Many months of persistence and hard work were rewarded today when members of The Friends of Silverhall Park met with Head of Parks ,Andy Smith and Laings new ecologist Chris (sorry I didn’t catch his surname). Richard Tongue (Chairman) and Brintha Mahalingham (Treasurer) of The Friends were accompanied by a member of I.S.C.A.G. The umbrella which shelters a number of groups and which assisted in the setting up of the Friends of Silver hall as an independent body.
Under discussion was the wanton slaughter of young riverside birds by Laings contractors in the spring of 2012, the forthcoming tree work to be carried out by Raymond Bennett,Laings new Arbouriculturalist and his team, Management and maintenance of the riverside and the new play equipment soon to be erected in the park.
Both Chris and Andy were helpful and most important were willing to listen to the concerns of the Friends Group. The plan to begin work on the trees this week was suspended while a proper survey of the park as a whole has been carried out. It is hoped that this will prevent any further inroads in what is left of the shrubbery by the line cutters used by Laings.
There will be consultation as to what play equipment will be installed and feed back from local parents is welcome.
New trees will be planted to replace those felled and the possibility of planting suitable wild flowers was disused.
Laings spokesman informed the Chairman that Silverhall was to become the model for the future co-operation between Laings,Friends groups and the Local Authority in other parks and green spaces in the borough.
It is hoped that this new understanding between all parties will mark an end of several years of bad management and loss of habitat in this area. Well done all concerned.
No comments:
Post a Comment