Brackenhill Urban Landscape Area

Building a gate
We manage this space to maximise the wildlife potential of the site

Environment Agency staff volunteering at Brackenhill ULAEnvironment Agency staff volunteering at Brackenhill ULABEES have a mangement agreement with the Council's Countryside and Rights of Way team to manage Brackenhill Urban Landscape Area. It is the area adjacent to Brackenhill Park in Great Horton and is managed to maximise the wildlife potential of the site. Our key jobs in the past year have been to repair the drystone wall along Greenfield Lane, to uncover and repair footpaths and steps and to control the litter and Japanese Knotweed.

In the forthcoming year we plan to further repair sections of pathway and to improve the quality of the pond. The Environment Agency carried out a survey of the pond last year and found, despite first appearances, that there is sign of invertebrate life in the pond. We hope to improve the amount of oxygenating and marginal plants.

Brackenhill Pond Survey

Geolocation

53.782423, -1.787295

Conservation Work

Friday 6th Dec Brackenhill Urban Landscape Area, Westcroft Road, BD7

For our visit today we thinned trees from an area of path near the factory, these were mainly blackthorn and dog rose so there was a lot of untangling to be done. These were cut to make habitat piles. While this was in progress other maintenance tasks were carried out; some of the missing rails on the Old Corn Lane boundary were replaced and litter collected. Once this was carried out we worked on the Green Lane path; cutting back vegetation, replacing the coping stones on the wall and clearing the litter. Working to maintain the paths will make access around the site easier for the visitors and removing the litter gives wildlife a chance.

Although there was the thinnest layer of ice on the pond it still felt mild for the time of year.

Today we worked with 9 volunteers.

Click here to see other photos of the day.

Fri 30th Jan 09 Brackenhill Urban Landscape Area, Westcroft Road, Great Horton, Bradford

pleacherspleachersWe continued the stretch of hedge that creates the boundary between Brackenhill Urban Landscape Area and Old Corn Mill Lane. It was cold and wet and most volunteers seemed to previous engagements as there were only two volunteers, four of us in total, working on the hedge. Although on a bit of a slope we feel it is ideal that we can practice this traditional skill on one of our local sites. We will continue with the rest of the hedge next year.

Friday 29th January 2010: Brackenhill Urban Landscape Area, Westcroft Road, Great Horton, Bradford, BD7.

making a pleachermaking a pleacherToday we were clearing litter and hedge laying. We split into two groups and one group went off to inspect the site and find the litter hot spots. The hedge layers first cleared out the hedge line removing, litter, brambles and lower branches. Pleachers were then made which allowed the the tree to be bent over. By using a stake the trees are made to form an effective and living barrier. The cut trees will regrow from the cut stump and provide a habitat which has been severely reduced over recent decades. The other group found more than they expected cleareding fly tipping and litter from many areas of the park.

Today we worked with 21 volunteers.

Click here to see other photos of the day.  

Friday 21st May 2010: Brackenhill ULA, Westcroft Road, Great Horton, BD7

attaching the railsattaching the railsToday we worked on the post and rail fence along side the hedge that we finished laying earlier this year. It was pleasing to see that the hedge was leafing up with only a few exceptions. This will provide a really good habitat for wildlife. We replaced the broken and damaged sections of the fence, which involved removing some rails, replacing a few posts and then securing the new rails. After this was completed we had time to go into the site to collect litter and remove Japanese Knotweed that has been growing in two areas.

Today we worked with 11 volunteers.

Click here for other photos of the site.