The wildflower area in Clifton churchyard

Please note the seasonal nature of wildflower areas - Clifton has a spring and summer area

 

Wildlife area in Cranfield Churchyard

The 'site' visit to the St Peter and St Paul churchyard last week to scope the possibility of a wildlife area was hugely enlightening and inspiring.   Judith Evans, Diocesan promoter of the Living Churchyard scheme, and Laura Downton from the Beds Wildlife Trust  came along on a gloriously sunny morning and took us through the possibilities.

There is, of course, some kind of folk myth around that this has been done before and it was disaster creating an unsightly jungle covering the entire churchyard. Well, I don't know about past experience but the aim, now,  is for a small distinct area which is left uncultivated for a set period - three months say - in the spring or summer to allow natural vegetation and flowers to take root offering sustenance to insects and wildlife. 

We showed Judith and Laura the area to the rear known historically and rather disturbingly as the 'plague pit'. If you think a wildlife area is going to be a monstrosity then this means you can hide it away. But Judith and Laura stressed that many churches which have wildlife areas make an eye catching feature of them. They gain the attention of  passers by who may not be church members or worshippers, and this could draw them in. In other words, it's outreach. We pointed out the lower school right opposite the church and Judith stressed how valuable schools find having a wildlife area nearby to enhance nature education. 

It doesn't have to be big. I paced out six yards and we envisaged that as a diameter of a circular area. This is not the state of Texas in territory. 

Judith has sent a helpful summary of what we covered and made clear that she would be happy to give a powerpoint presentation to the parish council the PCC or other groups about how the Living Churchyard scheme works. See below. All proposals are subject obviously to further discussion and ratification.



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The corner of the churchyard proposed by the Cranfield representatives consisted of mown grass with mainly lawn-type herbs. The area is triangular and surrounded on two sides by brambles, nettles and cow parsley.

o   The border of cow parsley, brambles and nettles is good for wildlife, particularly insects but the brambles also provide fruit for birds and nest sites.

o   The grassland herbs were daisy, dandelion, ragwort, self heal,  dock, ground ivy and buttercup

o   A small plant of burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifrage) was discovered just outside this area after the meeting had finished. Burnet saxifrage is an indicator species of old unimproved grassland

The south and east sides of the churchyard had good communities of black knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and hoary plantain (Plantago media) both of which are indicator species of neutral and calcareous unimproved grassland. Additionally creeping buttercup, daisy dandelion yarrow, ribwort plantain and ground ivy were present.

Proposals

1.         It was suggested by Laura and Judith that an area on the south side approximately 5 yards x 5 yards be left uncut from the beginning of June this year for a period of 8 - 12 weeks to allow the knapweed and plantain to flower. These plants plus the taller grass will attract a number of insects, especially the brown butterflies such as Meadow Brown. At the end of the period the grass should be cut and the arisings removed. Mowing would then resume as for the rest of the churchyard.  

Initially the area would need to be marked by canes or something similar, but once there is a differential in height of the grass the canes should be removed. A neat notice should be provided so that visitors understand that this is a conservation/wild flower area. Further information about the management and plants aids visitors

to understand why the area looks different and allays criticism. Laura would be able to produce a poster similar to the attached if you are going to proceed with the scheme.

2.    Seed could be collected from the knapweed and plantain and either sown in seed trays and plants grown on to plant out in the triangular area that was first proposed as a wild flower area, or small areas of soil could be scraped bare and the seeds sown directly. The sowing of the seeds and growing in trays is likely to be the more successful and could perhaps be undertaken by children at the school.

3.    The triangular area could be left uncut for 8 weeks to see what plants flower but at present it is not likely to be as attractive or beneficial as the area suggested on the south side.

Laura and I would be happy to return in a couple of months to survey and review the wild flower area(s).

On walking round the churchyard after the meeting we noticed that the mower had scalped the grass at each turn at the church end of the mowing run in front of the church. It would be better if the mowers took a little more care as patches like this are likely to attract thistles and nettles.

See www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk for ideas on children’s activities in the churchyard.

I am happy to give my Powerpoint presentation on the Living Churchyard scheme to the PCC, PC or any other group.

If it's not in your calendar it should be

Wildlife among the gravestones

The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust seems a  good cause to me given the potential threat to our fauna, not mention flora. 

You might have seen recent news about a dramatic decline in bees and the possible impact this could have on pollination. A representative of the BCN WT will be meeting with some parish councillors in the churchyard today to discuss identifying a small section that could be designated 'wildlife friendly'. There should also be a rep from the Bedfordshire Living Churchyard Scheme. Hopefully we will learn some of the practical benefits and not adopt this proposal just because it feels good.The Parish Council maintains the Churchyard in good order.

Cranfield Churchyard

The Churchyard and the village cemetery are, I think, the two most interesting and appealing pieces of open space in the village. They fuse human history found in the gravestone inscriptions with present day wildlife and vegetation. In the case of the cemetery, the view over the Vale is immense.

Cranfield Cemetery

Last week  the Trust and 24 other UK wildlife organisations published the "State of Nature" Report – the first of its kind in the country – revealing that 60% of species studied have declined over recent decades.

Read it at Wildlife Trust News

Duke of Burgundy butterfly

Cranfield in colour

Did you always think that we lived life in black and white in Cranfield? 

Maybe that was because all the piccies in Cranfield Express were in black and white reflecting our sad monochrome lives.

But no more. Issue 158, June 2013 brings you the village in glorious polychrome and puts a whole new perspective on things. It's out this weekend

WITH NEW ADDED STAPLES

Well done to editor and proprietor Pete Hinson for moving things along.

Footpath closure in Mill Road

I note repairs to the Mill Road footpath are now scheduled to start on 10 June according to a new yellow temporary sign. Same cautionary comments from my previous blog posting apply. In addition, if the process results in more people, for the time being, parking their car on the road it will be specially congested.

Back filling and parking

Since it is now open season for garden developers (approval of application for two houses in the back of 34 Mill Road)  perhaps we should now be looking at a traffic management scheme for Mill Road in addition to Flitt Leys. And NOT, repeat NOT, footpath parking - saw one resident struggling with her triple buggy over the weekend.

Mill Road parking is becoming quite a headache.

34 Mill Road application approved

The PC had objected to a planning application which involved 'backfilling' at 34 Mill Road. Unfortunately its objections have been overruled. The reasons why CBC has passed this application are stated below.

Planning Application CB/12/04398/FULL, for the erection of two three bedroom dwellings with associated garages at the back of 34 Mill Road, has been granted by Central Beds. with the following conditions:

1)      The work shall commence within three years of the date of the permission;

2)       A  scheme shall be submitted for written approval by Central Beds. setting out the details of the materials to be used for the external walls and roof to protect the visual amenities of the building and of the area generally;

3)     The garage accommodation on the site for Plot 1 shall not be used for any purpose other than as garage accommodation unless Central Beds. agrees in order to retain off-street parking provision and thereby minimise the potential  for on-street parking which could adversely affect the convenience of road users;

4)     Prior to the occupation of the flats (N.B. in the design statement it refers to the two dwellings as family homes) the approved car parking, landscaping scheme, the wall  on the northern boundary and other boundary treatment shall be completed to protect the amenities of the adjacent properties;

5)     Before the premises are occupied the proposed development shall be carried out and completed in all respects in accordance with the access siting and layout, surfacing of the vehicular areas, parking provision and turning area as illustrated in the approved drawings to ensure that the development of the site is completed insofar as its various parts are interrelated and dependent one upon another and to provide adequate and appropriate access arrangements at all times;

6)     Details of a refuse collection point located outside of the public highway shall be submitted  to and approved by Central Beds. prior to the occupation of any dwelling. The scheme shall be fully implemented prior to occupation of any dwelling and shall be retained thereafter in the interest of amenity and in order to minimise danger, obstruction and inconvenience to users of the highway and the premises;

7)     Development shall not commence until a scheme detailing provision for on site parking for construction workers and deliveries for the duration of the construction period has been submitted to and approved in writing by Centra l  Beds., and the scheme shall be implemented throughout the construction period, to ensure adequate off street parking during construction in the interests of road safety.

Cranfield Parish Council objected to this application for the following reasons (these are given with the responses of Central  Beds.):

1)     Overbearing to neighbouring properties, and properties in Lordsmead (An overbearing impact would be considered development that would dominate the adjacent properties; it is considered that with the spacing between these properties – the closest  relationship being some 13 metres- would not be considered dominating or overbearing);

2)     Access- the development site is opposite to the junction of Longbornes, the visibility along Mill Road is poor ( It has been advised that there are suitable relationships with this junction and adjacent roads, the access is already constructed, as it services the existing flats. It is considered that the movements for two additional dwellings would not cause such an intensification that it would  become unsuitable );

3)     Insufficient parking causing cars to be parked on Mill Road which is already congested, causing traffic to weave (Plot 1 has parking in accordance with the Central Beds. parking strategy; Plot 2 has an extra parking space in accordance with the Central Beds. parking strategy. It is considered  that the additional space is reasonable; the garages accord with the size standard prescribed);

4)     Overdevelopment of the site (the site is 800 sq, m. , the site would approximately equate to 25 dwellings per hectare, which is considered a reasonable density for a village setting . In addition to this the garden space equates to the standards (approximately 100sqm) for family sized dwellings are met, and the parking standards are also met. It is not considered that this overdevelopment).

Bank holiday sunshine

Trouble in Cranfield hopes everyone who stayed in Beds for the bank holiday had a great time in our blissful spring weather. Waking during the night I could hear the rain thundering on the conservatory roof and thought 'That's good'. It'll help the plants I put in yesterday. 

Then I remembered the gas BBQ had its first outing this year over the weekend and was still sitting out the back uncovered and no doubt very fed up. 

And of course England didn't enforce the follow on on Sunday and batted for ever yesterday raising New Zealand hopes that a washout will avoid a whitewash.

The sun shines on Bradman as he scores 103 for Australia at Leeds in 1938

The plants are great the BBQ is now covered and how the cricket will end is anyone's guess.

In case there's no play today here are some recorded highlights of Test Match Cricket at Leeds. In 1953. Enjoy

The Australians come to Headingley

Filling the vacuum

So, if we don't want Covanta or anyone else putting a mega-incinerator in Rookery Pit, what should go in there? In Marston they are trying to get this debate going and hoping that others will join in. Here's a message (below) from Stewart Long secretary of MMAG which has played a leading role in the anti-Covanta campaign. Check out MMAG at http://mmetag.wordpress.com/

Marston Vale Lakes - a Greener Option

In last week’s Times and Citizen, Nadine Dorries asks local people to suggest better uses for Rookery Pit and MMAG are happy to start the debate. There is a clear need to develop our green infrastructure in an area under constant development pressure. A tourism opportunity exists that builds on current and approved activity, including the Bedford-MK canal and Center Parcs. Link up, Brogborough Lake (wind surfing), Lidlington & Marston Lakes (angling), Millennium Country Park, including both Rookery Pits (wildlife lakes), Stewartby Lake (water-sports) and the country park and rowing lake at Willington.

Economic boost, good for small businesses, good for future generations. A little imagination and a focus that doesn’t condemn the Marston Vale to waste management is all that’s needed.

RBL says no to WWI centenary poppies

We were due to have a speaker at the PC meeting on 5 June from the local Royal British Legion to discuss their World War I centenary commemoration  next year. This involved sowing 10,000 poppy seeds in open space the village. 

We understand this project has now been cancelled by the RBL because, they say, gardeners are worried the poppy seeds will blow into their gardens.

As a result, representatives of the RBL will not be attending the meeting. I hope they will change their minds (about both the plan and discussing it with us) as I cannot believe the objections are that widespread.

Music evening in Cranfield

Enjoy a varied concert of beautiful music presented by  Manor House String Quartet 

 

ST PETER AND ST PAUL CHURCH
Court Road, Cranfield MK43 0DR

Saturday 8th June 2013 
from 7.30pm


Tickets £10:00
£5.00 students
Includes a glass of wine or soft drink
 
 

For tickets call: 
Andrew 01234 75 13 58 
Trevor 01234 75 13 21
Rev Hugh 01234 75 02 14 


 
 

Just clicking round

 Just clicking and found this, tweeted today by  Trevor Monk ‏@CardingtonSheds

Its an atmospheric and evocative image of Cardington airship sheds, a link between pre-ward Bedfordshire and the early aviation industry in the UK. 

 

CBC and Central Motors site

Following the Parish Council's letter to leader of CBC Cllr James Jamieson about the Central Motors Design Brief we have received the following answer. See below.

Cllr Jamieson is proposing that the executive lead for sustainable development (i.e.planning) Cllr Nigel Young meets with us to discuss the issues raised by the planning brief for Central Motors involving a school. That sounds like a sensible way forward though whether any remedy can come out of the meeting is anyone's guess. 

On that, Cllr Ken Matthews reported to the PC last week that talks were continuing with the developer at Flitt Leys /Central Motors to establish if there were alternative accesses. Again, I would not recommend the placing of any significant wagers.

And, finally, CBC is supposed to be working on a traffic management scheme NOW for the current parking nightmare that is Flitt Leys.   

Ready for a bracing bank holiday weekend?

No party in  the park this bank hol weekend so what to do in the neighbourhood? Go fly a kit or watch top kite experts do it  in Bedford's Russell Park on Saturday and Sunday. And on Monday the so-called Battle of the Bands.

Check out the deets on the Kite Festival link.

I don't think there's going to be any shortage of motive power.

And here's the weather for Saturday afternoon. 16 degrees isn't bad and no rain

Parish Council 5 June

Parish council agenda  for 5 June...please note speakers at 7 pm and 7.30 pm

I HEREBY GIVE YOU NOTICE that meetings of the under-mentioned Committees of the above named Parish Council will be held at Holywell School, Red Lion Close, Cranfield, MK43 0JA.

Wednesday 5^th June 2013 at 7.00pm

All members of the Committees are hereby summoned to attend for the purpose of considering and recommending upon the business to be transacted at the meetings as set out hereunder.

……….………………………….. Clerk of the Council

BUSINESS TO BE DONE

In attendance: 

To receive apologies for absence:  CB/PCllrs:

To receive declarations for Members in relation to: (a) Personal Interest or (b)   Prejudicial Interest in any Agenda item.

7.00pm:  Tom Ashley, Turnberry Planning Limited – 1 – 2 High Street

7.30pm:  Lynda Nash – RBL – Sowing of poppy seeds to commemorate the centenary of the Cranfield branch of the RBL

1.     General Purposes Committee

1.1.  To elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman

1.2.  Beds. Fire Service – supply of defibrillator  (suggestions for suitable sites)

1.3.  Notice Boards

1.4.  LATP – suggestions for schemes

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

2.     Environment Committee

2.1.  To elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman

2.2.  Cranfield British Legion – sowing of poppy seeds.

2.3.  Townsend Green

2.4.  Skate Park

2.5.  Woodland Trust – free trees

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

3.     Burial Grounds

3.1.  To elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman

3.2.  Wild flower area – churchyard

3.3.  Baby burial area

3.4.  War graves

3.5.  Consecration of cemetery extension

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

4.     Planning Committee

4.1.  To elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman

4.2.  General Planning Matters

4.3.  Cycleway

4.4.  Marston Vale Liaison arrangements

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

5.     Finance & Grants Committee

5.1.  To elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman

5.2.  S137 Grants

5.3.  Bank accounts

5.4.  Lone Worker Policy

5.5.  David Rawle – increase in hours  to accommodate topple testing

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

Gimme my money please

We are supposed to be getting an ATM at the Coop in Mill Road. Long overdue. Hopefully it will be voice operated.

Buzzard cull

Worrying news for Buzzards - being culled so that pheasants can be bred and then shot. Crazy and wrong as far as I am concerned. Read about it  plans to cull buzzards
Don't know what they make of it in Leighton Buzzard.

Colette Paul

I blogged recently on the quick turnover of Bedfordshire chief constable in modern times (compared to the 1800s).  Our likely new chief is Colette Paul (pictured), now Deputy Chief Constable of South Wales. Her appointment will be recommended to the police and crime panel when it meets next month and members will make the final decision. 

Ms Paul was selected by a panel including  Mr Martins, the former Chair of the Police Authority Peter Conniff and Carolyn Dhanraj from the College of Policing.  They were supported by former Chief Executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency Peter Neyroud