Hayle in Bloom
Transcription
Hayle in Bloom
HAYLE IN BLOOM Summer 2007 Contents 2 3 4 5 9 10 11 14 16 19 23 Contents and Welcome to Hayle King George V Memorial Walk Baskets, Planters and Window Boxes Town Enhancement Recycling and Green Waste Sustainability Essential Support Regeneration Conservation Paradise Park Communication / Media Welcome to Hayle Hayle is renowned for its industrial heritage as the town which supported the two great foundries of Harvey and the Cornish Copper Company. Hayle Estuary, once a busy port, is a haven for birds and is bordered by the golden sands of St Ives Bay and flower-rich sandhills of the Towans dune system. Inland are farms, fields, quiet lanes and peaceful church-town villages, interwoven with a rich history of mining for metals. Page 2 Hayle in Bloom 2007 King George V Memorial Walk A beautiful walk running parallel to the Estuary with sustainable planting of subtropical trees and shrubs. The bank of the Estuary has been naturalised with natural fauna and flora which attracts much wildlife. Memorial Walk has recently had installed new lighting-traditional style lantern lampposts and strings of coloured lights. A special scented garden has been planted and the 3 ponds have been cleaned and re-stocked. Another renovation project has been the construction of a greenhouse where cuttings and plants are propagated and used in the gardens. Page 3 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Baskets, Planters, & Window Boxes Proprietors are encouraged to present their premises in a floral, friendly and inviting way to visitors. Businesses can also demonstrate their support for the In Bloom campaign by buying hanging baskets and window boxes for display outside their premises from Penwith Council. Hanging Baskets Townsfolk are encouraged to decorate their windows in a floral way. Many participate and take full advantage of the hanging baskets and window box scheme run by Penwith Council where residents and businesses can purchase baskets and window boxes. The hanging baskets use a self-watering system which contains a reservoir in the base, which reduces the need for watering and also the use of sphagnum moss. This lady grows and looks after all her baskets herself. Page 4 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Town Enhancement Much has been done in the last year or so to improve the neglected areas around the town. Thousands of spring bulbs have been donated by a large national bulb company and B&Q Volunteers from the Hayle in Bloom Committee have turned out in all weathers to plant the bulbs which give a wonderful vibrant splash of colour to dull days in late Winter. 2005 saw the introduction to the town of over 40 planters along the main street outside shops and offices. The proprietors water and maintain these flowers and they give an interesting splash of colour along the pavements. Page 5 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Page 6 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Gardens in Hayle St Mary's Gardens, a private residential housing estate is a special area worthy of a visit. The residents take great pride in their gardens and almost everyone puts in an outstanding effort in their gardens. This makes it a very attractive place to live and brings the community together to talk about their gardens and exchange gardening tips. Page 7 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Recycling & Green Waste In 2003 Penwith Council introduced household recycling where glass, paper, cans, textiles, were collected from the kerbside in a free recycled plastic 55-litre box with a lid. Plastics, textiles and books can be taken to the Recycling Centres situated around the town. In 2006/2007 the Council's recycling rate was 17.3%. The government target was 10%. Penwith Council is one of the few councils that recycles beach cleaning waste. This figure was achieved by a combination of Recycling Banks throughout the district, including mini recycling centres in predominantly rural areas, supermarket points and voluntary group collections alongside a multi-material kerbside recycling scheme and the green waste kerbside collection scheme. Both these schemes were introduced and funded wholly by Penwith Council. Over the last 3 years over 90% of Green Waste produced throughout the district has been recycled. Leaves collected from the roads during the Autumn are taken to the Recycling Farm at Splattenridden. The Council last year were reimbursed over £23,000 which was put towards the purchase of a new street cleansing vehicle. Splattenridden Farm was granted £160,000 from 'European Objective One' to purchase equipment for converting green and wood waste into a quality compost to fertilise farm land. The project provides substantial local environmental benefits by reducing the amount of green and wood waste entering Cornish landfill sites by more than 15,000 tonnes in the next 4 years. Green waste recycling has been boosted by the work of a giant shredding machine that munches its way through garden and woodland cuttings to produce useful compost. Kerb-side collections of green waste are taken to Downs Farm, where the waste is loaded into the high capacity shredder. The compost that emerges is formed into open rows which are turned regularly as part of the process. Downs Farm recently received full accreditation from the Composting Association and it is hoped that the compost can be packaged and sold locally. This scheme is contributing to Penwith Council achieving its recycling targets and also benefits the environment. Golden Success for Being Green The Recycling Service was recently awarded the Green Apple Award for its achievements in recycling/waste awareness initiatives over the past year. The Green Apple Award was presented to Mike Toms, the Council's Recycling and Refuse Manager and Karen Clowes its Sustainability Officer, at the House of Commons by the Green Organisation and Chartered Institute of Waste Management. Page 8 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Sustainability Sustainability in Parks and Open Spaces Penwith District Council's Parks and Open Spaces Service recognises its responsibility to act as community leader with respect to sustainability, in line with the Council's commitment to Local Agenda 21. Seedlings - Nursery Environmentally friendly woodchip is used as a mulch and this insulated the soil in winter, retards weed growth and retains moisture during hot spells. Many plants are propagated in the on site greenhouse and the more tender sub tropical plants are over-wintered to protect them from frosts and cold winds. Page 9 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Essential Support Underpinning the attractiveness of Hayle's open spaces is the support of Penwith District Council dedicated team of workers. Street Cleansing Much co-operation is given by the residents of Hayle who report problems and regular inspections ensure good cleanliness standards are maintained. The Street Cleansing team follow a programme of scheduled routes which are designed to keep the area free of litter and debris. The street cleansing team undertake the removal of weeds from streets which are removed mechanically by a street cleansing machine or manually with a hoe. Dog and Litter Awareness To raise awareness of the importance of a safe, clean, quality environment for all to enjoy, Penwith Council has a dog awareness campaign. A new Environmental Enforcement Partnership with various organisations was formed to spread the message of 'pick up or pay up' to people who indiscriminately drop litter in the area, or allow their dogs to foul public areas and leave it behind. The campaign is being sponsored by a local business, William Rogers Insurance and involves a partnership between the newly formed Dog Watch Scheme, The Civic Society, Penwith Council and Police Community Support Officers. The scheme aims to promote responsible waste disposal among dog owners and the public through education and enforcement. Abandoned Vehicles The Council joined forces with the DVLA and the Police, in an initiative to crack down on untaxed vehicles in the Penwith area. The partnership targets unlicensed and abandoned vehicles as part of the campaign to rid the area of abandoned vehicles. The Council aims to demonstrate what can be achieved in dealing with the ever increasing environmental problem caused by abandoned vehicles, and in doing so improve the quality of life for local people. Fly Tipping Although the Council runs a bulky waste collection service and provides a Recycling Centre nearby with skips at designated sites, fly tipping does sometimes occur. All fly tipping is recorded and collated monthly to submit to the Environmental Agency who have set up a national database recording system known as 'Flycapture'. It is the Council's aim to collect all fly tipping within 1 day of it being reported. Page 10 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Green Gym Green Gym was started by a group of local doctors who quickly recognised the benefits that working in the open air doing some kind of physical work together in a team soon gave people a sense of good feeling and benefited those with depression and other health problems. Adopt a Plot Scheme Hayle's stunning successes in the Britain in Bloom contests are every bit as much about the people who have made it all happen as they are about the lovely floral displays and sustainable planting schemes. The Hayle in Bloom group working in partnership with Penwith Council set up an Adopt a Plot scheme where volunteers take over a flower bed, planter or plot and regularly meet up with like-minded green fingered friends and look after the plot, weeding, hoeing and tidying up. Seeds, plants and tools are provided by the Council who undertake any grass cutting, hedge trimming and garden waste removal. Page 11 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Regeneration Projects Workers have moved on site at the start of a £4.1million improvement programme to restore and enhance historic Hayle, powerhouse of the industrial revolution. Initially work has begun on the second phase of the restoration of Harvey's Foundry. Over the next 4 years, the town will see 22 buildings improved and public areas enhanced as part of the programme, which has the capacity to create 170 jobs. Penwith District Council has developed a programme with its partners – English Lottery Fund, English Heritage, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council, Hayle Town Council and the EU Objective One Programme together with The Guiness Trust, the Harvey's Foundry Trust and the Hayle Area Forum. Left: Mayor of Hayle, Mrs Mayor of Hayle, Marjorie Roberts with Architect viewing the new Hayle regeneration plans The project will give an unrivalled opportunity to establish high quality design values for Hayle, for future investment, as well as preserving the town's unique historic character. Penwith District Council used funds from a Liveability Grant to transform the Copperhouse area of Hayle. The Hayle in Bloom group chose the vibrant blue and the raised beds feature copperwork by a local craftsman. Page 12 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Page 13 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Conservation The Millponds of Hayle Developed within some of the remaining structures of the internationally renowned Harvey's Foundry, founded in 1779, the Millponds of Hayle now provide a circular walk through time in a sheltered, wooded setting. The present day quietude is in sharp contract to its former life as a Hammer and Grist (corn) Mill and Ropeworks. Extensive work has been carried out by Penwith District Council to remove the weed which choked the pond and now the pools offer in-town shelter to a wide variety of wildlife all year round including some rare visitors as well as the resident ducks, swans, moorhens and a well fed heron. An ongoing ecological survey stated in 1986, has recorded over 250 plant species, including the nationally rare balm-leaved figwort, ivy broomrape and Italian arum lily. The Millponds provide a rich habitat for moths, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. Left: Clearing the weed at Millpond Page 14 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Woodland Walk With the aid of a Liveability Grant from the local Council, the Millpond Group was able to make further improvements. A wooden viewing platform complete with benches was built at the far end of the pond, just off the Woodland Walk, and on Millpond Avenue riverbank, a living Willow screen was planted. Page 15 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Wealth of Wildlife at the Millponds Today the pools still offer in-town shelter to a wide variety of wildlife all year round, including some rare visitors as well as the resident ducks, swans, moorhens and a well-fed heron! An ongoing ecological survey started in 1986, has recorded over 250 plant species, including the nationally rare balm-leaved figwort, ivy broomrape and Italian arum lily. Daffodils, Celandines, Primroses and Bluebells grow happily on the riverbank and woodland walk to give way to a variety of indigenous wild flowers later on in the summer months. Some 112 species of birds have been listed, ranging from the humble house sparrow to the rare vagrant yellow-browed and arctic warblers. Since the removal of the parrot weed the water quality improved and this in turn has attracted a variety of species to the site. Millpond is now a rich habitat for fish, ducks, swans and flora and fauna - moths, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies all happily live and thrive here. The mallard flock now exceeds 30, both juveniles and adults, and the moorhen flock is increasing steadily. A pair of swans breed regularly - five cygnets were hatched in 2002. The heron after visiting, has now “moved in”, and kingfishers have returned after an absence of three years. Little egrets and teal are regular visitors, joined occasionally by the rarer ringbilled glaucous and Icelandic gulls. Page 16 Hayle in Bloom 2007 The Hayle Town Trust was formed in 1985 with the aim of securing the protection, improvement and development of objects and projects of public interest for the town and people of Hayle. The Millpond Amenity Area is a community-driven development which has received support and funding from the local authority (including a Liveability Grant) government agencies and private individuals. Hayle is twinned with the French town of Pordic in Brittany and in May 2006 when the exchange visit took place, the guests had a guided tour of the Millponds. The remains of Harvey's five-story Grist (or corn) Mill now provide a sheltered walled backdrop to the attractive Millpond Gardens, with a children's play area. The old single story Hammermill has a new lease of life as the Hammermill Amphitheatre where Hayle Town Trust organises a series of Sunday evening concerts in June and July. It is also available for general public use. Much sweeter now are the sounds which emanate from the site where once several water-wheels powered the hammers for forging metal. The Millponds are open to the public throughout the year. Cyclists are not allowed so it is safe to walk for all ages. Dogs are allowed if on a lead. Page 17 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Protected Native Plant A survey by the Highways Agency's Biodiversity Department identified a rare, annual flowering plant endemic to England, predominantly found in coastal areas, and presently only found in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Western Ramping Fumitory was discovered at Loggans Moor Roundabout in Hayle. The species has undergone a decline in the last 60 years as a result of climate change, (drier, colder conditions) and therefore is currently classed as Nationally Scarce and is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and is a UKBAP Priority Species. Hayle Towans This beautiful coastline managed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Penwith District Council and Cornwall County Council as a nature reserve and has been declared officially as part of an English Nature Scheme known as Wildspace. Various groups including The Millennium Volunteers have worked tirelessly to clear overgrown vegetation and the area can now be managed and preserved for generations to come. At a recent visit with local school children, Community Liaison Officer, Sarah Byham highlighted the wide range of wildlife, whilst the children were encouraged to draw the flowers and butterflies. A ov : b e Cleaning up Hayle's Shoreline at Carnsew Pool. The local community are working together with the RSPB to conserve Hayle Estuary as one of the few remaining wild spaces left in Hayle and to protect its wonderful flora and fauna for everyone to enjoy. Hayle Waterside Walkway is a clear and accessible walkway along the bank of Copperhouse pool and the harbourside between Copperhouse and Foundry. It creates strong links to the surrounding countryside, community amenities, transport facilities and commercial and residential developments. It is identified as an important development within the Hayle Townscape Project. It will link the two ends of Hayle and would reflect the history and heritage of Hayle. Page 18 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Paradise Park is a park for all the family with beautifully landscaped gardens, picnic areas, and a fabulous collection of rare and endangered owls, birds of prey, otters, penguins, and a farm full of animals. Paradise Park was given a "Zoo Conservation Award for Excellence" in 1995 by the BBC Wildlife Magazine. We gained this award for our Parrot Buses. Our "Big Flight" won an award from The Federation of Zoos. The gardens have been completely redeveloped and transformed aiming for a subtropical atmosphere, and paying particular attention to the Victorian walled garden. The complete transformation has been achieved, with palm trees, bamboos, tree ferns and a host of exotic plants. Page 19 Hayle in Bloom 2007 Rose and Cabbage Show Hayle 2007 Page 20 Hayle in Bloom 2007