The park is taking on its spring colours with delightful crocuses and daffodils and the few warm days we have had brought many people out into the park. The dogwood seems peculiarly good this year.

Environmental health have reported that unlicensed emissions into the stagnant ditch under the footbridge have been dealt with, but I am not sure this is the case. I have seen recent traces of effluent and will raise the matter with them again. The situation was made worse by a dead trolley this  morning!

Joy and Margaret have spoken to Lee Hayward about the shrubs in the more formal rectangle above the swings area, which are in poor condition. Lee is to plant some new shrubs in spaces and is requesting a review of its management.

One space that I am sure will have attracted your attention is the north pond and the very bare ground around it. There has been little or no regrowth since the clearance last summer. Part of the reason for this is that the desilting works shifted all the topsoil from this area onto the steep banks leading down from the main path. So all that was left was clay, which is holding water and producing algal growth. The good news is that this unsightly situation may be temporary. There are signs now of some grasses and other wetland plants beginning to shoot. So soon it might be green again. I have wondered if this area would benefit from some wildflower seeds being sown?

Finally the new season of work on the orchard begins this week, If any new folk would like to join us, we tend to do 2 hours on a Saturday morning once a month through the season, and this year we are kicking off with some willow planting in a particularly damp area of the orchard. If you would like to join us we should be there from 10am this Saturday 14th.

Some of you may also have seen our new puppy Holly making her first rounds of the park and really enjoying herself!