Brook Hollows Spinney & Fishpond
(Reports taken from Rollestonian)

Summer 2006 News

Spring Time and Bye Bye

Spring has finally arrived and the woodland is teeming with new growth and wildlife. The tree felling during the winter should make a real visual impact as the trees come into leaf and should provide a new experience to all visitors. 

Tree Planting

Thank you to all who took part in the tree planting in February. It was a great success with 23 new trees planted. Seven of which were oaks grown from seed obtained from Kenilworth Castle and were a donation from a resident of Stretton. Further planting will take place this coming winter. 

Waterfall

The repairs are now complete to the wing walls, (although there were a few surprises along the way). All that remains is for the reseeding of the adjoining grass next to the walls and this will be undertaken shortly.

Summer Work Party

The summer work party date has been set for Saturday 15 July from 10am till 2pm. Once again all tools will be provided, although you will need to wear suitable clothing. The work will be focused upon the rear of the woodland to clear the area of elder brash. Following the work the compartment will be re-planted in the winter with hazel, to create a small scale Hazel coppice. If you would like to become involved please ring 01283 508724 and remember its free.

Park Ranger

By the time that you read this I will have left ESBC to take up a similar position, with Congleton Borough Council in Cheshire just north of Stoke-on-Trent. I have enjoyed my time working with the village of Rolleston and working within Brook Hollows. Real improvements to the woodland have been achieved throughout this period and further improvements are in the planning stage. I would like to thank everybody. Particularly the Civic Trust, John Carlton and Tom Martin and wish you all the best in the future. In the meantime all enquires should be directed to Angela Pepper on 01283 508724.

Spring 2006 News

Brook Hollows Masterplan

(The following note on current and future works in Brook Hollows has been provided by ESBC Parks & Countryside section)

Background:

Brook Hollows is a well-loved site that is managed by ESBC and maintained by the Rolleston Civic Trust. There are several sites in the Borough that we would like to enhance, but do not have the capital funds available to make it happen – Brook Hollows is one of them. 

What is happening:

ESBC have had a landscape architect look at the site initially and create a draft masterplan. This is just a set of ideas at the moment that we would like to use to generate further ideas from the people of Rolleston and people who use the site.

The main proposals include:

· Footpath improvements
· Refurbishment of railings and knee rails
· New footbridges
· New viewing platforms
· New entrances / gateways
· Signage and interpretation boards
· Planting
· Revetment works
· Dredging

A coloured map detailing these proposals is on display in the village notice board outside Starbuck’s. Below is an artist’s impression of some of these improvements

Costs:

Estimates for the proposals described come in at £133k.

Proposed Way Forward:

We would like the people of Rolleston to be involved in progressing the project. This would involve a group of interested people carrying out public consultation, coming up with ideas, assisting in applying for funding, holding events etc. The group would be a ‘Friends of Brook Hollows’. We would like people from the Parish Council, the Civic Trust, other community groups and any villagers to join the group that would be supported by our Open Space Support Officer.

Interested people should contact Corinne O’Hare on 01283 508734 or write to: Parks & Countryside, ESBC, Midland Grain Warehouse, Derby Street, Burton, DE14 2JJ.

Park Ranger’s Spring Report

As this is the first article of the year I would like to take the opportunity to wish every one a Happy New Year. 2006 is set to be a busy year for Brook Hollows with more improvements, but I shall start by bringing you up to speed on events from the end of 2005.

Volunteers

A big thank you and well done to all the volunteers who took part in the work party in October. A lot of valuable work was completed, including removing ivy from the mature trees, and widening the paths surrounding the waterfall and weirs. If you would like to volunteer to carry out works at Brook Hollows please ring 01283 508773 - everyone is welcome.

Weir Repairs

As many of you may know the overflow weir was under cutting the structure badly, and was in need of repair. These repairs have now been completed and a new footbridge has been added with access ramps.

Trees

The final stage of felling works has now been completed. Once again, the reason for the works was due to Sooty Bark Disease affecting the Sycamore trees. On the bright side however we have now removed the majority of the non-native sycamore and opened up the ground flora to the light. This increased space and light for new trees and ground flora. 

Looking forward into 2006

Waterfall Repairs

Visitors will have noticed that the long awaited repairs to the wing walls of the waterfall have started. Due to the nature of the repairs some new stone is required, but it will soon weather to match the existing block work.

Woodland Replanting

The completion of felling works within the woodland now provides a fantastic opportunity to replant the woodland. To start this ongoing project fifteen new trees will be planted towards the end of February, with more to be planted in the winter. These trees will be a mixture of native trees and include trees not previously planted, but which are found in the county. If you would like more information, please contact myself using the number below. 

Staff Changes

David Truslove the Area Officer for Rolleston has sadly now left ESBC for pastures new. As a result questions regarding Open Spaces in Rolleston should temporarily be directed to Bethan Sides on 01283 508724, or to myself. 

Roger Leverett
ESBC Park Ranger
01283 508733
roger.leverett@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk

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Last updated: 24 June 2006