Following the recent Friends of Hogshaw meeting at St Peter’s Church Hall Friend and local resident Hugo Edwards has offered to kick-start and manage a group dedicated to improving an area which is both crucial to wildlife and an invaluable local amenity. Here’s what he has to say:
May I put myself forward to take a lead on the flora and rabbit management on Hogshaw Wilderness Park (HWP!)
Much of the ground is already occupied by flora. Willow herb is the most prolific. Japanese Knotweed is the tallest. Raspberries are the tastiest. There are areas of nettle, bramble, and big-leaved Gunnera. The birch and willow are thriving. The willow pollen is great for the bees. There are various comfrey patches and beautiful peonies which were nearly smothered by a careless fly tipper. Harsher sentences for such crimes against nature!
Over a period, I have scattered various seeds including clover, phacelia and wild calendula. Nothing has come up despite the fact they usually survive on marginal soil. I suspect that if they are tasty to rabbits that might explain things. The existing flora obviously have some resistance.
Comfrey would be a good one to spread around the site. You propagate it from the root which is quite a reliable method. It remains in flower for ages which is great for bees. It’s very easy to make a plant food tea from the leaves and it is often used in herbal remedies. Farmyard smells in your own back yard!
There are lists online of plants that rabbits don’t eat. Lupins might work somewhere.
The Hedge that was planted on the raised ground by the railway is struggling to get established five years on. I imagine there is a shortage of nutrients. A working party could hoe and apply manure.
If there is any funding available I would propose that it is spent on the path that runs down from the footbridge across the railway to the river. It is currently a bit of an ordeal and its improvement would contribute to most routes. Extra steps will be needed. It might be possible to reset and restore some of the existing ones to help keep the cost down.
The burnt-out pigeon shed
There is appetite to sort this area which is inhibited by the fact that its ownership is unknown and that bats may have moved into the derelict structure which still provides a roof.
I Propose the following:
- Dismantling the building.
- Making Owl and Bat boxes out of the salvaged timber.
- Stacking roof tiles in such a way as to create insect habitat.
- Removing the building tubs and other plastic contaminants.
- What to do with the asbestos roofing? Collect, stack and bury, OR double bag and tape and take it to Waterswallows? Contact Council for their view.
Regarding the owner, why would they sue when they won’t have to pay for the work done and the result is an improvement?
To the Bats, re-housed nearby, RSPB approved design.
The owners of the other Pigeon buildings and Garages could be approached. With their permission and our help they could be tidied up.
How to proceed
I offer this for your consideration and look forward to your feedback. A WhatsApp group might be a good way to proceed when organising ourselves, our thoughts and work parties.
Feel free to contact me on 07963 906760
