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• Sustainability: a natural outlook brings success

• Date:

  23rd March 2004

• Contact:

  Sarah Egerton

• Organisation:

  The Civic Trust

Elmdon Park in the West Midlands achieved a high score for its methods of environmental sustainability in energy and natural resource, conservation and pollution, not to mention working with Birmingham International Airport to prevent bird strikes.

The 77.54 hectare site, located three and a half miles from Solihull town Centre, with the airport to the north, is the former estate of the Spooner family.

It was purchased by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council after the war and now provides an informal open space in the middle of a busy residential area. Nature conservation is an important aspect of the park, which includes a Local Nature Reserve. Work on the lake has improved water quality and created secluded areas as nesting sites for wildlife. Another recent development was the creation of a wildflower meadow covering more than 20 hectares.

Green Flag Award judges were extremely impressed with the park’s green practices, saying: “Environmental sustainability is excellent with clever use of spring water to attract geese and help limit their numbers.
“There is no sign of pesticide use. Waste minimisation is of a good standard.”

The use of residual pesticides is prohibited within Elmdon Park. Wherever practical, the use of any pesticide is minimized and an alternative solution sought.

All recyclable compostable material is used on site or removed for composting. Where material from arboricultural works cannot be utilised on site, it is made available to the public for mulching or firewood.

The Lake provides a haven for wildfowl and measures have been taken to manage this to ensure safe access and the protection of visitors. In 2000, the council commissioned a report to evaluate the nature of the silt in the lake, revealing that it was highly phytotoxic and should be left undisturbed. An ecological survey carried out at the same time recommended the planting of marginal vegetation, which would soak up contaminates over time. It would also actively manage the geese population by reducing available nesting areas.

The lake’s margins have now been seeded with reed and marginal vegetation and surrounded with protective bow top fencing, which helps manage the geese populations by restricting access onto the banks. This was carried out in consultation with Birmingham Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority to reduce the potential risk of bird strikes.

Live willow fencing also prevents the ducks from waddling onto the wildflower grassland and eating the seeds.

Following the report’s recommendations, an additional wetland scrape was created in 2001 in a hollow to aid drainage from the surrounding grassland. This has had the effect of attracting native geese away from the lake, where people congregate, and helps to limit their numbers.

David Lowe, ecologist for Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “We think it has worked well because numbers of geese have not increased. People have been asking lots of questions while we carried out this work and have been pleased with progress.

“Visitors love the park and thoroughly enjoy the scrapes. Now we’re just waiting for the wild flowers to come up this year.”

For practical ideas on increasing the environmental sustainability of your park or green space, contact Ian Mills, project manager at Solihull Council, on: 0121 704 8470.