Home Park - Monthly Park Manager's Reports

May 2010

The estate team have been busy in Home Park watering and maintaining the newly planted trees. They are also now busy grass cutting amenity areas and the Flower Show site is being prepared for this summers show.

We have installed post and rail fencing and repositioned sections to timber in order to further protect some of the vulnerable and veteran trees on site.

Tree surgeons have carried out dead wooding and tree maintenance.

We are in the process of a trial project to re-establish water lilies in the Long Water Canal and at other locations.

A keen eye is being cast over our oak trees so that we may keep a look out for oak processionary moth.

January 2010

The past few days have been busy in Home Park with the following events:

1. Salting and Gritting roads and Paths.
2. Additional Deer Feeding regimes.
3. Trees planting of Standard trees is now finished with 30 mixed native species planted.
4. Repairs to damaged tree Crates.
5. Repairs to pot holes on non metal road tracks.
6. Clearing branches and debris from the Longford streams including outlets and inlets.
7. Selective vegetation removal along the Barge Walk River Bank to the Thames.
8. Protection of tree whips with guards against vermin.
9. Mixed hedgerow planting put on hold in the paddock area i.e. 75 linear metres until the weather improves.
10. New cycle paths have been installed on the Hampton Court Green and a new post and fence will follow shortly. The old fence will be recycled fencing off sections of the river bank inside the paddock areas to protect them from grazing horses and bank erosion.
11. Repairs to eroded sections of the Rick pond will be undertaken in early February.

General note- The Deer are doing very well with even our very late born fawns surviving the cold weather due to good husbandry. Our frozen ponds are still a cause for concern despite our public notices for people to keep themselves and their dogs off them.

December 2009

Various groups have been working with Historic Royal Palaces to control the regrowth of elm suckers along the Barge Walk. In selective locations we have opened up views as per the Views and Vistas Management Plan to enhance the enjoyment for users of this walk.

We have also maintained areas of elm and alder along the banks as a dense linear scrub providing a valuable habitat for nesting birds in the spring. Planting is now underway within Home Park. Replacement trees are been planted and work to establish a new hedgerow will be starting soon.