Parish nature plans latest

The exciting John Clare Countryside project continues to move forward with action to improve nature in most of our villages.

You can learn more about the vision here

Our main picture illustrates villagers at Maxey using their feet to plant wildflower seeds.

Here are the latest details of the parish nature recovery plans.

Ailsworth

  • We have taken the first step to re -wild approx. 1/3rd of the Ailsworth Recreation Ground. NatuRestore
  • An initial plan has been drawn up and stage one was to leave this 1/3rd largely un-mown from May. Paths have been cut into this to provide walk- ways and contrast. Many people have been seen to taking these alternatives than walk around the field perimeter.
  • An open day was arranged on the Park (in conjunction with the Ailsworth Climate Action Group) and attended by approx. 30/40 people (in total) at the start of June. The scheme has been called ‘NatuRestore’ as a logo and ‘brand’. All attendees gave very positive feedback and additional ideas / comments.
  • The contracted mowing company continue to maintain the paths in the design given to them.
  • The change has generated predominately grasses including Common sorrel and slender meadow foxtail. It has also had the usual culprits of a host of dandelions, buttercups and low growing red clover. The area has been buzzing with pollinators.

Bainton

  • Ongoing management of village verges and green spaces for wildflowers and wildlife, using Parish Council contractor.
  • Flora surveys of village verges and green spaces.
  • Participation in JCC verges sub-group.
  • Volunteers have undertaken flora monitoring of Highfield Road CWS verge cutting trial using Rapid Grassland Assessment technique – involved over one mile of verges.
  • Two newsletters published and delivered to households in Bainton and Ashton – themed on wildlife gardening and managing verges for wildflowers.
  • Ongoing use of Bainton and Ashton NR group on Facebook for sharing information, photos, questions etc.
  • Well appreciated evening walk for villagers around Bainton Heath led by Stuart Irons.
  • Planted home grown wildflower plug plants in May at Sheepwash to augment seed sown in autumn.  Although establishment seemed quite good, very top-heavy grass knocked over by storms in June flattened everything.
  • The Parish 10 year Nature Recovery Plan has been re-written in the standard JCC format.
  • Swift boxes put up on homes in Tallington Road area of Bainton and in Ashton.

Barnack

  • The Barnack and Pilsgate ‘Wildlife Gardening Survey’ was launched and advertised on-line at the end of Feb 2021. In April 2021 flyers were dropped to approx. 500 households. One final on-line push has been made, and the survey will close at the end of June. The response rate has been approx. 13%, and a summary of the results will be produced later this summer.
  • A survey of the wildflower ‘meadow’ in Barnack cemetery revealed three species of orchid (including the endangered Man Orchid) two species of broomrape, Hoary Plantain and profusely flowering Field Scabious and knapweeds. Later in the summer we will gather freshly-cut hay from the cemetery meadow and scatter it over a nearby grassy ‘green’, in an attempt to translocate the rich plant community before it is lost to further well-mown grave plots.
  • The Parish Council is working with the new Rector of St. John’s Church on a management scheme aimed at enhancing the wildlife potential of the churchyard.
  • Sarah Lambert held a training course for three Barnack volunteers on a rapid survey technique to monitor the effect of a change in management on the protected road verges to the west of the village. We aim to carry out the monitoring programme during July and August.

Castor

  • Project Coppice – Bird and Bat boxes installed, a new pond with plants, surrounded by a newly built wall
  • Heritage trees – background preparations including quotes from a recommended local nursery for planting in the late Autumn early Winter
  • Sarah Lambert report underway – Connecting fields to the triple SI from Splash Lane bringing together wildlife and nature
    Preparations for hedge recovery adjoining the Coppice
  • Community Awareness via Village Tribune, Facebook to be developed

Deeping Gate

  • Four sites identified for potential artificial otter holt in the parish
  • Proposed planting of native trees at Blackgates

Etton

  • Online village survey completed to engage the community in the JCC project
  • Took part in National hedgehog week, leafleting all households to raise awareness of how to be hedgehog friendly.
  • Created a plan for nature recovery in the churchyard under the guidance of Sarah Lambert and Jean Stowe
  • Took part in no mow May in the churchyard with paths regularly maintained for safe access to graves.  
  • Roped off a wild area in the churchyard and created a wood and stone pile plus compost area
  • Removed ivy from the north wall
  • Parish council is supporting the plan for a viewing platform on the green wheel to allow access and greater views of existing nature reserve and mumurations.
  • Owl boxes have been installed at Howe farm and in gardens 
  • Tree and hedge planting is ongoing at Howe farm
  • Outline plans have been agreed with landowners to plant hedges and trees in the paddocks south of the village 
  • Plans are in place to plant wildflower strips on the south drain. 

Glinton

  • The Nature Recovery Area by the McDonald’s roundabout produced a good number of bee orchid flower spikes this year despite the mix-up over the mowing regime, and is now showing various yellow and white flowers, among them Yarrow, Hawkweeds, Ragwort, Buttercups and both Common (lawn) and Ox-Eye daisies.  One notice board has been destroyed/removed, but the other is still in situ with a shorter, stronger post.  The good news is that we now have five people ready and willing to help with the meadow work when it’s cut, removing arisings etc.  
  • A group of people from Clarendon Way & The Willows have been taking care of the green space between their roads and have come forward to ask if we can help to create a small meadow area in the green.  
  • We have a plan to contact the Peakirk-cum-Glinton primary school before the new term begins to ask if they would like to create some kind of wildlife area with which we could help.

Helpston

  • Plans being developed for tree and wild-flower plug planting over the autumn/winter with several sites proposed
  • Agreement in principle for pilot project with Cross Keys Homes for planting and nature recovery on their properties in the village
  • Work has started on nature recovery plans for the churchyard and cemetery
  • Several swift boxes have been installed across the village
  • Sites identified for hedge planting in the autumn
  • 75 responses to Village Nature Recovery survey

Marholm

  • Bird boxes around the village hall.
  • We have put in a bench for people to seat (hopefully)and admire our beautiful wildflower area next year
  • We want to plant a tree in the area opposite Marholm farmhouse as well as wild flowers. 
  • We plan to plant wildflower area on the grass outside the village hall.

Maxey 

Maxey Village Field

  • Preparation for wildflower seed sowing in Autumn
  • Two insect boxes installed
  • Hedging on order for planting in Autumn
  • Plaques ordered for Nature Trail

Hedge Gapping-up along Maxey High Street

  • 400 saplings planted (and maintained through the hot spell)

Maxey Churchyard

  • ‘Thankyou’ tree ordered for planting in summer
  • Areas of grass left unmown and surveyed for resultant wild flowers.  Survey undertaken by Sarah Lambert revealed an area of ancient grassland with a wide variety of species.
  • Bat survey undertaken by Mandy Loveder and Antony Mould found 220 Pipistrelles.

Monthly posters created for village noticeboards with JCC and wildlife information / ideas.

Northborough

Peakirk

Peakirk has had five projects underway during 2021.

  • Community Orchard – The areas have been cleared of perennial weeds and mulched with plastic sheeting and overgrown hedges have been cut back to reveal some old apple trees. 
  • Millennium Corner – Our contractor removed all the existing planting so we could establish a Pollinator corner. We sowed poppy and cornflower seeds directly into the ground and planted out some plugs and donated garden plants.
  • Firdale Close wooded area. – To be known as David’s Wood. A 2m strip around the outside is alive with primroses, cowslips and buttercups in the spring and so this has been cut monthly by our contractor since May with the grass in the centre allowed to grow long.
  • Village Green Two areas were identified by Sarah Lambert as potentially having interesting wild flowers, an area on the south side of the slide mound and an area in heavy shade near the Deeping Road. Both areas have been left uncut since the spring and we are currently surveying them to see what is growing there. 
  • Village Hall Car Park – This area, at the back of the Car Park, is partly shaded by large trees and was cleared of nettles and scrub in the Spring, by our contractor. A work party planted Hazel whips, honeysuckle near the fence, English Bluebells, Wild Garlic, Aconites, Primroses, Violets, Musk Mallow and Marjoram. The area has become overgrown with goosegrass and bindweed and now needs more attention to prepare it for the spring flowering.
  • Village Churchyard – During 2021 we also supported a training session in our churchyard, run by George at The Beautiful Burial Grounds organisation and Sarah Lambert.
  • Tree and Hedge Planting – We also have a tree planting team overseen by the Parish Council Tree Officer, who has planted many new trees and hedge plants over the past few years and maintained them in all weathers.

Southorpe

  • Looking at possible options for nature recovery on the parish field.

Sutton

  • Focus has been on Recreation ground management as follows:
  • April 2021:     Cut, collect by hand, and chain harrow wild area to expose small areas of bare soil ( cost £180)
  • April/ May:     Some sowing of wild flower seeds (BFS8 high nutrient mix on lower slope and BFS9 on higher land- see attachments). Planting plugs with seeds distributed to 6 villagers for germination.
  • 5th June:           Villagers planted out their plugs.
  • 16th July  onwards          Cut and bale carried out 
  • Work on tree and wild-flower identification sheets commenced.

Ufford

  • We have devised and had professionally printed 2 quizzes on (a) Bees and Butterflies and (b) Birds and distributed them to all households.
  • We have been sifting through old maps to identify any viable deleted footpaths. We think we may have found one but need to do further work
  • We have started but not yet completed a survey of gaps in hedges 
  • We have persuaded the PCC to place a bin at the entrance to Southey Wood following complaints of litter and dog mess in the Wood

Road Verges

  • The JCC verges working group met at Bainton on 15 June and were able to look at some of the verges which are being managed by B & APC. PCC and B & APC have now drawn up a more secure licence to cover this work, which will be discussed with parishioners in September.
  • The change in mowing of the NRP verge at Glinton allowed most bee orchids to flower. The whole site now needs to be cut and the cuttings removed. David Cowcill is liaiasing with PCC regarding this. A site meeting will need to be held in late August to agree work to be undertaken in the autumn.
  • The CWS verge monitoring is underway. Sarah Lambert led a training session on the rapid assessment method and identification of key species at Windmill Farm, Barnack on 4th July. The Bainton volunteers have now finished the 6 monitoring transects of the Highfield verge, and Barnack have completed 50% of their 12 transects. One verge is so poor that we have decided not to do detailed monitoring, leaving four transects which may need to be picked up by Sarah, who also has to complete compilation of total species lists and photographs.

Churchyards

  • Helpston: St Botolph’s churchyard has had areas for no mowing, spring and summer mowing designated and this practice has been started.  
  • Ufford: Barnack PCC have agreed to designated areas of “wild”, spring mowing and summer mowing areas. This is being put in place. 
  • Barnack: With the Parish Council, areas of St John’s Church have been designated for spring mow, summer mow and no-mow, and a log pile created for small animals. The result of the spring mow area so far is an area of ox-eye daisies and one (1!) pyramidal orchid. Plans are in place with the Parish Council to plant appropriate wildflower plugs in the autumn.
  • Wittering: Designated areas for summer and spring mowing and leaving wild. Log pile in the hedges for small creatures. 
  • A training session on identifying and recording species in churchyards was led by SL and George Sharp of the Caring for God’s Acre project at Peakirk PC on 24th June – attended by members of the PCCs from Peakirk and Maxey.
  • Maxey PCC approved a change in the mowing regime for 2021, with two areas of grassland allowed to flower before being cut in mid-July. Cutting was done with the assistance of Langdyke volunteers, and the arisings have now been raked off. SL attended an evening session on 30th June to show parishioners the interesting plants and to explain the reasons for changes in mowing management. In autumn 2021 a tree will be planted and spring bulbs and plants will be introduced into a shadier, more fertile part of the churchyard.

Schools

  • We have made two applications for trees for John Clare Primary School– a woodland trust one and a British tree council school orchards one as well. Once we know the outcome of these we can devise a full plan for the school site like the one completed for Northborough. 
  • At Northborough Primary School there is a working party day planned for the 23rd October to complete the final elements of the plan. We will be releasing information on this in September – just to make sure that schools start back ok following the summer break with regards to any further covid restrictions. 
  • The school also received their gold Woodland Trust Green Tree School Award, the students were awarded their Green Blue Peter Badges and the school has also achieved their Land Use & Wildlife Eco Charter Award – which will be presented at the PECT Eco Awards in October.