Brook Meadow by Brian Fellows

Brian, together with a few others, formed a conservation group to protect Brook Meadow, situated in the heart of the scenic coastal town of Emsworth, on the Hampshire/West Sussex border. It has been exceedingly successful, with 400 members, not only a fine job in protecting it from concrete, but has developed into an enchanting nature reserve.

At Dell Quays, Chichester Harbour

It is so easy to park your car in the car park, then just stroll onto the bridge on the River Ems, and watch out for that distinctive ‘splosh’ a sign that a Water Vole has taken to the water. They are surprisingly tolerant, and can be watched posing for the camera just a few feet away, devouring reeds and grasses. Numbers of these endearing gentle creatures, were originally reduced by water pollution, but even worse is the spread of the American Mink, which decimated numbers by 90 per cent, able as they are to enter the burrows. Where Minks abound, Water Voles perish.

My favourite season on the Meadow is Spring, when the voles are feeding during the day in order to sustain their young, and the river bank is resplendent with Butterbur.

Dog walkers are welcomed, but can present a problem, fetching sticks from the narrow river. Efforts are continually being made to educate these walkers on the unintentional harm they do to the Water Voles and the delicate river banks. Vandalism is another predicament that occurs on occasion, benches are burned, signs defaced, but again, Brian is of the view that it is better to educate and bring the local community in, rather than using the rod.

Brian did not develop his love of wildlife until 1989, when a life-changing walk around Thorney Island with a naturalist, ignited an interest. He has since been making up for lost time, by not only overseeing Brooks Meadow, but also conducts BTO counts on eastern sites on Hayling Island, and leads walks for the Havant, Hayling and Emsworth Group. Like so many others, he says he owes much of his acquired knowledge to Ralph Hollins.

If ever Brian gives you an odd look, start worrying profusely, as he has a PhD in Psychology.

AN INTRODUCTION TO BROOK MEADOW, EMSWORTH

How to get there

To get to Emsworth by car, take the A259 exit from the A27 east of Havant, sign-posted Emsworth. Follow the A259 for about 1 mile into the town centre, turn left at the roundabout, and then right into Palmer’s Road, into for a ‘Pay and Display’ car park. Look for the Brook Meadow interpretation board in the far corner of the car park which will guide you onto the meadow.

Emsworth is also on the main railway line between Portsmouth and Chichester, and the railway station is about half a mile north of the main town. Emsworth also has a regular bus service from both these cities (Bus 700).

Brook Meadow (Grid Reference: SU751061) is situated on the eastern side of Emsworth. Look for the prominent gasholder and Brook Meadow is right behind it. From east to west it extends from the industrial units in Palmer's Road to the gardens of the cottages in Lumley Road; from north to south it extends from the railway line to the A259. There are about 5 acres of grassland on Brook Meadow, two major waterways and two areas of woodland. A pictorial map with wildlife illustrations can be seen on the interpretation boards at the entrances to the meadow. The sketch map shows the three entrances to the meadow marked with Xs.

Brook Meadow Conservation Group

Brook Meadow is owned by Havant Borough Council, but is managed on their behalf by the Brook Meadow Conservation Group. The group was formed in September 2000 by a number of local residents to help restore, protect and conserve the natural environment of Brook Meadow and its wildlife for the benefit and quiet enjoyment of the people of Emsworth. At the time the meadow was threatened with development. However, we hope that threat has passed, but must always be vigilant. Our guiding principle is that as long as enough local people love, care for, and make use of the meadow, then it will be safe (as safe can be).

The group holds regular workdays, guided walks and surveys. Membership has grown rapidly over the years and currently stands at over 400. We have a bank account, a Constitution and an elected committee, which meets monthly throughout the year. We have recently developed a comprehensive Management Plan for the next 10 years. The group is fully insured and has a Safety Plan Advice. Training is obtained from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and management advice from the Hampshire Wildlife Trust. The group in cooperation with the Council are currently applying for Brook Meadow to become a Local Nature Reserve, only the second in the Borough. This should give the site extra protection from development.

The main contacts for the Brook Meadow Conservation Group are:

Brian Fellows (Chairman), 11 Bridge Road, Emsworth, PO10 7QU

Phone: 01243 375548 E-mail brianfellows@tiscali.co.uk

Frances Brettell (Treasurer/Membership Secretary), 75 Bosmere Gardens, PO107NR
Phone: 01243 430314 E-mail brettellf@ntlworld.com

The Wildlife of Brook Meadow

There is always plenty of wildlife to be seen and heard on Brook Meadow. Take a walk along any of the paths, stopping every so often to look and listen, and you will be amazed what you can find. Spring and summer are the best times to visit, though birds are active all year. The signcases sited at the three entrances to the meadow provide up-to-date news and photos of wildlife to be seen locally.

The most important wildlife on Brook Meadow are the Water Voles. These are delightful creatures that live on the banks of the River Ems. They eat only vegetation and are quite different in their habits from Brown Rats, with which they are sometimes confused. The best time to see them is at dusk in the spring and early summer. Water Voles are the most highly endangered mammal in Great Britain and are protected by law.

As for other mammals, there are no Rabbits on Brook Meadow, but Foxes breed locally. The occasional Roe Deer passes through and Moles are very common, witness the hundreds of molehills in January and February. In the summer Bats can be seen feeding over the streams.

Brown Trout are a great local attraction in the river where large Eels can also be seen. Impressive shoals of Grey Mullet come up the Lumley Stream from the harbour at high tide.

Birds

Birds are always present, particularly in the wooded areas. The ones you are most likely to see and hear are Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Woodpigeon. Also present in winter are Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker, while Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap are regular summer visitors. Little Egret, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher are common on the two streams, particularly in winter, and a Water Rail is an occasional visitor to the Lumley Stream. In the sky look out for Sparrowhawk, Kestrel or even a Buzzard, plus Swallows and Swifts in summer. Meanwhile, hundreds of Gulls fly constantly overhead, to and from the harbour and their inland feeding sites. A grand total of 66 species have been recorded on and around Brook Meadow.

Insects

In summer you can see over 20 species of butterfly on Brook Meadow. Some of the more colourful species you are likely to see are Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. Probably the rarest one is Essex Skipper.

The two streams attract a range of damselflies and dragonflies, including the beautiful Banded Demoiselle with dark bands on its wings, and the bright green Southern Hawker which may fly low to inspect you.

Plants

Over the past few years a complete survey of all the plants on Brook Meadow has been conducted in collaboration with local naturalists. At the time of writing the list has reached a total of 312, including 185 herbs, 50 trees and shrubs, 33 grasses, 13 sedges, 5 rushes, 2 horsetails, 1 fern and 23 mosses and liverworts. The list includes 7 old meadow indicators.

In winter, the river banks are covered with the sweet smelling Winter Heliotrope, while spring is heralded by the bright yellow flowers of Lesser Celandine (a favourite flower of Wordsworth).

The pink flower spikes of Butterbur appear on the river banks in early spring and, in summer; later on this plant grows huge leaves which traditionally were used for keeping butter cool. In summer the meadow is full of wild flowers, such as, Ragged Robin, Cuckooflower, Meadowsweet, Wild Angelica and Strawberry Clover among lots of others. In late summer the meadow is ablaze with the yellow flowers of Fleabane.

Brook Meadow has a wonderful variety of meadow grasses, but botanically, the most important plants are the sedges, of which some are nationally scarce, such as Divided Sedge. Greater and Lesser Pond Sedge grow on the banks of streams.

Although basically a grassland, Brook Meadow has a large number of trees which are very important for wildlife. There are two areas of dense woodland on either side of the meadow, plus over 100 mature Crack Willows along the banks of the River Ems. In early spring, Hazel and Alder provide a fine show of hanging catkins, while later in the spring Pussy Willows are covered with catkins. Alder Buckthorn, Rowan, Black Poplar and Hawthorn have been planted for their wildlife value.

Fungi

Despite its wetness, Brook Meadow does not have many fungi, though what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality, for the rare and very tasty Agrocybe Cylindracea grows on old Willow stumps.

Web sites

The group web site contains information and photographs about the group and the wildlife to be seen on the meadow. http://www.hants.org.uk/brook-meadow

Brian Fellows 2006

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