Brook Hollows Spinney & Fishpond
(Reports taken from Rollestonian)

Autumn 2005 News

The past few months have been rather busy at Brook Hollows and have resulted in a vast improvement within the woodland. 

Tree Works

All the scheduled tree works have now been completed, including the removal of the trees growing out of the waterfall wing walls. This now means that work can begin later in the year to repair the walls. 

Further into the site the twelve Sycamores have been removed. This has created two clearings within the woodland. One borders the central path in the centre of the woodland. It is hoped that the increased light to this section will stimulate the growth of wild flowers, as well is providing an open glade. It is hoped that this will remain for the foreseeable future. In other areas of the woodland the open areas created by felling will be planted up in the winter with native species.

Dutch Elm Disease

Sadly Dutch Elm Disease has attacked the Elm trees surrounding the small weirs facing the Lawns. This means that in the coming weeks these will be felled in the hope of preventing the disease spreading throughout the woodland. On the positive side this does meant that weirs will once again be visible from the road, a view that has been hidden for some time. 

Calling all volunteers

During the late Autumn and early Winter I am looking to undertake a practical works event in conjunction with the Civic Trust to improve the woodland. As such I would like to invite all local residents to take part in this event. Apart from helping to improve the woodland the event will provide an opportunity to learn about conservation and to meet myself the park ranger as well as other local residents. 

Anybody interested in joining this event or becoming involved with the management of the site to contact myself on 01283 508773.

Roger Leverett
Park Ranger Uttoxeter & Rural
ESBC

Summer 2005 News

Well time seems to have flown by since my first article and spring is upon us at long last, with summer just around the corner. Brook hollows has come to life and the bluebells are in full bloom as I compose this. So what are the developments at Brook Hollows?

Trees

Since writing the last article the Civic Trust and myself have planted four new beech trees, one English oak and three Corsican pines. Hopefully they will all survive their first year and establish themselves for the future generations. 

Following a recent survey of the woodland, it has been established that a number of Sycamores will have to be felled, as they have died, or are in poor condition. Whilst this may seem like a sad bit of news to many people, it is however positive. With the removal of these non-native trees, the canopy within the wood will be temporarily opened up. This will allow the native trees in the woodland, such as, Oak, Ash & Beech, a chance to establish. Sadly however, I have to report that the last Elm, facing the Lawns has been felled due to declining health. 

Waterfall

A planning application has been submitted to fell the beech and the oak tree that are growing out of the waterfall wing walls, causing damage to the structure. Once these have been removed repair work can be carried out, safe-guarding the waterfall for the future. 

Litter bins

The litterbin donated by the Civic Trust near the lake was pushed into the lake. This has been fished out and re-installed on site.

The Coming Months

With the summer coming up I would like to remind everybody that camping in the woodland is not permitted. Nor is the creation and lighting of fires, which poses a risk to other users and the woodland as a whole. On a more positive note, I have recently seen a pair of swans on the lake. With luck they will remain over the summer and rear young. We have also recently completed the installation of a new surface on the footbridges, making walking easier.

Once again, if anyone needs to contact me about Brook Hollows or any other related issues, please call me on 01283 508724

Roger Leverett
ESBC Parks Ranger
Uttoxeter & Rural

Spring 2005 News

The New Ranger

Well it has been well over a year since there has been an article from your Park Ranger. However a new Park Ranger was appointed at the start of November and my name is Roger Leverett. If you see me rummaging around, don’t worry but please say hello. I will be working with David Truslove, who I’m sure many of you already know. I’ll start this article with brief background information about myself. I have a degree in Environmental Studies, which basically means countryside recreation and management and habitat restoration and management. My experience includes working for English Nature in Norfolk as a ranger as well as working for Peterborough City Council in the Environmental Department and the Environment Agency. I was also part of the conservation and restoration team that was restoring the Old Clinton Baker Pinetum in Hertfordshire for four years. 

So what has been happening in Brook Hollows of late?

Litter

After exploring the site several times, I was happy to see that litter is not a large problem in the woodland. However, I could not help but note that holly bushes near the lake seem to have become a place to dispose of bread bags, presumably after feeding the ducks. I would like to remind visitors to please put their rubbish in the bin. If anybody feels that there is not enough bins on site or that bins are in the wrong place please let me know and I will see what I can do. I have also noticed that there have been a couple of cycles dropped in front of the waterfall. These will be removed shortly if they have not been already. 

On a similar note I am currently undertaking a dog fouling campaign across the area and would like to remind all dog owners to clean up after their dog, even in the woodland. 

Since November we have removed three shelters from the woodland and I have on several occasions removed beer cans etc from the centre of the woodland. I have also swept and removed soil that had built up on the footbridges during the winter weather. 

Trees

The recent high winds have caused minimal damage to the trees, although some small branches and a small section of a tree was torn off. The most significant damage that has been caused of late is that caused by a fire being started in the base of a semi-mature Beech tree. Sadly this will mean that the life of the tree has been reduced. 

The coming months

In the near future, (weather permitting) the wooden footbridges will be painted in anti-slip paint to reduce the risk of sliding on them. We will also be delivering some trees for the Civic Trust to plant, who I have yet to meet but I am looking forward to working with them.

With any luck spring is only a few months away and I am looking forward to seeing even more wildlife. I can already see signs of life throughout the woodland and am looking forward to seeing the area in its spring and summer colours.

Roger Leverett, ESBC Park Ranger 
Uttoxeter and Rural

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Last updated: 1 October 2005