ust before Christmas
three new hedges were planted in the village, at the cemetery, the BMX bike track on the community field and along the tree lined boundary of the Butts playground.
It is hoped that they will grow into beautiful landscape features which will have many functions including screening and dividing spaces to create different atmospheres and ‘senses of place’ in adjacent areas, for instance helping to foster a more serene and secluded cemetery against its boundary with the Village College. The hedge at the bike track will provide a screen and buffer cyclists away from the proposed nature area on its other side. Control of soil erosion and a greater sense of safety and enclosure will hopefully result from the Butts hedgerow. All of the hedges will create wildlife corridors and beneficial amenity value which will please anyone walking in the vicinity.
The 115 linear metres of Hawthorn at the cemetery was funded by the Parish Council who have worked hard to remove the former conifer screen and replace with this more appropriate option.
The BMX track had 35 linear metres of Hawthorn hedging funded by Forward Gamlingay! who are keenly working on several projects to improve and extend village facilities and amenity for everyone to enjoy.
The Butts Hedgerow is of mixed species comprising Hawthorn, Hazel, Blackthorn, Field Maple and Dogwood which will provide lovely seasonal variation. It was funded using the last of the Target Group’s financial reserves, rounding off the main improvements to the playground. Also by money from the Parish Council, generous support from Forward Gamlingay! and a kind personal donation from Mick Giles.
Thanks Bridget, Sarah, and Pauline for your support.
Stuart Black of RDT Woodlands Ltd based in the village must also be thanked enormously for enabling this work to be carried out. Particularly so for the BMX track hedge and the Butts hedge where plants and associated sundries were delivered to site at low cost and then planted by his team free of charge! Thanks also to Fay Boissieux for helping
It was very disappointing to hear reports of damage to the Butts hedge and particularly the BMX hedge just after Christmas.
With more goodwill, repairs were complete by early February (thanks Jackie and Amy) but as I returned to the BMX track today to take a photo for this article…MORE DAMAGE!!
We have reports from eyewitnesses of younger children hanging around unsupervised and ruining this hard work.
Please, if you know of anyone who might be involved, do us all a favour and have a word with them, thanks.