We are pleased to announce that the Bramcote Hills Park play area will benefit from a refurbishment and upgrade thanks to a successful bid to the FCC Communities Foundation for a £100,000 grant, along with additional funds from the Council’s own budget.

The play area was last renovated in 2008 and retained some older items. These will be replaced with new equipment, along with additional items to add extra play value to the area, providing activities for a wide range of ages and abilities.

The new design will be based on the extensive consultation we carried out last summer so thank you to over 1000 residents that responded! Whilst not revealing too much, you can expect high adrenaline items, provision for toddlers and more inclusive equipment for all abilities.

The FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community through the Landfill Communities Fund.

You can find out more on the FCC Communities Foundation website.

The Council's Parks team recently teamed up with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to support the ongoing Water Vole Recovery Project across the Nottingham Canal.

Water vole populations have been rapidly declining over the years with 90% of their original range across the UK lost due to predation and pollution effects.

The project seeks to improve existing habitats and create new ones to help build up existing populations and set strong foundations for the future re-introduction of water voles.

The team visited various sites along the Nottingham Canal to identify burrow entrances, grazing areas and latrines with results looking positive that Water Voles are inhabiting the banks. From here we can begin to identify areas for wetland habitat enhancements that would have the best impact for the species. 

If you take action to support your local wildlife too, make sure to log your activities on Green Rewards for a chance to win a £20 gift voucher in the monthly prize draw. You can download the app or sign up on desktop.

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In early April, you may have noticed a small white flower springing up along the edge of main roads. This is Danish Scurvy Grass, a salt tolerant plant (or halophyte) originally confined to coastal saltmarshes. In recent years, the plant has spread inland away from the coast and has now become common in Broxtowe.

Most plants and grasses are poisoned by salt so the salty water that splashes onto verges after gritting in winter creates a space that scurvygrass has taken advantage of.

Their unusual name is the result of the plant having high concentrations of vitamin C. Sailors of old made use of this to treat scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin deficiency, which was common after long periods spent at sea. Thankfully we now have access to a wide range of fruit and vegetables so there's no need to forage on roadside verges.

The first grass cutting of the season is now underway. Our grass cutting equipment has been serviced over winter and now it's back to work, helping to maintain nearly 200 hectares of parks and open spaces in Broxtowe.

Mowing is undertaken for a number of reasons:

• To create accessible green spaces
• To help with safety by cutting vegetation at road junctions
• To make areas feel more welcoming and appealing

More relaxed mowing regimes have been introduced at many green spaces across the Borough. We work hard to achieve the correct balance to create mown areas of grassland for people to actively enjoy for their recreation alongside a more relaxed approach to mowing to help improve biodiversity in the Borough.

As part of this approach, you can also find some natural wildflower meadows in our green spaces which can help support our local wildlife. With No Now May approaching we’ll be sharing some tips on how you can encourage biodiversity in your own garden in next month’s bulletin.

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