Local Government
Rochford District Council
“A Walk in the Park”
...or to be more precise, “A Walk to the Park” (20th March 2011)
I have come to observe over the last six months that there is a blight over communications in respect of things happening in Rochford, however much they may be played up in reports. I have solid concrete examples that clearly say that communication in Rochford is often incredibly difficult. It may be that we live such busy lives that we miss so much of what goes on around us.
The name, ‘Cherry Orchard Lane’ has been one clearly there in the background of my consciousness for many years. The fact that there is a Park evolving there flitted around nearer a sub-conscious level, I suspect. In fact I am fairly certain that knowledge of the Park is limited to quite a small percentage of the population, but as the development of the Park is still in its early days, that is probably not a bad thing.
I have come to observe over the last six months that there is a blight over communications in respect of things happening in Rochford, however much they may be played up in reports. I have solid concrete examples that clearly say that communication in Rochford is often incredibly difficult. It may be that we live such busy lives that we miss so much of what goes on around us.
The name, ‘Cherry Orchard Lane’ has been one clearly there in the background of my consciousness for many years. The fact that there is a Park evolving there flitted around nearer a sub-
However, hearing that there was a walk last Sunday morning from Hockley Woods down to the Park, ostensibly to publicise the Park, my wife and I concluded that this would be a worthwhile venture to join. What the publicity from the Council did not mention was that it was possible to join the walk part way along at Gusted Hall, so as to limit the distance walked by about two thirds. Having had a rather strenuous day the day before, we would have appreciated that knowledge and would have probably appreciated the end result far more.
The Council’s web-site gaily declared, “We hope as many people as possible from across the area take part in this walk to see the incredible work that has gone on in Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park.” Sadly, having arrived at the lake in the park, we were offered the possibility of turning back, or of going round the lake and back the long way seeing more of what was there. About a third to half of the party of some thirty to forty people turned back at the point and my wife and I succumbed to that temptation and followed wearily home, obviously having missed “the incredible work that has gone on”. The lake on a half cloudy day was not impressive.
Now if that seems a complete down on the day, let’s see if we can now paint a more balanced picture.
Now if that seems a complete down on the day, let’s see if we can now paint a more balanced picture.
The walk, we were told, was organised by Friends of Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park along with representatives from Rochford District Council’s open spaces team, the Essex Wildlife Trust and The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The glorious sunshine from the previous day had largely deserted us and Spring was clearly in a grumpy mood when it arrived.
But walkers and outdoor people are not put off by such mundane things (I have walked in gales, pouring rain and snow, so what’s a bit of cloud?) and so, as we gathered in the car park of Hockley Woods, accompanied by about fifty dogs (a gross exaggeration), we were collected together by Graham Hutchinson, the Chairman of the ‘Friends’ group, who introduced to us some of the personnel accompanying us that morning.
Being a slow witted reporter in relaxed Sunday morning mode, I failed to switch on my Dictaphone at that point forgetting that this was a semi-work expedition and I was there to collect information for you, the reader. Never mind, I muttered to my wife, I’ll talk to individuals at the end (it was not to be so!).
Being a slow witted reporter in relaxed Sunday morning mode, I failed to switch on my Dictaphone at that point forgetting that this was a semi-
Hockley Woods was far from its best, mostly dry, occasionally squelchy under foot, mostly leafless but with buds beginning to shoot. With Graham leading we headed down hill and conversations picked up, as they do when you are meandering through woods with others. A pleasant time with an occasional pause along the way for Graham’s brother, who was accompanying us, to educate us on ‘coppicing’.
We heard how originally woodsmen would take small timbers for such things as fencing, firewood and so on. When trees are cut down many of them will grow back out from the stumps and the shoots are allowed to grow until a few years later they are harvested and used.
(The noun "coppice" means a growth of small trees or a forest coming from shoots or suckers. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppicing).
We heard how originally woodsmen would take small timbers for such things as fencing, firewood and so on. When trees are cut down many of them will grow back out from the stumps and the shoots are allowed to grow until a few years later they are harvested and used.
(The noun "coppice" means a growth of small trees or a forest coming from shoots or suckers. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppicing).
One of the spin-offs of this woodland management technique is that it lets in lots of light into the area, so that flowers would develop really well. The white flower there in the woods is the wood anemone, one that is particularly associated with woodland that has been like that for very many years, and it isn’t found in young woods. The larger trees that are left, or standards, can also be used for timber but obviously of a much larger size. These need to be taken out from time to time to prevent the wood from becoming too dense.
Eventually we broke cover at the high end of the woods where suddenly we were aware of a sharp wind blowing. The middle third of the walk took us along the edges of ploughed fields and one couldn’t help but think that the farmers hadn’t been idle over the past months. How much more interesting it is to walk slightly hilly fields stretching out over acres and acres, than it is in walking alongside the flat fields of other parts of the country. Gazing out over the countryside at the beauty that was there (even if lacking the sunshine to bring it alive) we realise afresh, Essex’s best kept secret – it is not a flat county!
Graham stirs us to pick up the pace because we have another group to meet up with who will be starting at Gusted Hall (I wasn’t told that!!!!) Coming down past the old Hall we joined up with this other group that had been waiting patiently for twenty minutes for the main party to arrive.
Graham stirs us to pick up the pace because we have another group to meet up with who will be starting at Gusted Hall (I wasn’t told that!!!!) Coming down past the old Hall we joined up with this other group that had been waiting patiently for twenty minutes for the main party to arrive.
Now the bigger party makes its way down through the woods to the little bridge at the bottom (where my wife reminded me we played ‘Pooh-sticks’ with the children when they were young). Here, crossing the bridge, we turned left into what must be one of the back entrances to the Park.
We pause up while Graham makes us face back across the bridge to the fields and woods on the other side, and explains that that is farmland recently acquired by Rochford Council, to extend the Jubilee Park right down to New England Woods.
We pause up while Graham makes us face back across the bridge to the fields and woods on the other side, and explains that that is farmland recently acquired by Rochford Council, to extend the Jubilee Park right down to New England Woods.
Sadly at this point the alternatives were presented – short cut home, back the way we came, or long way round seeing more. Although opportunity for questions is given this doesn’t seem very easy as people are already leaving and at 12.30 it seems a long haul to lunch, for those of us who don’t normally have lunch in the middle of Sunday afternoon. (What a fussy bunch we are!)
There is no doubt much more to see of the park; it was a shame the walk wasn’t designed to focus a little more on the Park rather than the walk itself. Still, no doubt there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions in the days to come. I leave my card with a couple of people and ask to be kept informed. It was a good walk, and the stops and brief talks were helpful. These people like so many we encounter are enthusiasts. It will be good because they, working with the Council for the rest of us, will ensure it is. Thank you all, and Graham especially, thank you for this day.
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There is no doubt much more to see of the park; it was a shame the walk wasn’t designed to focus a little more on the Park rather than the walk itself. Still, no doubt there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions in the days to come. I leave my card with a couple of people and ask to be kept informed. It was a good walk, and the stops and brief talks were helpful. These people like so many we encounter are enthusiasts. It will be good because they, working with the Council for the rest of us, will ensure it is. Thank you all, and Graham especially, thank you for this day.
To return to top of page, please CLICK HERE