Hi all
Just to clarify, we're not trying to 'prettify' the area - but rather to bring the wildlife back to it, and make parts of it more accessible. There is a large area in the south east corner which is completely overgrown, and could be made more open for people to enjoy.
Unfortunately a lot of conservation and wilding work involves some kind of management in order to prevent areas becoming just a mass of scrub - brambles, hawthorn, blackthorn, dog rose etc. These are great for some wildlife, but to get a mix of insects, birds and mammals, we also need open water, meadow, field margins and so on - and that is what we are proposing for the overgrown areas of Maltings Green.
Once done, it will only need looking at every couple of years or so to keep on top of it, and the Wildplaces group is not going away

I have had a good look at the species present, but it really is quite limited at the moment.
There are a few 'good' plants on site - cowslips, cornflower, butterbur, cuckoo pint - which we aim to preserve where they are. However, with the work proposed, we should see a big increase in diversity of insects, butterflies, birds etc. (Bird boxes and an insect hotel are on the list of additions)
There is also be a small area of wildflower meadow included in the proposal

Regarding the Field, we have already succeeded in having the PC accept proposals for a wildflower meadow and woodland corridor on the western edge, and have also secured works from the Woodland Trust to allow access into Millennium Wood from the field.
If Persimmon will allow it, there may well be an opportunity to do something along these lines with the area at the top of Oak Lane, but that's for the future and for the village to decide

I'm really happy to have a walk round Maltings Green with anyone who wants to understand more, and explain on the ground what we are proposing.
Please send me a message via the forum if you're interested.