So, we have now received the map showing the wildlife potential of the various parts of Kingsmead and it has been a bit of a shock. We anticipated that the Kings Mead would have the highest wildlife designation and that Cromwell Road allotments would at least feature as a wildlife habitat but No!
We can't produce the map due to copyright but there are several designations:
Green - protected* because they are habitats for endangered species
Purple - not protected yet but have a high chance of becoming a 'Green'
Orange then yellow then cream - no habitats and suitable for development with decreasing wildlife interest as you lose colour vibrancy
So, key surprises:
The Kings Mead North of the railway line is designated purple with a couple of very small Green areas
The part of Hartham Common in Kingsmead (NW of the lock keepers cottage) is mainly yellow with a small patch of purple
The Pines is purple
Cromwell Road is orange
Why are these surprises? Because several of the KNP know that there are slowworms/greater crested newts or other protected wildlife living in these areas.
The Herts and Middsx Wildlife Trust collate the information that informs the designations. So, we are asking everyone; if you know/see protected wildlife within Kingsmead please register it onto Irecord as below. Ideally with a photo (and a better one than mine).
https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/
Principal, non plant species to look out for are bats, slowworms, grass snakes, greater crested newts or otters plus a depressingly long list of birds, bees, insects. moths and other wildlife all detailed in the listing at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_species_and_habitats_of_principal_importance_in_England
So, if you're out for your daily constitutional and spot some interesting wildlife please make sure you log it on the Irecord site.
Photo is a slow worm enjoying a Tamworth Rd garden
* Protected under Section 41 of the NERC Act
Years ago - some of you may remember - Transition Hertford organised a local speaker on permaculture to come and talk at Mudlark's allotment in the summer. We had a screen and projector etc and it was a great, well attended event.
Maybe one way to encourage allotmenteers to go pesticide free would be to hold a similar event when allowed later in the summer, with Mudlark's agreement obvs, and invite an expert on growing without pesticides to talk. Invite every one at the allotment. It would be a great opportunity to advertise the idea and benefits it brings, and could get a lot of local growers onside, maybe? What's the view?