Des Bowring's Page

If anyone hasn't yet had a gander at the refurbished park behind Circomedia, Portland Square, go see. It seems to have a good balance between concrete and grass, and lots of planting (albeit slightly more formal than I'd like) will keep us nature buffs happy once it is established. The park possesses plenty of standard trees and yet retains a pleasingly open aspect. The park might serve as an inspiration for ideas about the development of our own Montpelier Park.

What the fuck is happening at the top of Station Road? Some petty bureaucrat at the council obviously thinks that if the grass grows higher than a millimetere it has to be cut. As happened last year, a whole micro-habitat is being systematically destroyed in the name of 'tidiness' or 'crime prevention'. There's a brilliant, beautiful and rare plant, the Guelder Rose, which will no doubt be chopped down in the next day or two. Whole plant and animal communities are unable to thrive because of a… Continue

There is shocking evidence that Montpelier Park is the victim of an infestation of split red lentils. Scientists say that split reds are more resistant to lentilocides than the closely related brown and green varieties. A local spokesman said 'this could only happen in Montpelier - it's like a scene from 101 Dal-mations'. lentilattack.JPG

Last summer local people succeeded in forcing Network Rail/Severnside Community Rail Partnership to back down over their plans for a 'community tidy-up' which would have destroyed trees, shrubs and other vegetation along the trackside at the station. It is therefore highly ironic that this week's engineering works have resulted in a mass clearance of valuable wildlife habitat along the disused platform. Network Rail and their partners are to the environment what George Bush is to world peace..… Continue

What a fabulous morning in the park! The sun was shining, a Song Thrush was singing and some Colston's girls were enjoying a pre-school natter on one of the benches. It was great to see a scarce bird apparently enjoying a revival in fortunes, and the park being used by the community.

So if you want a little break from the stresses of the day, take a quick circuit around the park while the weather is being kind - highly recommended!

Des

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