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News From Abney Hall Park

News from Abney Hall Park - the good, the bad and the ugly!

The Good

The Friends of Abney Hall Park and the Parks' Department have been working together to improve Abney for all visitors.
Earlier in the year, the Parks' Department replaced the fencing and the path damaged by the fallen tree in last year's storm.

In March, along with the Rotary Club, they planted 21 heritage apple and pear trees to create an orchard.
The hope is to add more heritage fruit trees soon.

On a snowy morning in April, hardy volunteers, with the help of two hardworking chaps from the parks' department, set about shoring up the Newlands Road end of the pond. The aim was to do away with the ‘mud bank' and create a finished edge that can later be planted up with reeds and rushes to provide a habitat for birds and wild life.
A new wetlands interpretation board was also put in place to inform park visitors about the special importance of the wetland areas in the park.
Future plans include repairing the bridge over the stream and improving the waterfall area.

The Bad and the Ugly.

On a less positive note, we have had some vandalism in the park recently. Gangs of youngsters have been drinking in the park, discarding litter and broken bottles and scrawling unpleasant graffiti on the picnic benches. The large bin was thrown into the pond and is proving difficult to remove. The fencing near the new interpretation board was ripped down and used as barbeque fuel. A dead moor hen had to be cut down from a tree overhanging the pond because its tongue was encased in fishing wire and its beak pierced by a fishing hook.
We are asking for your help. If you see vandalism or anti social behaviour in the park, please report it to SMBC or phone the Chair of the Friends Group on 0797 061 4925.

In the meantime, let's hope we can all continue to enjoy the natural beauty of this lovely space. If you have any ideas or comment, please do send them or come to the Friends AGM - date to be announced soon.

What do you think?

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Joined: 11 Jun 2008
Posts: 16

At 14:22 on 13th June 2008, Aislinn R commented:

What is wrong with youths today? What's the point of vandalism? Perhaps they should bring conscription in - that would sort some of them out.

Aisha

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