ACORN – PRESENT AND FUTURE
Caring for the Local Countryside since 1992
This final article about the ACORN group looks at the routine work
that ACORN members carry out to help maintain our local green
spaces; and also considers new projects and opportunities that
ACORN will continue to be involved with in the coming years.
Countryside Management – Footpaths And Nature Reserves
Since the early days of the “Parish Paths Partnership” with Central
Beds, ACORN members have helped to keep the local footpaths clear
– mowing the paths and cutting back brambles and branches growing
out from the hedgerows. In some cases the landowner or farmer will
take on the maintenance (the old Kingfisher Way path along the River
Ivel is the main example). The ultimate responsibility for footpath
maintenance lies with the Central Beds “Rights of Way” team, who
will arrange for contractors to carry out major works (for example
repairing the bridge at Arlesey Common).
At this time of year it can be quite a challenge to keep up with the
work, with everything growing so vigourously. A few of us go out each
Friday morning (weather permitting) for a couple of hours, using a
combination of heavy duty strimmers and mowers. The machinery has
been purchased by ACORN over the years, with funding grants from
Central Beds and Arlesey Town Council, and enables us to tackle most
tasks with equipment that can be transported in an estate car or
small trailer.
The Glebe Meadows and Old Moat Nature Reserves are both owned
by the Wildlife Trust, so technically they are not the responsibility of
ACORN. However, the current volunteer wardens, and most of the
work party volunteers are ACORN members; and they are able to use
the ACORN machinery and tools, so there is a very close tie to ACORN.
Work on the reserves is mainly carried out in Autumn and Winter,
when the grass is cut, bramble reduced, and hedges trimmed or laid. In
Spring and Summer it’s mainly keeping the footpaths clear. The Trust
arranges for any major tree work (e.g. pollarding the riverside willows);
and also brings in a few cattle to munch through the Meadow grass at
the end of each year.
Larksfield Surgery Medical Partnership
Chaperone Policy Summary
You can read the full copy of our chaperone policy on our website:
www.larksfieldsurgery.gpsurgery.net
Larksfield Surgery Medical Partnership is committed to providing
a safe and comfortable environment where patients and staff can
be confident that “Best Practice” guidance, as recommended by The
General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, is being followed
at all times.
FORMAL CHAPERONES ARE OFTEN USED FOR
INTIMATE EXAMINATIONS
(eg, breast, rectum, male and female genitalia)
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on the button issue 47 July 2016 |
01462 834265 |
Current Projects
For the last year or so ACORN has been participating in a joint
consultation with Stotfold and surrounding communities, known
as the Etonbury Green Wheel. Run by the Beds Rural Communities
Charity, the aim of the project is to improve access for residents to the
green spaces surrounding our communities, looking for opportunities
to enhance or add to our current network of footpaths, bridleways and
cyclepaths. Linked to this, a great deal of work has been carried out in
Etonbury Wood, both for the benefit of wildlife and visitors. ACORN
would like to help with the future maintenance of this site, but this is
dependent on getting sufficient active volunteers.
Partly as a result of working together with Stotfold
conservation group Teasel on the Green Wheel, two
initiatives are underway. The first concerns the River Pix,
which suffers from a great deal of Himalayan Balsam plant
along the bank. This attractive flower unfortunately will
eventually smother all other riverside