2 minute read
HAYDON BATCH
from The Wheel
by Tina Veater
Radstock Town Council purchased Haydon Batch in December 2018. The land originally formed part of the Kilmersdon Colliery and comprises mainly carboniferous spoil part of which was landscaped and part allowed to naturally regenerate approximately 40 years ago. The area is now a mixture of overgrown open pasture and scrub woodland. To the north and south-western boundaries, the land is bounded by Waterside Brook. The area is a popular recreational site and the Town Council bought the land to ensure its preservation and continued recreational use for the residents and visitors to Radstock. Future plans include creating a nature area and declaring the land as a Local Nature Reserve. Throughout the Summer and Autumn of 2019, the Cam Valley Wildlife Group undertook numerous studies which included surveys of habitats, flora, invertebrates, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The study identified an environment rich in butterflies, flowers and other wildlife. The report went on to recommend designation of the site as a Local Nature Reserve.
As a result of the report, the Town Council will be looking into the creation of a management plan which will balance the ecology of the area alongside recreational use. In addition, the Town Council will be working in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset and the recently launched Somer Valley Rediscovered Project to open up green space to more people. Deborah Porter – Cam Valley Wildlife Trust
CLIM A R E Y O U I N T E R E S T E D I N J O I N I N G A W O R K I N G G R O U P T O D I S C U S S ATE CHANGE EMERGENCY C L I M A T E C H A N G E ? F O R F U R T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N C O N T A C T R A D S T O C K T O W N C O U N C I L ' S T O W N C L E R K
C O U N C I L @ R A D S T O C K - T C . G O V . U K O R 0 1 7 6 1 4 3 7 9 6 2
A Neighbourhood Plan for Radstock
