Retrofitting
Retrofitting brings the benefits of newer more efficient technologies to exisitng properties. In the downloads below there are documents providing advice on retrofitting.
Mowing
The following proposal was put to Braunston Parish Council and was accepted. It was supported by Braunston Canal Society, Braunston Scout Group, Braunston Walkers, Braunston Village Gardens Association, All Saints’ Church, Jetty Fields Committee, Braunston CE School andBraunston Women’s Institute
Braunston had a mowing schedule in which some large areas were mown weekly or fortnightly. Mowing frequently increases costs and leads to higher carbon emissions and greatly reduces biodiversity.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 places a duty on public authorities in England and Wales to show regard for conserving biodiversity in all their actions.
In preparing the proposal we took advice from Plantlife, the Wildlife Trusts, Butterfly Conservation and Wild Flower Lawns and Meadows. Northamptonshire ACRE and Chesham Town Council.
The revised regime meets the following aims:
Reduce carbon emissions that arise from land management by Braunston Parish Council. (Action 4 in the Braunston Parish Council Climate Action document)
Increase the biodiversity in areas of land managed by the Parish Council which will have a positive effect on the number and diversity of invertebrates, small mammals and birds in surrounding areas.
Reduce expenditure required to mow the land.
Achieve the support of residents, village groups and visitors.
Provide examples for others of how private land such as gardens can be managed in more sustainable ways.
We proposed that most of the mown areas are classified as amenity grassland and mown every three weeks. Under this regime white clover, creeping buttercup and bird’s-foot trefoil can flower between cuts at this, attracting pollinating bees and other invertebrates, thereby leading to greater biodiversity. These flowering plants can spread and flower with the ‘cut and fly’ method of mowing. Mowing these areas every three weeks rather than weekly or fortnightly led to a reduction in carbon emissions and financial costs of around 50%.
Amenity grasslands are areas used for playing or as paths or verges in residential areas.
In specified areas we propose the creation of wildlife-rich grassland. These areas will be .
In August 2020, the Parish Council agreed that we establish a wildlife-rich grassland on the inside of the Butlin’s Hill bend which is mown twice a year and managed in ways that support greater biodiversity.To achieve this, mowing is ‘cut and collect’. The road edges of Butlin’s Hill are mown as amenity grassland to ‘frame’ the wildlife-rich grassland and indicate that the whole area is managed.
Jetty Field came under the Parish Council mowing contract in 2021. Two areas are mown, the main field and the garden. The grass areas in the garden are maintained as amenity grassland. The same arrangement applies in the north east section of the main field which is used for Braunston Forest School activities.
The remainder of the main field, with the exceptions mentioned below, is maintained as at Butlin's Hill. Five rights of way, all footpaths, cross the main field which is used as a pedestrian route between the canal and the village. The field is also used a lot to exercise dogs. The footpaths are mown to a two-metre width, every six weeks. Mowing these areas is important to ‘frame’ the areas of wildlife-rich grassland.
Churchyard wildlife-rich grassland
In May 2021 Braunston Brownies helped plant wildflowers. On 24th June over 30 species of grass and flowers were counted in this area.