Many of you will be familiar with the meadow area behind the cricket field off Aspin Lane in Knaresborough – the footpath regularly used by walkers along Crag Top towards the town or Abbey Road. The land is owned by Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) and over the years it has been cut and the grass left to rot at least once a year.
A few years ago the Friends of Aspin Pond (FOAP) were successful in allocating the area as a Green Space in the Local Development Plan, in order to preserve it from being built on. I am very pleased to report the Friends of Aspin Pond with the help of HBC have decided to include this area as part of the Aspin Pond project and have named it Crag Top Meadow.
On November 24th 2021, after the meadow had been cut by HBC, a group of volunteers worked hard at raking the area in order to reduce the vegetation as much as possible. This will be an annual activity to reduce the fertility of the vegetation so that the wildflowers can begin to flourish. We will also be sowing yellow rattle to reduce the grasses. It’s a long term project but a very worthwhile one. It will increase the biodiversity of the area a great deal by attracting more insects, pollinators, birds, bats and other mammals.
Throughout the last two difficult years Aspin Pond and the surrounding area has been a place of great comfort, peace and hope. I’m sure we look forward to the longer days and watching again the miracle of Spring and being grateful for saying goodbye to Winter.
Sue Kitching (Chair)