Project equality.exotic.business
Stoneyfield Lane
Here at Hive Five, we live adjacent to Stoneyfield Lane, and it has a rather neglected hedgerow that I have decided to adopt.
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| Wildflower Bed 1 |
Stoneyfield Lane can be considered in three parts. Lower Stoney, from Oldbridge Way to Crompton Road. Upper Stoney, from the Bill Lane access path to Scarborough Road and Stoney Square One, between Crompton Road and Bill Lane. Project equality.exotic.business is looking after Stoney Square One.
I believe the work I am doing falls into the small-scale works definition of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 made under section 97 of the Environment Act 1995. I am basically operating under the umbrella that it is better to ask forgiveness than seek permission.
The Vision
I poop troop along Stonefield Lane twice a day every day, except holidays. As with anywhere I must dodge the dog shit left by lazy owners which when coupled with the general neglect of the Lane makes it an unpleasant experience to walk along.
Infrequent work is undertaken to thin out the trees, and the verges are mown by an F1 mower that scalps more than it cuts, spreading shredded dog poop, soda cans and other rubbish far and wide. Cut branches, mounds of grass cuttings, and years of fallen leaves prevent all but the hardiest weeds from growing.
My plan is to tidy up Square One Stoney. I will:
- Remove all the cut branches and have them removed by the council, and,
- Establish a community compost site, and,
- Create wildlife sanctuaries, and,
- Sow grass seeds, and,
- Sow wildflower seeds.
The Work so Far
I have dug over a patch of ground and sown the first wildflower seeds. I will be planting potatoes, pumpkins, asparagus, and garlic in this area too.
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| No Compost |
The compost site is established. It is carbon dense now, just a pile of dead leaves but mowing season is here, so a ready source of nitrogen will soon be available. This will be a cold compost pile; I expect results towards the end of autumn 2025.
I have cleaned up the detritus from the last council visit, it
being the bulk of the compost pile and I have removed the first pile of pruned
branches. I have a pile of wood that I will be using to create an enclosure
around the compost pile and to use in the building of wildlife habitats.
End Word
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| Community Compost Pile |
That is the plan, and it is my kind of gardening. I do not care
for the prettiness of an herbaceous border and neat edging to a lawn. I prefer
my gardens to be wild, colourful, and full of life.
I also like the physicality of the work and as I progress
towards senility, I will take any day in the outdoors with a purpose as a day
well spent.
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