For 2014 our landscape management was still planned on an annual basis.

It is perhaps first reviewing our progress to date:

Hedges:

• New and reinforcement planting essentially completed;
• Saplings planted in March 2011 are now 90cm to 150cm tall;
• Most of the brambles and other undergrowth that would compete with the hedging has been kept under control.

Meadow:

• Grasses largely established and forming a healthy sward;
• Perennial wild flowers beginning to establish.

 Fences:

• Work to bring the timber and wire mesh fence around the meadow back into a good state of repair has lagged behind other tasks.

 Our plans and achiements for 2014 were based largely on consolidation.

Hedges:

• There is some further reinforcement planting to be undertaken in the spring;
• Along the boundary with the car park there is work to reduce the amount of nettles and bramble in the hedge;
• Along the towpath are some bare sections which need to be cleared ready for planting next winter.

Meadow:

• The meadow will need to be cut in July and each month after that;
• The far east end of the meadow needs to be trimmed and kept weed free ready for sowing in the autumn.

Fences:

• Assuming the clubhouse shell is built in 2014, much of the remaining steel mesh fence will need to be erected;
• The timber and wire mesh fence around the meadow needs to be extended back to the steel fence at it west end;
• The timber and wire mesh fence around the meadow needs to be extended round the north (car park) side of the meadow.