Following the recent loss of wildlife habitat on the edge of the River Witham, Grantham in Wyndham Park District Councillor Charmaine Morgan, Ward Councillor for St Vincent’s Ward, contacted both South Kesteven District Council senior officers and the Environment Agency.
She said: This was an act of eco vandalism by a Government Agency when at the same time we have David Attenborough in the BBCs ‘Wild Isles’ telling us how precious and how little remains of our wildlife habitat.
According to him we have lost 95% of our wildflower meadows in the past decades and only 1% of our ancient forests remain. In the recent Environment Committee meeting we were told how Lincolnshire has the lowest number of trees in the country.
St Vincents Ward alone has lost over 200 trees, despite opposition, as a result of the combined actions of SKDC planning & parks management, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency activity, vandalism and householders. In Harrowby Road a letter to allotment plot holders from SKDC advising them to ‘cut vegetation’ , when it should have said, ‘remove flytipping’ , resulted in the loss of established orchards and fruit trees.
Cllr Morgan said: i have a lifelong interest in our environment and have participated in research and work for Earthwath UK and British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. I am a life member of the Woodland Trust.
She recommended to the council, which held a review of its draft Tree Strategy and Climate Change Strategies in its final meeting of the team that SKDC seeks to:-
Identify all habitats including those in our town centres, often overlooked
Protect existing habitats
Plant replacement habitats
Recognise the importance not only of trees but lower level bushes, plants and scrub. They host thousands of mammals, insects and birds.
Protect orchards
Protect allotments
Work with agencies other than the Woodland Trust eg Friends of the Earth, RSPB, National Trust, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency etc in defining their strategy.
Educate all officers in planning and other departments regarding the importance of different habitats
Encourage every household with a garden to plant a tree supporting the county target of a new tree per person
Where trees are removed, especially in urban areas, ensuring they are replaced in the nearby vicinity.
Planting new trees is great but are no substitute for the wonderful contribution protecting mature trees has to our ecosystems and environment. The oldest oak in the UK is over 1000 years old.
During the meeting Cllrs Whittington and Nikki Manterfield thanked Cllr Morgan for her contribution and stated the recommendations would be taken forward.
Members were disappointed skdc has taken so long to produce either document.
In a seperate debate around the impact of Climate Change Cllr Morgan also challenged the wisdom of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust plans to increase services in Boston and Lincoln when both are predicted to be affected by flooding in the next 30 years if climate change is not tackled.
Thalictrum says
The comments on wildlife above need to be considered and acted upon by the Council. I belong to the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland and have been surveying the wild flowers of the town of Grantham recently. By wild flowers we recognise both “true” wild flowers and the flowers that have escaped from gardens and are establishing themselves in the “wild”.
During my surveys I have been suprised by the number of Bee Orchids growing within the town boundary. Bee Orchids are such beautiful plants and can take up to nine years to produce flowers. Unfortunately, so many of the rosettes now visible will not produce any flowers as the site in which they grow will be regularly mown. Close to Swingbridge Road and the road leading to the A1 there are at least 50 Bee Orchid rosettes which will be destroyed by mowing before they produce flowers. Bee Orchids can also be found on the edge of the drive through at KFC on the junction of Harlaxton Road and Springfield Road, on mown grassland off Coles Way and in the grounds of the Springfield Road business park on Caunt Road where rosettes can be found close to Grantham Registration Office, Totemic House.
Unfortunately, so many people regard wild plants which are taking advantage of the urban environment as “weeds” and call for the council to eliminate them. While surveying around the town I have been appalled at the amount of litter in our streets but so many people appear to accept it. There seems to be a lack of respect for the environment. Some of the businesses have little respect for it. My surveys took me onto Spittlegate Level and I came across hedgerows draped in plastic sheeting blown from the industrial park where it had not been securely stored. Snowdrops were attempting to flower among the litter. Plants like Wall Lettuce, Annual Wallrocket and Eastern Rocket, which have taken refuge in the town, get tidied away but the litter remains. Plants escaping from the countryside are attempting to colonise open spaces within urban areas. The attractive pink flowers of Field Madder can be found on grassy verges but are constantly under threat from the mowers.
It would be good to see a council adopting a much more enlightened approach to the “wild” flora of the town. My survey of an area from Buckminster Gardens to Kitty Briggs Lane produced a list of 112 species growing in the “wild”, (outside of gardens), on the 19th. March this year. A survey of Grantham Cemetery on Harrowby Road produced a list of 112 species on 22nd. February. A survey of Earlesfield produced a list of 107 species on 5th. March. Many of the species found will be threatened by unnecessary tidying! Some of the species, however, are a problem. The Butterfly-bush is very invasive and is causing structural damage to walls and buildings within the town. The invasive Pendulous Sedge is expanding its range along the River Witham. Ground Elder forms carpets that crowd out the weaker plants and is very difficult to eradicate. However, species such as the Bee Orchid should be given a chance to thrive in our urban environment. They bring beauty into the town. Once you have the flowers other wildlife such as butterflies and moths will eventually follow. The insects will be a food for birds. The environment will be enriched.