Linear Park

Photos of water voles found in Linear Park Summer 2009.

This time last year we informed you on what was happening with the water voles in the Linear Park. Water voles have been seen in the ditch by Mill Lane, the ditch before Pooh Bridge (the wooden bridge) and in the balancing ponds. This is the time of year when they start to bear their young. Please keep a look out for them. If you are a dog walker would you please have your dogs be careful around the ditches.

Report your sighting - If you see a water vole in the Park, please would you report the sighting at the Parish office, noting the location, date and time. We will use this information as part of the national water vole survey as organised by BBOWT.

Also, a new visitor to the park - snipe have been seen in foraging in the recently mown balancing ponds.

AGM

The new committee is as follows:

Chairman - Alison Harwood
Vice Chair - June Scott
Treasurer - June Scott
Secretary - Judy Schneider
Members - Jody Scott, Iain Pate, Caroline Booth, Angela McMahon, Cathy and Derek McEwan, Lyn Kelly

We would like to thank June Scott and Sharon Tilley for all their hard work in their previous positions.

Future Plans

Notice boards for the Park have been installed.

Future Social Evening - This is to be confirmed.

New members always welcome. Tel: 0118 9421372 email: alison.harwood@btinternet.com

Linear Park Play Ground

Back in the 19th century Calcot Gardens, just beyond Calcot Grange, were nationally renowned for their fruit and flowers. Cobnut trees were a particular feature of the gardens and on one of the notices produced when the gardens were sold, one particular cobnut tree is mentioned, of 45 feet in diameter and which yielded 110 lbs of cobnuts in one season.

If you want to get involved in Friends of Linear Park, please contact the Parish Office. Volunteer wardens are especially needed. Alternatively please ring 942 9701.

We were amazed at the number of people who said in the Parish Plan survey that they did not know where the Linear Park was. We suspect that they did know but that they did not know what it was called as it is not marked on maps - an omission we plan to rectify. The Linear Park is a beautiful area of grassland and woodland stretching almost from the M4 in the west, south of the Beansheaf and Ford's Farm estates, right along past Calcot Mill as far as the Burghfield Road, with the Holy Brook winding through it.

WATER VOLES IN LINEAR PARK

(photos taken by Mrs Christle Gowing)

Water voles: we continue to report to the Water Vole Project Officer any sightings of water voles. If you happen to see any would you please let the Parish Office know the area they were sighted in and the date and time. We are fortunate to have a good water vole population.

There are entrances from many of the roads south of Charrington Road/Pollards Way and from Mill Lane, as well as the main entrance in Charrington Road and it is a beautiful place in which to walk, take children to the playgrounds, play cricket and football, and watch the many species of wildlife. We are indebted to Mr. Chris Giles and his wife, Jackie, of Goodwin Close, for the photographs below, taken in or close to the Linear Park, and for their permission to use them on the council's website for the benefit of the community. All of these plants, trees and creatures can be seen throughout the year - right on your doorstep!