Area Three
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Phoebe Merrick

Area Setting and Landscape Settlement Pattern Building Form Materials/Fenestration/Chimneys Boundary Features Streets and street furniture Trees/hedges & landscape Open and other spaces Consultation Process

Trees, Hedges and other Landscape Features

Trees in the cemetery

Many different species of trees line the banks of the Tadburn Lake – alder, ash, elder, field maple, beech and even a wych elm, together with bushes of hawthorn and blackberry. These provide a particularly attractive view to the residents of those streets which back on to both sides of the river and are appreciated by all who walk the footpath alongside.

Turkey oaks have been planted in the open spaces bordering the path along the river at Eight Acres, which also has a large and attractive sycamore breaking the line of the garages beside No. 37.

There is also a splendid 70 ft weeping willow at the Eight Acres/ Symes Road junction and the small green at the end of Tadfield Road has been planted with firs, mountain ash and a couple of cherries.

A line of fir, laurel, pine and Leylandii trees of some height provides a front boundary to the houses of Oakleigh Gardens and screens them from the main road.

Thanks to the length of some of the tenancies in Chambers Avenue / Allan Grove, there is a substantial collection of mature trees, such as spruce, birch, willow and cypress spread through the various gardens. A very tall hedge of Leylandii wraps round the garden at the junction of Chambers Avenue with Saxon Way, and encloses an even taller spruce.

Trees in the cemetery include monkey puzzle, yew and Lebanon cedar, while the poplars can be seen from some distance. It is hoped to replace the ageing monkey puzzle with new saplings.

While many of the streets in the area have open plan gardens, they would benefit from more trees being planted, for example in Symes Road and Hillside Avenue, if the width of pavement would allow. However, mature trees bring their own problems, dependent on proximity to houses, footpaths or roadways and a balance needs to be struck between the demands of conservation and safety.

Wildlife

The Tadburn stream attracts a variety of wild life, including a well-established duck population, mainly of mallard, one or two of which are white. Other species known to frequent the area are: pipistrelle bats, kingfisher, wood pigeons, grey squirrels and, in the water, occasional trout, water voles and rats.

A ‘pond dipping’ project in May 2004 showed that the water contained a large variety of life, such as freshwater shrimps, bull heads, water crickets, sticklebacks, horse leeches and broad worms, together with the larvae of caddis, giant crane fly and black fly.

Design Recommendations

	Trees of an appropriate size to enhance the environment but which would not compromise safety should be planted in Symes Road, and consideration should be given to allowing for low boundary markers such as low hedges or fences.
	Planting of Leylandii should be discouraged.
	Where new or replacement trees are planted close to private gardens, non-invasive species should be selected.

Open and other spaces

There are two open areas in Tadburn Valley – the small, circular green at the end of Tadfield Road planted out with firs, mountain ash and a couple of cherries – and the town cemetery, situated on top of the hill, halfway along Botley Road.

The cemetery on Botley Road was opened in 1857. The two chapel buildings were designed by architect W.K Lower: one in the Gothic style for the Church of England members and one for the non-conformist denominations in the Italianate style. This latter is now Grade II listed. There is also a one-storey cottage (the Cemetery Lodge), with steep pitched roof, built originally for the use of the cemetery keeper next to one of the two entrances. Both entrances are guarded by high iron gates and the site is surrounded by a three ft high brick wall, topped with pitched tiles, fronting a privet hedge of some six feet.

Although now rarely used for internments, the cemetery is much appreciated by local residents who benefit from the open views and the screen of trees, and an initial meeting has been held to establish a voluntary group as ‘friends of the cemetery’. There has been some damage in recent years from vandalism and the grounds are beginning to look overgrown and neglected. The keeper’s cottage is being renovated and has been leased to Testway Housing to provide affordable housing, but a brick built lavatory block in south-east corner remains boarded up.

Eight Acres/ Field Close benefit from the generous layout of the estate, which left several small open spaces laid to grass and planted with trees, such as alder and rowan.

Tadburn Meadows, an area of some 12 acres, falls within Halterworth’s remit but it is used extensively by residents of Tadburn Valley for recreation and dog-walking.

 

Design Recommendations

Opportunities for enhanced management of the Cemetery should be considered. A management plan should be drawn up for the maintenance of the cemetery grounds and its buildings, including future plans for the disused lavatory block.