equipment has been installed at this popular park in Stapleford. It replaces some old and outdated equipment and provides an exciting and challenging new play opportunity on the park.
The consultation for Broxtowe Parks Standard carried out during the summer highlighted this as an area that children using the park would like to see improvements made. It has already proved to be very popular.
Get great discounts and prizes when you combat climate change with Green Rewards!
 Join Green Rewards today and earn great discounts, vouchers and prizes at local businesses and projects in your community for playing your part to combat climate change and achieve net zero!
That’s the message from all nine local Councils in Nottinghamshire who have joined forces with local universities and creator Jump for a trailblazing partnership!
It provides a new Green Rewards app and web platform which means Notts residents can accumulate points and earn the prizes for many activities they do every day at home or out and about that help lower their carbon footprint.
Sign up for free now at https://notts.greenrewards.co.uk or download the Green Rewards app on iOS and Android. Search for ‘Notts; Green Rewards’ in your device’s app store.
All residents need to do is log their day to day activities that highlight how they are decreasing the amount of carbon they create, such as:
- Walking to work or school instead of taking the car
- Cycling or using public transport
- Putting your recycling bin out with all the correct recyclables
- Switching off a light or switch at home
- Taking a shower of four minutes or less and many, many more!
Broxtowe from Above
 Last month we showed you a photo of Beeston Fields Recreation Ground showing the sports facilities. This month we have continued the seasonal theme with an attractive picture showing the first signs of autumn in this circle of trees.
Photo credit: Philp Francomb.
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