History
The Dove Valley Community Project began in May 2006 when a group of 31 residents in Hatton, Derbyshire, purchased the field adjacent to the River Dove and the island in the centre of the river Dove/Mill Fleam and decided to create a Nature Reserve (Thistley Place Meadow). The land in question is held under a legal Constitution so it cannot be sold in the future.
Having been successful in obtaining c.£36,000
from various
Grant sources
and with very kind
support and contributions, we have been able to clear the field of
invasive perennial weeds, install a new disabled access, mow footpaths
wide enough to allow wheelchair access, increased the marginal planting
along the riverbank by installing pre-vegetated coir rolls, installed
benches, picnic benches with wheelchair access, a disabled fishing
platform, dog and waste bins, planted over 450 shrubs – including hazel,
spindle, dogwoods, field roses, gorse, guelder rose, wild privet and
broom – to encourage native birds and wildlife. We have also erected
pictorial/informative nature reserve signage.
To the rear of the island, we have been able to dredge the severely overgrown Mill Fleam, which has created a physical barrier (together with a wrought iron gate and railings to the bridge end of the island) to prevent access, and allowed us to turn the island into a dedicated nature sanctuary where we have erected bird and a colony of bat boxes, an otter holt with a ‘dry run’ for the otter onto the island. The spore for the otter was originally found by a representative from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the otter is regularly seen by local fishermen. We also have a kingfisher and tawny owls on the island.
We have cleared the area of overgrown wild rhubarb, at the end adjacent to Tutbury Bridge, and replanted this section with aspen, black poplar, oak, birches, beech, holly, horse chestnut, maple, hawthorn and dog roses.
In the Spring of 2008, in conjunction with
Hatton Parish Council,
we took over the
responsibility of the Hatton
Picnic area (on an initial 5 year lease at a peppercorn rent). We have
subsequently concreted around the picnic benches in this area, created
mown pathways, planted an indigenous orchard with a variety of fruiting
trees and shrubs and, in 2009, this area will be underplanted with
indigenous plug plants and bulbs.
We have had two major events in 2008. The first was an educational/planting day with Heath Fields Primary School on 29th September. This was held, for us, in conjunction with the BBC/Breathing Places programme ‘Do one thing for Nature’ and, for them, to work in the community to help them achieve Eco school status. This event was videoed by the Burton Mail and received press coverage.
The second major event for us was our Official Opening on 3rd October. The ribbon at the main entrance to the Nature Reserve was cut by the Chair Elect of South Derbyshire district Council, Councillor Ann Hood, assisted by her Consort, Councillor Frank Hood. The ribbon to the disabled access was then cut by Mark Todd, M.P., who was assisted by Sharon Key. Heath Fields Primary School returned to this event with information boards showing ‘What they did for nature on one day on Thistley Place Meadow Nature Reserve’. Over 120 people attended the event.
In 2009 we shall be undertaking further improvement to the disabled pathways through Thistley Place Meadow and holding various fundraising initiatives to enable TPM to be enjoyed by the whole community in perpetuity.