WATCH THIS SPACE - DATE AND TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED.

Public Consultation Meeting at Sea Scout Hut, Long Meadow VERY SOON led by the Environment Agency.

To discuss and answer any questions raised regarding the proposal by the Environment Agency to meander the Becton Bunny stream flowing through the Long Meadow.  If you want to know what is happening please attend as it is important for all residents and users of the Long Meadow to be aware of the possible changes proposed that are imminent.

Stream Restoration in Long Meadow, Barton on Sea

Article featured in the "Focus" July 2013

Fears of flooding and erosion were raised as plans to restore the historic watercourse through Barton were unveiled.  In a presentation to the Town Council's Amenities Committee, Environment Agency officers explained how they intend to restore Becton Bunny.  The stream which flows into the sea near Barton Golf Course has apparently failed to meet required standards.  One of the criticisms is that, at its Long Meadow point, the channel is too straight and the banks too steep.  Measures which could be taken to bring it up to standard include meandering its course to slow the flow at intervals, adding vegetation and making it more habitable for wildlife.  The Long Meadow area of the Bunny also supports a limited number of invertebrates and types of vegetation .  To help encourage greater biodiversity, deeper, calmer areas of water are needed on the outside edges and shallower faster flowing areas.  However, there is concern that meandering the stream and removing concrete bank supports could result in Long Meadow being flooded along with homes in Mitchell Close.  But it was argued that widening the channel through the Meadow would reduce that risk.  It was emphasised at the meeting that no work would be carried out until extensive checks are made to ensure no flooding would be created.  Cost would be in tens of thousands of pounds.  Whilst opinion was that the matter should be left in the hands of the "experts", Councillor Beck made a proposal backed by the committee that a detailed professional appraisal should be carried out as well as a public consultation.

LONG MEADOW SURVEY WORKSHOP

FOR MEMBERS OF LONG MEADOW COMMUNITY GROUP AND RESIDENTS

THURSDAY 27TH JUNE 2013 

Angela Peters the New Forest National Park Community Wildlife Plans Project Officer will be leading this survey workshop on Thursday 27th June 2013  to look at the uncut areas and do a wildflower survey.  We can record the species and discuss the present state of the Long Meadow and any tweaking to the cutting regime that may be needed.

The session will commence at the usual meeting place at Becton Lane Car Park at 10.30 and will run to about 13.00/13.30.

It would be great if members of the Long Meadow Community Group  and residents who live on or around the  Long Meadow joined us on the day.

If you wish to reserve your place please contact us on contact@longmeadowcommunitygroup.co.uk

NEW MILTON BIOBLITZ

Join us to survey and learn about New Milton's wildlife

New Forest National park Community Wildlife Plans project working in partnership with New Milton Town Council.


Friday 7th June:

9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Surveying for moths and other creatures of the night at Barton Common.  Meet at Barton Common car park, Barton Common Road.

Saturday 8th June

8.30 - 9.30 a.m. Look through the previous night's "catch" in the moth trap.  Meet at Barton Common car park, Barton Common Road.

10.30 - 12 noon  Wildlife survey of Barton Common.  Meet at Barton Common car park, Barton Common Road.

No need to book - just turn up and join us.

Becton Bunny - Long Meadow

WATER QUALITY TESTING WORKSHOP ON THE BECTON BUNNY, BARTON ON SEA.

Monday 20th May 2013 10.00 - 13.00 
Meeting at the Sea Scout Hut, Long Meadow, Becton Lane, Barton on Sea.

Would you like to get involved in conserving your local stream?  The Community Wildlife Plans Project in partnership with Pond Conservation and the Environment Agency are running this workshop to train members of the local community to have the skills to test the water quality of the Becton Bunny.  We hope to have committed members of the community involved in regular data collection as per a defined methodology, where the data collected will be used to improve the water quality in this well loved stream.  The project is working in partnership with New Milton Town Council and the Long Meadow Community Group to conserve local green spaces for wildlife and the community.  Equipment will be provided where there is a commitment to contribute data to this on-going project.   The workshop will involve a classroom session at the start, in the sea scout hut, followed by a field session on the Bunny at Long Meadow.  Please wear appropriate clothing to the weather and terrain.  The workshop leader is Dr. Naomi Ewald.
THE WORKSHOP IS FREE BUT PLACES ARE LIMITED.  BOOKING ESSENTIAL VIA EMAIL TO:
angela.peters@nflandadvice.org.uk or call 01590 646654/07880 197351

Coffee on 20th April 2013

Long Meadow Community Group invite you to come and join us for coffee in the Sea Scout Hut in Long Meadow on Saturday 20th April at 10.30 to 12.30pm.

The meeting is being called to enable all local residents who care about and wish to maintain Barton open spaces, Long Meadow and Barton Common, to come along and voice their opinions and suggestions on how we should all, as a community, work together to help maintain and protect these vital areas.

Please come along and get involved.

The first conservation day was held recently at Long Meadow, Barton on Sea by volunteers from the Long Meadow Community Group working under the guidance of Ms Angela Peters and in partnership with the New Milton Town Council.  Pathways were cleared in woodland on the northern side to make it safer and more accessible for local residents to enjoy.  Further plans include less regular cutting in certain areas of the Long Meadow to monitor resulting wildflower and insect activity with the long term aim of ensuring maximum diversity.  Volunteers will be trained to assess the impact of the change to establish how effective it is.  Detailed information on future events will be available on this website.

Published in New Milton Advertiser on Saturday 9 March 2013

More Conservation Working Party on 24 March 2013