Friends of Jubilee Park- news
Tree-planters triumph in Hatfield Dig
Volunteer tree-planters turned out in force to plant out 333
saplings at Hatfield’s Jubilee
Park with three
generations completing the task in just two hours. The Rotary Club of Doncaster
joined forces with Friends of Jubilee Park to help improve the ecology of the
park – a big favourite with walkers and skatepark scooterists – and help combat
global climate change. In their lifetime trees capture tons of carbon dioxide,
a so-called greenhouse gas- from the air and transform it into wood and vital
oxygen.
Friends’ Secretary Dave Ketteridge says: It was
heart-warming to see so many young
people involved brought in by their families. Two years ago we planted out 250
trees and after a scorching Summer some 150 survived. We have put them in
earlier this time and expect an even better result. It is normal to lose
saplings so we plan to carry on with the programme.. We have had good
discussions with Hatfield Town Council and plan to create new copses in to middle of the park. The
Council have already provided a new seat and we will be installing a bird
table nearby to add to interest.”
The 20 varieties of saplings – trees and hedgerow bushes -
are provided free through The
Conservation Volunteers who have an office at Potteric Carr Doncaster, and
financed by Ovo Energy as part of their commitment to become carbon neutral. A
new threat to the trees is the number of deer coming in from nearby woodland
and nibbling of the tips of young trees
and stripping bark.
Says Dave:”We put rabbit guards around all our new plants
but once the trees outgrow these they are at risk. At first we though vandals
were pulling down branches and stripping
bark but then noticed bark was being nibbled and just the tips of branches
being taken off. We are getting reports
of roe deer at large with their young around the Motorway services area. They
are beautiful creatures but can do a lot of damage. They also hide out in
fields dedicated to growing maize and willow for use in eco-friendly power stations.”
Friends Chairman Peter Wyatt adds:” We have put a list of
proposals to the Town Council for their consideration. There are tremendous
opportunities to develop our local park, which our surveys show is used daily
by over a hundred people. The skate park is in used constantly and is a
tremendous asset to the community. I would like to thank all those unsung
heroes and heroines who pick up litter every day, and everyone who picks up
after their dogs. There are a small number of people who don’t pick up and fail
to realise just how much everyone else hates it. ”
Dave Ketteridge
January 2 2020
An enthusiastic member of the local community, Mr D Ketteridge is keen to set up a Friends of Jubilee Park group to involve the local community in how best this popular space can be used and looked after. The Town Council are keen to help facilitate this and look forward to working with the group once it is set up.
If you are interested in getting involved, or would like more information about what may be planned, then please contact Mr Ketteridge on 07720053928
Friends of Jubilee Park
Do you use and enjoy Jubilee park?
Do you have ideas to improve it?
Or just want to be involved in looking after our vital green spaces and helping out your community?
If so you might be interested in joining The Friends of Jubilee Park and having your say.