Some scrub clearance works took place this morning at Abbey Ponds. A remote controlled machine was used to cut an invasive bramble species, and other areas of scrub.
The majority of the Abbey Ponds area is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and permission for any works within that area requires Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England. The Town Council applied for Scheduled Monument Consent a few years ago for scrub clearance work to take place. The conditions of the consent are quite detailed, and there is a limit the to the amount of scrub clearance that can take place. The works carried out today are within the Scheduled Monument Consent for scrub clearance. The machine cuts the scrub off at ground level and then reduces the vegetation removed to very small parts (similar size to mulch). The cleared area then gives space for grass to regenerate.
The works have been arranged by a couple of Abbey Ponds Working Group members at short notice, to keep in line with the imminent bird nesting season. The works have no cost implication to the Town Council.
Further works of this nature will be discussed by the Abbey Ponds Working group at the next meeting scheduled for Monday 20th April, at the Community Hall, 7.30pm. Members of the public are very welcome to attend, please come along.
