Park News

Spring in the Park by Jack Kent

Living in the Park ….. you may not know it but you are part of a fragile ecosystem. It provides a wonderful lung to the city of Nottingham and is a well maintained Estate by the residents and committees to enjoy for future generations.?
Nature as a whole is a an eco system – slugs are kept down be hedgehogs and insect pests in lawns are controlled by starlings . Bees contribute to the pollination of flowers and fruits and even pesky wasps benefit us early in the season by feeding on aphids and greenfly.
Whilst our Fox population is happy to pick up the discarded take-aways and food waste it is important our wheelie bins are lidded securely and the general public passing through The Park are discouraged for littering the public spaces.
Wildlife you may have spotted in your area include:-

• Foxes
• Squirrels 
• Sparrow hawks
• Kestrels
• Wrens
• Black birds
• Finches
• Sparrows
• Seed & insect birds including the Starlings who feast on insects.

Mature trees within The Park provide nesting places for jackdaws, starlings and blue tits – in essence your beautiful estate provides as much of a habitat for wildlife as Sherwood Forest!
Residents can have an impact on the conservation area they live in as well as the Park estates communal areas by providing bird boxes , water bowls, nut feeder s whether you have a balcony or large garden.
What NPEL’s Contractor’s will be doing:-
We will have already mulched up any leaves collected throughout the Autumn months and put them through a process so they are compost for use in communal beds and borders. This is happening in February and March.
Communal lawns will have been spiked and scarified to improve drainage and aeration as well as preventing moss. And will have benefitted from a top dressing.
The beds and borders will have had the rose bushes and shrubs pruned according to species and season ready for the arrival of the flowers.
What you could be doing:-
Spring to do list for your garden:-

1. Early spring pruning of your Clematis, Rose Bushes, Honeysuckles and a general tidy up is always a good idea….but leave your hydrangeas alone as the dead foliage protects any new buds from late frosts.
2. Beds and borders can be mulched with compost.
3. Clear out your gutters so they work efficiently during wet weather.
4. Power-hose your patios and driveways.
5. If you have a greenhouse start planning and sowing your fruit and veg.
6. To encourage more birds, provide nest boxes for blue tits and owls in order to protect them from the grey squirrels.

Wildlife friendly plants include:-

• Buddlia - to encourage butterflies
• Spyria – encourage insects
• Honeysuckle  - the bees’ favourite

Looking to the future
Last year many trees were planted by the ‘Green Committee and more is expected in the coming year to fill in spaces – these will be appropriate additions with well thought out garden designs which can be seen in the Garden Walkabout.
However it must be borne in mind that as a Conservation area The Park requires a cohesive strategy to ensure its’ continued success.

Jack Kent

 
Member of International Society of Arborists.
Qualified pest controller and fumigator.
50 years experience in natural history and environment protection to the benefit to The Park Estate and its’ residents.