Swamp News – September 2007 – Swamp Conservation Group, Penkridge

This is a short newsletter to keep the residents on the north and south sides of the Swamp (i.e the Grange Estate, including Grange Crescent, and residents living between the Station up St. Michael’s Close) up to date on the Open Space that locally we all call “The Swamp”.

Just to remind you:

1.  It is owned and looked after by South Staffordshire District Council.
2.  The Swamp Conservation Group was formed some years ago to monitor the wildlife of the area and to generally keep an eye on it and to liaise with the District Council Officers.  I act as the Co-ordinator.
3,  The Officers of the District Council have been very helpful and co-operative over the years and have responded very quickly to any problems we have reported. 
4.  Local residents have also been very helpful and not only reported incidents, etc. but also helped by removing litter and generally carrying out “wardening”  of the area.  The District Council are very grateful for this help.  They do carry out regular maintenance of the site including litter collections.
5.  The Pools are an important habitat for Newts, with both Smooth (Common) and Great Crested Newts (specially protected species) breeding there and hibernating in the undergrowth, hedge bottoms and surrounding gardens.  The area is also important for other species including many birds, butterflies, dragonflies, moths and other invertebrates.  Bats are also found there (also protected by law) and the Conservation Group have erected several Bat Boxes in the area which were provided by the District Council.
6.  The path through the Swamp is a Public Right of Way and is of course used by many people from the Estate on the south side to access the village centre, the station, the church and Burial Grounds, schools, village hall and the Monckton, etc.  Dogs may be exercised there but it is an offence to leave dog litter.  If it is not removed owners of the dog can be prosecuted.  There are notices on site.

An on-site meeting was held recently with the relevant Officers of the District Council and you should note that:

1.  The Council will shortly be removing the damaged tree just inside the northern entrance as it has been vandalised and will die.  If anyone is aware of who carried out this damage, would they please notify the Council as soon as possible.  Ring-barking trees on this site is an offence and the police will be asked to take action if the culprit can be identified.

2.   The Council will be litter picking the whole site.

3.   The Council will be erecting fencing at the southern end of the site to prevent access to the tree belt bordering the railway line in order that the vegetation can recover.

4.   The Council will be replacing the damaged gate-squeeze at the Grange entrance and may also be laying the boundary hedge in order to thicken the hedge.

5.   The Council will be strimming and raking off some of the longer vegetation at the southern end of the site.

6.   Bottles, cans and even the odd chair (stolen from the ATC Building) have found their way into the two pools.  The District Council will shortly be removing these when they can get a boat to the site.

Everyone is asked to keep an eye on the site to ensure that it is used correctly as a play area for the young children and a home for wildlife.   PLEASE REPORT ANY INCIDENTS OR CONCERNS TO -  Bevan Craddock, Co-ordinator, by email (swamp@penkridge.org.uk)  or by phone (712733)     

I intend to publish more regular news about the Swamp on the Penkridge Community Website (http://www.penkridge.org.uk) but if anyone would like these to be emailed to them, please let me have your email address.  Copies have been printed and will be delivered to all houses in St. Michael's Close, the Grange Road Estate, Grange Crescent and those houses in Bungham Lane between the A449 island and the Railway Bridge.