Imagery
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Works – Pond Laurel
The work crew have been pruning and chipping laurel stems from the lake edge. This is the reduce the amount of laurel, open up the lake edge, give the rhododendron a chance to fill in, possibly reduce the pH level of the water, and create a somewhat more managed look over time.
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Tracing Historic Field Boundaries
Do you know that most of Highbury Park was once fields, and that many of the fields had names? Do you also know that many of the field boundaries are still visible? Would you like to explore these old boundaries and help us figure out the old field names? We have some info, but could do with more, and would be happy to hear from you if you want to help investigate. Here’s a map of the 1840 tithe map boundaries overlaid on a satellite photo. The full size version is here. Do you see any boundaries along tree lines, streams, or other natural features? Some of the old field…
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Biodiversity Work Party
Last Saturday’s work party was notable for two things: the amount of work that got done, and the number of people that didn’t turn up. Six parks workers, the council ecologist, and (briefly) one HPF volunteer were in attendance, and did a dramatic amount of work on the east end of the big pond, plus strimming around the Henburys pond. Part of the idea is to change the pH of both pools by clearing laurel and rhododendron from the banks. An extra benefit is that both ponds are now easier to walk around, and have somewhat more light falling on them. The result
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Not So Long Ago…
it was known as Uffculme Park, apparently all the way to Dad’s Lane. Scans of old postcards sent to us by Dave Ludlow show the gazebo next to what’s now the car park, plus two points along the main footpath. Whilst the major elements (gazebo, trees) are of interest, so are the minor features, such as the walkway construction. Have a look at the path and its edges, for example, the number of benches, and what might be a separate footpath. This one is really intriguing because it looks like these might be the same trees now as when the photo was taken. It looks like the bowling green hedge…
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Work Starts on Henbury Wall
The contractors were at work today, and repointed a section of the wall within a couple of hours. The section of treated wall and up close.
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Tree survey and Conifer Workshop – successful days
Hi All, The conifer workshop on 8th April was a great success and Martin Collins took us round Kings Heath Park and in the light of the setting sun we collected specimens of pine, fir, cypress etc – looked for cones, sniffed the leaves and became aware of how much there is to learn about conifers. Then an intensive perusal of the twigs in the lab, with cakes and drinks to hone our identification skills. Many thanks Martin, for a most enjoyable and informative session. The tree survey on 26th April covered old hedgerows in Area 1, near to the car park. We found oaks, sycamore, ash and multistemmed…