Yeading Brook Meadows

Management Plan 2014 – 2018 Year Three

Green Flag winner 2014 Green Spaces Team

Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

1. Introduction to Yeading Brook Meadows

Yeading Brook Meadows comprise a series of neutral grassland fields located on either side of the Yeading Brook. The grasslands vary in composition as a result of variations in topography, drainage and management history, and span the range from areas of wet, regularly inundated marshy grassland to areas of comparatively dry meadowland. Of particular note are two marshy hollows which occur on the eastern side of the Brook, which support a diverse assemblage of plants including a number of rarities. Areas of tall herbaceous, scrub and hedgerow habitat also occur within the site, together with running water in the form of the Yeading Brook.

The site has been identified as being a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation by the London Ecology Unit (now the Greater London Authority) and certain areas of the site have been declared as a Local Nature Reserve. These areas have are managed by the London Wildlife Trust on behalf of the London Borough of Hillingdon on a 25 year lease.

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2. How to use this Plan

This plan provides the aims, objectives, background information, and plans for the management of Yeading Brook Meadows.

Information relating to the site’s key objectives can be found as follows:

Aim Objective

Create and maintain a welcoming site P18

Ensure the site is healthy, safe and secure P19

Ensure the site is clean and well maintained P20

Ensure sustainable management of resources P21

Appropriate management of conservation and heritage features P23

Encourage community involvement P24

Ensure effective marketing of the facility P24

Implement effective management strategies P25

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3. Table of Contents Section page 1. Introduction to Yeading Brook Meadows 2 2. How to Use This Plan 3 3. Table of Contents 4 4. Site Summary 5 Map 1 - Location of Yeading Brook Meadows in London 7 Map 2 - Aerial Photograph of Yeading Brook Meadows 8 Map 3 – Key Features of Yeading Brook Meadows 9 Access 10 Map 4 - Key points of Access to Yeading Brook Meadows 10 History 11 Topography, Geology, Hydrology and soils 11 Ecology 12 Recreational Facilities 15 Present Use 16 Management Arrangements 16 5. Vision for Yeading Brook Meadows 17 6. Site Aims and Objectives 18 7. Management Actions and Maintenance Plan 26 a) 5 Year Plan 26 b) Individual Project Outlines 28 c) Regular Maintenance Plan 36 d) Management of LWT compartments 37 Map 5 – LWT Management compartments 42 Appendices 43 Appendix A – Introduction to the London Borough of Hillingdon 44 Appendix B – Summary of annual frequencies 46 Appendix C – Annual works programme 47 Appendix D – Hay Cutting Programme and HLS Agreement 48 Appendix E – LWT Reserve Habitat Classifications 53 Appendix F – Plant Species list 54 Appendix G – Site marketing & analysis 58 Appendix H – Council Plan: commitment to Green Flag Awards 59 Appendix I – Events & marketing materials 60 Appendix J – Community Involvement 61 Appendix K – River Restoration works 2013 62 Appendix L – LWT update 2015 & 2016 66

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4. Site Summary Details Site Name Yeading Brook Meadows Address (Main Entrance) The Greenway Yeading Hayes Middlesex Postcode UB4 9HR Grid Reference NGR TQ 103 823

Size of site 50ha Ownership London Borough of Hillingdon Name of Lead Officer Alison Shipley Lead Officer’s contact details Postal: Green Spaces Team Civic Centre 4W/08 High St, Uxbridge Middlesex, UB8 1UW Phone: 01895 250 647 Fax: 01895 250 646 Email: [email protected] Date site acquired Mid 1960s PPG17 designation Open Space London Parks typology designation Open Space Access points Entrance via Kissing gate: Kingshill Avenue The Greenway Shakespeare Avenue Yeading Lane Marvell Avenue Fairholme Crescent Access – Public Transport Buses – E9, 90,140

Trains – Hayes & Harlington Station – 40mins walk

Key features Key habitats Wildflower Meadows Tussocky Grassland Wetland Ponds Rivers Secondary woodland

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Hedgerows Historic features None Horticultural features None Sporting features Basket ball court Other recreational / leisure facilities Children’s playground Ball Court Cricket Pitch Resting points 6 x park benches Other designations Site of Nature Conservation Metropolitan Importance Conservation Area No Tree preservation orders No Playground/s designations Local Area of Play

Description: Yeading Brook Meadows is a large green open space situated between Charville and Yeading, Middlesex. Bounded by Kingshill Avenue to the West, The Greenways to the North and Yeading Lane to the East, the site is divided into two by the Yeading Brook. It has diverse habitats which are great for enjoying and studying wildlife.

The site incorporates a variety of attractive features including:

 Wildflower meadows  Ponds/ditches  Woodlands/Hedgerows  a well-used children’s playground  Basketball court  Cricket pitch  Footpaths  Permissive Bridleway

The location of each of these features is shown in Map 3 (Key Features of Yeading Brook Meadows) and are easily identifiable on an aerial photograph of the site, Map 2 (Aerial Photograph of Yeading Brook Meadows).

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Map 1. Location of Yeading Brook Meadows in London

By road, Yeading Meadows is:  16 miles from the centre of London  8 miles from Heathrow airport  2 miles from the A40  6 miles from M25

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Map 2. Aerial Photograph of Yeading Brook Meadows

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Map 3. Key Features of Yeading Brook Meadows

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Access:

Yeading Brook Meadows is situated between Kingshill Road, Charville and Yeading Lane, Yeading. The site has numerous entrances in various locations for the public. Car Parking - There is a no formal car parking for this site, however there is numerous locations where off road parking is available. Buses – E9, 90,140

Map 4. Main access points at Yeading Brook Meadows.

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History:

The area was once managed as farmland and has always been wet meadows. The site was acquired by the council circa 1960 and was managed as open space. In the early 90's a section of the site was designated a Local Nature Reserve and given to the London Wildlife Trust to manage on a 25 year lease, which has recently been extended.

During the 1960's the Yeading Brook had extensive engineering works carried out to it to reduce flooding risks. This work involved straightening out the course of the river and deepening the channel, with a hawthorn hedge being planted on either side of the riverbank.

Topography, hydrology, geology and soils

Topography The original topography of the site was relatively flat, particularly in the Southern areas in the floodplain of Yeading Brook, with a slight rise towards the North

Soils The underlying geology of the park is London Clay, which locally has a depth of 50m but there is one strip adjacent to Yeading Brook, which is at the surface. The rest of the area has an overlay of a mixture of brickearths and gravels.

Hydrology and Hydrography Yeading Meadows lies within the Yeading Brook catchment, which becomes part of the River Crane downstream of the site. This a tributary of the Thames. The main course of Yeading Brook runs through the centre of the site. There are also a number of ditches which connect up to the Yeading Brook.

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Ecology

Yeading Brook Meadows forms part of a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, Metropolitan Importance, M051. This means that there would be a significant loss to the borough, in biodiversity, were this site to be developed.

The habitats present in the country park are described fully in ”Compartment Descriptions and Management Prescriptions”. Generally there are four principle types of habitat at Yeading Brook Meadows. These are

1. Grassland 2. Woodland and scrub (including hedgerows) 3. Water (Ponds and wetlands) 4. Rivers The habitats and compartments can be found on Map 2.

The predominant habitat throughout the site is grassland, although most of this is currently fairly species-poor semi-improved or amenity grassland. However there are sections, which show a more diverse range of species associated with wildflower/hay meadows such as Meadowsweet. (Filipendula ulmaria). There are 3 main areas of amenity grassland are the section adjacent to the Greenway and the Cricket pitch and also the sports pitches accessed from Kingshill Avenue. This habitat by definition receives regular, close mowing, which creates a uniform and species poor sward.

Several species of ground-nesting bird, including the Skylark (Alauda arvensis), which is a nationally declining species, depend on the less disturbed areas to breed in. Many butterflies, moths and grasshoppers also depend on the different types of grassland here, as well as shrews, rabbits, mice and voles, the latter three of which provide food for predators such as Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), Little Owl (Athene noctua) and Fox (Vulpes vulpes).

The various ditches, ponds on site are home to a large variety of aquatic life, which forms the basis of a complicated food-web including water beetles, leeches, dragonflies, fish, newts and birds such as Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) and Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis).

Woodland, hedgerows and scrub are very important habitats within the open space. They provide nesting and feeding sites for more than half of the regularly occurring bird species and are home to mammals such as Bank Voles (Clethrionomys glareola), Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvatica) and Fox. The most abundant tree species here is English Oak (Quercus robur) which supports many different kinds of insects which themselves are food for birds and bats such as Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus). The hedgerows and waterways also perform an important function as linear habitats which connect different parts of the site and allow birds, plants and insects to move easily around the open space. This means that as habitats are created or improved by management, new species will be able to colonise them quicker than would otherwise be the case.

Vegetation A habitat and vegetation survey of Yeading Brook Meadows Nature Reserve was carried out during the summer of 2003 by Barry Nicholson of the Ecology Consultancy. The survey followed standard phase 1 habitat survey methodology, as modified for Greater London by the former London Ecology Unit and adopted by the Greater London Authority (LEU 1994). The reserve was traversed on foot and constituent habitats were described and mapped and a list of plant

12 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 species compiled. Where appropriate, communities were also assigned to the relevant National Vegetation Classification (NVC) units (sensu Rodwell 1991-2000).

Habitats within each of the main component parts of the site are described in turn below. Scientific names are given at the first mention of a species – thereafter English names only are used.

The Western Meadow This is a large expanse of semi-improved neutral grassland to the west of the Yeading Brook, which is managed as a hay meadow. The predominant vegetation type in the meadow is MG1 Arrhenatherum elatius grassland. This is dominated by false oat-grass A. elatius, but also contains a variety of other grass species at lower frequency, including cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata, sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, meadow barley Hordeum secalinum, rough meadow grass Poa trivialis and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus. The sward is not species rich, but a good variety of meadow wildflowers occur overall, including tufted vetch Vicia cracca, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, wild onion Allium vineale, sorrel Rumex acetosa, grass- leaved vetchling Lathyrus nissolia, bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, red clover Trifolium pratense and yellow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, amongst others. Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium is also frequent and tall ruderal herbs such as nettle Urtica dioica and creeping thistle Cirsium arvense are patchily abundant, especially at the margins.

Damper areas occur towards the south-eastern margin and in the northern corner of the meadow and these support MG9 Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland. This is characterised by abundant Yorkshire fog and tufted hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa. Other species of damp ground such as meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and marsh foxtail Alopecurus geniculatus are occasional.

Hedgerows run along the south-eastern, south-western and north-western margins of the meadow. These are dominated by hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and blackthorn Prunus spinosa, with some ash Fraxinus excelsior, pedunculate oak Quercus robur, field maple Acer campestre and dog rose Rosa canina agg. The ground below is generally dominated by tall herbs such as nettle or cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris or by ivy Hedera helix and bramble Rubus fruiticosus agg. Ditches occur below the hedges on the south-eastern and north-western margins and these support plants such as pendulous sedge Carex pendula, yellow flag Iris pseudacorus, great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum and flote grass Glyceria fluitans. At the time of the survey the south-eastern hedge had recently been coppiced and a variety of ruderal species were growing on the disturbed ground next to it.

A belt of hawthorn and blackthorn scrub occurs along the bank of the Yeading Brook for most of its length in this section.

The Eastern Meadow This is another large area of semi-improved and improved neutral grassland, this time located to the north-west of the Yeading Brook. It contains within in it the two hollows, which are described separately below, as well as an extensive area of scrub.

The grassland was formerly managed as a mown amenity grassland and a legacy of this history is that species typical of amenity grassland are still prominent in the sward. Most of the grassland, which is now managed as a meadow, is a mosaic of MG1 Arrhenatherum elatius grassland and MG7 Lolium perenne improved grassland. The dominant grasses are creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera, perennial ryegrass, meadow barley, Yorkshire fog, false oat-grass and couch Elytrigia repens. There are also some patches of tufted hair-grass dominated MG9 Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland in the damper areas, the most extensive of

13 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 which occurs in the south-west close to the Yeading Brook. Small areas of S28 reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea swamp vegetation also occur here. The eastern meadow is less rich than the western in terms of wildflowers but does support a modest range of species, including common knapweed, meadow vetchling, bird’s-foot-trefoil, fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica, sorrel, red clover, tufted vetch and hoary ragwort Senecio erucifolius. Grass-leaved vetchling is particularly abundant in this compartment.

Scrub occurs along the banks of the Yeading Brook and is especially extensive in the north, where it forms a large block. This is generally formed of hawthorn and blackthorn, but also includes some grey willow Salix cinerea, osier S. viminalis and occasional planted trees such as Lombardy poplar Populus nigra ‘italica.’ The ground flora is generally dominated by ivy, bramble, nettle and cow parsley, though species such as cuckoo pint Arum maculatum, wood avens Geum urbanum, dog violet Viola riviniana and sweet violet V. odorata occur in the shadier areas. A flooded area in the northern scrub block (possibly the result of a blocked sewer) supports wetland plants such as trifid bur-marigold Bidens tripartita, great willowherb, bittersweet Solanum dulcamara, flote grass Glyceria fluitans and duckweed Lemna minor. Where not covered by scrub the banks of the Yeading Brook are clothed in tall herb vegetation dominated by nettle, hemlock Conium maculatum, great willowherb, and Indian balsam Impatiens glandulifera. Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum, an invasive species proscribed under Section 14 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, is also frequent. The channel of the Brook itself is shaded for the most part and, apart from occasional fennel pondweed Potamogeton pectinatus, is largely devoid of aquatic vegetation.

North Hollow This is the smaller of the two hollows. It supports a mosaic of damp grassland and swamp vegetation and is notable for the presence of a population of narrow-leaved water dropwort Oenanthe silaifolia. This is a rare plant which, prior to its discovery here in 1984, had not been recorded in the historical county of Middlesex for more than 150 years (Hare 1988). It is classified as ‘Near Threatened’ in the latest vascular plant red data list for Great Britain (Cheffings & Farrell 2005). The plant grows within a damp neutral grassland sward that conforms most closely to MG9 Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland and which is dominated by a mixture of grasses and rushes, including tufted hair-grass, creeping bent, compact rush J. conglomeratus and hard rush J. inflexus. Sharp-flowered rush Juncus acutiflorus is abundant locally, whilst other frequent species include false fox sedge Carex otrubae, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, greater bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus pedunculatus, marsh woundwort Stachys palustris and tufted vetch. Mosses carpet the ground below the grasses and herbs, amongst which the most abundant is Calliergonella cuspidata. Scattered specimens of crack willow and grey willow also grow within the area.

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South Hollow The southern hollow is subtly different in character than the northern, though again it supports a mosaic of damp grassland and swamp vegetation. The vegetation in this area appears to be a diverse mosaic of MG9 Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland, MG10 Holcus lanatus-Juncus effusus rush- pasture and MG5 Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland, though it does not conform closely to any NVC community. There are no clear dominants but prominent species include conglomerate rush, tufted hair-grass, Yorkshire fog, fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica and glaucous sedge. Michaelmas daisy Aster x versicolor is also abundant, as are saplings and seedlings of hawthorn. Amongst the more notable plants here are sneezewort Achillea ptarmica, common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and marsh marigold Caltha palustris. Mosses area again abundant and include locally uncommon species such as Aulacomnium palustre, Dicranum bonjeanii and Climacium dendroides.

Recreational Facilities:

Yeading Brook Meadows consists of amenity grass areas, picnic areas, playground facilities, basket ball court, cricket pitch and remnant farmland/hay meadows.

Yeading Brook Meadows has circular footpaths linking in with local roads. A network of formal pathways cross the site, linking the areas. The Hillingdon Trail and Dog Rose Ramble, formal trails created by the council also cross through the site.

The open grasslands and more formal parts allow a place of peace to rest and enjoy the wildlife close to the heart of the busy Hayes town centre. The playground and basketball court provide safe play environments for children of varying ages. Dog bins are present at the formal entrances.

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Present Use:

A recent survey of site users was completed at 20 London Borough of Hillingdon Green Spaces, in October 2008. The following key findings were drawn from those surveys completed at Yeading Brook Meadows in relation to the site:

The top five reasons (out of twenty-four possible answers) for people to visit the Park were: 1. To get fresh air =1 2. For a walk = 2. To visit the play area 3. Children/Family Outing = 3. To improve my health 4. To Keep fit = 4. 5. Play sports or games = 5. Walk the dog

69.23% rated the design and appearance of the park as good or very good

61.81% rated the park as fair/good or very good regarding its protection of nature and wildlife

69.23% were satisfied or very satisfied regarding their overall impression of the open space.

The only negative comment was “It feels a bit desolate here, sometimes don’t feel so safe coming here unless I am with other people.”

Other comments included the suggestion for more trees to be planted. Planting is an ongoing feature of the plan and has been implemented, but where appropriate and/or necessary. Also the need for toilets.

Some comments were made which will be considered in planning and future management, including: - Improving information available, e.g. what is on/events - The “need for café, more facilities, more entertainment”

Many comments praising the site and its management were made, for example, “Walking” “Ideal for dog-walking”

It is proposed to repeat these surveys at key Green Spaces periodically.

Management Arrangements:

Yeading Brook Meadows is owned by the London Borough of Hillingdon and is formed of various open spaces including Grange Park, The Greenway, Shakespeare Avenue open space, Belmore playing Fields and Skylark Meadows. The majority of the site is is a managed by the London Borough of Hillingdon’s Green Spaces Team (see Appendix A for Green Spaces Structure). However, Skylark Meadows and a section of the Greenway is designated a Local Nature Reserve and is managed by the London Wildlife Trust who provide management, community events programme but also provides additional elements such as wildlife surveying and publicity.

Yeading Brook Meadows is also part of the Crane Valley Project, a partnership project which is a forum consisting of various land owners and community groups adjacent to the Yeading Brook/River Crane and tackles management issues and raises awareness of the Crane Valley. Yeading Brook Meadows falls under the guidance of the following Habitat Action Plans (within the Hillingdon Biodiversity Action Plan). These give management targets for maintaining and 16 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 enhancing the borough’s biological sustainability:

 Meadows and Pastures  Parks and Amenity Grasslands  Rivers  Standing Water  Woodlands and Hedgerows

The lead contact for the site is the Countryside and Conservation Officer (South) who liaises with the Reserves Officer for the London Wildlife Trust. Specialist contractors, organised through LBH Waste Division, carry out the dog bin collections regularly.

The play area is inspected weekly by trained Park Officers. In addition, specialist playground contractors inspect quarterly, and the Council’s insurers carry out an annual, independent inspection. Any defects that may arise are reported to the relevant Green Spaces Area Officer who can implement procedures for the necessary repairs. If the equipment is found to be in an unsafe condition, it will be decommissioned with immediate effect. The Parks Officers also look for any dangerous objects (e.g. broken glass).

Community Contacts:

London Wildlife Trust - Regional Development Manager - West London - Andy Willmore Mobile: 07891004098 Landline: 02087552339 Email: [email protected]

London Wildlife Trust local volunteer group - Chair – Roger Taylor

Barnhill Residents Association – Kevin Gates

5. Vision for Yeading Brook Meadows

Our vision for Yeading Brook Meadows is

“We aim to instil a deep sense of ownership and pride in our unique open space in the heart of Yeading. Mixing active and passive recreation with nature conservation through dynamic partnerships across all communities and faiths.”

We seek to continue to protect, conserve and enhance the living landscapes, which form Yeading Brook Meadows, whilst creating an exciting and appealing site for all and ensure that the site is easily accessible to everyone. A number of key projects are planned to continue the programme of continual site improvements. For more details see section 7a. 3 -Year Plan and 7b. Individual Project Outlines.

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6. Site Aims and Objectives 6.1 Main Aims

1. Create and maintain a welcoming site 2. Ensure the site is healthy, safe and secure 3. Ensure the site is clean and well maintained 4. Ensure sustainable management of resources 5. Appropriate management of conservation and heritage features 6. Encourage community involvement 7. Ensure effective marketing of the facility 8. Implement effective management strategies

6.2 How these aims are being met and future objectives

6.2.1 Create and maintain a welcoming site

There are 11 entrances to this site, with the main entrance situated on Greenway. Entrances to the LWT managed sections have interpretational boards highlighting the wildlife found onsite. In addition to these interpretation boards installed in 2013 promoting the Crane Valley and these are essential to create a welcoming and well-maintained feel to Yeading Brook. The configuration of the site allows for visitors to be able to walk the full length of this park. There is also a public footpath Marvell Avenue to Shakespeare Avenue, which allows people to use it as a pleasant cut through rather than using the busy roads. In order to be welcoming, Yeading Brook Meadows must cater for a wide range of people’s needs whilst protecting and enhancing the wildlife. The site consists of a more formal amenity section in the East of the brook and a more natural living landscape in the South of the Brook. There is a network of pathways throughout the park, a Tarmac path runs through the centre of the park from Marvell Avenue to The Greenway and grass mown pathways run throughout the site, which compliment the natural surroundings. The combination of amenity grassland and wildflower meadows, provides a beautiful setting, with designated areas for picnics or other activities. The abundance of trees, shrubs and wildflower meadows create a diverse habitat and are home to many different species of wildlife. The Cricket pitch and play areas are a great attraction and the seating helps to make Yeading Brook Meadows welcoming. Objectives

1. Secure and standardise all access points, where applicable. 2. Maintain all boundary walls and fences as necessary. 3. Maintain footpaths as necessary. 4. Install and maintain new interpretive signage. 5. Maintenance and provision of site furniture where appropriate.

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6.2.2 Ensure the site is healthy, safe and secure

Healthy

The site provides the opportunity for passive and active recreation, e.g cricket. The cricket pitch can be used by anyone. People may also use the mown pathways on site as part of a walking or jogging route. The playground area provides children with activity. Play areas are inspected weekly by trained Park Officers. In addition, specialist playground contractors inspect quarterly, and the Council’s insurers carry out an annual, independent inspection. Any defects that may arise are reported to the relevant Green Spaces Area Officer who can implement procedures for the necessary repairs. If the equipment is found to be in an unsafe condition, it will be decommissioned with immediate effect. The Parks Officers also look for any dangerous objects (e.g. broken glass). The LBH park byelaws (a copy of which can be obtained from LBH Green Spaces) apply to Yeading Brook Meadows and are enforced by the Council Officers and members of the Enforcement team when necessary. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), the LBH is responsible for ensuring, so far as practical, the health and safety of employees, contractors and visitors whilst conducting all involved activities. As such, it is important to LBH and all staff and contractors are aware of their respective obligations. Details can be found from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or on LBH web pages (www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=6837). This includes a link to the guidelines for reporting incidents and RIDDOR, the HSE incident reporting scheme. Risk assessment policy states the procedures necessary to comply with the Act. Safe and Secure

Generally the site is not heavily vandalised and anti social behaviour does not regularly affect the park.

Issues are also dealt with by our Enforcement Team. If a pattern of anti-social behavior is noted, good relationships have been established with the local Police and Safer Neighbourhood Officers who can be called upon to assist.

Any safety issues identified are dealt with as and when appropriate.

Park Officer Team

The park rarely suffers from severe vandalism but low-level anti-social behaviour occurs from time to time. This generally includes graffiti, litter and broken glass caused by smashed bottles. The council’s Park Officers fall under the umbrella of the council’s Green Spaces Team, which manages the park. The Park Officers provide a park-keeping facility and enhance the security of the park and its visitors. The Team carries out daily checks so that any defects, such as graffiti, are dealt with quickly. In many cases the Park Officers will deal with urgent problems (such as broken glass) there and then. The Park Officers’ role includes: - Undertaking regular visits to the park and reporting as necessary - Basic maintenance of park equipment and facilities - Non-specialist horticultural work and litter picking - Regular inspection of playgrounds - Identifying acts of vandalism and submitting reports. - Investigating and gathering information on accidents etc. - Responding quickly and effectively to public complaints. 19 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

- Locking designated parks at night. - Minor Tree maintenance works - practical conservation works Objectives

1. Undertake a regular cleaning regime to remove litter, and respond quickly to fly tipping. 2. Continue to implement Health and Safety policies. 3. When appropriate, ensure that people using the park are aware of the relevant bylaws. 4. Continue to encourage residents to value the park, through involvement with local groups. 5. Ensure residents feel more engaged by informing them of upcoming events on site notice boards.

More serious anti-social behaviour is very rare at Yeading Brook Meadows but may need to be addressed by other agencies such as the police or the council’s Enforcement Team.

The Enforcement Team is responsible for dealing with a range of issues including noise, dog fouling, motor bikes, horse riding and fly tipping. Although this team is not on the premises on a regular basis, they are able to respond quickly to any reports that require their attention.

Police Community Support Officers regularly attend Friends and residents groups and are kept up to date with any local issues of concern. On occasion, drug-related debris has been found on site and the PCSOs have been very helpful in dealing with those responsible for it.

6.2.3 Ensure the site is clean and well maintained

Yeading Brook Meadows is maintained by the borough’s maintenance contractor. All works are carried out in line with the detailed specification which provides clear definition of the standards and quantity of work required, a summary of which can be found in appendix B. The Countryside and Conservation Officer reports any areas of maintenance needed and carrying out maintenance or other tasks not covered by the grounds maintenance team. This includes arranging minor maintenance tasks required using volunteer work parties and also reports any graffiti to the councils graffiti service (which operates five days a week). Broken glass, litter and other issues are also dealt with during these daily inspections. There are a number of litter bins, around the site, which assist visitors in keeping the area clean. The litter bins are emptied weekly by the contractor in line with the specification. Litter collection is also carried out prior to mowing. In this way, littering is kept to a minimum. Dog fouling bins are provided on site and are emptied weekly. The Park Officers and the Countryside and Conservation Officer monitors this and reports if extra emptying is required. The guidelines on allowing dogs within parks and open spaces are covered within the byelaws. The Enforcement Team can advise dog owners of their responsibility when visiting the park. In addition to this, the Enforcement Team are empowered to issue dog fouling tickets in line with the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996. Although the present arrangements mean that Yeading Brook Meadows is kept clean, tidy and presentable, further improvements can be made. The improvements will be centred on areas, which often do not look as well maintained as the rest of the park. For example, maintaining the park boundary along the Kingshill Avenue and Yeading Lane, which are litter ho tspot due to the bus stops on this section of the road.

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Objectives 1. Strive to improve current maintenance arrangements. 2. Enhance maintenance regimes where practical. 3. Encourage the continued involvement local residents and LWT local Vols. 4. Carry out a programme of improvements.

6.2.4 Ensure sustainable management of resources

The London Borough of Hillingdon recognises and is aware of the need to minimise adverse impact on the environment, and agrees with the principles of waste minimisation as defined in Local Agenda 21. LBH, therefore, actively pursues ways of delivering sustainable development and ensuring environmental sustainability is a vital part of this. The Council has signed up to the peat charter, and discourages the use of peat-based products in its horticultural work. Maintenance agreements discourage the use of pesticides and herbicides on the site, a stance that has environmental and financial benefits. In specific reference to Yeading Brook Meadows, maintenance agreements discourage the use of pesticides and herbicides on the site, a stance that has environmental and financial benefits. Therefore, other methods of pest control are utilised, and, where possible, non-herbicidal weed control is carried out. Where it is absolutely necessary, the contractor will use non-residual herbicide applications (e.g. glyphosate), to reduce environmental impact. Also, where they are used, herbicides are applied as spot treatment rather than blanket sprayed, and all operatives are trained and certified for that particular operation. All green waste created by the grounds maintenance contractor is recycled off-site. This ensures waste minimisation. Tree trimmings are also recycled by the borough’s term tree maintenance contractor. All new plantings are being devised to limit the need for watering and our contractor is looking at ways to minimise the use of carbon fuels. It is most important that we are seen to ‘practice what we preach’ and maintain high standards of sustainable management that demonstrate our awareness of environmental, conservation and resource issues. We therefore seek to actively research and promote new initiatives in the field of sustainable resource management. ‘A Green Flag Park must have a management plan or strategy in place which reflects the aspirations of agenda 21 and clearly and adequately addresses all the above criteria’ (ISPAL, formerly LAM).

The London Borough of Hillingdon has recently (Dec 2008) released a draft Climate Strategy for consultation. This can be found at: http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/media/pdf/j/j/Climate_change_consultation_complete.pdf

This has been formally adopted (April 2009). These policies will be embedded in site management processes. The LBH Green Spaces team is responsible for Yeading Brook Meadows management and is committed to continue improving the site over the next five years. It is managed according to Green Spaces standards as summarized in the Site Summary. The staff structure as already described outlines how this works and how management is kept effective. The Countryside and 21 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

Conservation Officer is responsible for the day-to-day management, and the Green Spaces grounds maintenance team and various other contractors carry out the majority of the maintenance works. All are under the charge of the Area Manager. The areas managed by London wildlife Trust are managed by the Reserves Officer who is directly under the

Effective management of the site will be through staff engagement and involvement. Site staff will be involved in the planning process as they are an integral component of the site and important for its smooth running. Each year a Performance and Development Appraisal is completed for each staff member, which helps them to achieve set objectives for learning and this also applies to staff employed through contractors. The Green Flag assessment process itself will also ensure further enhancement as it is a means for review of the management and will be used to encourage new thinking and to guide dynamic and adaptable management. The following management operations outline the effective management plan in place for Yeading Meadows and, through them, we will carry through the effective management of the site. Other works are ongoing and improvements are continual as described throughout but the projects outlined are the major planned works essential to the upkeep of the site.

Objectives

1. Continue to minimize the application of pesticides and where possible encourage the use of physical /cultural forms of weed control. 2. Where possible encourage the use of physical / cultural forms of weed control. 3. Continue to recycle and re-use hay cuttings. 4. Carry out regular reviews of all management operations and projects. 5. Learn from past vandalism to minimize repairs and associated material use. 6. Ensure robust designs are used for new furniture. 7. Identify potential sources of appropriate funding. 8. Continue to promote waste minimization. 9. Plan long-term management for all features of the park. 10. Ensure efficient use of resources. 11. Develop and promote resource Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort at Yeading conservation and sustainable Brook Meadows. development.

22 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

6.2.5 Appropriate management of conservation and heritage features

‘Particular attention should be paid to the conservation and appropriate management of natural features, wildlife and fauna, landscape features, buildings and structural features’ (ISPAL, formerly ILAM). Yeading Brook Meadows is home to many species of flora and fauna that are rightly appreciated by the site users. The last five-year management plan was very good in creating continuous and appropriate management, but was specific to the LWT reserve. This has enabled wildlife to flourish and improve. The management of the grasslands includes rotational cutting, annual cutting which will improve diversity also leaving areas permanently uncut for invertebrates and over-wintering Skylark cover.

The site is designated a Site of Nature Conservation Metropolitan Importance.

As this site was originally farmland many of the originally field boundaries remain, including old ditches. The importance of green spaces for conservation of wildlife is understood, and they naturally provide habitats that are not normally available in urban surroundings.

Therefore, Yeading Brook Meadows, through its very nature of being a green space, is home to flora and fauna as detailed earlier. Ongoing survey works will be carried out to ensure that management techniques in place are effective and that breeding skylarks are protected and other wildlife has a safe area for breeding and foraging. Funding was secured by LWT through Veolia in 2013, for a restoration project on the Yeading Brook which included installation of faggots, deflectors and gravels. A full programme of works can be found in Appendix K. We are currently in the planning stage of an additional restoration project which will include further river enhancements such as creation of back waters, deflectors and bank restoration.

Objectives

1. Maintain the pond, wildlife grasslands, hedgerows and scrub area for nature conservation. 2. Monitor and adjust management accordingly. 3. Control invasive species esp. Giant Hogweed. 4. Consider further meadow diversification. 5. Conserve existing field structures. 6. Consider further hedgerow gapping up. 7. Continue with ongoing surveys. 8. Improve biodiversity of all habitats. 9. River restoration

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6.2.6 Encourage community involvement

‘Management should actively pursue the involvement of members of the community who represent as many of the park user groups as possible’ (ISPAL, formerly ILAM).

Currently Yeading Brook Meadows does not have an exisiting Friends of Group, however local representatives do attend the Yeading Valley working party which meets quarterly and address issues facing sites located along the Yeading Brook. The local London Wildlife Trust volunteers hold quarterly meetings to discuss management and issues relating to all Hillingdon owned reserves, including Yeading Brook Meadows. This level of community involvement and commitment to the site’s management is an indispensable asset to its future success

The Countryside and Conservation Officer organizes various events in liaison with the Crane Valley Project Officer and LWT Regional Development Manager.

The site is popular with local residents as shown by the site user survey (see section 4); people come to the park for many reasons and most were either satisfied or very satisfied with it. The local LWT Volunteer group assist with this type of community involvement is important for feeding back comments, complaints or suggestions about the site. London Wildlife Trust provides a Nature Reserves Manager and a Reserve Officer as well a providing the Crane Valley Project officer which was funded via Heritage lottery fund for 3years which ran from 2011 - 2014 and was primarily to establish links with a variety of schools and community groups and will continue to encourage their interest. Various community events have taken place at Yeading Meadows including the River Festival hosted by London Wildlife Trust and regular events including guided walks and talks

Objectives

1. Look to set up a Friends Group. 2. Set up an annual Country Fair/Community Festival. 3. Look for further ways to increase dedicated community support for Yeading Brook Meadows. 4. Continue to work LWT local Volunteer Group and Reserve staff. 5. Improve joint working with local voluntary groups. 6. Further promotion of the site and its importance to schools, youth and community groups.

6.2.7 Ensure effective marketing of the facility

Yeading Brook Meadows is featured on both the council’s website and the London Wildlife Trusts website and includes information on site facilities, activities, site directions, wildlife found at the site and its history.

The management plan is available online on the council’s website, making it more accessible to all. The LBH also has a map featuring all of its sites on the green spaces web page.

Events are advertised on various websites, Hayes FM, a local radio station and in the local newspaper.

In order to ensure that the local community and the general park users are aware of what is going on in the park, it is essential that a supply of information is available throughout the year. This information will be presented in a variety of different ways and will seek to encourage

24 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 understanding and awareness of Yeading Brook Meadows itself and the wider remit of the Council. The sign boards at various entrances and locations within the park further enhance the marketing of the site. Both LBH and LWT staff are provided with a uniform which enables the public to identify them as staff so that the public knows who to approach for further information or queries about the park.

Objectives 1. Preparation of interpretive materials for the park. 2. Promote the park through press releases and continue links with local radio station 3. Attend local community events e.g. Hayes and Harlington Youth Partnership

6.2.8 Implement effective management strategies

The site has been owned and managed by the London Borough of Hillingdon since the 1960s. However, until relatively recently, the upkeep and management of the site was not well organised, due to a lack of funding for parks. Now, the LBH Green Spaces team is responsible for this and all other borough green spaces as outlined in the Site Summary (p5). The staff structure (in Appendix A) outlines how this works and how management is kept effective; the Countryside and Conservation Officer is responsible for daily management, and most maintenance works are carried out by the Park Officers, Grounds maintenance team and other contractors. All are under charge of the Countryside & Conservation Officer and ultimately the Area Manager. The management operations outlined in the following pages, including several improvement projects along with the regular maintenance regime, outline the effective management plan in place for Yeading Brook Meadows and, through them, we will carry out the effective management of the site in close liaison with the London Wildlife Trust for the areas managed by them. Furthermore the site’s management is kept effective through staff engagement and involvement. The on-site staff are an integral component of the site and important for its smooth running and, each year a Performance and Development Appraisal is completed for each staff member, which helps them to achieve set objectives for learning and development. Finally, the Green Flag assessment process will ensure further enhancement, as it is a means for review of the management and will be used to encourage new thinking and to guide dynamic and adaptable management, as well as attracting publicity and interest.

Objectives

1. Use sustainable management strategies and methods as described in section 6.2.4 2. Carry out regular reviews of all management operations and projects. 3. Identify potential sources of appropriate funding.

25 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

7. Management Actions and Maintenance Plan

7a) 5 Year Plan

The following is a quick reference to the planned timing of the management operations in the five-year period 2014 - 2018. The exact timing of given project may be subject to availability of funding being secured. Consequently there is potential for some movement of projects from year to year.

Year Project

2014 YBM - 1 Remove trees, Blackthorn and Brambles from grasslands to restore fully to open meadowland. YBM - 2 Create Skylark squares YBM - 3 Species Surveying and Monitoring YBM - 4 Information & Interpretation Boards YBM - 5 Installation of Kissing Gates YBM - 6 Installation of Litter Bins YBM - 7 Restoration of Yeading Brook YBM - 8 Site User Survey YBM - 10 Installation of additional Benches YBM - 12 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Volunteers & Scientific Research YBM - 13 Ditch Restoration

2015 YBM - 1 Remove trees, Blackthorn and Brambles from grasslands to restore fully to open meadowland. YBM - 2 Create Skylark squares YBM - 3 Species Surveying and Monitoring YBM - 4 Information & Interpretation Boards YBM - 8 Site User Survey YBM - 9 Promotional Leaflets YBM - 12 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Volunteers & Scientific Research YBM - 13 Ditch Restoration

2016 YBM - 1 Remove trees, Blackthorn and Brambles from grasslands to restore fully to open meadowland. YBM - 2 Create Skylark squares YBM - 3 Species Surveying and Monitoring YBM - 4 Information & Interpretation Boards YBM - 8 Site User Survey YBM - 9 Promotional Leaflets YBM - 11 Interpretation: ‘Walk Yeading Meadows’ Project

26 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

YBM - 12 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Volunteers & Scientific Research YBM - 13 Ditch Restoration

2017 YBM - 1 Remove trees, Blackthorn and Brambles from grasslands to restore fully to open meadowland. YBM - 2 Create Skylark squares YBM - 3 Species Surveying and Monitoring YBM - 4 Information & Interpretation Boards YBM - 8 Site User Survey YBM - 9 Promotional Leaflets YBM - 11 Interpretation: ‘Walk Yeading Meadows’ Project YBM - 12 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Volunteers & Scientific Research YBM - 13 Ditch Restoration

2018 YBM - 1 Remove trees, Blackthorn and Brambles from grasslands to restore fully to open meadowland. YBM - 2 Create Skylark squares YBM - 3 Species Surveying and Monitoring YBM - 4 Information & Interpretation Boards YBM - 8 Site User Survey YBM - 12 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Volunteers & Scientific Research YBM - 13 Ditch Restoration

27 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

7b) Individual Project Outlines

The following pages contain a brief project outline for each of the projects listed in 7a. These provide not only descriptions of the projects, but also the rationale behind them, when the works are likely to be carried out, by whom, and how much they are likely to cost.

Project: YBM - 1 Remove trees, Blackthorn and Brambles from grasslands to restore fully to open meadowland.

Summary: Removal of scrub from meadows

Rationale: To maintain existing meadows the need to remove any scrub encroachment and tree suckers is required

Constraints: None

Who will do it? Staff; Blue Sky

Budget Estimate: Within existing Budget constraints

Project update This is ongoing and some areas are now included in the HLS agreement 2016 and will be managed through annual hay cut and clear and/or grazing.

Project: YBM - 2 Create Skylark squares (as per RSPB’s SAFFIE research material). Summary: Create bare patches of soil to increase foraging areas for various Bird species.

Rationale: The combination of providing traditional farmland habitat and Skylark squares will increase the availability of foraging area for Skylark during the breeding season and seed for over wintering flocks of Linnets (Carduelis cannabina), Skylark, Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) and Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis). Squares of between 16 and 24 square metres are created either by treating existing vegetation with Glyphosate or turning the seed drill off during sowing. The bare patches provide safe foraging and breeding havens and have been proven to increase the number of Skylark broods during the breeding season. Placing two per hectare away from field edges and tramlines has yielded significant benefits.

Constraints: Nil

Who will do it? Contractors

Budget Estimate: Within existing resources

Project update This has yet to be done 2016

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Project: YBM - 3 Species Surveying and Monitoring

Summary: Update species surveys and create concise and extensive database Plants surveys were carried out in 2003 and slow worm surveys were started in 2011 Sections of Yeading Brook Meadows has been extensively surveyed over the past years, entire site needs to be surveyed. Rationale: To include: Annual: Odonata; Skylark survey – requires method update & records analysed. Bat surveys. Weekly: Bird Survey; Butterfly Transect

Constraints:

Who will do it? Staff; Volunteers; Specialist contractors

Budget Estimate: £1,150

Project update this is ongoing and regular surveys to be established 2016 river fly survey takes place monthly to monitor river water quality

29 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

Project: YBM - 4 Information & Interpretation Boards

Summary: Design and produce interpretation boards for entrance points and points of interest.

Rationale: a) Produce interpretation boards for each access point.

b) Place various species/habitat information/identification interpretation boards at various locations - to be identified.

Constraints: Reliant on funding

Who will do it? Staff; Contractors

Budget Estimate: 5k

Project update Interpretation boards were installed in 2014 in various locations around the site 2016 which were funded by the Crane Valley HLF bid.

30 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

Project: YBM - 5 Installation of Kissing Gates:

Summary: Install DDA kissing gates in several location

Rationale: To improve access to the site whilst improving site security.

Constraints: All materials used should be hard wearing and long lasting

Who will do it? Staff; Contractors

Budget Estimate: £5,000 – Grant monies secured via Chrysalis fund

Project update 2 new kissing gates were installed November 2015 2016

Project: YBM - 6 Installation of Litter Bins:

Summary: Install litter bins in several locations where litter is an issue

Rationale: This will prevent littering in certain locations and improve site

Constraints: All materials used should be hard wearing and long lasting

Who will do it? Staff; Contractors

Budget Estimate: £5,000 – Grant monies secured via Chrysalis fund

£5k was secured through Council's chrysalis fund and 3 bins were installed around the site 2014.

Project update 2016

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Project: YBM - 7 Restoration of Yeading Brook

Summary: Improvements/restoration of banks to improve condition of river, installation of faggots and deflectors, creation of back waters, gravel deposits.

Rationale: Pursue links with Environment Agency to develop improved stream profile, substrate and bank side vegetation. Currently 27k available but LWT are applying for grant to Veolia for additional monies.

Constraints: Reliant on grant monies from EA and Veolia

Who will do it? Staff; Contractors; LWT

Budget Estimate: £27k plus

Project update Further monies from Veolia were secured by LWT and project works 2016 commenced in winter 2014 - please see Appendix K Final stage now is to repair Thames Water Outfall

Project: YBM - 8 Site User Survey

Summary: A survey of as many site users as possible will be conducted using the Resident survey form.

Rationale: As part of a larger survey at sites across the borough, the information collected will be used to guide future management decisions.

Constraints: Nil

Who will do it? Green Spaces Area Officer; Friends of group; Park Officers; volunteers; LWT

Budget Estimate: Within existing resources

Project update This has yet to be done 2016

32 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

Project: YBM - 9 Promotional Leaflets

Summary: Production of a range of information leaflets additional to the Crane Valley Leaflet.

Rationale: A range of information leaflets will enhance the experience of site visitors, as well as attract new visitors. Topics could include:  History of the site  Nature trail  walks  Activity trail Constraints: Need to work with Council’s Corporate Communications Team

Who will do it? Local History Society, Council Officers; LWT

Budget Estimate: £3,000

Project update Funding will need to be secured 2015

Project: YBM - 10 Installation of additional Benches

Summary: Install wooden carved benches depicting species on site

Rationale: To design and create 2 wooden benches which are carved with species associated with meadows and river. Constraints: Part of the Crane valley project

Who will do it? LWT; contractors

Budget Estimate: £3,000

Project update 2014 - 2 large Oak Carved benches were installed - 1 in Greenway and 1 2016 in Skylark Meadows through monies secured in the Crane Valley HLF

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Project: YBM - 11 Interpretation: ‘Walk Yeading Meadows’ Project

Yeading Brook Meadows has a good network of made and unmade paths with opportunities for increasing ease of use to the public. At present very few visitors know the entire geography of the open space. Summary: This is partly owing to the lack of information usually provided via interpretation boards which indicate the visitor’s various options for walking. The purpose of this project is to provide visitors with the information they need to use the existing paths and increase their enjoyment of the features that the site has to offer. At the same time, the project will have education at its core, enabling visitors to learn about the wildlife and landscape features that can be seen during their visit. There is also considerable scope for using including local history and art to help the visitor experience a ‘sense of place’ as they discover the part that Yeading Brook Meadows has played in the local landscape.

Walk Yeading Brook Meadows will comprise the following elements: Rationale:  Establish trails with varying lengths and difficulties leading from paths adjacent to playground and car park. Establish as marked routes on interpretation boards. Name landmarks e.g. Skylark field, using historical connections if available.  Develop the above walks for health in association with Active Hillingdon  Develop walks for the deaf and blind with signing if possible & launch as a pioneering project  Launch project with supporting leaflets & interpretation activities. Distribute in libraries etc. Constraints: Reliant on funding

Who will do it? Staff; Volunteers

Budget Estimate: £5,000

It is possible that this could form part of the Physical Activity Strategy Project update which may have £2million available for projects. This to be followed up. 2016 Funding is yet to be identified and secured.

34 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

Project: YBM - 12 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Volunteers & Scientific Research

Summary: To improve community outreach.

Rationale: a) Establish volunteers to assist with habitat management, wildlife surveying, events, general park duties etc. Local contacts include Brunel University and Capel Manor.

b) Make links with Brunel University regarding possibilities for student project work.

c) Continue to cultivate links locally especially via local churches in the Hayes/Yeading area, Hillingdon Association for Volunteer Services (HAVS) and London Borough of Hillingdon generally.

Constraints: Nil

Who will do it? Staff

Budget Estimate: Within existing budget constraints

Project update Continued liaison with Barnhill community college for this year's Green 2015 day. LWT establish a regular volunteer session for River restoration project as well as gaining funding for training with practical sessions taking place at Yeading Meadows including river restoration works.

Project: YBM - 13 Ditch Restoration

Summary: Restore ditches on site

Rationale: To restore ditches by removing vegetation, opening up and removal of litter

Constraints: Nil

Who will do it? Staff

Budget Estimate: Within existing budget constraints

Project update Works have been carried out in Jan Feb 2015 which included cutting back 2016 the encroaching bramble to enable easier access to the ditch, cutting back fallen trees and vegetation from the ditch to enable flow and removal of dumped rubbish within the ditch.

This will be continued annually to prevent flooding.

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7c) Regular Maintenance Plan

In addition to the regular maintenance of the site, as outlined in the Site Grounds Maintenance programme (see Appendix C), the following actions shall be undertaken on an ongoing basis:

 Undertake regular cleaning regime to remove litter

 Continue to implement Health and Safety Policies

 Ensure that park users are aware of relevant byelaws

 Continue to encourage users to value Yeading Brook Meadows

 Enhance maintenance regimes where practical

 Encourage the involvement of the Friends of and Resident’s Association.

 Continue to promote waste minimisation on sites

 Continue to minimise the application of herbicides

 Where possible encourage the use of cultural forms of weed control

 Continue to recycle and re-use organic matter generated on site.

 Develop and promote resource conservation and sustainable development

 Conserve existing hedgerows and boundaries

 Carry out regular reviews of all management operations and projects

 Identify new sources of funding and secure.

Higher Level Stewardship Agreement –

Higher level stewardship agreement has been in place for the LWT sections of the site since Dec 2012 and is now in place for the LBH sections as of Dec 2013 and certain areas of the park is included in this for management as wildflower meadows to be cut and cleared annually and some areas will also be fenced and grazed with cattle.

Please see appendix D for map showing areas and management regime.

36 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

7d) Management of LWT Nature reserve

Compartment 1 Description This is located in the northern part of the reserve on the eastern side Yeading Brook. It consists of a flooded area of grassland (Sub-compartment 1a) and a dense block of scrub (Sub- compartment 1b).

1a supports wetland plants such as trifid bur-marigold, great willowherb, bittersweet, flote grass and duckweed. Some scattered scrub has developed through the area.

1b is dominated by hawthorn and blackthorn, but also includes some grey willow, osier and other scrub/tree species. The ground flora is generally dominated by ivy, bramble, nettle and cow parsley. The area is used extensively by local children and quite a lot of rubbish has accumulated.

Management One third of the grassland in 1a should be cut each year in the late summer/autumn. The cutting should take place at a height of approximately 10cm and the arisings should be raked off and stacked in suitable spots in the adjacent scrub as habitat piles for invertebrates, over wintering reptiles and amphibians, etc.

The scrub management should consist mainly of non-intervention, except for any work necessary to make trees safe. At present most trees appear to be in a safe condition but the woodland should be inspected annually by a qualified arboriculturalist to ensure the trees on the boundaries and near paths are safe. Any dangerous trees should be made safe as soon as possible. When this is done due regard should be made to the policy on dead wood (see above). Consequently trees should be made safe by removing limbs etc. if possible rather than felling the entire tree. All brash and timber should be retained on site in suitable places. The accumulated rubbish should be removed as a matter of priority and regular litter clearance carried out in future.

Compartment 2 Description This is North Hollow. It supports a mosaic of damp grassland and swamp vegetation most notable for the presence of a population of the rare narrow-leaved water dropwort. The sward is dominated by a mixture of grasses and rushes, including tufted hair-grass, creeping bent, compact rush and hard rush. Sharp-flowered rush is abundant locally, whilst other frequent species include false fox sedge, meadowsweet, greater bird’s-foot-trefoil, marsh woundwort and tufted vetch. Mosses carpet the ground below the grasses and herbs, amongst which the most abundant is Calliergonella cuspidata. Scattered specimens of crack willow and grey willow also grow within the area.

Management The Compartment is split into 3 sub-compartments, 2a, 2b and 2c. One sub-compartment should be cut each year in the late summer/autumn. The cutting should take place at a height of approximately 10cm and the arisings should be raked off and stacked in suitable spots in the adjacent scrub and/or woodland as habitat piles for invertebrates, over wintering reptiles and amphibians, etc.

This management will hopefully maintain the species richness of the grassland whist still controlling the spread of the adjacent scrub and development of brambles etc. 37 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

Compartment 3 Description This is the South Hollow. It is subtly different in character than the northern, though again it supports a mosaic of damp grassland and swamp vegetation. There are no clear dominants but prominent species include conglomerate rush, tufted hair-grass, Yorkshire fog, fleabane and glaucous sedge. Michaelmas daisy is also abundant, as are saplings and seedlings of hawthorn. Amongst the more notable plants here are sneezewort, common spotted orchid and marsh marigold. Mosses area again abundant and include locally uncommon species such as Aulacomnium palustre, Dicranum bonjeanii and Climacium dendroides.

The Michaelmas daisy has increased abundance in recent years suggesting that the hollow may be drying out leading to a change in the vegetation composition.

3d is a narrow scrub belt separating the hollow from the adjacent grassland.

Management The Compartment is split into 3 sub-compartments, 3a, 3b and 3c. One sub-compartment should be cut each year in the late summer/autumn. The cutting should take place at a height of approximately 10cm and the arisings should be raked off and stacked in suitable spots in the adjacent scrub and/or woodland as habitat piles for invertebrates, over wintering reptiles and amphibians, etc.

This management will hopefully maintain the species richness of the grassland whist still controlling the spread of the adjacent scrub and development of brambles etc.

The hollow is fed with water when the river level is high. The water then drains back into the river shallow ditch at the southern corner. It is suggested that this ditch be blocked to keep the water in the hollow for longer periods of time. This will hopefully maintain damper conditions and help to reduce the Michaelmas daisy.

3d should be maintained as a scrub belt to screen the hollow. Management should be non- intervention.

Compartment 4 Description This is the main Eastern Meadow. The grassland was formerly managed as a mown amenity grassland and a legacy of this history is that species typical of amenity grassland are still prominent in the sward. Most of the grassland, which is now managed as a meadow, is a mosaic of MG1 Arrhenatherum elatius grassland and MG7 Lolium perenne improved grassland. The dominant grasses are creeping bent, perennial ryegrass, meadow barley, Yorkshire fog, false oat-grass and couch. There are also some patches of tufted hair-grass dominated grassland in the damper areas, the most extensive of which occurs in the south-west close to the Yeading Brook. Small areas of reed canary grass swamp vegetation also occur here. The eastern meadow is less rich than the western in terms of wildflowers but does support a modest range of species, including common knapweed, meadow vetchling, bird’s-foot-trefoil, fleabane, sorrel, red clover, tufted vetch and hoary ragwort. Grass-leaved vetchling is particularly abundant in this compartment.

Management The compartment has been managed for a number of years by Hillingdon Council as a hay meadow. This involves cutting the grassland once per year in July and removing the hay. This management has helped to diversify the vegetation species diversity and should be continued

38 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

Compartment 5 Description This is the main western Meadow. It is a large expanse of semi-improved neutral grassland to the west of the Yeading Brook, which is managed as a hay meadow in the same way as Compartment 4. The predominant vegetation type in the meadow is MG1 Arrhenatherum elatius grassland. This is dominated by false oat-grass, but also contains a variety of other grass species at lower frequency, including cock’s-foot, sweet vernal grass, meadow barley, rough meadow grass and Yorkshire fog. The sward is not species rich, but is more diverse than that in Compartment 4 and a good variety of meadow wildflowers occur overall, including tufted vetch, common knapweed, wild onion, sorrel, grass-leaved vetchling, bird’s-foot-trefoil, red clover and yellow vetchling, amongst others. Hogweed is also frequent and tall ruderal herbs such as nettle and creeping thistle are patchily abundant, especially at the margins.

Damper areas occur in the northern corner (Sub-compartment 5a) and towards the south- eastern margin (Sub-compartment 5b) which support MG9 Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland. This is characterised by abundant Yorkshire fog and tufted hair-grass. Other species of damp ground such as meadowsweet and marsh foxtail geniculatus are occasional.

Hedgerows run along the south-eastern, south-western and north-western margins of the meadow. These have become very overgrown and are now really dense strips of scrub rather than hedges. They are dominated by hawthorn and blackthorn, with some ash, pedunculate oak, field maple and dog rose. The ground below is generally dominated by tall herbs such as nettle or cow parsley or by ivy and bramble. Ditches occur below the hedges on the south- eastern and north-western margins and these support plants such as pendulous sedge, yellow flag, great willowherb and flote grass.

Two linear damp hollows in the northern half of the Western Meadow mark the line of old ditches which are now silted up.

Wooden posts are situated around the perimeter of the grassland marking a route for horse riders.

A path enters the reserve at the western corner from the access road behind adjacent housing. This crosses a bridge which is in very poor condition and dangerous.

Management As with compartment 4 the meadow has been managed for a number of years by Hillingdon Council as a hay meadow. This involves cutting the grassland once per year in July and removing the hay. This management has helped to diversify the vegetation species diversity and should be continued. However cutting the entire area each year does not leave any areas for over wintering invertebrates, reptiles etc. Therefore some areas should be left uncut each year on a rotation. Sub-compartments 5a and 5b should be managed in this way with one of them cut and raked each year in July at the same time as the bulk of the grassland. These areas are damper and have more tussocks which give a greater structural diversity. They are therefore likely to be good places for hibernating reptiles and amphibians

The hedges could be restored by coppicing and/or hedge laying but this would be a major and costly exercise. Instead it is recommended that they are managed as scrub belts by leaving them to mature but preventing spread into the adjacent grassland by cutting.

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It would be desirable to re-excavate the two dried up ditches out to create wet areas which would then colonise with damp loving plants. Once re-established they should be cleared periodically to ensure they do not dry out again.

The horse rider path should be mown regularly during the growing season to encourage riders to use it rather than make new paths through the meadow.

The bridge at the western corner should be replaced as a matter of priority.

Compartment 6 Description This is a belt of hawthorn and blackthorn scrub which occurs along the western bank of the Yeading Brook for most of its length through the reserve. The scrub along a section of river bank approximately 20m long was coppiced in 2006/07.

Management A further 20m section of the scrub should be coppiced each year in the winter. This will allow more light to reach the river and hopefully increate the vegetation in the river and on the banks. This management should be continued in blocks along this compartment with one 20m blocks coppiced each year. The block should be chosen so that the block coppiced is not adjacent to the one coppiced in the previous year.

Compartment 7 Description This compartment consists of the areas of wet grassland and tall herb vegetation along the eastern side of the river. It is split into 5 sub compartments; 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d and 7e 7a, 7b and 7c form and extensive area of tufted hair-grass dominated grassland in the south- west close to the Yeading Brook. Small areas of reed canary grass swamp vegetation also occur here. 7d has a similar species composition but also has some areas of bramble around the edges. 7e is an area of tall herb vegetation dominated by nettle, hemlock and great willowherb. Giant hogweed, a very toxic invasive non-native species proscribed under Section 14 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, is also frequent as is Indian balsam (also very invasive but not toxic or dangerous to humans).

Management Sub-compartments 7a, 7b and 7c should be cut on a 3 year rotation, one sub-compartment each year in the late summer/autumn. The cutting should take place at a height of approximately 10cm and the arisings should be raked off and stacked in suitable spots in the adjacent scrub and/or woodland as habitat piles for invertebrates, over wintering reptiles and amphibians, etc. This management will hopefully maintain the species richness of the grassland whist still controlling the spread of the adjacent scrub and development of brambles etc.

One third of 7d and one third of 7e should also be cut each year at the same time as 7a, 7b and 7c.

The giant hogweed should be controlled using glyphosate. Similarly the Indian balsam should be controlled by a combination of glyphosate followed by hand pulling. Details are given in the species management section above.

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Compartment 8 Description This is the belt of scrub along the eastern side of the river and is similar in composition to Compartment 6. The scrub along two sections of river bank approximately 20m long was coppiced in 2005/06.

Management A further 20m section of the scrub should be coppiced each year in the winter. This will allow more light to reach the river and hopefully increate the vegetation in the river and on the banks. This management should be continued in blocks along this compartment with one 20m blocks coppiced each year. The block should be chosen so that the block coppiced is not adjacent to the one coppiced in the previous year.

Compartment 9 Description This compartment is the river itself and its immediate banks. The river is the responsibility of the Environment Agency and permission must be sought from them prior to any work in or adjacent to the river.

The channel of the Brook itself is shaded for the most part and, apart from occasional fennel pondweed, is largely devoid of aquatic vegetation. However in 2005/06 a number of baffles were installed using timber to catch silt and establish vegetation in the river.

Management The efficiency of the baffles should be monitored to assess its success. If it is successful and funding can be obtained more baffles could be installed in the future. The coppicing of the scrub blocks in Compartments 6 and 8 will hopefully allow more light to reach the river thereby increasing the diversity of vegetation.

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Map 5. LWT Management compartments.

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Appendices

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Appendix A

Introduction to the London Borough of Hillingdon

Description Hillingdon is situated on the western edge of Greater London and is the second largest London borough, covering a total area of about 42 square miles. The Borough is just 14 miles from central London and bounded by the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey and the London Boroughs of Hounslow, Ealing and Harrow.

Hillingdon is home to Heathrow, the world's busiest airport that caters for more than 60 million passengers a year.

The Borough has eight leisure centres and 2 pools, 17 libraries, two theatres and over 170 green spaces including Ruislip Woods Natural Nature Reserve and Lido.

History The London Borough of Hillingdon was one of the 32 London Boroughs created by the London Government Act 1963. It was formed by the amalgamation of the Borough of Uxbridge and the Urban Districts of Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip/Northwood and Yiewsley and West Drayton.

The new borough came into existence on April 1, 1965 when the new council started work.

As well as taking on the work of the four previous district authorities the council became responsible for local services such as education, libraries and the children's services. These had previously been run by the Middlesex County Council, which ceased to exist on April 1 1965.

Hillingdon's purpose-built Civic Centre opened its doors to the public in 1977. The council specified the use of traditional materials such as bricks and tiles while the sloping roofs were designed by the architects to reflect the style found in many of the borough's homes.

Workforce The council employs approximately 3,359 people, including schools' staff.

People Hillingdon has a population of 273,936 (2011estimate). There is a growing proportion of young people, particularly of school age children.

Around 39.4% of the borough's residents are from ethnic minority groups (mainly Indian, Pakistani, other Asian and Black Caribbean).

There is an active voluntary sector, and a wide variety of community groups, tenants' and residents' associations.

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Leisure Hillingdon is rich in wildlife and wildlife habitat including waterways, lakes, meadows and nature reserves. Ruislip Woods have been designated London's first National Nature Reserve, while nearby Ruislip Lido boasts 40 acres of water. The borough also offers a host of sporting activities, including six sports centers, many with newly refurbished gyms and four exceptional 18-hole golf courses, including a championship standard course at Stockley Park. The arts and entertainment thrive, with The Beck professional theatre in Hayes, the Compass Theatre, Ickenham, and various other venues. There is major new shopping centre, The Chimes in Uxbridge.

The Environmental and Consumer Protection Group The Environmental and Consumer Protection Group of the London Borough of Hillingdon has the responsibility for the Environmental Development and sustainability of Hillingdon’s Green Spaces. Amongst the other responsibilities it provides events and promotes outdoor activities in the Borough’s Parks and Other Green Spaces. The Green Spaces Team (see Fig 1.) oversees the management and development of all public green spaces within the London Borough of Hillingdon, which also includes parks, allotments, playing fields, woodlands and other green spaces.

Figure 1. Green Spaces Team Structure

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Appendix B Summary of annual frequencies

Key Period for operation 1 Number of times to perform operation

Annual Monthly Frequency * Operation Frequency Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Litter pick of formal areas inc grassland 16 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 (prior to cutting) Amenity grass 16 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 cutting inc. back up Litter pick of path edges, grass paths 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 (prior to cutting) Path edge cutting 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 (inc woodland) Mowing grass 4 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 pathways Woodland 1 coppicing Hedgerow management inc. 1 laying Weed removal of paths and soft 1 surfaces Litter Pick of wildlife 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 areas Dog bin emptying 52 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 5

Graffiti check and 52 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 5 removal Safety check of 17 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 playground

Graffiti removal As reqd Within 48hrs of reporting Rubbish bin 52 Weekly emptying Litter picking and 52 Weekly collection Visual inspection 52 Weekly Clearance of all As reqd Depends according to site variations fence lines

* Note – exact timing may vary according to local conditions

Frequencies are for guidance only and are subject to change seasonally and according to site.

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Appendix C Annual Works Programme

This programme remains similar each year, and is valid for the duration covered by the plan. The YVWP meeting dates change each year.

Month Works to be Carried Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec out Hedge planting

Litter collection - low frequency Litter collection - high frequency

Green Flag preparation

Path edge mowing

Mowing/spraying car park area

Giant Hogweed spraying

Hay cut

Festival & prep work

Pond clearance

Tree planting

Butterfly Survey

Bird survey

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Appendix D Hay Cut Programme and HLS agreement

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HLS compartm Site Grid ref optio area prescription timing ent n Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 2320 5,6 HC15 0.45 scrub management => 3 year rotation 1st Oct - 28th Feb

Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 1,2,3,4,7,8 HC15 0.67 scrub management => 3 year rotation 1st Oct - 28th Feb Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 1 HC7 0.9 see management plan 1st Oct - 28th Feb

Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 1,2,3,4,7,8 HK7 6.87 Meadow cut (>85%) 16th July - Sept

Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 1,2,3,4,7,8 HK7 6.87 control undesirable speceis <5% (Thistle, netle, ragwort, dock etc) July-Sept Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 1,2,3,4,7,8 HK7 6.87 Control invasive tree/shrub speceis <5% (bramble/blackthorn etc) Oct - Feb

Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 2320 5,6 HK7 14.06 Meadow cut (>85%) 16th July - Sept

Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 2320 5,6 HK7 14.06 control undesirable speceis <5% (Thistle, netle, ragwort, dock etc) July-Sept

Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 2320 5,6 HK7 14.06 Control invasive tree/shrub speceis <5% (bramble/blackthorn etc) Oct - Feb Cut and clear adjacent herb layer on a 2 year rotation to a height of Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 2320 5,6 HB12 244m 31 Aug - 1 March >10cm

Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 2320 5,6 HB12 244m Cut and clear hedge on 2yr rotation 31 dec - 28 feb Cut and clear adjacent herb layer on a 2 year rotation to a height of Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 2,3,4,7,8 HB11 311m 31 Aug - 1 March >10cm Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 2,3,4,7,8 HB11 311m Cut and clear hedge on 2yr rotation 31 dec - 28 feb Cut and clear adjacent herb layer on a 2 year rotation to a height of Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 1,2,3,4,7,8 HB12 343m 31 Aug - 1 March >10cm Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 1,2,3,4,7,8 HB12 343m Cut and clear hedge on 2yr rotation 31 dec - 28 feb Cut and clear adjacent herb layer on a 2 year rotation to a height of Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 2320 5,6 HB12 730m 31 Aug - 1 March >10cm Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 2320 5,6 HB12 730m Cut and clear hedge on 2yr rotation 31 dec - 28 feb

Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 2320 5,6 HR4 invasive speceis management April - June

Yeading Brook Meadows TQ1082 4040 1,2,3,4,7,8 HR4 invasive speceis management April - June 52 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018

Appendix E LWT Reserve Habitat Features

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Appendix F Species List

Scientific name Common name Eastern North South Western Meadow Hollow Hollow meadow Vascular plants Acer campestre Field Maple O (P) O Acer platanoides Norway Maple F (S) Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore O (S) O Achillea millefolium Yarrow R Achillea ptarmica Sneezewort F Aegopodium podagraria Ground-Elder O Aesculus hippocastanum Horse-Chestnut R (S) Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony F A R Agrostis capillaris Common Bent O O O F Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent D F O A Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard F (E) Allium vineale Wild Onion R F Alopecurus geniculatus Marsh Foxtail F O Alopecurus pratensis Meadow Foxtail F O Anisantha sterilis Barren Brome F (E) Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal Grass O F Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley A A Armoracia rusticana Horse-Radish F (E) O Arrhenatherum elatius False Oat-Grass F F Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort R Arum maculatum Lords-And-Ladies R Asparagus officinalis Asparagus R Aster x salignus Common Michaelmas- O O Daisy Aster x versicolor Late Michaelmas-Daisy R A Atriplex prostrata Spear-Leaved Orache F (E) Betula pendula Silver Birch R Bidens cernua Nodding Bur-Marigold R Bidens tripartita Trifid Bur-Marigold F (W) Brassica nigra Black Mustard O (E) Bromus racemosus Smooth Brome R Bryonia dioica White Bryony R (E) Calamagrostis epigejos Wood Small-Reed O Caltha palustris Marsh-marigold R Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed O O O Calystegia silvatica Large Bindweed O F Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-Purse O Carex flacca Glaucous Sedge A Carex hirta Hairy Sedge F O Carex otrubae False Fox-Sedge F O Carex ovalis Oval Sedge O O Carex pendula Pendulous Sedge O (E) Carex riparia Great Pond-Sedge LD Carex spicata Spiked Sedge O O Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed O O O F Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-Ear O R Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb O Chenopodium album Fat-Hen O (E) Chenopodium Many-Seeded Goosefoot O (E) polyspermum Cichorium intybus Chicory O (E) Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle F F 54 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 ______

Scientific name Common name Eastern North South Western Meadow Hollow Hollow meadow Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle O F Conium maculatum Hemlock O Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed O F Conyza canadensis Canadian Fleabane O (E) Conyza sumatrensis Guernsey Fleabane O (E) Cotoneaster sp. Cotoneaster R Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn D (E) R F (S) A (E) Crataegus x macrocarpa Hybrid Hawthorn O Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawk's-Beard R Cynosurus cristatus Cynosurus cristatus O O Dactylis glomerata Cock's-Foot F A Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted-Orchid F Deschampsia cespitosa Deschampsia cespitosa LD A F LD Dipsacus fullonum Wild Teasel O Dryopteris filix-mas Male-fern R Elytrigia repens Common Couch F O Epilobium ciliatum American Willowherb R O Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb F O O F Epilobium montanum Broad-Leaved Willowherb O Epilobium parviflorum Hoary Willowherb O R O Epilobium tetragonum Square-Stalked R O Willowherb Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail O O Erysimum cheiri Wallflower R (E) Escallonia macrantha Escallonia R Festuca gigantea Giant Fescue O Festuca rubra Red Fescue F F F Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet A A O Fraxinus excelsior Ash O Galium aparine Cleavers F Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw O Geranium dissectum Cut-Leaved Crane's-Bill O Geum urbanum Wood Avens F Glyceria fluitans Floating Sweet-Grass A (W) R Hedera helix Ivy A F Heracleum Giant Hogweed F (R, E) mantegazzianum Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed O A Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-Fog D F F D Hordeum murinum Wall Barley R O Hordeum secalinum Meadow Barley A F Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-Ear R O Ilex aquifolium Holly O Impatiens glandulifera Indian Balsam D (R, E) Iris pseudacorus Yellow Iris O O Juncus acutiflorus Sharp-Flowered Rush LA Juncus articulatus Jointed Rush F O Juncus conglomeratus Compact Rush A A Juncus effusus Soft Rush O F F Juncus inflexus Hard Rush F O Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce F Lamium album White Dead-Nettle O Lamium purpureum Red Dead-Nettle O Lathyrus nissolia Grass Vetchling F O Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling O R O F Lemna minor Common Duckweed A (W) Leontodon autumnalis Autumn Hawkbit O 55 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 ______

Scientific name Common name Eastern North South Western Meadow Hollow Hollow meadow Ligustrum ovalifolium Garden Privet R Ligustrum vulgare Wild Privet R Linum bienne Pale Flax O (E) Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-Grass O O F Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle R Lotus corniculatus Lotus corniculatus O F Lotus pedunculatus Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil F Lycopus europaeus Gipsywort O O Lysimachia punctata Dotted Loosestrife R Malus domestica Apple R R Matricaria discoidea Pineapple Weed O Matricaria recutita Scented Mayweed O Odontites vernus Red Bartsia O Oenanthe silaifolia Narrow-Leaved Water- O Dropwort Oenothera glazioviana Large-Flowered Evening- R Primrose Papaver somniferum Opium Poppy O Persicaria amphibia Amphibious Bistort O O F O Persicaria maculosa Redshank F Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary-Grass LD LD O O Phalaris canariensis Canary-Grass F (E) Phleum bertolonii Smaller Cat's-Tail O O F Phleum pratense Timothy O O Picris echioides Bristly Oxtongue O R O Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain O O Plantago major Greater Plantain O O Poa annua Annual Meadow-Grass O F Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow-Grass O O Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-Grass F F Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass O Populus 'Balsam Spire' Hybrid Balsam-poplar O (S, P) R Populus nigra 'Italica' Lombardy-Poplar R (P) Potamogeton pectinatus Fennel Pondweed O (R) Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil O F A Prunella vulgaris Selfheal O O Prunus avium Wild Cherry R Prunus domestica Wild Plum O Prunus spinosa Blackthorn F A Pulicaria dysenterica Common Fleabane O A Pyracantha coccinea Firethorn R Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak O O (S) R (S) O Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup F R O F Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup F R F Reseda luteola Weld O Rosa arvensis Field Rose R R O Rosa canina agg. Dog Rose O O O O Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble A O A Rubus idaeus Raspberry O Rumex acetosa Rumex acetosa O O Rumex conglomeratus Clustered Dock O Rumex crispus Curled Dock O O O O Rumex obtusifolius Broad-Leaved Dock O R Rumex sanguineus Wood Dock O O Salix caprea Goat Willow R Salix cinerea Salix cinerea O R O Salix fragilis Crack-willow O O 56 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 ______

Scientific name Common name Eastern North South Western Meadow Hollow Hollow meadow Salix viminalis Osier R Sambucus nigra Elder F F Scrophularia auriculata Water Figwort O Senecio erucifolius Hoary Ragwort O O A Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort O Senecio squalidus Oxford Ragwort O (E) Senecio vulgaris Groundsel F (E) Silene dioica Red Campion O Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard O (E) Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet O O (E) Solidago canadensis Canadian Goldenrod O O Sonchus asper Prickly Sow-Thistle O Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort F R Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort O Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort R Stellaria media agg. Chickweed O Symphoricarpos albus Snowberry R Taraxacum officinale Dandelion O agg. Tragopogon pratensis Goat's-Beard O O Trifolium dubium Lesser Trefoil O Trifolium pratense Red Clover O O A Trifolium repens White Clover F O O F Tripleurospermum Scentless Mayweed F inodorum Tussilago farfara Colt's-Foot O Ulmus procera English Elm O Urtica dioica Common Nettle A F Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch O F O F Vicia hirsuta Hairy Tare O Vicia sativa Common vetch O O Viola odorata Sweet Violet O Viola riviniana Common Dog-Violet O Viola tricolor Wild Pansy O Mosses Aulacomnium palustre F Calliergonella A A cuspidatum Climacium dendroides R Dicranum bonjeanii F Polytrichum formosum O Pseudoscleropodium O purum Rhytidiadelphus O squarrosus

DAFOR Scale: D = Dominant, A = Abundant, F = Frequent, O = Occasional, R = Rare, L = Locally Qualifiers: E = Edge, P = Planted, W = Wet, R = River, S = Seedling

References: Yeading Brook Meadows Nature Reserve 2006 to 2011 A report for London Wildlife Trust October

2006 Report Written by Alan Scott BSc. MSc. MIEEM. CEnv. Barry Nicholson BSc. MSc. MIEEM. CEnv.

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Appendix G

Site Marketing Analysis and Plan

Yeading Meadows is situated very near to the A312, thereby providing easy access to the A40 M4 and M25.

Yeading Meadows is a large expanse of open space with special wildlife and sporting facilities, for the pursuit of enjoyment of residents and visitors.

The open space provides the opportunity for a range of physical activities from passive recreation to more active recreation such as cycling.

Marketing Methods to Help Enhance Appreciation and Appropriate use of the Site

 Regular liaison with interested parties re issues affecting Yeading Meadows.

 Use of welcoming informative interpretation boards at key points on the site to promote the special interests of the site to regular and occasional users.

 Develop contact with residents over the age of 65 to promote Yeading Meadows and ensure feedback can be obtained from potentially less mobile users.

 Promote Green Flag standards to users and neighbours to help raise the profile and understanding of Yeading Meadows.

 Encourage articles to be written and published about Yeading Meadows – Green Spaces web page, Hillingdon People, other publications, as opportunities arise.

 Ensure that the borough’s Green Spaces leaflet is kept up to date and available to the public at libraries and on the Green Spaces web page.

 Encourage local schools to do projects relating to Yeading Meadows to aid understanding and appreciation and awareness locally.

An annual survey of users will continue to be carried out to compare the profile of users with that of ward residents and to learn more about users’ interests and expectations of Yeading Meadows. This information will feed into discussions with the interested parties and the management plan reviewing process.

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Appendix H

Council Plan: Commitment to Green Flag Awards

LBH’s commitment to achieving many Green Flag sites is reinforced in the Council Plan: A vision for 2026 http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/media/27633/Hillingdon-Local-Plan-Part-1--Strategic-Policies- Published-version/pdf/Local_Plan_Part_1_Strategic_Policies_15_feb_2013_a.pdf

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Appendix I

Events and Marketing Materials

All the Yeading Meadows events are listed in the Green Spaces Events Booklet, which can be found on the council’s website: http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/media/35129/Green-Spaces-Events-Booklet-Jan-to-Jun- 2016/pdf/12428_Green_Spaces_events_Jan_-_June_2016_LR.pdf

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Appendix J Community Involvement

For the past 7 years Barnhill Community college have held a Green Day where between 50 - 90 16 - 17 year olds come out onsite to carry out various tasks including litter picking, vegetation clearance and Himalayan Balsam pulling. 2013

2014

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Appendix K River Restoration Project works 2013

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Appendix L London Wildlife Trust Update for 2015

London’s Living Landscape Initiative seeks to protect, conserve and enhance the Capital’s wildlife. London Wildlife Trust (LWT) wants to connect fragmented natural green and blue spaces to form vibrant landscapes and to work in partnership with London’s diverse communities to enjoy and enhance their natural environment. Please see details below of a couple of projects we are carrying out at Yeading Brook Meadows Local Nature Reserve as part of the Crane Valley Living Landscape.

Grassland restoration works at Yeading Brook Meadows

LWT have secured £38k of funding through Biffa Award to carry out large scale grassland restoration works at Yeading Brook Meadows (and nearby Gutteridge Woods, and Ten Acre Wood).

This will not only directly improve and enhance priority habitat across three nature reserves but will improve conditions for species such as birds, mammals and invertebrates who rely on well managed, good quality grassland for their survival. These three Local Nature Reserves are connected by the Yeading Brook and form 60ha of statutory protected habitat in this important 160ha Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. The wider Yeading Brook Meadows SINC is predominantly of rural character and is primarily made up of botanically rich neutral grasslands. However, there are also other important habitats that make up the SINC including ditch networks, river and river corridors, woodlands and hedgerows. By restoring the neutral grassland habitat at all three sites, wildlife will have much more opportunity to spread throughout the SINC. It is widely recognised that landscape scale conservation is necessary in order to ensure biodiversity can flourish and increase throughout the landscape. By undertaking this grassland restoration project on three connected reserves that are surrounded by a matrix of greenspace with existing conservation value, we are increasing the opportunities for wildlife to permeate into the wider landscape and travel freely throughout the SINC.

This project is part of a wider initiative to restore a number of LWT reserves to meet Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) standards. As part of the HLS process, London Wildlife Trust 66 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 ______undertook an ecological conditions assessment on these reserves to identify the current conservation status of the BAP habitats present at the three reserves. The assessment found that of the unimproved Lowland Meadow BAP habitat across these three reserves: - 76% of the ecological targets at Gutteridge Wood were in unfavourable condition - 73% of the ecological targets at Ten Acre Wood were in unfavourable condition - 34% of the ecological targets at Yeading Brook Meadows were in unfavourable condition.

LWT will be undertaking some large scale scrub removal, undertaking spring and summer meadow cuts and will be increasing the diversity of the grassland sward through various methods such as green hay spreading and reseeding using seeds of local provenance. LWT has a long-established local volunteer group in Hillingdon; local people who are actively involved in the management and conservation of wildlife and nature reserves including these two reserves. The Hillingdon Local Group supports the need for the Restoring Grassland across our Hillingdon Reserves project and for recruiting new local volunteers to assist with important work across our reserves. This project would also contribute significantly to regional BAP targets as follows: - Meadows & Pastures BAP habitat in London

By 2015 there is a target to enhance 5ha of habitat in the capital, and by 2020 enhance an additional 35ha through improved management practices. Therefore, this project will deliver all the restoration targets outlined for 2015, and 83% of the habitat restoration targets that have been identified for this habitat in London over the next 8 years (The London Plan, 2011).

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Targets of the project: 1. Restore unimproved lowland neutral grassland through improvement management practices such as spring and summer meadow cuts, re-seeding and green hay spreading. 2. Restore unimproved lowland neutral grassland, by cutting/clearing/treating/reseeding areas of species poor scrub encroaching onto adjacent unimproved grasslands. 3. Lead task days and training sessions for volunteers on grassland restoration including scrub clearance, seed harvesting and seeding, and meadow management. 4. Undertake phase 1+ habitat surveys across 3 reserves to provide important baseline data to monitor the effectiveness of the lowland grassland restoration. 5. Engage and recruit regular LWT volunteers from the local community, and engage the wider community with our work.

Yeading Brook Meadows River Improvement Project

LWT has secured funding of £41k for SITA and £27k from the Environment Agency for this project. Tree clearance works have been completed and areas of dense scrub and rows of hawthorn have been cleared to allow more light onto the river channel to aid the proliferation of marginal and aquatic plant species in spring and summer. Tree removal works have opened up parts of the Yeading Brook that were previously hidden from public view, allowing improved access to its banks and enhancing the watercourse as a feature of the site. Materials obtained from tree felling have been used to create in river features such as brash berms and flow deflectors.

Creation of in river features:

 So far 7 brash berms and 2 flow deflectors have been installed. There is a total of 7 brash berms left to install and are being built at a rate of 1 per week. A detailed itinerary of volunteer sessions is listed below.  Gravel Riffles will be installed by a contractor when all brash berms are fully installed.  Fish Passage Improvements  We are working with Environment Agency’s Fisheries Technical Specialists, Geomorphologists and contacts from the London Borough of Hillingdon to produce designs for a fish pass at the road bridge of Kings Hill Avenue. We have held two site visits with these contacts in order to take design measurements and assess the feasibility of improving fish passage in this location.

Improved Outfall Design

 We are working with the Environment Agency, London Borough of Hillingdon and Thames water to assess options for improving the design of a broken outfall on the stretch of river. The Environment Agency intends to produce designs to improve the outfall via a reed bed system to improve filtration and site aesthetics.

68 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 ______

69 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 ______

LWT UPDATE 2016

Key works undertaken by London Wildlife Trust in the last year include:

Invasive species control with volunteers: Simon Hawkins Reserves Officer has undertaken ten days' Himalayan balsam clearance with volunteers. This has been successful, with large amount of balsam uprooted and cleared from the river bank. However, since the Himalayan balsam had begun to go to seed, we did not completely finish the clearance and could not undertake all the clearance that we intended this quarter.

In-channel river habitat improvements by contractors: Contractors Dickinson Engineering installed eight gravel riffles. These took seven days to complete, and were finished to the approval of the Environment Agency. The original estimate from the contractors included the installation of the sixteen berms, and although originally it was proposed that the banks would be pushed into the berms, we had to modify our original plan due to the contaminated soil.

Contractor supervision & liaison by Reserves Manager The Reserves Manager was employed to supervise the contractors delivering the in-channel habitat works on site, and to meet the EA to check on the progress of the works. Some time was also allocated to liaising with contractors to discuss invasive species control. In-channel river habitat improvements by staff and volunteers including harvesting and installation of faggot bundles

We employed a reserves officer to install the sixteen berms with volunteers rather than having them installed by a contractor. Vegetation cleared from the river banks by contractors as part of the project's match funding in autumn 2014 was used to create natural berms made from the woody debris. Brash was wired and staked to the riverbed, in order to mimic the natural meander of a river. The works were very successful, and as the attached photos show, the sediment has already accumulated and started to form a new bank on which vegetation could become established.

Tree pollarding by contractors Eleven willow trees were pollarded along the river to a height of three metres. All waste material from the pollarded trees was removed from site to avoid soil enrichment. It was agreed that this element of the project would be delivered using the under-spend on the in-channel habitat improvements.

Invasive species control by contractors Giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam were treated along the 1800m of river bank at Yeading Brook Meadows. We liaised with the London Borough of Hillingdon to ensure that treatment was undertaken in a coordinated fashion, so that their contractors could focus upon other key sites up-stream from Yeading Brook Meadows.

Marginal and in-channel planting by staff and volunteers The installation of coir mats planted with the following marginals: Juncus effusus (soft rush), Carex acutiformis (lesser pond sedge), Iris pseudacourus (yellow flag iris), Caltha palustris (marsh marigold),Mentha aquatica (water mint), Myosotis palustris (water forget-me-not), Ranunculus flammula (lesser spearwort), Alisma plantage (water plantain). The mats were planted in the slack water created by the brash berms. The shade cast by the dense scrub has 70 Yeading Brook Meadows Management Plan 2014 - 2018 ______meant that the river has a very poor population of marginal plants. Now that the scrub has been coppiced, and more light reaches the river, the habit is much more favourable for these plants, and the use of coir mats, planted with species found elsewhere in the area, will contribute to the naturalisation of the river. We used wooden stakes to secure the coir to the riverbanks, and the newly created brash berms where the water level was high enough.

Consents and permissions

The Environment Agency were responsible for undertaking and securing all the necessary planning permissions and flood defence consents for the project. They initiated the project, scoped out the project proposals, and undertook the public consultation in 2014. Surveying and monitoring of indicators of water quality by staff and volunteers (match funding from LWT)

We have purchased a number of surveying materials to survey the river and measure the effect of the habitat works undertaken. We have also trained a local volunteer who has taken on the responsibility of the River Fly surveys at Yeading Brook Meadows. They visit the site once a month, and undertake in-channel surveys. We have also undertaken a botanical survey of the river that will feed into the compartment descriptions for the management plan that is being updated for the site.

Scrub clearance by contractors (match funding from EA) When developing the project we had originally thought that the EA intended seven large trees to be pollarded along the river. However, rather than pollarding, it was decided that extensive clearing of even the aged stands of hawthorn and blackthorn scrub lining the edge of the Yeading Brook was more appropriate. This would allow access to the river and provide materials for the creation of the berms, in addition to increasing light levels. A huge amount of dense scrub was cleared from the river banks; the area cleared is highlighted on the attached maps.

Training by The Wild Trout Trust Report available on request

The Wild Trout Trust ran two workshops at the beginning of the project in order to teach staff and volunteers how to install and create natural brash berms using various techniques. Volunteer recruitment and admin

Time has been spent by LWT staff to recruit volunteers for the project and also to undertake all the necessary reporting requirements

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