Hedge laying works 2025

Our hedge-laying programme is now complete for the 2024/25 winter season.

Work was undertaken to sections of hedgerow in parks and open spaces across the district to help preserve them. Sites included Newbold Comyn and Radford Road in Leamington Spa and Kettlewell Close, Makepeace Avenue and Blackbades Boulevard in Warwick. 

Hedge laying is an age-old countryside skill that has been practiced for centuries. This technique provides a vital role in preserving hedgerows which offer numerous benefits for nature by providing important refuges, food sources, and wildlife corridors. 

The process of hedge laying involves partially cutting through and bending the stems of native hedging plants or small trees near ground level - without breaking them - to encourage new growth from the base. 

Pond and scrape works 2025

The following work is due to be undertaken in February and March 2025 to protect and enhance water habitats in parks and open spaces and provide biodiversity benefits:

• Castle Farm, Kenilworth - Fencing will be installed around one of the ponds at Castle Farm to help prevent the spread of invasive weeds and better protect the habitats of Great Crested Newts and other species at this important Local Wildlife Site. 
• Kenilworth Common, Kenilworth - Restoration work to the pond that has silted up over time to make it deeper and wider and have the edge reinstated.  
• Parliament Piece, Kenilworth - Installation of a new scrape in an existing wet area. Improvement works to the smaller pond on site to include removal of self set trees, opening up one side, deepening and widening the pond, creating habitat piles (hibernaculum), creating butterfly banks and installing fencing around the pond to protect this important water habitat.
• Harbury Lane, Leamington Spa - Installation of two new scrapes and butterfly banks to the area south east of the football pitches. 
• Pottertons Field, Warwick - Installation of an additional scrape on the floodplain. 
• St Nicholas Park, Warwick - Installation of two new scrapes close to the small woodland area at the edge of the river. This is an existing wet area and the scrapes will help to drain water off pathways and hold water in the system. 
• Tapping Way open space, Warwick - Increasing the size of two existing scrapes on site and installing butterfly banks.

Scrapes, ponds and other water features provide important benefits for local wildlife by offering habitats and resources for a range of plants and animals. Ponds are usually deeper and more permanent, while scrapes are shallow areas that may only hold water for part of the year, creating temporary wetland habitats. Both ponds and scrapes are especially beneficial for species like amphibians, birds, and insects, providing places for them to breed, feed, and shelter. They also encourage the growth of water-loving plants, such as reeds and sedges, which attract pollinators and other wildlife. Scrapes help reduce flooding and improve water quality by soaking up and filtering rainwater runoff. Overall, these water habitats play an important role in creating a healthier, more sustainable environment for both people and wildlife.

Biodiversity improvements at Newbold Comyn - Spring 2025

Newbold Comyn in Leamington Spa is a much-loved green space close to the town centre, featuring a leisure centre, the former golf course and the Leam Valley Local Nature Reserve. We are delivering biodiversity improvements on the site as part of our commitment to enhance the site for wildlife following the installation of the cycle trails.

From 28th April, we will begin works to overseed some of the grassland areas within the old golf fairways to increase their habitat value. The area of grassland being enhanced is equivalent to two and a half full-sized football pitches. A specially selected seed mix of native wildflowers and meadow grasses, including common knapweed, oxeye daisy, meadow buttercup and yellow rattle, will be sown to encourage a rich and diverse meadow habitat. These plants are vital for supporting pollinating insects, invertebrates and birds. Once the meadow is established, it will be managed with an annual meadow cut. However, during the first year, it may need more frequent cutting and the grass cuttings will be left on site to create habitat piles. 

This work builds on recent planting projects at Newbold Comyn, which have included over 500 native trees, new meadow areas, and shrub planting near the 'learn to ride' area and the future cycle hub, behind the Newbold Comyn Arms pub.