Winter Maintenance 2011-12

Winter Maintenance Walk If you would like to get involved or find out more about how The Common is managed, you can join one of the regular monthly walks which take place on the first Tuesday of every month.

The free walks start from the Hawthorns Centre at 2.00 pm. The walks often leave the tarmac paths so please let us know of any mobility problems before the walk starts. Sturdy footwear is recommended as is dressing for the weather. The walks are not suitable for children under the age of 12.

Contact the Hawthorns Centre for further information.

Winter Maintenance Programme 2011-12

Winter Maintenance Student Volunteers There is a planned programme of works to The Common which can be seen below. You could volunteer for conservation tasks. We run practical conservation tasks at various sites around the city, including Southampton Common. If you would like to get involved in helping to maintain our wildlife areas please contact the Hawthorns Centre.

	Area	Description of Proposed Works (these are in addition to routine daily and seasonal work plus any required emergency action)	By Whom?
1	North and west of The Hawthorns	Continue the removal of self sown trees and re-growth to maintain the ancient woodland and the corridor of heath/scrub between The Hawthorns and the Old Cemetery.	Staff and volunteers
2	Near Cemetery gate	Lift sleeper bridge and rebuild, use opportunity to dig out a channel in centre of ditch to take stream during low flow times. Repair concrete dam to hold back water and encourage it to soak into water table and help prevent drying out.	Staff
3	South corner of 'flats'	Continued removal of woody growth from heath scrub area, including treatment of scarlet oak stumps to prevent re-growth.	Staff
4	North west corner of Cemetery lake	Removal of burnt gorse and woody regrowth from heath area including treatment of scarlet oaks stumps to prevent re-growth. Removal of dead tree and holly in corner to make the area feel less enclosed and discourage fires/parties.	Staff
5	Cemetery lake banks	Thin some of planting to rejuvenate cover, create view points and remove obstructions to swan flight paths.	Staff
6	Heath (north ornamental lake)	Continue removal of encroaching trees/saplings to improve vista from red paths across to lake. Treatment of stumps to prevent re-growth in established heath areas	Staff and SUCV
7	North end of 'orchid area'	Further lifting of canopy/removal of clumps to discourage current partying in this secluded corner (causing litter and damage to orchids by fires).	Staff
8	'Orchid area'	Continue removal of encroaching trees along edge of meadow, particularly sallow/willows, to protect flora of “orchid meadow”. Treat stumps in central area to prevent re-growth.	Staff and volunteers
9	'Bee orchid' meadow	Continue removal of encroaching young trees and saplings and crown lifting of mature trees to improve sight-line and let sun into the ride to help dry it out and re-establish grassy path along ride. Also to remove shade from orchid meadow.	Staff
10	Edges of underpass	Thinning young trees and removal of Turkey oaks etc. along banks of underpass (west side) to allow ground vegetation to re-establish, reduce leaf drop, make the entrance less oppressive and help reduce the flooding in the underpass. Continue to remove young saplings from areas already cleared.	Contractors (in association with Highways) and volunteers
11	Highfield	Remove trees to encourage areas of scrub and gorse as mitigation for 13 below. Push back encroaching material from edge of meadow/heath and clear detrimental growth from around older hawthorns.	Staff and volunteers
12	'Lovers walk'	Thinning of canopy to encourage vegetation along edges of path to thicken up to discourage lurking areas.	Staff and volunteers
13	Highfield Road	Removal of hedge and some saplings/holly/bramble behind to expose bank, give view of Tauntons building and re-create parkland character.	Highfield RA contractor and volunteers
		Other works planned if resources can be identified include the following:
	Meadow edges	Lifting of low branches on mowing regime.	Staff
	Highfield Road	Reinstate turf bank at north east corner of The Common.	Staff
	Hill Lane	Turf bank repair.	Staff
	Highfield bus stop Winn/ Westwood Road	Gravel path reinstatement.	Staff
	Where needed	Tarmac path pothole repair.	Staff
	Avenue, Highfield Road/ Avenue etc.	Edging up and cutting back.	Staff
	Cemetery lake	Fence repair.	Staff
	Various	Seat replacement/repair.	Staff

Note: should resources allow additional works may be carried out on areas detailed in previous winter programmes to progress the aims of the management plan plus items from agreed Highfield action plan (as at Hawthorns if you wish to receive a copy).