Salary Brook Site Action Plan of Works 2022-23

Site: Salary Brook 

Priority 

Volunteer 

Ranger 

Contractor 

 Month/ Season 

Patrol and litter pick fortnightly with weekly visits during the peak season  

1  

X   

All Year  

Monitor Grounds Maintenance Contract (GMC) schedule of work  

1  

X   

X   

All Year  

Cut back encroaching scrub along cycle paths and steps  

1  

X   

X   

X   

Summer  

Seek ways to reduce anti-social behaviour particularly litter, fly tipping of garden waste and prohibited vehicles.   

1  

X   

All Year  

Organise 2 Spring Tidy days  

1  

X   

X   

March 

Furniture and Structures 

Inspect path surfaces  

1 

X   

All Year  

Check and repair site furniture when required   

1 

X   

X   

Spring – Summer  

Monitoring and Recording 

Continue to monitor dormouse population with licensed surveyor  

1  

X   

X   

All Year  

Work with Essex Wildlife Trust to continue to monitor Water Vole, Otter and Mink populations  

1  

X   

X   

All Year  

Work with special interest groups to improve biological records  

2  

X   

X   

All Year  

Berriman's Pasture 

Control spread of ragwort in Berriman’s pasture (compartment 4)  

1  

X   

X   

Summer  

Continue rotational cut of ditch vegetation in Berriman’s Pasture (C4)  

1  

X   

X   

Autumn  

Prevent increasing scrub encroachment in Berriman’s pasture by selectively coppicing margin  

1  

X   

X   

Autumn  

Inspect and repair bunds if necessary, in Berriman’s pasture (c4)  

2  

X   

X   

Winter - Spring  

Ponds and Wetland 

Inspect fishing swims, repair, or replace as required. Strim or pull encroaching vegetation as required  

1  

X   

X   

X   

All Year  

Monitor oxygen levels in all 3 ponds  

1  

X   

X   

All Year  

Work with EA and organise regular work party to clear excessive blanket weed from ponds  

1  

X   

X   

May - Sept  

Check ditch along Pickford Walk is free flowing and not directing water on to path, cut back vegetation and desilt as necessary.   

1  

X   

X   

Autumn – Winter  

Inspect culverts for blockages and clear as necessary  

1  

X  

 X   

 All Year  

Work with EA and organise regular work party to clear excessive duck weed from ponds  

2  

X  

X  

May – Sept  

Monitor quantity of scrub in marsh area to inform future management decisions  

2  

X   

All Year  

Scrub and Grassland 

Organise additional grass and flail cuts of rough grass and bramble areas.   

1  

X   

X   

Late Summer – Autumn  

Maintain rough grassland areas in within C2 scrub by selective removal of tree saplings and scrub coppicing  

1  

X   

X   

Autumn – Winter  

Establish new areas of wildflower grassland by reducing cutting in selected areas of C2   

1  

X   

Spring – Autumn  

Monitor tree and scrub cover in C3, C5, C6 selectively coppice as required to maintain mosaic of habitat.  

1  

X   

X   

X   

Autumn - Winter  

Increase edge habitat in C2 by coppicing “bays” within the scrub.  

2  

X   

X   

Autumn – Winter  

Trees and Hedges 

Trim hedge behind student flats to fence height  

1  

X   

X   

Autumn- Winter  

Coppice or lay 1/12 of cycle path hedge between Clingoe Hill and Pickford walk  

1  

X   

X   

Winter  

Gap up and widen cycle path hedge where possible through Colchester woodland project  

1  

X   

X   

Winter  

Continuing laying hedge along Pickford walk  

1  

X   

X   

Winter  

Assess willow along Pickford walk and coppice where necessary to prevent collapsing onto footpath. Apply for felling license if required  

2  

X   

Winter  

Maintain short rotation coppice of willow in C11 by coppicing 1/3 stand   

2  

X    

X   

X   

Winter  

Assess scrub in C11 and select areas to coppice as necessary to prevent closed canopy scrub  

3  

X   

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