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Bampton in Devon |
Bampton Millennium Green
In 1998 Bampton Town Council purchased a piece of overgrown woodland adjacent to Bampton Primary School at the end of School Close, with the object of creating a multipurpose amenity site. Lottery money was obtained for the transformation of this site into a Millennium Green.
Work finally began on the site in March 2000. This included the building of footpaths around the site, and a bridge over the stream. Although contractors were employed, volunteers carried out much of the work, particularly the clearance of shrubby growth and brambles.
Once the infrastructure was in place, a group of local primary school children
helped to plant native woodland plants, such as bluebells, primroses and foxgloves
under the remaining trees.
Thanks from The Countryside Agency
2010:
The Millennium Green was established as a public amenity in the year 2000; it united three distinct areas of land - a woodland site with small quarry and limekiln, a small existing orchard and a field, Lower Luke's.
The 1.8 hectare site is a Public Open Space and a Wildlife Site, sadly rather neglected and consequently subjected to vandalism in recent years.
Funding has become available to carry out some essential safety work and other improvements; a working group has been established and a management plan has been agreed.
It is anticipated that a number of working parties, on dates to be announced, will give local people the opportunity to lend a hand with the aim of providing a family-friendly environment for all to enjoy.
Info here on clear-up session on March 31st - volunteers needed!
The New Orchard - New Year 2001A clearing in the centre of the woodland will be left as a flowering field. This has been improved following the laying of the overhead power cables underground. Work was delayed here because of a family of badgers in the area! The official opening took place on midsummer’s day, 2000. Many residents came and partook of cream teas, and listened to live music while exploring the woodland. |
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More than 30 trees were planted early in the new year 2001 in Lower Luke's Field - pupils from Bampton School and Pre-School helped with the planting - here Peter and Matthew help to plant the Bampton Cubs tree, but we would like to stress that it was not a requirement to eat worms (however delicious)! Historical records show that Bampton once had fine orchards, but very few trees have survived to this day - this millennium project to plant a new orchard is therefore very special to the people of Bampton. |
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A steep hillside to the east of the wood has now been planted with local Devon varieties of orchard fruits, mainly apples, both desert and cider, and also cherries, walnut, medlar*, and pears as well. |
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Local groups and residents have sponsored all these trees. Shown here are just a few of the people who came to help with the planting. And it wasn't just a case of leaning on the spade all afternoon! Millennium green is next to Bampton School, and it is hoped that local children will continue to be involved in monitoring the trees, and enjoying the wild plants and animals. |
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Adjacent to the Millennium Green is the ancient lime kiln and its associated building - many such kilns used to be in this area of limestone quarries, and this one is being worked on in order to preserve this part of Bampton's history. We plan to give more details of the restoration here in the near future.
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The last of the 40 trees were planted on a fine afternoon in mid-February 2001. You might be forgiven, looking at these pictures, for believing that the ladies did nearly all the work! Note that Joan, on the left, has kept a careful eye on the list of varieties, and the location where each was planted. The photographs also show the correct gear to be worn for these tree-planting occasions.
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Much work still remains to be done, but this is an interesting and accessible place to come for everyone. The progress of the trees will be followed with enthusiasm - and of course this progress will be reported here on the web site.
* A 'medlar' is a small tree, related to the apple.
A complete list of all the varieties of trees planted and their sponsors is available.
A database is being set up concerning native plants which grow in every area of the country by the National History Museum. It is still under construction, and operates from the postcode of the area concerned. Bampton (EX16) has now been added - see here.