1 EWR Meeting 16 th December 2022 (Informal Chat) Attending: Rob Eyre EWR Jenni Palmer EWR Robbie Cowbury Lib Dems Campaigner (Council) Ken Knott (Executive Director Strategic Partnerships / SCFC) Rick Simkin (Director of Operations/ SCFC) Jonathan Vaughan (Chief Executive/ SCFC) 2 Preamble __________________________________ 3 1. Arguments Against a Car Park on the Land ______ 4 2. Arguments for Wildlife/Nature Reserve ________ 7 ● Benefits for Community ______________________________10 ● Benefits for Nature __________________________________11 3. Proposal for Wildlife / Nature Reserve and Club Growing Plot _______________________ 12 ● Benefits for Community _______________________________14 ● Benefits for Nature ___________________________________14 ● Benefits for Club ____________________________________ 14 3 Preamble It is becoming clearer by the year that British wildlife is struggling due to increasing human pressures. Insects, birds and mammals are all suffering due to urbanisation, commercial exploitation and the resulting destruction of habitat. Stockport (and Edgeley in particular) has precious few areas of wildlife habitat where our native creatures can feel safe or call home. There is a need like never before for Green lungs and Green Corridors in urban areas. In Edgeley we have parks which, though beautiful for humans, and offering some cover for wildlife, are subject to heavy management and heavy footfall. There are precious few truly wild, natural and secure places. If those few spots in our towns which our wildlife call home are destroyed they have nowhere left to go. Birds (for example) have also called Edgeley home for generations. They see and feel the changes we as humans make to their home just as we do. The animal kingdom has its own systems of society and its own hierarchies of survival. People forget that the flattening of a wild or a rewilded area forces a migration of communities within the animal kingdom to places strange to them, places already occupied by other birds and animals. Places where there is no space for them to fit in. Forcing multiple birds into the occupation of a suitable single tree (a home) is akin to opening your house to strangers to live in. It doesn’t work. Birds may sing in your trees but do they, can they, nest in them? Perhaps it is more suitable trees they are singing for? I imagine that the creatures still living locally around the Edgeley area are the last vestige of generations of OUR wildlife that have called this area home probably going back to Celtic times. They are clinging on. The Edgeley Park area and the Reservoirs are like a castle to them, a final refuge, an oasis. Shame on us as people, as a nation, if we cannot recognize, if we have forgotten, that those we share the land with, those whose ancestors, our ancestors, communed with, adored, made promises to, found delight in, beside clear crystal streams and among the trees should be continuously evicted. We have enough fields for growing food (often left empty) and enough car parks to park our cars. Much of the British countryside is more often than not heavily managed agricultural land which offers only limited habitat and security for wildlife. It is clear that if we are to protect the wildlife species of our land we have to proactively make allowances for them. Rob Eyre www.facebook.com/groups/edgeleywildlifereserve 4 1. Arguments Against a Car Park on the Land 1:1 Introduction Local residents who will be effected the most (i.e. south of the stadium) by the construc- tion of a car park are vehemently opposed to the development of the land in question into a car park. Some of the reasons are listed below (see 2:2). None of those objecting to a car park have as of yet objected to the idea of the land being developed and maintained as a wildlife/nature reserve or to the idea that SCFC could utilize part of it as a growing plot for their own uses or in partnership with the wider community. A community of people (who are not necessarily all local residents) belonging to the neighbouring angling clubs also object to the construction of a car park. They are extremely concerned about the negative effect on the ecology of the waters and the surrounding habitat that construction of a car park will bring. The community of anglers (Edgeley Park Angling Club & Gosjac) have worked hard to maintain the waters and the surrounding habitat for decades. Their members are also a well of information regarding the natural history of the area in question. There is, for instance, a culvert running parallel to Reservoir no.1 which carries a stream of water which older members native to Edgeley remember was once a natural stream. The roads in the neighbourhood and residential buildings of Moscow Road East already suffer from flooding during heavy rainfall. This has been attributed to the actions of the unnaturally routed stream and the swell caused by its unnatural diversion causing seepage into the southward orientated water table. Any further construction on the land in question is likely to effect the stream further and may increase the frequency and likelihood of flooding of cellars on Moscow Road East and potentially roads. Flooding on Dale Street is frequent as a result of heavy rainfall and the surges created by the narrowed flow of the previously natural stream. The origin of the stream is not known but it is known that natural springs were a feature in this area. An Eligible situation for Bleach Ground or Print Field in which there are a number of Fine White Sand Springs with a Rivulet capable of Turning Wash Wheels etc. The Grounds lie very contiguous to the populous Manufacturing Town of Stockport where Bleachers and Printers are both much wanted and every encour- agement will be given to a good tenant Manchester Mercury, 27 November 1792 5 1:2 List of Arguments Against a Car Park ● Light pollution ● Traffic increase ● Alternative parking and match transport available ● Noise pollution ● Destruction of wildlife habitat (see 2.) ● Destruction of flora and trees (see 2.) * ● Effect on House prices ● Effect on vista* ● Exhaust omissions ● Increased risk of accidents (increased traffic) ● Effect of increased traffic on historic cobbles * ● Effect of works traffic on historic cobbles * ● Interruption to public footpath on match days ● Potential pollution from runoff into rivulet effecting ecology of reservoir (both during construction and post construction) ● Potential pollution from runoff into rivulet effecting nutrition levels of reservoir (both during construction and post construction) ● Potential pollution from runoff into underlying ground effecting water table and water quality of reservoir ● Potential rainfall runoff from car park into rivulet effecting ecology of reservoir (both during construction and post construction) ● Potential rainfall runoff from car park effecting nutrition levels of reservoir (both during construction and post construction) ● Potential rainfall runoff from car park into underlying ground effecting water table and water quality of reservoir ● Loss of ground drainage by loss of trees effecting rivulet levels and thus frequency of flooding ● Loss of ground drainage by loss of trees effecting rivulet levels effecting reservoir water nutrition levels 6 ● The effect of car park surface and lack of trees for drainage on ground filtering effecting reservoir water quality and flooding frequency ● Increase of litter, directly from car park and indirectly from fans waiting to see players arrive ● Noise and light pollution and physical disturbance caused by works access ● Noise and light pollution and physical disturbance caused by ongoing works ● When local sewage system is in overflow pipes dispense sewage into rivulet. If factors wrought by car park construction increase volume of rivulet ( i.e. raise its levels) sewage seepage could be an issue in flooding spots. ● The parcel of land is included in Stockport Council’s designated Conservation Area - Alexandra Park.* ● There are alternatives which can be considered. ● If SCFC should be relegated or fold residents are left with a car park they don’t want and not the nature reserve/growing plot they do want ● Possible legal issues concerning the covenant established by the Syke’s family in gift- ing the land to the people of Edgeley as public land. —---------------------------------------------------------------------- * Subject to Stockport Council’s remit on Conservation Areas. —----------------------------------------------------------------------- In the appendix of The Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) Schools Climate Assembly Report For Full Council (dated 14 th July 2022) is a section titled: Full List of Climate Action Ideas Submitted by Young People. In that section is a table titled: Table 1: What Would You Like To See The Council Do To Tack- le Climate Change? Under the subject of Bio diversity and Green Spaces , the answers presented by the seven schools chosen were: ● Bee Zones, ● Protect Green Spaces, ● Make public allotments which have been rewilded, ● Beehives in schools, ● Protect Green Spaces and plant more trees, ● Don’t allow building on green spaces ● Re wild areas of council-owned parks to provide opportunity for natural habitats. 7 2. Arguments for Wildlife/Nature Reserve 2:1(a): Introduction In Edgeley we have Alexandra Park. The attractive park offers green site amenities for human use. Despite being landscaped with a rich variety of (often non native) flora the park is subject to heavy footfall and continuous human interference and management. Stands of trees are not wide enough to offer safe sanctuary or breeding spots for birds or most mammals. Undergrowth (extremely important for creatures to both feed and nest and for local ecology in general) is a bare minimum and is (as the park is first and foremost a human amenity) most often viewed as unwanted and removed. Most species of wildlife will only use the park as a last resort ( i.e. due to a lack of better options) to nest in. For example, one local lady remembers seeing a nest of young tits in the weeping willow beside no.3 reservoir. Children had tied a rope swing to the branches of the tree. The slim tracts of land surrounding reservoirs 1 and 2 offer a slightly higher degree of protection for wildlife (especially reservoir no.1) . However, being very narrow (single tree and hedgerow borders) and not consisting of enough variety of species of flora (mostly Sycamore trees) and also subject to regular human footfall and management, these areas provide a very limited opportunity for non aquatic wildlife to thrive. We want to create a wildlife space which incorporates a wealth of native species of flora (trees, shrubs and undergrowth) which can benefit both our local wildlife and our local commu- nity. The currently rewilding area situated at the end of Moscow Road East is is the only protected or protectable natural area still existing in Edgeley of any notable size. Ultimately, the idea is to create a secure enclosed space for the benefit of wildlife which will eventually require only the bare minimum of human management or maintenance. i.e. It will eventually manage itself. With the parcel of land in question exists the opportunity to create a habitat consisting of a wealth of variety of British native species of flora which will encourage wildlife to thrive. Adapting the proposal can benefit the human community and partners in a number of ways (listed below). 8 The basics of the process of creating such a space would involve a degree of initial management; A litter pick, introduction of some missing native species of fauna, trees and shrubs, construction of a mammal friendly fence with an access gate and lock, construction of basic maintenance paths (existing rubble on site can be used for this) - for access to manhole covers and any features such as beehives and observation hides, etc, and the removal of some Japanese Knotweed which (thankfully) seems to be restricted to the NW corner only. An initial survey will be necessary to help plan the approach to commencing with the project. I would suggest contacting the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Man- chester University, for that purpose. We live in an age where British wildlife habitat (particularly in urban areas) is failing at a startling rate. Not only should we be protecting existing wildlife spaces but we should be working toward creating new ones in order to help re-establish wildlife to a status which is acceptable. Children, especially in urban environments, should be helped to re-engage with our natural history on local levels. ● Urbanisation accounts for a greater impact on species than any other habitat conversion ● 63% ofmpriority species show a decrease of abundance since 1970 ● 22 species of British wildflower are now extinct ● 317 species of British wildflower are on the brink of extinction ● 75% of British wildlife ponds have been lost in ;last 50years ● The common frog is no longer common ● 25% of British Dragonflies have become extinct in the last 25 years ● In 11 years, Pipistrelle bats have decreased by 66% ● The British Noctule bat was widespread until the 1950s. It is now virtually extinct. ● This is just the beginning of the plight of our wildlife ● British wildlife cannot recover without the space to do so ● Hedgehog numbers are decreasing ● Our foxes seek sanctuary in towns ● All of these creatures are the descendants of those who shared this land with ours ● Without devoting space to our wildlife our wildlife can never recover ● There is considerable;e change in the plants and wildlife we share this country with ● It is essential to understand the underlying causes, identify species and habitats under the most pressure and collectively take appropriate conservation action (David Noble / Principle Ecologist / BTO) ● Plants provide the bedrock of a healthy ecosystem and it is clear from the results that their declines are exacerbating more marked declines in other groups that rely upon them, 9 notably insects, mammals, birds and butterflies. (Dr Kevin Walker / Head of Science / BSB) ● It is time to make nature a normal part of childhood again and restore wildlife so it can recover and thrive across urban jungles (Nikki Williams / The Wildlife Trusts) ● More needs to be done to achieve the ambitions of the governments 25 year environmen- tal Plan to reverse nature’s decline so that our children can experience and benefit from a richer natural environment (Tony Juniper / Natural England) Creating a nature reserve on this site will contribute toward creating a healthier environ- ment locally and also in part nationally. It can also help to regenerate disappearing cultural activities in the local community such as jam making, wine making, honey making, cheese making, wood crafting, basket weaving and be a source for locally supplied firewood, etc, etc. The project would also reward any partners in other ways. International, national and local grants would become available. Ecological offsetting targets would be met. Other ecolog- ical government initiatives and groups may form suitable partnerships. 2:1(b): Schools Climate Assembly Report In the appendix of The Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) Schools Climate Assembly Report For Full Council (dated 14 th July 2022) is a section titled: Full List of Climate Action Ideas Submitted by Young People. In that section is a table titled: Table 1: What Would You Like To See The Council Do To Tack- le Climate Change? Under the subject of Bio diversity and Green Spaces , the answers presented by the seven schools chosen were: ● Bee Zones, ● Protect Green Spaces, ● Make public allotments which have been rewilded, ● Beehives in schools, ● Protect Green Spaces and plant more trees, ● Don’t allow building on green spaces Re wild areas of council-owned parks to provide opportunity for natural habitats. 10 2:2 Benefits for Community ● Increase mental well being ● Improve local air quality ● Roots improving drainage ● Lift profile of area ● Offer educational opportunities ● Community engagement with nature and citizen science projects ● Regenerate interest in cultural crafts ● Generate rewarding pastimes ● Offer an opportunity for locals to benefit from locally grown produce ● Adhere to council’s remit on Conservation Areas ● Satisfy local residents who don’t want a car park or any urban structure on the land ● Making nature (in urban populations) a normal part of childhood again 11 2.3 Benefits for Nature ● Enrich Edgeley Ecologically ● Protect locally established ecology and habitat ● Offset Local Carbon Omissions ● Provide harbour for local wildlife ● Encourage native species of flora and fauna ● Increase of bio diversity in this urban area ● Contribute to a green corridor ● Work toward achieving government’s 25 yr Environment Plan to reverse nature’s decline ● Help stem the stark decline in UK wildlife and flora ● Contribute toward de fragmenting urban landscapes and barriers between habitats to counter the isolation of populations and reduction in genetic fitness ● Pipistrelle bats, starlings, dormice, crested newts, water voles, hedgehogs, butterflies and moths are species in serious decline which in the long term might benefit from this specific proposal. By preventing urban development, maintaining this rewilded spot will help to protect the link between it and the reservoirs to the green corridor provided by the railway embankment. (In urban areas, railway embankments have become important corridors for migration and habitat) 12 3. Proposal for Wildlife / Nature Reserve and Club Growing Plot 3:1 Introduction I would like to tender a proposal to dedicate the parcel of land in question to OUR local wildlife as a local nature reserve and for use of SCFC and the local community as a growing plot for club kitchens and restaurants, etc. Once saplings are of a good age, some goats could also be introduced to provide milk, cream and cheese for the club. Produce grown could include: Cherry, Pears, Apples, Plums, Red Currants, Raspberries, Beans, Green beans, Peas, Onions, Spring Onions, Beetroot, Sprouts, Hazelnuts, Chestnuts, Potatoes, Carrots, Celery, Rhubarb, Radish and Herbs. Most of these can be grown in recycled containers if the land is deemed either a) chemically unstable, or b) too poor in soil quality. Knotweed can be dealt with using canvas canopy to block the light in spring and replaced with Hawthorne which will eventually develop a canopy under which Knotweed will struggle to grow. This proposal would combine the advantages listed in Arguments for a Nature/Wildlife Reserve (see 2:1/p7) for Community (see 2:2/p10) and Nature (see 2.3/p11) with further benefits for Stockport County Fooball Club and provide potential further benefits to the local community such as cottage industry jam production, cottage industry Elder flower wine production, Dande- lion wine production, organic perfume production, local firewood source, goat’s milk, goat’s 13 cheese, orchard fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc. These things can be utilised by the club itself in the hospitality areas, shops or player’s canteen and/or by growers and local retailers (on Castle St for example). With proper diligence in the development, design and landscaping phase, if funding should fail at some point in the future, the beauty of it is that it is natural and can be simply left until funds come to revitalise the reserve. Conversely, with a car park, if SCFC should be relegated or fold, what could have been a natural area providing a number of benefits for the community, the club and our local wildlife will become a relatively unwanted and useless ruined plot of tarmac. In partnership and/or supported or steered by Stockport County FC, the community and wildlife benefits listed for a nature reserve would remain as mentioned in Chapter 2. Additional benefits for the community and SCFC are listed in 3:2 and 3:3 below. 14 3:2 Benefits for Community ( In addition to the benefits listed in 2.2) Jam making, Honey Making, Elder flower Wine Making, Dandelion Wine Making, Cheese making, Firewood Source, Wood Crafting Opportunities, Basket Weaving, Organic Perfumes are some of the products that the local community could potentially profit from on the High Street. 3:3 Benefits for Nature ( In addition to the benefits listed in 2.3) Local nature, wildlife and habitat would be supported by and protected by a prominent football club. The profile of conservation endeavours would be raised by the football club on a national (per- haps international) level. 3:4 Benefits for Football Club ● Club would deserve/gain credit for Benefits to Nature ( 2:3). ● Prestige / Kudos of being a ‘Green’ club. ● It can become the club’s garden. Perhaps the 1 st club with a garden? ● Creating and maintaining a nature zone will count toward offsetting Local Carbon Omis sions. ● Creating and maintaining a nature zone would count toward offsetting the effect of increased traffic on local air quality. ● Effects of car park on roots and drainage will not be an issue. ● Club will be credited with helping to maintain and improve profile of area. ● The club itself could be involved in / offer educational opportunities within the reserve. ● The plot could provide SCFC with locally grown organic produce which could be used in the restaurants, cafes, clubhouse, player’s canteen, and shops of the proposed expansion. ● Credit in working toward government’s 25yr Environment Plan to reverse nature’s decline. ● The club would be adhering to the council’s remit on Conservation Areas. ● Satisfy local residents who don’t want a car park or any urban structure on the land. ● If goats are eventually introduced they could be used as the football club’s mascots and be paraded round the ground prior to matches. 15