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At last it happened. All the kids activity in the WLA caused a fire. It was contained and I managed to explain to the Fire Brigade that no drastic measure should have been taken. They of course did not know anything about the area being part of the Surrey Square Park and some residents, probably the family of the very kids that started the fire complaining that was a risk for the young ones.
The usual problem of a forgotten Council estate, big turnover, problem families, many different cultures that colliding and some not even aware of what is it a park. All combined with Council officer that do not want problems and want to do career.
But still at least they will go and we'll remain.
Anyway after the fire, by any means the worse suffered by the area a little clean up and the removal of papers and other piece of material taken there by the kids for making bonfires, was in order.
Fortunately is still winter but the season is dry enough to cause concern.
The main problem is the Buddleia under-bush. The clumps have overgrown and have formed hollows that are making the sort of attractive playground for a 10year old or so. Indeed one of the selling point locally for the WLA has been that gives the local kids a test of nature sort off on their doorstep. Yet it has always been a difficult cohabitation. Some of the families have real problems and just take few individual to cause massive damage.
In this case one has always to play a fine balancing act by keeping the site wild enough to be useful for the wildlife and sufficiently accessible so that local people may enjoy it.
Part of the problem however is that the best habitat is also the one that is more, potentially, susceptible to fire destruction.
When you add the constructions of lean-to and the gathering of paper and other flammable to make camp fire the risk is obvious:
In any case is still better than when gangs of teenagers were using the place to burn out cars. Still a little cleaning is always a good thing>
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