Please click here
for
Badger up-date - October, 2000 and
follow the progress of the artificial sett being constructed.
Please click here
follow the progress of the artificial sett being constructed.
In February 2000, Elson Allotments were made
an affiliated member of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
(BTCV) and the Hampshire County Council Community Action Fund
awarded them a grant of £2000.00 to turn the above piece
of waste ground on the site into an area in which to attract all
forms of wild-life suited to the area. This piece of land is water-logged
most of the Winter and therefore is not suitable to let as plots
for growing vegetables and fruit. The money will be used in the
first instance to hire 'heavy equipment' to clear and level the
mound of earth in front of the trees, which will also be lopped
and pruned to keep them in a reasonable shape but still maintaining
the barrier as a wind-break. When this has been done Pat will
be advised as to the best way in which to proceed as to the planting
of trees and wild plants etc. At the beginning of March a grant
of £704 was made for this purpose.
I will keep you informed 
and update this page as the project progresses. See below:
Volunteers
were mustered for a group photograph to be printed with an article
in the Daily Echo, The News (Gosport edition) also printed an
article on the 7th March
On the 21st March Elson
was represented at a meeting held by the Gosport Environmental
Forum at Thorngate Halls. Information display boards were on view
showing all the various Conservation projects in the Gosport area
and discussion groups were held to find ways in which to educate
the public into being more conservation minded in their own every-day
lives. Details of the projects can be obtained from Gosport Leisure
Services. Tel: 02392 584242
Easter week-end
and work has started. 2 trees a Silver Birch and a Rowan have
been planted. The arduous task of digging and removing all the
debris is going to take some time but we have a good band of willing
helpers.
In May all plotholders were sent a notifcation
from the Council with reference to the relocation of Badgers to
Elson allotments. It has become necessary to relocate 6 Badgers
due to the building work being carried out at Priddys Hard. However,
due to the position of the allotments next to the playing fields
many plot holders feel it would not be a suitable and safe place
for the Badgers to be. Many debates and discussions are taking
place and there will be a meeting of Councillors on 5th June before
a decision is made.
RESULT It was decided at the
meeting NOT to relocate Badgers to Elson.
UP-DATE ON BADGERS
- October, 2000
On the 9th
October, 2000 an Extraordinary meeting of the Health and Leisure
Committee was held at Gosport Town Hall for the purpose to reconsider
the relocation of Badgers from Priddys Hard to Elson allotments.
The vote was 7 for and 7 against, the deciding vote being given
to the chairman. This decision is subject to a licence being granted
by English Nature. Many plotholders are not happy with the decision
due to the unsuitability of the site for the Badgers and feel
an alternative solution must be found. However, on the 19th October
work began to build the artificial sett in readiness. To follow the progress
please
click here
FEBRUARY 2001
Due to the appalling weather conditions of the past Winter and the construction of the Badger sett, the Conservation area is looking in a very sorry state indeed. However, this month the conifer trees on the boundary fence have been lopped by about 6 ft. The branches etc. are to be laid beneath the trees to encourage birds to nest etc.
MARCH.
On the 2nd March it was announced
in The News that a grant from the Whitbread Action Earth has been
made to purchase materials to build a small bog garden. This is
part of a campaign organised by the Community Volunteer Service
involving more than 500 groups across the UK.
JUNE
Some planting has been carried out but due to the very wet winter the conifer trees, although still standing have suffered and are dying off. Fencing with a gate for access has been erected. The ground is now very hard and dry and making it almost impossible to continue planting. Note - there are no badgers at Elson yet.
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SEPTEMBER 2001