Sites for sore eyes are spreading across town
Ah, spring is with us at last, and lepidopterists (butterfly scientists) will be waxing their nets in anticipation of another successful season. The green, hairy, squiggly creatures will be munching their way through the fresh shoots of recovery before ch
Ah, spring is with us at last, and lepidopterists (butterfly scientists) will be waxing their nets in anticipation of another successful season.
The green, hairy, squiggly creatures will be munching their way through the fresh shoots of recovery before chrysalis and evolution into that paragon of the insect world, lepidoptera!
Since my first observations on this matter the quantity of sites suitable as butterfly colonies has spread across the town like eczema.
To qualify, a site has to be essentially neglected, either as a construction site or nature reserve/waste land. Here are six prominent sites:
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1: The A10 roundabout opposite the town hall. This is known as the original Royston eyesore/weed patch. Formerly the site of the cinema, lido, and Taste of India restaurant, it has recently changed hands but there is yet to be any progress.
Access is straight forward by the lido entrance and I checked the site for cadavers. There are none. This site is developing an international reputation, although the fence now appears to have been fixed and yellow 'danger' signs have been put up. This may mean they are to get on with some work, hooray!
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2: Baldock Street, opposite the fire station. To be fair, this probably does not qualify, as some work is being done, albeit painfully slowly. The site is well managed and very secure, although Royston limbo dancing society may be up to the challenge. A very large site.
3: Clark Road/behind the flats on Kneesworth Street. From the parking area there is a gated door (unlocked) which leads to a piece of wasteland used for the dumping of domestic electrical goods and other rubbish.
The buddleia grows in profusion and there is easy access to the London bound platform of the railway station.
4: Gower Road/Titchmarsh Close. At the end of Titchmarsh Close is an open but totally uncultivated area. It contains seating and a litter bin (full), and there is also a mattress, which looks unhygienic, and a great deal of rubbish. The site appears to have some totally extraneous fencing, which could be removed.
5: Burns Road, adjacent to the shops. Another site with open access as the fence is down. Some fine examples of buddleia have propagated.
6. Burns Road, opposite Roysia surgery bus stop. This a very secure site with a great deal of rubbish and no apparent work being done on it.
One would hope that the private owners of these sites, or the various local authorities that operate in our town, would exercise themselves in rendering the sites as useful, or at the very least safe and secure. After all, the youthful and naturally curious exist in the town.
Carlo Zambonini
Gresley Lodge, Old North Road
Royston
Ps. A copy of this letter has been forwarded to the police to raise their awareness of site security in Royston.
