I have had a number of responses to my previous discussion on the wildlife value of allotments. Of these, one encapsulates perfectly the plight of our allotments and the potential loss to wildlife and the local community that can occur when there are increasing and conflicting demands are placed on land on and around allotment sites – especially in urban areas.
The Harthill Allotments in Calderstones Park, Liverpool, are on a small site that comprises just 46 plots, but despite the site’s small size and its proximity to the city centre it has become a rich and highly valued wildlife haven. So unique is the site’s high density of wildlife that Liverpool City Council recognised it as an ‘ecologically important’ site in 2002, one of just two sites from Liverpool’s 23 allotment sites that received such recognition.
Harthill Copse has become home to very many bird, mammal and invertebrate species. Some rights reserved.
Part of the reason for the abundance of wildlife on the Harthill Allotments is that historically, a number of plots on the site have been left uncultivated and three in particular have become so overgrown that they have developed into a small woodland known locally as Harthill Copse.
Harthill Copse is now the focus of a battle between the local residents of Calderstones Park and the Harthill Copse Allotment Committee. The committee, in response to a surge in demand for allotments since 2003, have cleared all of the un-used plots on the site and now intend to clear the copse so that the three plots that it represents can also be put back into cultivation and so that they can ease their waiting list.
The committee would argue, I’m sure, that their job is to provide as many people as possible in the local community with the opportunity of having an allotment. This argument is a valid one for many people and an allotment site that is cultivated at maximum capacity would remain a valuable green-space for a great deal of wildlife. However, an allotment site that is tidy and efficient would not come close to being the wildlife haven that is present on the Harthill site at present and is unlikely to gain recognition as an ‘ecologically important’ urban green-space in the future.
Fighting against the allotment committee are the plot-holders and local residents who want Harthill Copse to be retained and managed like a local nature reserve. They want to plant more native plant species, create a bog garden and install bat, bird and hedgehog boxes. They also want to open the Copse up for the local community to use by providing paths, benches and information boards.
The irony of this situation is that Liverpool City Council have stated in their ‘Open Space Study’ that, ‘Potential exists to increase the nature conservation value of some allotment sites through identifying areas to develop as wildlife habitats’ and the Councillor for the Environment and Heritage also appears to support the plot-holders. Why then are the allotment committee still demanding that the copse be cleared – it can’t be for the £100 a year extra in rent that they will earn form the three plots, so why?
The erosion of our allotment sites and urban green-spaces continues unabated and there are examples like the Harthill Allotments across the whole country. Local decision makers have to meet the needs of many different groups who want to use the land for their own purposes and all too often tidying up, ‘reclamation’ and relocation lead to the loss of habitats that are valuable to local residents and wildlife.
Read more about the campaign on the Save Harthill Copse website.
Read more about the campaign on the Merseyside Biodiversity Group website.
November 24, 2007 at 4:20 pm
It seems a traged to destroy such a valuable wildlife area even in the good cause of giving residents access to allotments. Once destroyed, such a habitat will never be the same again even if subsequently reinstated under a new regime. If no other land is available for allotments, why not let some of the existing plots as half plots, to give more people opportunities? Who do this allotments committee represent if there is so strong a movement against them? Surely they must stand for re-election at some point and may be replaced by people more representative of local viewpoints. They are only tenants of the council, and if, as I understand it, the council are against felling the copse, this would be against the spirit if not the letter of the lease.
Best of luck to those who are working to keep this haven for wildlife.
Jean Galsworthy
November 26, 2007 at 10:11 am
Small wildlife areas such as this at Harthill Allotments are vitally important to provide new habitat and green corridors for wildflowers and wildlife. In the face of changing climate and continuing development demands in urban areas, it should be possible to accommodate both the needs of allotment holders and those of nature at Harthill. I would hope that through negotiation and a willingness to find a postive solution that this beautiful new copse can be retained for the benefit of all.
November 26, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I’ve been following this issue for some time and I must congratulate the people who have launched this initiative. Whilst I can understand both sides of the argument it does make one wonder about the structure of the entire allotments movement. Who is the master, the land owner or the association? And how much autonomy should a committee have before it turns into a small South American dictatorship? I am sure this is an issue across the land. Farmers and agriculturists are not always the best conservationists! Every piece of wild area matters, there is very little need to farm to the hilt so I agree with the article above:- “it can’t be for the £100 a year extra in rent that they will earn form the three plots, so why?” Indeed!
To the Tiny Woodland people- Thank you for a smashing website and inspiring photography. It really makes you appreciate the small things in life!
December 7, 2007 at 9:00 am
I have also been following this issue and I don’t believe the clearing of these plots is quite as highly opposed as this web posting makes out. There are a very small number of people – 3 plots from the 46 – that are against the clearing.
A couple of major things that this web posting leaves out is that the area in question is shading 7 other plots, one of which to the extent that ~50% of it is pretty much uncultivatable due to the lack of light it gets – I believe that one person has already moved plots to get away from the shading.
The allotment committe has been involved in many activities around the plot to increase wildlife on the site including the introduction of a hedge all the way round the site which is made up of species that are highly attractable to small birds, hedgehogs and insects.
The council needs to clear these plots not only to open up the land for another 5 people on the waiting list but to stop the shading problem.
In reply to one of the posts above, plots have been split into half plots and in a couple of cases 1/4 plots to accomodate more people onto the site. Other overgrown plots have been cleared and communal assets moved to maximise the plot space. However, the waiting list still keeps going up.
In this day and age do we not need to consider the health of the nation over a tiny area (~30sq m). I certainly believe we do.
December 28, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Can I clarify: The Copse is in an allotment site which purpose is for providing areas for people to grow vegetables, fruits etc. rather than being an oasis in the middle of a large city which is suggested in the lead article, this allotment site is on the edge of one of the largest parks in liverpool which has wild life areas in it and thousands of trees. Removing this copse will not render birds, insects etc homeless as the vast majority live in the park and come to feast on the produce.
Perhaps one would prefer to reduce allotments even further stopping plots from being used for growing things on and allow them to become overgrown for wild life. I thought having an allotment plot was getting closer to nature. Cultivating plots does provide habitat for wild life (mice, rats, birds, insects) so in taking back the copse and providing plots (which again is what the land is therefor) is not anti-conservation. Waiting lists are growing by the week all in every site in liverpool should we just turn around and say tough I have a plot and i’m allright jack – no I don’t think so.
Re the committe. The committe represents the mojority view. The committe are well respected, well liked and very helpful. the grass paths are cut, hedgerows planted, advice and help given when ever needed. I thank them for this.