ROE GREEN WALLED GARDEN

 

Housing Development comes to garden, don‘t panic!!

 

Our winter project this year was devised by Kim. It was a ‘building development’ especially for insects, frogs, toads, newts plus a specifically designed basement for Stag Beetles. Kim had seen a photograph of this construction, which was basically a high rise block, with each floor made of a wooden pallet.  We had to follow the design on the photograph.

 

The spot was chosen, which was a lovely setting beneath a cherry tree and amidst a rhubarb patch.

 

As Kim directed operations, each pallet was erected and filled with stones, pots, sticks, hollow tubes, tiles, straw etc. The project created a buzz amongst the group members and soon others were adding materials of their own choosing. Everything was added in a constructive manner such as to create an object of art. The finished development was indeed a work of art and a brilliant place for wildlife to inhabit.

 

The development named ‘Wildlife Rise’ has caused quite a stir amongst visitors to the garden. We are planning an official opening of the ‘building’ by the Mayor of Brent on our Open Day.                                                                                                                     Rose Bennett

 

 

Roe Green Walled Garden is featured on Australian TV

 

At our Garden we welcome visitors from all over the world, and our visitors make many kind comments about us. Recently we had a visitor from Perth, Australia, who went away with happy memories of his visit. He was therefore very surprised to switch on his TV back home and to see a film featuring our Garden. He was bowled over to have this second viewing of his happy visit.                                                                                                       Kim

 

Children’s activity in the Garden

At the end of March we held a children’s activity morning at the Walled Garden. After some fun games the children were shown the different types of birds in the garden and their habitats. There were also tadpoles, frogs and newts to be seen. We intend to run these children’s activity days on a regular basis. The next one is scheduled for Saturday 26 April between 10.30am and 12 noon

                                               

 

CREATING A HABITAT FOR STAG BEETLES IN FRYENT COUNTRY PARK

 

The Stag Beetle is a globally threatened species, protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Creating a potential habitat for Stag Beetles has been one of the projects undertaken by our Group during the winter.  Though we do not have any records for Stag Beetles at Fryent Country Park, they do occur at other locations in London, for example near to Ealing Common.  As the larvae of Stag Beetles take several years to grow to adults, they need undisturbed dead wood habitats. To encourage Stag Beetles to take up residence locally, the Group created a habitat pile in a new hedgebank created in Short Down.  This involved excavating the hedgebank and filling it with dead wood, so that about a third of the dead wood was above ground and the remainder was buried in the hedgebank.  For this purpose use was made of thick stems of Blackthorn, and some Ash and Willow that had been cut as part of the coppicing at Little Cowlays field. Then soil was placed around the wood.

This habitat adds to one created in a hedge in Warrens field, completed a few years ago. Also, a habitat for Stage Beetles has been created in the ‘Wildlife Rise’ at Roe Green Walled Garden.

 

This is a long drawn out project as it takes four to six years for the stag beetle larvae to hatch.

 

                                                                                                                                    Leslie

 

 

Brent Schools without Walls

 

Brent primary school children will be encouraged to learn about and enjoy the natural world in the 250 acres of Fryent Country Park by a new organization launched in February.

 

Brent Schools Without Walls has been set up by Martin Francis, ex head teacher of Park Lane Primary School, Wembley,. Through free guided nature walks, children will be learn about habitats, the life cycle of plants, food chains and other elements of the science curriculum, as well as enjoy the freedom of the countryside. There will be also be a chance to take part in sensory Earth Walks and play parachute games.

 

More information can be found on  www.brentschoolwithoutwalls.btik.com 

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We are open at the garden Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 2pm. Sundays we are out in Fryent Country Park carrying out conservation project work. Please see the web site below for the programme of projects at Fryent Country Park or telephone the garden. Feel free to join us in our conservation projects at Fryent Country Park.

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

 

Spring Open Day – Saturday 12 April - 11am to 4 pm 

BHGC Annual General Meeting –  Saturday 31 May 2008 at 10.30am

Summer Open Day – Saturday  7 June 2008 11 am to 4 pm  

 

Contact numbers:          Garden 020-8206-0492 (answerphone if nobody there)

                                    Chairman 0208-206-0589

Also at our website: www.bhcg.ik.com

 

and at www.brent.gov.uk/parks (for the Biodiversity Action Plan)