Project Overview
Pocket Wilding presented a plan to Marlow Town Council to improve a public park by planting native hedges and trees. This would benefit the environment and enhance visitor experiences. In November 2024, after community feedback, permission was granted to proceed with the project.
Goals
- Increase vegetation to boost biodiversity by planting:
- Native hedgerows aimed for laying in 3-6 years.
- Holly hedging under mature trees to provide thick understory.
- Mature trees for shade and habitat.
- Beds of hazel coppice, hawthorn and wild flowers.
- Climate mitigation: CO2 drawdown, soil protection, air quality, and flood and heatwave management.
- Developing and sharing toolkits.
Details
Location: Seymour Recreation Ground, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Lead: Pocket Wilding
Land Owner: Marlow Town Council
Partners: Wild Marlow, Releaf Marlow, Marlow Town Council, Transition Town Marlow, Sir William Borlase, The Marlow Wombles.
Funding: Trusts & Foundations, The Tree Council, The Woodland Trust, Marlow Town Council, Residents and businesses of Marlow, Pocket Wilding.
When: Winter/Spring 2024/25
Status: Current
1st planting day: 5th Dec 2024, 10am-3:30pm, complete
2nd planting day: Spring 2025
Community engagement
Partnering with local groups
We are happy to work with these organisations that bring valuable local expertise.
Engaging with residents
In October 2024, Pocket Wilding spoke to 200 households near Seymour Park. Residents discussed the park and shared their thoughts by filling out a 9-question questionnaire. Out of 200, 46 households completed it, and the results on attitudes towards planting are below.
See summary of results
1. Should we add more trees and shrubs?
93.5% voted “yes”
2. What stages of the project do you agree with:
Planting shrubs and wildflowers
95.6% voted “yes”
Planting hedgerow on the south side
93.3% voted “yes”
Planting mature trees around the playground
93.3% voted “yes”
Empowering local youth
In November 2024, Great Marlow School and Sir William Borlase School were invited to join this project.
Pocket Wildling and Councillor Colleen Stapley spoke to interested students at Sir William Borlase School. Many of these students will participate in the first planting on December 5th, 2023. They were encouraged to think of ways to reach out to their friends using methods they are comfortable with, like social media, gaming, art, creative writing, science, or journalism. The discussion was lively, and the students shared some great ideas.
Great Marlow School cannot join the first part of this project but hopes to participate next time.
Pocket Wildling trustees continue to visit the park to talk to park users, including some younger visitors, about the project. Park wardens will be informed about the project details so they can also share the information.
The Planting Plans
Planting will happen over a two year period. Over that time the. project will plan over 200m of native hedgerow plants, some will be layed used the tradition method, some trimmed like garden hedging.
What and when
On the first planting day on December 5th, 2024, approx 120m of native hedging was added.
Three types of planting and/or management, which will promote biodiversity.
Holly along the east side fence under the mature trees, which will be managed to be low and thick.
Benefits include:
- Evergreen providing colour all year round.
- Birds such as Redwings love the berries.
- Food for the larvae of the Holly Blue Butterfly.
- Cosy place for hedgehogs to hibernate.
Mixed native hedging along the east side where there is more light. After 3-6 years this will be layed.
As it grows, the hedge might seem a bit long and messy, but that’s okay; it needs time to grow before we can shape it.
Layed hedges are great for supporting many kinds of wildlife.
It will be the first layed hedge in a public park in Marlow.
Mixed native hedging along the north side to widen the existing habitat . This will not be layed.
With over 8 different species of hedge plants native to the UK, this planting will not only provide a beautiful hedge but will support so many species. We planted:
Hawthorn, Dogwood, Hazel, Field Maple, Wych Elm, Spindle, Guelder Rose, Wayfaring Tree