The bridleway on the southern edge of the parish running this side of the A6097 follows the path of an old Roman way and is the only visible remnant in the parish of the important settlement of Margidunum.
The village has already started to improve parts of this bridleway by new planting of trees and repairing hedgerows. One section of the bridleway passes through a small field that has become overgrown and needs clearing.
This note describes the work that has been done so far and highlights further work to be done to improve amenity, encourage biodiversity and make the most of East Bridgford's heritage. It also calls for support and volunteers to continue the improvements.
In 2005 the East Bridgford Parish Plan Conservation, Planning and the Environment Action Group was asked to identify a project for funding as a Rushcliffe BC Small Environmental Project.
The Bridgford Street project was submitted in October 2005 and presented to the EB Parish Council. The project had received support from the EB Wildlife & Biodiversity Group; the Local History Group and the village members of the Parish Paths Partnership were also approached
Rushcliffe BC approved the project for funding in 2006-7.
A programme of tree and hedge planting was carried out in March 2007.
The bridleway (no. 28. on the footpath map) on the village side of the A6097 follows in part the oldest way in the parish, dating from Roman times when it linked Margidunum the Roman settlement on the Fosse Way with a crossing of the river Trent. The Margidunum site itself is invisible and unsigned, lying under fields and under the roundabout at the junction of the A46 and A6097. An important part of the settlement (bath house, schola, etc.) falls in East Bridgford Parish., although other parts are in Bingham.
The recent archaeological study of Pancake Hill sponsored by the EB Local History Group has found further evidence of Roman activity in East Bridgford in the form of spoil from a Roman building, probably a farm.
As a village, East Bridgford makes little of its Roman connection: Margidunum despite lying mainly in the parish of East Bridgford is treated in the published material and on websites as linked to Bingham; the finds from the Oswald dig at Margidunum are in the Nottingham University Museum; even the Margidunum roundabout has no heritage sign.
Bridgford Street is the only visible remnant of the Roman period in the village.
The earliest map showing this Roman way is the 1614 Magdalen College Estate Map where it is clearly marked as 'Streete Way'.
The bridleway now starts at the south-east corner of the parish almost unannounced, without easy access or exit, at the Margidunum roundabout and then follows the old line of Bridgford Street as far as the Kirk Hill - A6097 traffic lights. On the south side of the bridleway, away from the village, is the 'new' A6097. From the traffic lights the bridleway appears to follow a slightly different line down to Trent Lane - no doubt as a result of the road built for the 'new' river bridge in the 1930s.
The Highways Agency's A46 Environmental Statement makes several references to this bridleway and the landscape it crosses which highlight their importance:
The Bridgford Street Project covers Sections II and III only, although it has wider implications for the village.
The A6097 is now a busy main road. It is the main road closest to the village and far closer than even the proposed A46 dual carriageway. Given the prevailing southwesterly winds, it is an important source of noise pollution. The traffic surveys and forecasts conducted by the Highways Agency predict a major increase in traffic along the A6097 and consequent increases in noise pollution. The traffic on the stretch between the new A46/ A6097 roundabout and the traffic lights on Kirk Hill is forecast to increase from 2004 to 2025 by 29% or 4,833 vehicles a day.
From the Margidunum roundabout to the traffic lights, the village side of the A6097 is screened by a dense overgrown roadside vegetation (mainly blackthorn) interspersed with trees. Traces of an old hedge abutting the bridleway are all but submerged. At the lay-by near the traffic lights Notts. County Council has cutback the overgrown vegetation and trees leaving only a low and gappy field hedge maintained by the farmer.
In the Village Design Statement East Bridgford is characterised as a village hidden in and by mature trees. However, some modern developments are unscreened by trees; the Haycroft Way development is an example. It is precisely opposite Haycroft Way that the screening between the A6097 and the village is at its least effective.
In 2006/7 the East Bridgford Parish Council purchased a small plot on the village side of the bridleway at its western end, adjacent to the traffic lights for planting as a copse and so increase the screening of the village.
The East Bridgford Wildlife and Biodiversity Group (EBWBG) made a preliminary study of Bridgford Street in 2005 (see Appendix). The small paddock in Section II was identified as a potentially valuable source of biodiversity with a wide range of grasses and pasture plants. This paddock has apparently already been classified as a SINC (Site of Interest for Nature Conservation); the existing hedgerows and hedgerow trees are also important. (See Appendix for species list)
Recent walks of the bridleway show that the paddock is heavily invaded on both sides of the mown path by bramble and blackthorn. Only small sections of the original pasture remain and unless urgent action is taken this species rich pasture will be lost.
Bridleway 28 is part of the network of rights of way that is highly rated by the residents of the village (East Bridgford Appraisal 2003) and well monitored under the Parish Paths Partnership. At its eastern end the bridleway comes to a dead end at the Margidunum roundabout, although current plans for the dualling of the A46 are expected to create footpath links with the rights of way in Car Colston and Bingham. The bridleway will not cross the new A46, but a new bridleway will follow northwards on the west side of the new road to cross Springdale Lane and then meet Butt Lane. Butt Lane itself will provide an overbridge to enable a crossing to the Vale side of the new A46. The new section of bridleway will permit a circular walk around the southern boundary and part of the eastern side of the parish.
As a result Bridgford Street bridleway will become an even more valuable facility for villagers. Looking at Bridgford Street from Kirk Hill to Brunt's Lane (the section covered by this project) and then across as far as the new bridleway to be constructed on the west side of the new A46 we will see an interesting succession of bridleway environments: - twin hedge with copse; single hedge and hedge row trees with open field on village side; grassland paddock with trees and hedges on both sides (currently completely overgrown except for the mown bridleway); across Brunt's Lane a broad bridleway with hedges and trees on both sides as far as stables.
Thanks to funding from Rushcliffe Borough Council and support from the Parish Council the village now has:
All the tree and hedge planting was funded and managed by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
On adjacent private land there has been further tree planting, including 6 oak trees supplied by the Parish Council that have been planted bordering Footpath 27.
Work Still To DoThe original proposals were to put up informative heritage and wildlife signs on the bridleway at the Kirk Hill entrance and at the end of Brunt's Lane. Heritage signage would make Bridgford Street and its link with the village's Roman heritage a better understood and so better valued aspect of East Bridgford. This had been proposed in the '06-'07 project funded by Rushcliffe but sufficient funds were not available. The idea is still valid and so it will be necessary to find new funding.
The Church Field Section of Bridgford StreetAdjacent to and on the west side of Brunt's Lane Bridgford Street crosses a narrow field. This is now overgrown by brambles and blackthorn (see photographs), but formerly it was a hay meadow and small patches of species-rich grass remain. By the end of this year the last grass (apart from the mown bridleway strip) will probably disappear and this traditional hay meadow will be lost. The encroachment by brambles and scrub has shifted the bridleway off its original line along the headland boundary with the A6097 to the centre of the field; this has negative implications for grants to cover mowing the bridleway.
The field is owned by the Diocese of Southwell and is managed by Savills. Because of existing tenancy agreements and a limited budget the field could not be covered in the RBC funded project.
This small field on the bridleway has up to now been linked with the larger field to the north and the Church is now looking for new tenancy agreements for both fields.
A meeting was held on-site with Savills at the end of November. It was explained that the Bridgford Street project was interested only in the small field on the bridleway. Possible approaches to clearing the scrub and renting the field were discussed. Estimates for clearing the field are being obtained. A response from the Church is awaited - an early decision is needed if clearing is to start before growth restarts in the spring.
An item has been put on the EB Village website which proposes that a Village Action Group be formed to:
The EB Wildlife & Biodiversity Group is continuing to push forward with this valuable conservation and environmental project which will be of benefit to the whole village, but more volunteers are needed.
For more information please email info@eastbridgfordwildlife.org.uk.