In recent years groups of volunteers have promoted severaldevelopments to improve the wildlife and bio-diversity amenities of thevillage. Two projects relate to Bridgford Street: the Copse by theA6097/Kirk Hill traffic lights and the Bridgford Street Wild FlowerMeadow off Brunts Lane. The most recent development concernsSpringdale (Millennium) Wood. In November 2011 The Friends ofSpringdale Wood was formed to increase village support for, andinvolvement in, the management of the wood.

EAST BRIDGFORD

WILDLIFE & BIO-DIVERSITY

SUCCESSES April 2012

Please Support these Village Initiatives

If you wish to support or know more about The Friends of SpringdaleWood or The East Bridgford Wildlife & Bio-diversity Group pleasecontact:

● Friends of Springdale WoodPatsy Andrews, Secretary

Tel. 01949 20329 and Patsyaandrews@googlemail.com

● East Bridgford Wildlife & Biodiversity GroupCaroline Kordecki, SecretaryTel. 01949 20871 and carrotpip@hotmail.com

Springdale WoodBridgford StreetMeadow

Bridgford StreetCopse

New photo

Bridgford Street CopseThis copse borders the bridleway by the A6097/Kirk Hill traffic lightsand is crossed by a footpath (no.27). It is the result of a programmeinitiated by a village action group and supported by the East BridgfordWildlife & Bio-diversity Group (EBWBG). Planted in 2007 it was fundedand executed by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) as a SmallEnvironmental Project. The East Bridgford Parish Council (EBPC) playeda critical role through the purchase of the land and coordinating theplanting with RBC.

The copse is bordered by a newly planted hedge of mixed native woodyplants on the field and bridleway sides and by mature hedgerows onthe other sides. In addition there is a small triangular plot left as a wildarea.

The village now has: a new copse, planted with typical native trees andshrubs, owned by the village and maintained by community action.One of the trees is a cricket bat willow donated to the Parish by RBC,

The Copse Jan 2012after surplus willowscleared by volunteers

New photo The CopseMay 2012

Bridgford Street Boundary with the A6097

Also as part of the Copse project, the hedge bordering the lay-byon the A6097 was renovated and hedgerow trees planted toscreen the heavy traffic and the rubbish that seems to collect inlay-bys.

Bridgford Street Wildflower Meadow

Proceeding eastwards, Bridgford Street bridleway crosses a narrowfield before reaching Brunt’s Lane. Owned by the Diocese ofSouthwell and Nottingham, this former hay meadow wasovergrown by brambles and blackthorn and only small patches ofspecies-rich grass remained.

Bridgford Street WildFlower Meadow in2004looking West

In 2007West end of field

In 2007looking West

In 2009 there was joint action by volunteers, the Parish andBorough Councils: the EBWBG prepared the project, the EBPCobtained a lease from the Church; RBC gave a grant and so in 2010scrub was cleared, hedges laid or replanted and new gatesinstalled.

The Wild Flower Meadow Cleared in 2010looking East toward Brunts Lane

Already: the meadow’s full size is now apparent; the bridleway hasreturned to its ancient location on the southern side; the species-rich grassland is regenerating.

Bridgford StreetMeadow

2010

Bridgford StreetMeadowMay 2012

Bridgford Street - a key part of East Bridgford’snetwork of footpaths and bridlewaysWalkers are now able to walk round three sides of the Parish:

� Starting in the village, up Kneeton Road, down Green Lane and Old Hill Lane toWatson’s Piece by the Trent at the north western corner of the parish; fromWatson’ Piece along FP 13 on top of Trent Hills then dropping down to FP14along the bank of the Trent - the border of the Trent and the woodedescarpment are Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINCs);

� Continuing on the southern side of the parish, from Trent Lane up alongBridgford Street (Bridleway 28) crossing Kirk Hill by the traffic lights, passing TheCopse and through the Wildflower Meadow, then across Brunts Lane as far asthe new dual carriage way A46;

� Thanks to the A46 improvements the way then continues on the eastern sideof the parish along the new byway at the side of the dual carriage way andunder the Butt Lane flyover as far as Closes Side Lane (note the much quieterroad surface on the new A46 compared with that of the noisy A6097);

� then back down Closes Side Lane to the village.

Bridgford Street

A 6097

The Copse

The Meadow

Springdale Wood

Springdale (Millennium) Wood -

In 1999 East Bridgford villagers joined with the Woodland Trust toestablish Springdale (Millennium) Wood off Springdale Lane. TheWoodland Trust owns the wood and has managed it since then.

Springdale Wood 2000 -looking South-East,first year after planting

Springdale Wood2010 - anniversarycelebrationten years on

Springdale WoodMay 2012

Springdale Wood -

Springdale Wood has become a much appreciated communityrecreational and bio-diversity resource.

Native plants are already reestablishing themselves

Springdale (Millennium) Wood - The Need for More

Active Management

By 2011 it had become clear that the Woodland Trust cannot give thissmall wood the detailed attention that it both deserves and needs if it isto continue to develop as a wood and better meet the needs of EastBridgford villagers.

The many overgrown willows need coppicing to favour high-forest trees;native tree and shrub enrichment planting may be required; nativewoodland floor wildflowers need planting/ encouraging; paths needlevelling to make them easier for the less agile.

Spotted orchid

The Friends of Springdale Wood -

The East Bridgford Wildlife & Bio-diversity Group launched a campaign,supported by the Parish Council, to encourage greater villageinvolvement in the wood:

� in September 2010 a 10th Anniversary Picnic was held;

� In May 2011 there was an on-site meeting between the EBWBG andthe Woodland Trust;

�On the 29th November 2011 the Inaugural Meeting of the Friends ofSpringdale Wood was held.

The Friends are now actively discussing with the Woodland Trust ways toinvolve the village in the day to day management of the wood.

The Friends will take on many simple jobs and for the bigger or morehighly skilled woodland tasks will be able to apply for external funding.

2012 Friendshave alreadystarted work oncoppicingwillows

Why not become a Friend?See first page for contact details