Mile End Park

Mile End Park
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Since 2004 Mile End Park has adopted the slogan, “Bringing the countryside to the East End” This resulted in a change of horticultural management that sought and continues to seek to provide a wide range of habitats within the park. Each year established habitats are managed and new habitats developed.

The most significant habitats are a number of wild flower meadows that can be seen throughout the park. These are reduced in size by 80% in September/October leaving 20% uncut to act as over wintering sites for invertebrates.

A one metre grass strip is cut adjacent to all hard surfaces that abut the wild meadows. A grass footpath is cut through each of the meadows to enhance public access and appreciation of these areas. Elsewhere in areas of short grass, an area of 2-3 metres from each tree is allowed to grow and is only cut once in September/October.

Invasive plant species within the meadow areas such as Goose Grass, Creeping Thistle and Docks are controlled on an annual basis by physical rather than chemical means.

Water bodies, in the form of three ponds and the canal that bounds the park provide a significant habitat within the park. The ponds are surveyed three times a year and the resulting recommendations are incorporated into the annual management plan. Regular pond dipping sessions take place in the ponds which contain a mixture of reeds and other native aquatic plants.

Wood piles and standing dead wood can be found around the park and stag beetle buckets have been buried in the copsed areas of the park. Areas of woodland and copse are routinely coppiced on a three year cycle to encourage young growth and the new growth on the floor where light levels suddenly increase. All areas of woodland are under planted with the aim of providing an understorey

Two native hedgerows have been planted replacing the earlier single species hedge or the ornamental planting. The new hedgerows contain a mixture of Elder, Alder, Rose, Hawthorn, Oak, Viburnum, Honeysuckle and Holly.

More hedges are programmed to be planted each year for future years along boundary fences and margins. Bird boxes adapted to encourage sparrows, owls and Tits are dispersed throughout the parks and a range of bird feeders are hung through winter to temporarily sustain urban bird populations.

Monthly surveys are carried out to ascertain the populations of Beetle and Spider which as of December 2007 has identified 135 species of spider and 148 species of beetle. Some of which are classified as rare including the Red Data Book rover beetle called Amarachara forticornis, which is very rare and is only known in UK from a shingle beach on the south coast, a green roof in dockland and now Mile End Park.  Several others are Nationally Notable species.

With the ongoing commitment to biodiversity it can be truthfully said that Mile End Park will continue to bring the Countryside to the East End throughout 2008 and beyond.