by Jane L Morris, Biodiversity Champion with contributions from Dan Thomson
Since 2019 the Friends of Platt Fields Park has been tree planting with Creative Rusholme and other organisations. Last November the Friends with staff and students including ‘Green Student Welfare’ from MMU planted a new area of native woodland between the west bridge and Hart Road entrance. Carefully planting, watering, mulching, using temporary tree guards and cane markers, 450 saplings were planted, a mix of Blackthorn, Crab apple, Guelder rose, Hawthorn, Field maple and Spindle, plus Dog rose. Like the gradually expanding ‘Victor’s Wood’ (Victor Blunden memorial) the new woodland will include varied habitats. Jamshaid Karim raised funding from crowdfunding & donations from Aviva. Using this Jamshaid and his fellow University of Manchester students replaced trees lost in the Southerly woodland too; all adding to tree cover and creating shade, food and habitat for the wildlife of Fallowfield and the surrounding ‘Nature Neighbourhood’.
As many of the mature trees in the park reach the end of their lives; we need to consider succession planting and the future collections of useful and beautiful mature trees that will enhance the Park and quality of life in 2125! The Avenue has gaps in it, but lines of ‘Kanzan’ or similar flowering cherry blossom trees are gradually being replaced, Platt Lane Orchard complements the Millennium Orchard(s) and our Blossom trails and hotspots are recognised. There is, nevertheless, need for landscape improvements to develop tree-care, pollen and blossom trails, orchard & woodland management and the range of opportunities for volunteers and social enterprises.
The show fields, sports and picnic areas do need to be mown every few weeks in the growing season, but less mown grasslands are enjoyed by a diversity of wildlife that in turn becomes enjoyed by many of the public. Standard mowing includes path side verges; very wet areas; areas under trees and bushes where there’s enough clearance for mowers, except where bulbs (mostly under trees) are left flowering and allowed to die down before being mowed. Aside from sports fields, picnic areas, reduced mowing creates grassland areas which supports an increased variety of wildlife bringing to the public many new things of beauty and interest.
The ‘Rose Garden’ is managed as a traditional hay meadow with frequent mowing of paths through it, and other fields could also be mown twice/thrice a year, with flowers allowed to bloom leading to greater support for insects and birds. After considerable upset, the Friends helped the Council staff decide on more parts of the Park which should not be mown at all, in addition to the island, fenced off brook side wilderness and woodland fringes. We again asked for parts to be left ‘No-mow in May’ or until June – to avoid the first mowing sessions and found allies for this request in the Council’s nature officer and ecologist as well as our Ranger. For nature recovery and climate resilience the Friends asked for “other locations” of “differential mowing” and collaborated on a ‘Platt Fields Park Mow-less Map’ which shows both: “No-mow with planted areas” such as the Willow Groves and the new woodland(s) Bluebell Wood near the Shakespearean Garden, Southerly corner copse; and Victor’s Wood. The area for a “Reduced/No-mow” ‘Buttercup Field’ near the Royle Seat will have paths mown through it regularly on the drier land, the rest mown two to three times per year or as few as possible with the aim to ensure the grass isn’t too long for standard mowers.
We are assured that the grounds maintenance team will modify practice this year, to achieve less-mown meadows, paths that are mown for good public access and no newly planted trees mown down! The Environment Agency will plant more native species in ‘Bluebell Wood’ and our next planting will boost rare/specimen tree collections with the Council tree replacements and Gaskell Garden contributions. Tree walks will review and plan this as well as develop more maps. We are increasing tree cover, with the ‘right trees in right places’; and a mosaic of growing initiatives could lead to more biodiversity, wildlife-rich habitats and nature recovery in this important inner-city Park and ‘Food and Heritage’ hub.
Please consider joining us for
• ‘Woodland Maintenance’ workshop 10am-12pm Saturday 26th April from the Market Garden, &/or
• ‘Blossom and Bee-trails Walk’ on Monday 5th May (details to be confirmed)
Friends of Platt Fields with MUD and other partners (Orchard Project, GMEU, RSPB, NT & Wildlife Trusts) participating together in such activities could build support for the ‘Nature Neighbourhood’ project and attract funding for landscape and biodiversity improvement.