Harpenden Town Council

Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve Management Plan 2017 - 2022 Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 5 Harpenden Town Council ..................................................................................................................... 5 Batford Springs Volunteers .................................................................................................................. 5 Site Description ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Upper Lea Catchment Partnership ...................................................................................................... 8 Historical Context .................................................................................................................................. 8 Habitats................................................................................................................................................... 9 Buildings .............................................................................................................................................. 10 Budgets ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Management Plan – Key Themes ....................................................................................................... 11 Management Plan – Key Development Projects .............................................................................. 12 AN ACCESSIBLE PLACE ....................................................................................... 13 Getting to and around the site ........................................................................................................... 12 Accessing infromation on-site ........................................................................................................... 13 Dog walkers ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Key actions .......................................................................................................................................... 14 HEALTHY, SAFE AND SECURE ............................................................................ 16 Personal Safety .................................................................................................................................... 16 Policing ................................................................................................................................................. 16 Dog Fouling .......................................................................................................................................... 16 Water Safety ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 16 Tree Safety ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Key Actions .......................................................................................................................................... 18 CLEAN AND WELL MAINTAINED .......................................................................... 19 Grounds Maintenance ......................................................................................................................... 19 Key Actions .......................................................................................................................................... 19 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY .................................................................... 20 2 Energy and natural resources ............................................................................................................ 20 Peat and pesticides ............................................................................................................................. 20 Removal of non-native invasive species .......................................................................................... 19 Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust .................................................................................................... 20 Waste Management ............................................................................................................................. 21 Monitoring and surveying................................................................................................................... 21 Key Actions .......................................................................................................................................... 22 CONSERVATION AND HERITAGE ........................................................................ 23 Restoration of the freshwater springs .............................................................................................. 24 Restoration of the springs to their full capacity .............................................................................. 24 Repair of collapses in the stream beds ............................................................................................. 24 The removal of silt in the stream bed and bank clearance works ............................................................. 24 Thinning/removal of trees and overhanging branches ................................................................... 25 Management of the wet woodland ..................................................................................................... 25 Management of the meadows ............................................................................................................ 26 Creation of a new reed fen habitat ..................................................................................................... 27 Key Actions .......................................................................................................................................... 28 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................. 30 Batford Springs Volunteers ................................................................................................................ 30 Events ................................................................................................................................................... 30 Key Actions .......................................................................................................................................... 30 MARKETING AND PROMOTION ............................................................................ 31 Leaflet ................................................................................................................................................... 31 Website ................................................................................................................................................. 31 Social media ......................................................................................................................................... 32 Forum .................................................................................................................................................... 32 Posters.................................................................................................................................................. 32 Key Actions .......................................................................................................................................... 32 APPENDIX A - HARPENDEN TOWN COUNCIL ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ................................................................................................................................. 34 3 Line of reporting to Town Clerk ......................................................................................................... 34 Business & Community Services function ....................................................................................... 35 Finance & Internal Operations Function ........................................................................................... 36 Environment Committee Terms of Reference .................................................................................. 37 APPENDIX B – BATFORD SPRINGS VOLUNTEERS CONSTITUTION ................ 38 APPENDIX C – JOHN O’CONNER ST ALBANS CONTRACT ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ........................................................................................................... 31 APPENDIX D – TARGETS, FACTORS AND SPECIFICATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE KEY FEATURES ........................................................................................ 33 APPENDIX E – ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS……………………… 38 4 Introduction Harpenden Town Council recognises its responsibility to manage Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and the challenges this can present. Batford Springs is a 15 acre site that was designated a local nature reserve for the existence of the rare spring-fed freshwater habitat as well as ancient meadow, reedbed and wet woodland. The overall aim of the Management Plan is to guide any action taken to ensure the nature reserve continues to thrive and be enjoyed by a variety of users. Harpenden Town Council Harpenden Town Council was created in 1974 following the re-organisation of local government and the disbanding of Harpenden Urban

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