Conservation Area
The conservation area is situated to the right of the basketball court. It has been overgrown for many years. Before the basketball ground has been covered with a new surface the council has replaced the old damaged fence with a new robust one, at the same time reviling the wild area adjacent to it.
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) group lead by Karen Pernyes has cleared the area last autumn and are coming back to do some more work on the 23rd of April.
Last time a member of LRRA, Angela Fernando, has let the group use facilities in her house. The volunteers were very grateful to Angela :D After all they did put in many hours of physical labour available on the estate. We hope they'll be allowed to pop into Angela's home again in April.
Soon after all the clearing has been done new shoots sprung up again, nature never stops! The TCV group will clear it again and will spread woodchip over the ground. We hope to have an even path created for the more senior residents, and benches installed, and a shed for garden tools. The conservation area will need to be maintained regularly. If there are residents who enjoy gardening and would be interested in helping to keep this area weed free, we ask that they get in touch by emailing LRRA or filling out the form on the Contact page, thanks in advance 😊
The volunteer group lead by Karen has worked here on Tuesday 23rd of April 2024. They have created a path leading from the gate at the back to the area where benches are going to be installed. For now, the path is covered with woodchip; the plan is to have a hoggin path.
Hoggin is a mix of gravel, sand and clay that binds firmly when compacted, yet allows water to drain through it. Not only does it look attractive but it's easy to maintain, just requiring occasional weeding. The path is also going to be wider to allow easy wheelchair access.
Here three benches are going to be installed.
Here we'll have a pond and another two benches.
On the morning of Saturday 8th June 2024, several residents took part in weeding the new conservation area, situated next to the basketball ground. Anyone is welcome to join the gardening club, on every second Saturday of the month, between 10 am and noon.
Saturday 13th July 2024 - another gardening session. Few of us managed to clear one side of the area of weeds and their roots!
That was the main task of the day, to make sure the weeds don't come back as we are planning some pretty flower beds.
On the 1st of August 2024 The Volunteer Group - Green Gym has focussed on weeding paths, digging up hemlock, trimming back vegetation and picking litter. They've also created a stag beetle loggery!
.jpeg)
10th of August 2024
Another fine day of gardening in good company.
A lot of stubborn roots were pulled out, and substantial areas cleared.
Success! (As usual:)
It's very satisfying creating this patch of green oasis, hoping we'll soon see it being finished and ready to fully enjoy!
There are always going to be weeds to pull out, and tidying and planting to be done, but that's the whole joy of gardening. Everyone's welcome!
We've been gardening every second Saturday of each month. Sometimes there are five or six of us, and some Saturdays only two or three. We could do with more residents willing to volunteer. It feels good to help and see how the whole project is evolving, we are a jolly bunch, come and join us!
We keep finding all sorts of strange objects under the ground, you might find a true treasure if you are lucky :D
Gardening in 2025:
Sat 8th Feb, 11am -1pm
Sat 8th March,11am -1pm
Sat 12th April, 11am -1pm
Sat 10th May, 11am -1pm
Sat 14th June,11am -1pm
Sat 12th July, 11am -1pm
Sat 9th Aug, 11am -1pm
Sat 13th Sept,11am -1pm
Sat 11th Oct, 11am -1pm
Sat 8th Nov, 11am -1pm
Sat 13th Dec, 11am -1pm
