www.boggart.org.uk BOGGART HOLE CLOUGH COMMUNITY ACTION TRUST Protecting and revitalizing Boggart Hole Clough Ancient Woodland Park

Lakeside flora proposals

Boggart Hole Clough Community Action Trust (BHCCAT) works in partnership with, among others,

Manchester City Council (MCC) the landowner of Boggart Hole Clough (BHC).

BHC contains Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) and is a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

Sweep of Manchester Poplars at the Lakeside. This photo was taken 10.2.2007 shortly before the trees were felled

due to venturia populina disease rendering them unsafe. BHCCAT proposes they are replaced with White Willows.

Trees have been felled around the Lakeside in recent years (see page 3). BHCCAT proposes

they are replaced with tree species appropriate for a waterside in a natural woodland setting,

particularly native Willows & Alders which naturally grow at watersides. Our objective: to

improve the biodiversity health of the Lakeside which will attract visitors appreciative of

the consequent burgeoning wildlife to be enjoyed there.

Thanks to BHCCAT Members particularly Alan Saunders, Christine Saunders, Frank Cairns, Joan Kavanagh,

Paul McCrystal, Sarah Gorman & Steve Hamilton for helping to develop these proposals.

Please see our website for further BHCCAT documents re the Lake environs e.g. ‘Island biodiversity -

preliminary report’ (23.12.2006), ‘Lake & Island biodiversity health proposals’ (16.6.2008), ‘Lakeside

regeneration preliminary proposals’ (17.6.2010), ‘Lake & Island Waterbirds Sanctuary proposal’ (30.9.2010)

and ‘Waterbirds Survey 2004-2009’ (survey ongoing).

Peter F. Milner, 9.2.2011: BHCCAT Lakeside flora proposals Page 1 of 5

www.boggart.org.uk BOGGART HOLE CLOUGH COMMUNITY ACTION TRUST Protecting and revitalizing Boggart Hole Clough Ancient Woodland Park

Consultation re Lakeside flora:

1. MCC Manchester Leisure ‘Draft BHC Lakeside Development Plan V2’ document (undated) presented by

William Eastwood (MCC North Area Parks Acting Manager) to BHCCAT Executive Committee 15.3.2010

Open Meeting.

2. BHCCAT ‘Lakeside regeneration preliminary proposals’ (17.6.2010) – response to item 1 above.

3. Email 21.1.2011 from William Eastwood (MCC North Area Parks Assistant Manager) to Peter Milner

(BHCCAT Secretary) - forwarded to BHCCAT Members - describes new MCC planting proposals: “…the nine

new beds between the two lakes… Alternate beds would be planted with willows and azaleas… South Side /

lawn area… Ten small flowering trees – cherries and ornamental crab apples… interspersed with five Chinese

Dawn Redwoods… Five species of ornamental (introduced) oak trees…”

4. This document – BHCCAT ‘Lakeside flora proposals’ (9.2.2011) – is our response to item 3 above. It

supersedes our earlier proposals (item 2 above) with regard to flora outside the Lake beside the promenade.

MCC’s latest proposals – “willows and azaleas… cherries and ornamental crab apples…

Dawn Redwoods… ornamental (introduced) oak trees” – are mostly non-native flora which

we suggest should not be planted in BHC.

We urge adherence to the ‘BHC Biodiversity Management Plan’ (Ecology Services UK Ltd, 2007), adopted by

MCC & BHCCAT (this plan can be seen on our website), which states:

• “High proportion of non-native species in some areas as a result of past planting schemes has led to a

reduction in value of semi-natural woodland habitat…” Page 14.

• “The greatest benefit to biodiversity at BHC would be to manage all woodland so that it maintains or

develops characteristics of locally native semi-natural woodland. This is particularly important as the site

has been identified as an Ancient Woodland site… The factors contributing to the unfavourable condition of

the woodland at BHC are currently a high proportion of non-native tree and shrub species within the

woodlands as well as patches of invasive non-native species such as Japanese knotweed, rhododendron and

Himalayan balsam… Management for biodiversity would include: Eradication of laurel, rhododendron…”

Page 16.

BHCCAT remains committed to the above plan, therefore with regard to MCC’s proposals:

1. We support the planting of native Willow species around the Lakeside, watersides being their natural

habitat. There are at least 7 native Willow species already growing in BHC (see Botanical Society of the

British Isles ‘Provisional Vascular Plant Checklist for BHC’ 9.7.2002 on website). Willow bark fallen into

the Lake could help suppress the Lake’s recurrent blue-green algae (‘Problem pond plants – managing

algae, duckweed & other floating plants’, Ponds Conservation Trust, 2001).

2. We cannot support the planting of Azaleas which as part of the genus Rhododendron are targeted for

removal by the Biodiversity Management Plan.

3. We would support the planting of Bird Cherry & Wild Cherry trees, both native species already growing in

BHC. However we cannot support the planting of non-native Cherry trees.

4. We could support the planting of native Crab Apple (Malus Sylvestris) trees, although they are not

presently growing in BHC, but not the planting of ‘ornamental crab apples’. We support the recent proposal

for planting an orchard of rare fruit trees on the site of the former school at Clough Top.

5. We cannot support the planting of Chinese Dawn Redwoods, another non-native species, suitable perhaps

for arboretums e.g. Queen’s Park.

6. We support the planting of native Oak species (Pedunculate & Sessile) already growing in BHC but not the

planting of non-native Oaks.

Peter F. Milner, 9.2.2011: BHCCAT Lakeside flora proposals Page 2 of 5

www.boggart.org.uk BOGGART HOLE CLOUGH COMMUNITY ACTION TRUST Protecting and revitalizing Boggart Hole Clough Ancient Woodland Park

Sketchplan 1

General area under consideration.

Sketchplan 2

Specific Areas under consideration delineated 1 to 5.

Sketchplan 3

Remaining trees within Areas 1 to 5.

Sketchplan 4

Proposed new trees within Areas 1 to 5.

BHCCAT proposals for planting in specific Areas

around the Lakeside (see Sketchplans 2, 3, 4):

Area 1 Sweep of 15 Manchester Poplars felled in

2007 (see photo page 1). Re-establish distinctive

sweep of trees by planting 15 White Willows.

Area 2 Sycamores & Ash felled 2010 leaving 4

Hawthorns, 4 Pedunculate Oaks & 1 Whitebeam.

Replace felled trees with 10 Common Alders, 4

Bay Willows, 4 Goat Willows, 4 Grey Willows, 4

Silky-leaved Osiers (Willow species).

Area 3 Sycamores & Ash felled 2010 leaving Area

treeless. Narrow Area overshadowed by mature trees

behind – keep bare of trees.

Area 4 Sycamores felled 2010 leaving 2

Hawthorns, 4 Silver Birch, 3 White Willows.

Replace felled trees with 8 Common Osiers

(Willow species).

Area 5 16 Manchester Poplars felled 2007 leaving 3

Hawthorns, 2 Pedunculate Oaks, 2 Silver Birch, 6

Sycamores. Excludes trees of impaired growth

entangled in railings. Remove railings around

Lakeside, replace with boulders and/or bollards set

perhaps 15 feet apart. Fell the 6 Sycamores, over

abundant in the Clough. Replace felled trees with 4

Common Alders, 3 Crack Willows, 6 Goat

Willows.

Areas 1 to 5 Plant / sow abundant Cock’s-foot

Grass to help curtail excessive Canada Geese

numbers. This grass is unpalatable to Canada Geese

& forms dense tussocks reducing their feeling of

safety. See BHCCAT docs ‘Lake & Island

biodiversity health proposals’ (16.6.2008) &

‘Canada Geese population 2004-2010 data analysis’

(28.1.2011) on website.

There may be space around the Lakeside for a

further variety of trees, shrubs & ground flora.

The following pages, 4 & 5, show a selection of

flora including species proposed above.

Our preference would be for those native species,

indicated below, already growing in BHC (please

see Botanical Society of the British Isles

‘Provisional Vascular Plant Checklist for BHC’

9.7.2002 on our website).

Peter F. Milner, 9.2.2011: BHCCAT Lakeside flora proposals Page 3 of 5

www.boggart.org.uk BOGGART HOLE CLOUGH COMMUNITY ACTION TRUST Protecting and revitalizing Boggart Hole Clough Ancient Woodland Park

Image courtesy Wildlifetrusts.org

White Willow / Saugh Salix Alba.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 90 feet high.

Image courtesy Wildlifetrusts.org

Grey Willow / Sallow Salix Cinera.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 45 feet high.

Image courtesy Wildlifetrusts.org

Common Osier Salix Viminalis.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 30 feet high.

Image courtesy Wildlifetrusts.org

Alder Buckthorn Frangula Alnus.

Native not presently growing in BHC.

Max 20 feet high.

Image courtesy Wildlifetrusts.org

Crack Willow Salix Fragilis.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 60 feet high.

Image courtesy Plant.uoguelph.ca

Bay Willow Salix Pentandra.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 45 feet high.

Image courtesy Ip30.eti.uva.nl

Silky-leaved Osier Salix Smithiana.

Native hybrid already growing in BHC.

Max 25 feet high.

Image courtesy Wildlifetrusts.org

Wild Cherry Prunus Avium.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 75 feet high.

Image courtesy Wildlifetrusts.org

Weeping Willow Salix Sepulchralis.

Non-native (introduced to Britain circa

1700) growing in BHC.

Max 55 feet high.

Image courtesy Wildlifetrusts.org

Goat Willow / Sallow Salix Caprea.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 35 feet high.

Image courtesy Wildlifetrusts.org

Common Alder Alnus Glutinosa.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 75 feet high.

Images courtesy Flickr.com & Wildlifetrusts.org

Bird Cherry Prunus Padus.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 60 feet high.

Peter F. Milner, 9.2.2011: BHCCAT Lakeside flora proposals Page 4 of 5

www.boggart.org.uk BOGGART HOLE CLOUGH COMMUNITY ACTION TRUST Protecting and revitalizing Boggart Hole Clough Ancient Woodland Park

Images courtesy Botanica.org.uk & Wildlifetrusts.org

Guelder Rose Viburnum Opulus.

Native already growing in BHC.

Max 20 feet high.

Images courtesy Wikipedia & Wildlifetrusts.org

Blackthorn / Sloe Prunus Spinosa.

Native not presently growing in BHC.

Max 15 feet high.

Image courtesy Telegraph.co.uk

Raspberry Rubus Idaeus.

Native already growing in BHC.

Image courtesy All-creatures.org

Common Barberry Berberis Vulgaris.

Native not presently growing in BHC.

Image courtesy Pettistree.suffolk.gov.uk

Dog Rose Rosa Canina.

Native introduced 2010 to BHC.

Image courtesy Botanica.org.uk

Gorse Ulex Europaeus. Evergreen.

Native not presently growing in BHC.

Image courtesy Flickr.com

Red Currant Ribes Rubrum.

Native already growing in BHC.

Image courtesy Botanica.org.uk

Common Elder Sambucus Nigra.

Native already growing in BHC.

Image courtesy Botanica.org.uk

Field Rose Rosa Arvensis.

Native not presently growing in BHC.

Image courtesy Botanica.org.uk

Common Broom Cytisus Scoparius.

Native not presently growing in BHC.

Image courtesy Gardenorganic.org.uk

Gooseberry Ribes Uva-Crispa.

Native already growing in BHC.

Image courtesy Agroatlas.ru

Cock’s-foot Grass Dactylis Glomerata.

Native already growing in BHC.

Peter F. Milner, 9.2.2011: BHCCAT Lakeside flora proposals Page 5 of 5