Balsam
As some of you know we
decided to tackle the Balsam problem earlier this year for two
reasons. One because if we can pull it before it flowers then we can
be sure that it will not seed and give us a headache for the future,
and two because we are determined to beat the wretched stuff so that
we can turn our attention to other matters concerning the brook and
our objectives(raising awareness etc). We started at the beginning
of May.
We believe that our
efforts have been successful, possibly aided by the dry spring
giving a lower germination rate than usual. We have pulled large
quantities of the plant, before it grows too big, and while it is
young it is easy to pull out. A lot of effort has been put into the
Council Depot off the Mundy Play Centre Car Park and Markeaton Park
itself. Penny (Secretary) and Joe (Treasurer) have done sterling
work in their chest waders, getting into the brook and pulling from
the watercourse, getting to grips with balsam that cannot be pulled
from the bank.
This year’s squad has
included Gwen Miller, Cynthia Sims, Brenda Hitchcock, Rosemary
Reeves, Dawn Wilson, Dave Bennett and Nick Ashton Jones. As readers
of these pages are aware, Friends of Markeaton Brook are part of the
Mercaston and Markeaton Brook Project (MMB) which is led by the
National Trust and includes such partners as FWAG (Farmers Wildlife
Advisory Group) Wild Derby (City Council), Flood Prevention (City
Council), ourselves, local farmers and the Friends of Markeaton Park.
The main aim of the group is to tackle the issue of silting and work
is done the whole length of the brook from where it rises at
Mercaston.
The MMB Project has
obtained funding from SITA the waste disposal company which has
funded a Project Leader, Kath Stapley, who talked to us at our AGM in
2010. Some of the funding was used to pay BTCV (British Trust for
Conservation Volunteers) for a four day stint to clear Balsam from
Brook Walk. The National Trust Volunteers worked with us to clear
the area immediately below the bridge on the Mackworth Road. That
was entertaining with a Canadian Canoe being used to load pulled
balsam into and this was then emptied onto the bank. Many thanks go
to Kath Stapley for her very hands on approach that day, and also Big
Dave and Mike the Canoe.
BTCV have already
cleared areas further up the catchment in the SSSI site at Mugginton
With these upstream areas cleared, control in the lower sections is
possible. We feel that these are giant strides towards making the
brook, if not balsam free, then at least an area where the weed is
manageable.
To say a huge thank you
to our volunteers everyone involved, MMB project members and pullers
alike were invited to our End of Season BBQ in early September. We
held the event again on Mundy Rec just off the Mackworth Road near
Brittania Mill and we were really pleased that we had our new (to us)
Gazebo to help shelter us from typical BBQ weather!!! Perhaps we
shall have better luck next year!! During the winter months we shall
be planning next year’s campaign, hoping once more to be off to an
early start and that this year’s efforts will reduce the amount of
work we shall need to do next year. Penny and I have made
resolutions not to fall in the brook at all next season!!!
Litter
Litter has been
steadily building up in and along the brook for some years now. Some
of you will have joined in previous litter picks that we have done on
a regular basis, lead by Judith Overton. However, we were approached
in May by the Management of Derby Student Residences Ltd who
operate the Halls of Residence along the brook, with a view to
enlisting our help with a day of litter picking on the stretch of the
brook by Nuns Street. The date was set for Sunday 22nd
May. We contributed our knowledge of litter disposal, access to the
brook, waders, gloves, litter pickers and a few willing volunteers.
The Halls of Residence mustered a number of limber young workers,
including students and a good session was held, shifting such items
as the obligatory shopping trolley, a mattress, pushchair,
innumerable bottles and cans and just general junk, all carted away
by Street Pride. The Halls of Residence also provided a very welcome
Breakfast Butty and coffee!!
We have high hopes of
holding another joint litter pick in the New Year to tackle the
litter situation along Brook Walk. Most of you will agree that the
litter is an eyesore once the vegetation dies down, so as many
volunteers as possible will be welcome to help on that day, so
please keep eyes peeled for details on the website nearer the time.
Sadly though we have to
report an act of vandalism as Judith, our litter picker leader, was
targeted by a group of teenagers who stole litter picking equipment,
including the trolley used for transportation. Judith was not
physically hurt, but obviously such an act was unsettling. Not
daunted though, Judith continues.
Footprint
Being involved with the
Halls of Residence over litter picking, we were invited to attend one
of their Footprint Events for the new influx of students early in
September. Footprint raises awareness of students on environmental
issues such as recycling and energy saving and we were there with our
display panels depicting the work we do, and also with our maps of
the catchment of the brook within the city, which shows how closely
the University buildings are to the brook and how university
activities can impact on the brook and its wildlife.
Apple Day
Apple day fell this
year on October 19th and the following Sunday saw us in
Markeaton Park supporting Apple Core, Markeaton Park’s Healthy
Gardens Project – for more information see www.apple-core.org.uk.
Again we had our display panels depicting our work and they
attracted considerable interest and our mailing list expanding again.
 
 
Display Panels
Our display panels
depicting the history, wildlife and activities of our group have been
on display at Pickfords House Museum for several months. These were
removed by the new museum staff and are currently back in our storage
until we can find another secure venue for them. If any organisation
would like the loan of the panels please get in touch. | 
Reports
