News on The Paddock

The first phase of the comprehensive enhancement scheme to improve The Paddock community nature reserve is almost complete.

Works to remove significant Japanese Knotweed infestations and to remediate decades of fly-tipping have been successfully carried out by our specialist contractors, Ebsford Environmental Ltd., working closely with our site management partners TCV, our landscape designer LUC, and the Council.

Using a tried and tested industry-standard approach of excavating the Japanese Knotweed and its root systems and burying them in a secure geo-textile membrane, The Paddock has been cleared of the major infestations that were gradually colonising the site and depriving native species of habitat.

The extent of the Japanese Knotweed and the scale of the historic fly-tipping became clear once the contractors commenced work on site. With each area of Knotweed that was excavated, tonnes of historic fly-tipping and dumped building waste was discovered, making the task of burying the Knotweed and its root systems more complicated. Eventually, 30 tonnes of rubbish had to be removed and disposed of appropriately off-site before the burial of the Knotweed could be completed.

The Knotweed has now been encapsulated in 6,400 sq.m. of geo-textile membrane, creating a secure cell with a life of 50 years. The cell has been capped with over 3300 tonnes of soil, delivered to the site in 234 truckloads sourced from a local supplier to keep environmental impacts to a minimum.

The remediation works have enabled the creation of a new meadow area as proposed in the Paddock Enhancement Programme masterplan, as well as new wet meadow or boggy areas. The new meadow will be planted with wildflowers to improve the biodiversity of The Paddock, while the wet meadows will help diversify the range of habitats on site. Ebsford Environmental have sponsored the planting of the meadow through their community programme. They will be hydro-seeding the meadow as the last phase of their works to ensure it can be planted quickly and become established in Spring time.

Some Japanese Knotweed infestations close to the River Lee have not been excavated due to the challenges of working close to the waterway. A programme of sensitive chemical treatment will be used to avoid the environmental impact of major excavations and treat these areas long-term.

With the completion of these first phase works in May, plans for the main works phase to improve the path network, entrance areas, visitor facilities, re-planting and landscaping improvements can be progressed with a view to delivery in the Autumn.

The Paddock will be re-opened to visitors fully in May, and on-site volunteering activities will re-commence. To celebrate the completion of the first phase works, there will be a community day on 27 May 2023 open to the whole community, where families and individuals can get hands-on helping TCV to plant the meadow areas, take part in a crafts workshop, and go on a guided trail around The Paddock.

The Paddock Design Team will also be on hand to share the final plans for the Paddock Enhancement Programme, developed and refined following two rounds of community engagement in the winter of 2020 and Summer 2021.