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Thanks to the enemy

When the Luftwaffe scoured the capital for strategic bomb targets during WWII, they never would have guessed their efforts would eventually be invaluable to the Londoners they sought to disrupt.

But thanks to them BTCV’s Action for Croydon’s Environment team are regularly engaged in helping protect the Iron Age and Anglo Saxon archaeological site at Coulsdon their photographs identified.

Winning teamwork

autumn 2008

It’s official - Croydon’s green spaces are amongst the best in the country . . .

. . . and part of their success is down to regular practical support given by BTCV volunteers.

The Croydon team have been working very closely with the Borough Council to smarten up the presentation and management of Coombe Wood gardens. Now the site has been granted Green Flag status by the Civic Trust – identifying it as a park of excellence.

In addition, Croydon has been named ‘London in Bloom’ winner for 2008, and is now fighting for top spot nationally in the city category against Sheffield and Belfast.

Judges visiting Croydon in August were given a guided tour of the new on-site BTCV wildlife garden, to learn how BTCV volunteers and the council have been working together to enhance the public green spaces and get the conservation message across to a wider audience.

Burning success

Devilsden Woods, Happy Valley, proved a hot venue for volunteers in July, with a special three-day charcoal-making session.

An average of a dozen volunteers turned out each day to learn about - and try their hand at - this ancient skill, with a hardcore of 5 individuals sleeping out under the stars (or the luxury of canvas) to oversee the safe progress of the process.

Happy Valley is a regular site for the Croydon BTCV team who for 8 years have been coppicing here, harvesting bean poles and tomato and fencing stakes from the coupes during the winter and returning in the summer to create charcoal from the ‘logs’ remaining from the previous year’s harvest.

The process involves stacking seasoned logs into the kiln in circular patterns while building in air inlets and chimneys. The tightly-packed wood is then lit by adding hot ashes through a central vent and left to smoulder until all the liquids have been ‘baked’ out. Tended throughout to ensure the burning is not too fierce, the kiln is finally sealed to extinguish the fire and the residue left to cool completely before being bagged.

Designed to promote interest and awareness in woodlands and traditional skills, in line with the Capital Woodlands Project, the team generated around 180kg of charcoal from the session.

Volunteers help council dig for victory

summer 2008

BTCV volunteers are getting their hands dirty in a bid to help their local council bag a top award for a stunning woodland park in East Croydon.

And in doing so they have also created a miniature wildlife haven in the tiny garden right at the back of the local BTCV office.

Coombe Wood combines ornamental flower beds and a pond with an open woodland garden dotted with azaleas and rhododendron over 5.6 hectares.

It is a regular site for the BTCV team – resurfacing and edging paths, digging out unwanted saplings and undergrowth etc. But recently they have been working extra hard in preparation for judging by the Civic Trust’s Green Flag Award panel – who recognise and reward best practice for parks and green spaces across England and Wales.

Part of the work involved transformation of the Pond Cottage rough lawn into a haven for birds and insects and a showcase wildlife garden.

Volunteer Leka Paulpillai admitted what attracted her to join BTCV projects was the importance given to the normally ‘unimportant’ or overlooked aspects of work. “Everyone cares so much for the little things,” she said.

This attitude has equally impressed Croydon Council. “We have a really positive relationship with BTCV,” said Landscape Projects Officer Alison Plant, who has worked particularly closely with BTCV Volunteer Officer Cally Harmer progressing management plans for the site. “Their involvement is a significant part of our work towards gaining a Green Flag Award.”

Green Flag explained

Green Flag Awards are bestowed on an annual basis to public parks and green spaces achieving the highest environmental standards. The scheme is run by the Civic Trust across England and Wales and ‘winners’ of this best practice award must reapply and be judged annually to ensure standards are kept high. Each site is judged on its own merits and suitability to the community it serves.