If You Go Down To The (MG) Woods Today!

For regular visitors to the Millennium Green you will have noticed a hive of activity. The trees have had a much needed thinning to allow them to fill out and flourish. This also lets in more light so we have taken the opportunity to increase the biodiversity and plant some wild flowers. The trees along the river Smite have also been thinned to allow more light in to the river and improve the water quality. Again with the main objective of increasing the population of clean-living water critters. This in turn should benefit the larger river dwellers and also maybe allow the re-introduction of trout into the area. 60 hedge saplings have been planted along the boundary of Smite Lane to help thicken out the existing hedge and also introduce more diversity. The brambles have been reduced in the old pond area as they were encroaching on the green at a rate of 3-4 feet a year. We have left a good sized clump as it is home to nesting birds, cover for mammals and also a wonderful place to spot butterflies who feed on the nectar rich bramble flowers. The eco loo has taken shape over the past few months and is hoped to be finished in time for the summer picnic. This work couldn’t have been done without the help and support of the local and wider community – Rushcliffe Borough Council awarded a Biodiversity Grant for some of the thinning and wild flower plants; Orston Parish Council, through Rushcliffe Borough Council, have supplied wild flower seeds; Nottingham County Council awarded us the Local Improvement Grant; The Woodland Trust supplied the saplings; Thank you to the Orston residents – old and new, and of all ages, who have donated their time, money and weekends; Thank you to the Grafters who have worked tirelessly to make some of the larger projects happen; and lastly a big thank you to my fellow Trustees who work so hard to bring all this together. I am proud to be part of the changes that are happening and the legacy this will leave for future residents and the wildlife that shares our village.