PAPER B

                                                                                                          Purpose : For Information

Committee :    GOLDEN HILL PARK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Date :              12 NOVEMBER 2002

Title :              REPORT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE SECTION ON MANAGEMENT WORK AT GOLDEN HILL PARK

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR, CORPORATE AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

The wet spring and early summer provided the impetus for a good botanical show at Golden Hill Park this summer. Dr. Colin Pope visited the site and was impressed by the luxurious display. The open grassland areas are very important and the management aims seek to balance the proportion of scrub growth to that of open grassland areas. Both contractors and volunteers have been active in the Park. The Countryside Rangers, Karl Dyson and Ellis Selway have been assisted by voluntary helpers.

A New Deal scheme entitled Environmental Task Force has been successful in providing chainsaw operators. This has been very useful in view of the amount of Dutch Elm Disease affected Elm trees which have been removed from the site. Clearing rubbish and fly tipped materials has been a regular feature of the maintenance work in addition to the abandoning of two burnt out cars. Both were reported and removed within days of being dumped but one demolished two picnic tables before being set alight on the remains. As long as the cars are reported quickly there are differing systems for disposal. The abandoned car in the Golden Hill Car Park took longer to remove but it was eventually disposed of through the Highways Section of the Council.

The continuing uncertainty about the final development of Golden Hill Fort and the For Sale notices do not bode well for the future. When this is combined with the slow development of the industrial sites the run down nature of the area is obvious. On the other hand, however, visitors to the Park are impressed by the countryside walks and views and it is very well used by local residents.

Thanks are due to all the volunteers and local residents who have given up time to assist with the management. A special mention should go to the Newport Lions who gave up a Saturday in June to erect a new concrete ended picnic table and flight of steps. Looking to the near future the Elm clearance and flail cutting will continue through the winter and will include some surfacing work for the bridleways.

Contact Point : R E Edney, Countryside Officer, F 823890

M J A FISHER

Strategic Director

Corporate and Environment Services