Plans for Hamwell Leaze

This week I've had many phone calls re Hamwell Leaze and British Waterway plans for The Lawns - to clarify the situation I have written this open letter below describing what we have been doing and where we are going - it is by no means comprehensive but will hopefully update people .

I understand that some urgent tree surgery has just been done at Hamwell Leaze site and that the Parish as the main land owners are liaising with Stroud Valleys Project over any work that may take place at the site. As many will know SVP are trying to improve the walks in that area and biodiversity. We understand that this is at a very early stage and this initial project only has limited funding.

RBAG are supportive of SVP work to improve the Hamwell Leaze site and would be keen to work with all parties to find what will be best for all. I have already met with Ivi, their Project Worker and shared some of our thoughts and concerns.

I understand that some local residents are particularly concerned that improving access could lead to even greater problems with vandalism and anti-social behaviour plus concerns that any new work may not be properly maintained. It is clear those residents need to be involved in the discussions. SVP have noted on the phone to me that they recognise that at the moment there are problems with vandalism and clearly they do not want to add to them - indeed they hope any work will lessen the problems.

It is my personal view that Cainscross Parish, being the highest density housing in the whole of Stroud District and having the fewest Green spaces is right to be exploring how this public space can be used better for the benefit of all. It has considerable potential. The site has also previously been identified in a report as being the most suitable for putting in some form of reed bed system.

The meeting that RBAG held at Ebley Mill in March which was attended by all parties including the Parish (but not Severn Trent), looked at Hamwell Leaze and The Lawns in relation to the canal regeneration programme. British Waterways gave a presentation about their plans to de-silt the lake and put in reed beds there - however with the exception of British Waterways, all the people around the table including water experts Bob Bray, the EA and others recognised that it would be better for water quality to put the reed beds in at Hamwell Leaze instead. British Waterways appeared adamant that they were sticking with their plan but we extracted a promise that they would consider Hamwell Leaze.

I understand British Waterways are losing Jonathan Briggs, one of their key people - and also clearly have considerable work on their hands. As an aside I have considerable concerns that the Conservation Management section of their plans will now be delayed still further as Jonathan was going to write that. Can work really take place without those plans?

Anyway we have not had a response from BW until now re Hamwell Leaze. The good news is that Ed Moss, another of their staff, has come back to us and offered a date for a meeting with all parties to consider Hamwell Leaze on 5th or 6th July. This is an extremely positive move and we are delighted that they are still prepared to consider work there.

It is clearly one of the best sites to improve the water quality, reduce the dangers to health of raw sewage and improve biodiversity - and will we hope enhance the whole area. The de-silting of the Lawns and improvements there will still take place. However time is ticking on and we understood that all work was to be completed by the end of year!!

Other issues

One suggestion re Hamwell Leaze that has come from a number of quarters that I personally like is to develop a right of way from the fire station, under the viaduct and along the side of the brook until it intersects the existing foot path. As one person on the Parish Council noted: "This would open up the area a bit, allow better access, make it more accessible for foot traffic, helping prevent some of the tucked away / nobody can see / less attractive activities that occur."

They also went on to suggest, what I consider is an excellent idea: "That the willow copse should be partially cleared to allow the creation of a children’s (9 – 13 yr olds) adventure play space. " I am deeply concerned that too many children no longer have any experience of nature - traffic, stranger danger and other factors all play there part - here is an opportunity to rectify this a little - I also enclose a the bit of research that I came across yesterday below.

However I again want to make the point that we need to work with residents in that area on this - am sure no one disagrees!! Residents will clearly have ideas and thoughts about any suggestions and plans. The Police Architectural Liaison team are specialists in looking at how best to reduce crime when looking at designs of areas - it would be good to involve them at an early stage so that we can have a win-win situation where all parties are heard and have a say in the plans!

Having said all that, SVP do not have specific plans yet and are, I understand at the stage of consulting on a project that will probably take a couple of years.

RBAG is similarly looking at possibilities for the whole brook - we are at the stage of forming some draft ideas about ways forward in terms of the brook and what might be possible - this is in addition to the other projects we are already involved in like joint leaflets with Severn Trent, a University of Gloucester research proposal, a survey of the brook, supporting Severn Trent in getting their sewers up to scratch and more.

One very exciting development is a seminar that we hope to hold at Ebley Mill on 20th June possibly at 6.00pm where we have two representatives from the Bourne project coming. This is not confirmed yet and the notice is very short as the Project Officer is moving jobs and will not be able to come later. We are hoping the seminar will give us ideas about the best ways forward.

For those unfamiliar Bourne is one of the most exciting projects in the country to improve a stream. Read more at:
http://www.bournestreampartnership.org.uk

Meanwhile RBAG's next meeting is on 26th June at Chris and Heidi's at 7.00 for a walk down to Hamwell Leaze to look at site then 8.00 at their house for the usual monthly meeting.

Apols as I hadn't meant this to be so long! Please don't hesitate to contact if you want any clarification or information - looking forward to working with all the parties - all the best - Philip

Philip Booth, Secretary of the Ruscombe Brook Action Group,
Tel: 01453 755451
www.rbag.org.uk



'WILD' NATURE PLAY BEFORE AGE 11 FOSTERS ADULT ENVIRONMENTALISM

If you want your children to grow up to actively care about the environment, give them plenty of time to play in the *wild* before they're 11 years old, suggests a new Cornell University study.

*Although domesticated nature activities -- caring for plants and gardens -- also have a positive relationship to adult environment attitudes, their effects aren't as strong as participating in such wild nature activities as camping, playing in the woods, hiking, walking, fishing and hunting,* said environmental psychologist Nancy Wells, assistant professor of design and environmental analysis in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell.

*When children become truly engaged with the natural world at a young age, the experience is likely to stay with them in a powerful way -- shaping their subsequent environmental path,* she added. Interestingly, participating in scouts or other forms of environmental education programs had no effect on adult attitudes toward the environment.

*Participating in nature-related activities that are mandatory evidently do not have the same effects as free play in nature, which don't have demands or distractions posed by others and may be particularly critical in influencing long-term environmentalism,* Wells said.

Unlike previous studies that have looked at the effect of childhood experiences of adult environmentalists, this study looked at a broad representative sample of urban adults. By examining individuals* pathways to environmentalism, the study also took a *life course* perspective, that is, a view that looks at individual lives as sets of interwoven pathways or trajectories that together tell a story.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/03/060313183552.htm