Community project restores mini-nature reserve

The local community has come together to restore an area of

woodland to improve the wildlife habitat as well as open up access to a spinney

for people to enjoy a stroll with nature.

The residents’ group brought together people of all ages for

a weekend of energetic activity to create a mini-nature reserve in the heart of

Hitchin.

Residents spent a weekend removing hundreds of drink cans,

plastic and glass bottles, clearing dead trees and natural debris as well as

laying a figure-of-eight pathway with 100 barrows of woodchips.

Eight nesting boxes were put up and a skip was filled with

green waste and 20 black bin liners of rubbish. In support of the scheme, the

Council’s Highbury Ward Members gave a grant from their discretionary budget to

finance the improvements.

Nigel Brooks, who initiated the project, said: “A key aim

has been to bring the community together as well as involve Highbury Infants’

School, which is nearby, by participating together in a manageable project.

Thanks to everybody who took part, the spinney is now more accessible for an

enjoyable nature stroll using the ‘figure of eight’ woodchip pathways. On a

good day, you can see butterflies, many species of birds and other wildlife.

‘’We have received many favourable comments from visitors

and residents in the area who appreciate what has been achieved. We hope this

project will encourage other community groups to take an active part in looking

after their local environment’’.

The community group now intend to keep the area rubbish free

and maintain the natural habitat of the spinney. They may also take part in the

Woodland Trust Diamond Jubilee scheme to plant new trees across the country in

the spinney as well as help to carry out work in the grounds of Highbury

Infants School.

Vaughan Watson, Head of Leisure and Environmental Services

at NHDC, said: “We are very pleased to support community initiatives that help

the environment.”