1949) against current needs. The Forum has no policy making nor operational role but its
work has been given fresh impetus by the UK rejoining UNESCO which has developed
the Man and the Biosphere programme since its inception.
Death Plus Decay Equals Life
Dunham Massey Park, near Altrincham, on the edge of Greater Manchester, is renowned
for old trees and dependent rare invertebrates and in November 1997 an event was held as
part of the Veteran Trees Initiative.
Amanda Giles from English Nature said that although many old trees are respected, they
are often considered a safety threat and are being felled unnecessarily, whilst many
remaining are frequently suffering from inappropriate management. Dead does not
necessarily mean dangerous. The National Trust's management of the Dunham Massey
veterans shows what can be and should be done.
Details from Amanda Giles, English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1
1UA
Amphibians trapped in Gully Pots
Attention has been drawn to the many casualties amongst our amphibian populations as
each year they migrate to and from their breeding ponds. Roadside gully pots are intended
to take surface water off roads, but frequently become traps to all life that falls into them.
A Great crested newt site near Wrexham has this problem. Bordered by two roads, one
with 28 gully pots, the other with 18 pots, it is potentially very damaging to the newt
population.
Weekly visits by the local Countryside Service using nets to remove trapped animals has
proved effective but time consuming. A local group of children calling themselves 'The
Toads' has designed and built an experimental ladder, made to measure for each gully pot,
using a half rail with fencing wire attached, and with extra wire left at one end as an
overhang to provide an escape route through the pot lid onto the road.
Five ladders were in place in June 1997, and showed promising results with fewer Great
crested newts and frogs trapped than in 1996, but so far with little effect on Smooth newt
casualties. The group of children are attempting a different design to help the Smooth
newts. More information from Karen Bowen, Ty Mawr Country Park, Cae Gwilym Lane,
Cefn Mawr, Wrexham.
A Framework for the Future
Recently English Nature published a review suggesting that the idea of green networks
carry out a wide range of functions, promoted in the past by Olmsted and others to give a
framework for the future. Green networks can help to ensure wild nature can be enjoyed
near to where people live.
Achievement will take time and integrated planning will need to be robust to hold a 100
year strategy on course. The report closes with 'Too many cities are, environmentally
speaking, open sores which will take time, hard work and money to heal, when they
should be a triumph of human existence in harmony with the natural environemnt.'
See "A Framework for the Future: Green Networks with Multiple Uses in and around
Towns and Cities" English Nature Research Report No. 256, 40pp free from English
Nature Enquiries Service, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 27, November 1998