Working in partnership with the BTCV’s Green Gym and Milton Keynes Council (MKC), TMAEG has successfully completed two important environmental projects. They demonstrate our capabilities in the field of practical conservation and there will be many more such projects to follow.
Over two mornings at the end of January, groups of volunteers drawn from Two Mile Ash and from across Milton Keynes worked on both the restoration of the Stone Hill pond and its environs and a strip of neglected planting alongside Ashbrook School. The work was led on both days by Monique van Assouw of the Green Gym, assisted by TMAEG committee members, while Phillip Snell of MKC advised the volunteers on the scope of the work.
Stone Hill pond
The works to the pond and its surroundings sought to restore this area as both a fine landscape feature and as a wildlife resource.
Some of our volunteers removed ash saplings and a mass of very thorny brambles to bring more daylight to an area that had become too shaded,
and others made a great job of clearing the sides of the ditch/stream that runs alongside the footpath.
A third group removed tree branches and the accumulated silt from the pond, thereby tackling the anaerobic conditions and ‘summer smell’ that had become associated with it. Donning thigh or chest waders and venturing into the middle of the pond to scoop out the silt was quite an experience for this team. but the task was safely achieved.
Through this project, this important Two Mile Ash landmark has been transformed – it now looks much better and it should be far healthier for wildlife. Indeed, mallards have already been sighted on the pond.
Ashbrook School land – report by TMAEG member Pat Gray
A sunny January morning and I was fortunate to be one of a team of volunteers from the TMAEG and the BTCV beginning a project in Two Mile Ash to clean out the pond and ditch as well as to restore an area of neglected planting alongside Ashbrook School. Monique, the project leader from BTCV, began with exercises to warm up our muscles before we started work and Chris, leader from TMAEG, welcomed the group.
As one of four volunteers for the Ashbrook School part of the project, I pruned low-growing cotoneasters, cut down ash trees which were too big to dig out, pulled out some of the weeds and generally cleared the area of unwanted growth.
A number of passers-by expressed their approval of our work and we were particularly delighted to receive the thanks of the Ashbrook teachers and children during playtime when they peered eagerly through and over the fence to see what was happening. “I hope you’re enjoying it” said one little girl and we replied with genuine enthusiasm that we were!
It was the first day of the project but working as part of a team meant that much was achieved during the morning and the entire area showed improvement.
The Volunteers – in their own words
As someone who is new to the area participating on Saturday enabled me to meet some new people and find out what was being done to enhance our local environment. It was also good to get out in the fresh air, do a bit of physical work, and bring a bit of life back into a rather neglected pond (Sally).
It was a great opportunity to meet others. The warm up exercises were very gentle but extremely beneficial as was the mid morning coffee and biscuits!. We worked hard and felt really good about the results and what we had achieved. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and we made a great improvement in our environment in TMA, which everyone can enjoy ! Thanks for organising it! (Lydia).
Enjoyed two working session, not only for the limited amount of physical work I could do but because of the people I met. New neighbours as well as old ones and people from outside the area. A very worthwhile few hours (Marion).
As you know, I came to the project almost by accident. The two sessions were really well organised. The work done was very worthwhile. The results are impressive and are of benefit to TMA. But best of all it was great fun (Dave).
Rich pickings? A quiz
See if you can identify the various ‘treasures’ retrieved from the pond and ditch.
Scroll down to the bottom of the news report for our answers.
Thank You!
TMAEG wishes to thank all those who took part in these two very successful schemes.
On each day we had a ‘full house’ of volunteers and we were delighted to see how much everyone appeared to enjoy the experience. But to make the schemes happen, we are indebted to BTCV’s Green Gym who provided the initial training and the splendid hand tools, and to the MK Council who resolved the initial drainage issue and gave useful advice throughout.
For more images of our adventure click here.
Answers to the ‘treasures’ quiz