Oakley Park, Fleet
2005 Newsletter
Cheese & Wine Evening (Annual review)
This year’s event was held at the Red Cross Hall in Clarence Rd. Although the turnout was disappointing at around 30 members there was plenty of food and drink available so nobody went home hungry or thirsty.
We were very pleased to welcome Councillor John Pearson as our guest speaker. John gave us an update on the long awaited improvements to the children’s play area and associated aspects. The members put forward numerous questions regarding the proposals, which were expertly dealt with by John.
Everyone found the evening very worthwhile and enjoyable. We look forward to seeing more of you there next year to celebrate the installation of the new playground facilities.
For those who have not joined us in the past, the evening is primarily a social event for you to enjoy the company of your fellow members. A small amount of time is given over to business to keep you informed of events and projects.
Play Area Improvements
The present state of affairs is that the Council has received tenders from the various suppliers of playground equipment. These have being considered by the council ( Rod Auty’s team) in conjunction with the 3 local councillors Sue Fisher, Denis Gotel and John Pearson.
A short list of 3 was drawn up for further consideration and at a meeting held on Thursday 20 January. The designs were discussed with Sarah Horton’s Playground Action group myself on behalf of Friends Of Oakley Park, together with Rod Auty, Sue Fisher and John Pearson. Certain modifications were suggested and it is hoped that work will commence around Easter time.
On the security front it is likely that infrared cameras with a range of around 50 metres will be used as these would avoid the necessity of lighting, which could annoy local residents.
Some of you may have noticed that the Tyre Swing has been removed. I am assured by Rod Auty that this is only a temporary measure, which was necessitated by the chain links becoming excessively worn.
Pollution
Many thanks to the member who telephoned to advise of pollution in the Oakley stream last September. Paul Barker our treasurer spoke to Thames water who responded very speedily and visited the site with Paul later that evening. Heavy overnight rain diluted the pollution and the environmental engineers who had investigated the site thought that the problem had been resolved. However the pollution recurred on Sunday afternoon and again Thames water were advised. They eventually tracked the source down to a private estate off Aldershot road and were able to eradicate problem.
Ron Ayton (Chairman)
South and South East in Bloom
(The Duncan Goodhew Best Public Park Awards)
As a lot of you are aware, the Friends of Oakley Park entered into the South and South East in Bloom back in the summer, the judging took place in September, I am pleased to be able to tell you that we were awarded a Bronze for all our hard work.
The judges thought we had a very strong community group, and that we were working hard to improve the park and woodland area by getting everyone involved in activities such as clean-up days, Easter Egg Hunts and the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. But most of all, the work to be applauded most is on the woodland and pond which Elliott our Ranger instigates.
The judges thought our chief weakness was lack of support from the Council, they said the park needs major work undertaken and signage at entrances to the park to reinforce our identity. A further need is for information about the community and Ranger work being undertaken at the pond and in the woodland area to be communicated to the public. We did show them the plans we had drawn up for the new play area and they were very impressed with that.
Their last comment was “with such a strong friends group, there should be reciprocal input from the District Council of funds to renew the infrastructure of the park”.
This excellent community group needs more backing from the local authority. I don’t think anyone would disagree with that.
Margaret Duggan (Secretary)
The Bridge Over The River Kwai Oakley Stream!
Due to popular demand, another volunteer day will be hosted on 19th February at Oakley Park. Rather than the normal conservation work we are opting for something a little different. Some railway sleepers have been purchased by The Friends of Oakley Park and will be used to build a new bridge within the park crossing the stream linking the changing rooms to the football pitches directly.
Please meet outside the changing rooms at approximately 10:30. Be sure to wear suitable clothing and sturdy footwear. Gloves and tools will be provided by the Rangers, as will tea, coffee and biscuits. The task is expected to finish by 14:00, although people can leave as and when they like with all help being gratefully received. If it is raining heavily the day will be cancelled and re-arranged for the summer time. We ask that all under 16-year olds be accompanied by an adult and request that no dogs are brought along.
If you need any further information please contact me on 01252 623443 or email countryside@hart.gov.uk
Nesting in Oakley Park Woods
This Valentines day, make sure you add a bird box to your shopping list of a dozen red roses, a box of chocolates and a bottle of champagne. This is because the British Trust of Ornithologists runs its National Nest Box week from the 14th – 21st February.
Providing artificial nesting sites, such as bird boxes, is very important. A shortage of mature trees, and ever increasing development pressures means that there are no longer enough nesting sites to go around, and so many bird numbers are now nationally declining. This is why as part of the nest box week, the Friends of Oakley Park and Hart Countryside Service will be placing 12 nest boxes in and around the woodland at Oakley Park.
The nest boxes come in all shapes and sizes, designed to attract a variety of bird species. You will be able to see boxes for treecreepers, as well as robin, wren, tit and blackbirds.
The boxes will be erected around the woodland just in time for when the birds start to pair off with mates, and look to build a nest for the next generation of Oakley Park songbirds.
If you would like to help your local bird populations in your own garden then boxes can be bought from local garden centres, pet shops or from the internet. When deciding on where to place your nest box, please consider the following guidelines. If possible, place the box between 1.5 – 5.5 metres above the ground, preferably in good cover such as behind climbing plants and ideally with the front facing in a north, through to southeast, direction. These will increase the chances not only of your nest box being used but also of the brood being successful.
It is very important that during the breeding months of March to October the birds are not disturbed so please try to avoid peeking in to see what is using your box. Lastly when the breeding season is over take down the bird box and scrape out any nesting material and rinse with hot water. This will prevent the spread of any diseases to future users and offer a nice clean home to next years nest builders.
If you require any further information on this please do not hesitate to contact me on 01252 623443 or email countryside@hart.gov.uk Alternatively you can look at www.rspb.org or www.bto.org
Rangers Report
Due to the support that I have received from The Friends of Oakley Park, my colleagues and members of the general public, I personally think the last twelve months have been great for Oakley Park’s woodland and in the forthcoming year the woodland will look brilliant.
Many tasks have been undertaken this conservation period as well as the continual site maintenance that involves litter picking, and the removal of hazardous trees from path and boundary edges.
Conservation tasks carried out have included a relic glade saved from being shaded out by invasive sycamores with the help of volunteers on 23rd October 2004. Three people turned up and helped my colleague and I remove a number of sycamore trees, thus opening up the area to the sunlight, to which I thank them all. This will allow the seeds in the ground to heat up and germinate, providing us with hopefully more flowering plants on the ground, providing more food, pollen and nectar sources for a wide variety of bees and butterflies.
As well as this a large area of invasive species from around the pond has been removed. This will allow the native ground flora to begin to grow again after being shaded out and poisoned by the cherry laurel and rhododendron that has colonised large areas of the woodland. It has opened up the woodland more which when linked to last years clearing makes a big difference to the look and feel of the woodland. Before March this year, I also hope to dredge another small section of the pond and aim to remove a clump or two of the reed mace that threatens to overrun the pond.
Coming up in the spring we can all look forward to the bulbs blooming that were planted by The Friends of Oakley Park. Last years wild flower plugs should also be stronger and more widespread than last year. Hopefully the bird boxes, which will be put up, will be used and so more birds will be seen and heard throughout the woods. The pond will begin to come to life after the winter, with frogs beginning to spawn and early dragonflies emerging. All in all, I can’t wait and I hope you can’t either,
Elliott Fairs
Assistant Countryside Ranger
01252 623443
countryside@hart.gov.uk
We have bought you a shrubbery!
In the last newsletter you were encouraged when in the park after mid September, to look to the corner bordering the Albany Road entrance to see the transformation.
If you looked too far you would see some fine imposing executive homes, but if looked less far you would be even more impressed by our fine new shrubbery.
You may recall the work was to be undertaken by a team of volunteers from Barclays Bank’s Risk Unit, based in Basingstoke. They worked very hard on the day, in fact, probably a lot harder than their team organiser had led them to believe they would need to. This was due to the poor state of the ground in this area, which needed many hours of clearing and digging over before planting could be considered.
A ‘wit’ commented when the team were back in the office, that their organiser’s next community event would be a new Burna railway or bridge over the river Kwai! That said, the team did feel a great sense of satisfaction, and given time they will forget, and speak to the event organiser again.
Finally during the autumn clean up, the Friends of Oakley Park added a low rustic fence to protect the shrubbery from dogs and footballs.
So when you next walk past this eighth wonder, stop and raise a Metaphorical glass (for anything more substantial would be an offence) to a fine job done.
Lawrence Christer
Treasurers Report
The books on 31st September, the end of our financial year, show £1505.48p, which is slightly up on this time last year. However this does not include the £1000 legacy left by Mrs Linda Richards of George Road, which was banked in October. Mrs Richards also previously provided a bench in memory of her son, and her contributions to the park continue to be appreciated.
As a result the Friends are quite solvent and able to consider any appropriate small projects. Currently these include the funding of a replacement footbridge to the changing rooms (in conjunction with with Hart Council) and provision of some bird boxes (in conjunction with Elliot, our Hart Countryside Ranger, and the 3rd Fleet Brownies).
Paul Barker