Tree Pirates - Woodbridge Meadows – Guildford
Keith Parkins | 16.07.2009 11:56 | Free Spaces
Destruction of mature trees allegedly to create a meadow alongside the River Wey in Guildford has at least led to some interesting tree sculptures.
Tree Pirates
train sculpture
'We are lucky enough to have a Council which is dedicated to to improving the local environment (eg Woodbridge Meadows).' -- Transition Town Guildford
Woodbridge Meadows is a strip of land alongside the River Way in Guildford, downstream from the town centre. From the name, once upon a time meadows.
In 1607, the strip of land was known as Lees meadow. It was connected to surrounding farmland and was on the edge of the Forest of Windsor established by Henry II in 1154. It remained a royal park until the 1620s. Now it is an isolated strip of land, across the road ugly industrial units.
Last spring a number of mature trees were cut down. It was claimed to restore the meadow to its former glory. One year on, there is little but invasive weed species, which have moved in to colonise the disturbed land.
If the intention was to create a meadow, then it has to be managed. It either has to be grazed by animals or the grass mowed in the summer.
There was actually no need to cut down the trees to attempt to create a meadow, as upstream from the town centre there is extensive meadows.
At the Ambient Green Picnic I picked up a leaflet for Guildford Transition Town in which they praise the environmental credentials of Guildford Council, and in particular cite Woodbridge Meadows! To be fair to the local council, their environmental track record is far better than the neighboring Rotten Borough of Rushmoor (as it is known by those who live there), which is poised to approve a plan to double the number of flights at Farnborough Airport.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/06/432938.html
http://www.transitionguildford.co.uk
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/410292.html?c=on
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/07/434470.html
The only good that has come out of the destruction of the mature tress is the amazing tree sculptures by the Tree Pirates.
http://www.ad-treepirate.co.uk
http://bit.ly/i0R6T
Along the top of the height barrier to the small car park by the railway bridge, is an interesting piece of public art by local artist Richard Farrington of a steam train crossing the railway bridge.
http://www.richardfarrington.com
Woodbridge Meadows is a strip of land alongside the River Way in Guildford, downstream from the town centre. From the name, once upon a time meadows.
In 1607, the strip of land was known as Lees meadow. It was connected to surrounding farmland and was on the edge of the Forest of Windsor established by Henry II in 1154. It remained a royal park until the 1620s. Now it is an isolated strip of land, across the road ugly industrial units.
Last spring a number of mature trees were cut down. It was claimed to restore the meadow to its former glory. One year on, there is little but invasive weed species, which have moved in to colonise the disturbed land.
If the intention was to create a meadow, then it has to be managed. It either has to be grazed by animals or the grass mowed in the summer.
There was actually no need to cut down the trees to attempt to create a meadow, as upstream from the town centre there is extensive meadows.
At the Ambient Green Picnic I picked up a leaflet for Guildford Transition Town in which they praise the environmental credentials of Guildford Council, and in particular cite Woodbridge Meadows! To be fair to the local council, their environmental track record is far better than the neighboring Rotten Borough of Rushmoor (as it is known by those who live there), which is poised to approve a plan to double the number of flights at Farnborough Airport.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/06/432938.html http://www.transitionguildford.co.uk http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/410292.html?c=on http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/07/434470.html The only good that has come out of the destruction of the mature tress is the amazing tree sculptures by the Tree Pirates.
http://www.ad-treepirate.co.uk http://bit.ly/i0R6T Along the top of the height barrier to the small car park by the railway bridge, is an interesting piece of public art by local artist Richard Farrington of a steam train crossing the railway bridge.
http://www.richardfarrington.com
Keith Parkins
Homepage:
http://www.heureka.clara.net/surrey-hants/gu-ford.htm
Comments
Hide the following comment
Misunderstood
10.09.2009 12:35
Also you do not mow a meadow in summer. The flowers you want will not have set seed until late summer/early autumn (Aug/Sept). It is after this that you mow, and collect the grass. Leaving the grass on the ground after mowing increases the nutrients and thus makes the grasses grow stronger and the flowers struggle to compete.
At Woodbridge Meadows you cannot graze as it is barely 30m wide between the River and a main road through an industrial estate with a towpath/cyclepath going right through it.
Finally, less than 20% of the original trees were removed, and most of those from under the power lines - where someone had thought it sensible to plant walnuts and poplars (20-25m top height). Natural England, the government quango that directs environmental improvements state that a meadow should have less than 15% in field trees and anyone familiar with the Wey Meadows in Guildford will note that most of the trees are on the edge of those fields.
So, perhaps it is best to understand countryside management, and the objectives of a project before one openly criticises it.
Sincerely,
Adam - the person who designed the new face of Woodbridge Meadows
Adam Owen