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Nature Blog by Jenny Bourne

Views and opinions expressed in this Nature Blog are those of the author.

Biodiversity Projects

Date posted: Thursday 3rd October 2024

Biodiversity Projects

Over the past years RPA volunteers have constructed and managed a range of projects that benefit site biodiversity and plotholders alike. One such feature is the native deciduous hedge that runs the length of the south perimeter side, now one of the longest complete hedges of its kind in Surrey. When the wooden fence barrier between Church Grove Passage and our site was replaced by railings plotholders Andrew and Susan Saunders proposed a native deciduous hedge that would act as a physical and visual barrier as well as increasing site biodiversity: ‘The Royal Paddocks allotments are protected on three sides by a handsome brick wall, but the fourth side, along Church Passage, is bounded by new railings – secure, but less secluded. To improve privacy, and to help solve a rubbish problem spoiling the view along that side, we decided to plant a mixed-species native hedge. Because of the length involved, it’s taken three winters to plant, but the first section, at the Church Grove end, is growing strongly, and the rest is catching up. The hedge contains 50% hawthorn, and a 50% mix of hazel, guelder rose, blackthorn, field maple and dog rose. The thorns will help security, and the fruits and nuts will provide a valuable source of food both for wildlife and tenants – a future batch of Royal Paddocks Sloe Gin should be a definite possibility.’ (Andrew and Susan Saunders Royal Paddocks Allotments Newsletter no 30 Winter p8) Hedge1
In 2005 Andrew, with the Conservation Trust for Volunteers (TCV) and RPA volunteers began the work of installing willow structures and planting the hedge. The hedge has subsequently been laid in sections by the TCV and plotholder volunteers and was completed last year. It now provides a densely planted barrier (no rabbits!) and a few years ago even a Brown Hairstreak Butterfly was sighted on the blackthorn – a wildlife success! Hedge3
Fedging c toilet Another visual barrier was planted in 2008 around the rather unsightly redbrick compost toilet. This was a willow ‘fedge,’ also a project by Andrew and Susan who worked with a fellow volunteer plotholder – the willows grew quickly and provided an attractive green screen round the loo! Fedge Aug 08
Andrew also established a hazel coppice half plot by the SW corner wildlife area: ‘Another project started in 2007/8 was the planting of a half plot at the south west corner, at the Cricket Club end of the Avenue boundary. Thirty-six young hazel trees were planted in 2007/8 for coppicing in the future to produce bean poles for sale. This can reduce the site’s dependence on imported bamboo, and give us some income. Two years’ growth produces a sturdy pole over 2 metres long, as some tenants, who already have a stool of hazel coppice on their plots, will know. Rotational coppicing, 8 trees at a time, will start in Jan 2011.’ Susan and Andrew Saunders (Royal Paddocks Allotments Newsletter no 34 Summer 2010).Coppiced sticks
A first dead hedge was constructed in 2016 as a visual barrier to screen the beehives from Church Grove Passage public scrutiny. Recycled Christmas trees were first used but the hedge sank quite visibly. Dead hedge David BIO copy In May 2019 Andrew and Jem planted an evergreen row of pyracantha and holly to grow into a defensive and visual barrier.Andrew Jem 2 copy
Seed Store front bed 17.07 Volunteers have prepared and planted small flower beds around the site to boost biodiversity and to provide forage for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Front bed 24.08Beebox2 filled 07.07 A variety of constructed habitats have been installed: stag beetle log piles; bug hotels; bird boxes and patches of bramble are managed for fruit, blossom and shelter for wildlife and for blackberry and apple crumble for us! Blackberries2 In May 2017 two owl boxes were installed with the help of the Royal Parks team: ‘There are now two des res tawny owl nest boxes up in the trees adjoining our site, on the NW side! On 23 May Matt Steinmann, Royal Parks Arboricultural Officer (with dog, Peg) and Romain Boudot and George Hobson, from ATC (Tree Care and Conservation) came along to install the boxes, coated with three layers of preservative… Matt selected a couple of limes growing alongside the Cricket Club path as suitable – a decent sized tree, with minimal impact from the road and with an area of clear flight path for the owls, approx 6 metres off the ground.’ (Royal Paddocks Allotments Newletter archive 24.05.17) Owl box positioned Since then there has been no owl uptake but, this spring there was great excitement as a pair of kestrels nested and subsequently reared four healthy fledglings in one of the boxes – result! Where's mum2 GOOD copy
All in all these ‘green infrastructure’ projects have boosted biodiversity across the site and provided screens, barriers and resources for the benefit of plotholders, the latest being the dead hedges that we now use for the woody cuttings that can’t be composted, as we can no longer have bonfires on plots.Banging posts dead hedge copy And it’s the hard work, energy and commitment of RPA volunteers, with some outside help, that have achieved all this over the past almost twenty years!Path team Ruth Martin Rose
Jenny Bourne 03.10.24
Views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author only