Agenda item
Welsh Harp Management Plan (Brent)
This report presents progress on the Brent Reservoir / Welsh Harp Management Plan. The Management Plan is jointly managed by the three main local land-holding organisations: Brent Council, British Waterways, and the London Borough of Barnet.
Minutes:
This report presents progress on the Brent Reservoir / Welsh Harp Management Plan, a document jointly managed by the three main local land-holding organisations: Brent Council, British Waterways, and the London Borough of Barnet.
In his introduction the Environmental Policy Officer for Brent, Leslie Williams stated that as part of the annual review of the Management Plan, officers of the three main land-owning / managing organisations met to review the Management Plan copy of which was available on the Brent Council’s website. He outlined an Action Plan of objectives, actions and targets of priorities from the draft Management Plan that would be presented to the Committee, in a separate report from Barnet Council. These would include input from discussions that focused on the water-sports priorities and those of habitat improvements. Though the Management Plan, and the Action Plan would emphasise on land management, both would seek to highlight solutions for both recreation and the environment. Leslie Williams gave an outline of the work undertaken thus far as follows:
Management works: Coppicing to control the growth of young willows in the marshland at the edge of the Welsh Harp Open Space was undertaken during February 2010.
Weed issues: Organisations affected by the growth of weed in the water, met to plan management of the issue and concluded that the most feasible solution would appear to be weed cutting in the water, starting during early stages of the seasonal growth. He continued that if early control was delayed or weed growth became prolific, both cutting and harvesting may be required which would also involve landing the cut material at selected locations on the edge of the reservoir.
There was recognition that the work during 2010 would require a high level of resources, particularly by the Welsh Harp Sailing Association. Discussions emphasised concern about the on-going need for resources if management of weed needs was to be repeated annually in the medium-term.
For the long-term there was recognition that the underlying causes of the weed growth would need to be controlled. The related problem of alluvial deposition had reduced the depth and the area of water available for water-sports however, removal of effective quantities of alluvium would be a major and expensive operation but which may be required in the long-term.
British Waterways were continuing to lead on the three-year programme of clean-up on the southern side of the Reservoir and a Community Clean-up was also being organised by British Waterways and Thames21 on 13 March 2010. It was noted that The Environment Agency had provided advice on the issue of the management of the weed in the reservoir.
Maintenance of the Heritage Lottery Fund award project continued.
Leslie Williams also outlined other events as follows;
Brent Council Sports Service and Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre: The Healthy Walks Programme would continue to March 2011. Walks meet at the Welsh Harp Open Space car park, Birchen Grove, every Thursday (except on Bank / Public Holidays) from 10am-11am. The walks are ‘low to moderate’ in pace. For details contact Brent Council Sports Service, tel: 020 8937 3707, www. Brent.gov.uk/sports
Capital Ring: Stocks of the leaflets were available from the Parks Service.
Kingsbury Open Day: Spring Bank Holiday Monday 31 May 2010, 10.30am to 4.pm. The main organisation St. Andrew’s Church would be organising a concert in the Church at 5pm.
175 Years of Brent Reservoir”: Barnet Council’s exhibition will be displayed at the London Canal Museum, 12/13 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RT (near to King’s Cross and Camley Street). Later in the year the exhibition would be shown at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre and at the Brent Museum.
Brian Turgoose of Welsh Harp Sailing Association in giving a progress report stated that approval had been obtained for a sailing area and locations where weed could be dumped. He added that a speed boat had been purchased which was expected to be delivered in the coming weeks and GPS surveys undertaken. Brian outlined some of the issues of concern for the Association which included safety for volunteers and first aid certificate and qualifications.
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