This week, local contractors have been at work cutting the blackthorn suckers, reed & coarse grass regrowth – which they did very quickly.

It now remains to rake this up in some parts to re-establish grassland.

Next week, outside contractors will use diggers to clear the last remaining big blocks of blackthorn, though leaving some along the roadside, beside the pub car park around the pond and around Glenview.

These thickets will provide blossom for insects, nesting sites and fruit for birds as well as privacy for local inhabitants.

The work is expected to last less than a week. The cleared areas will look very bare at first but, as you have seen in the last few years, they green up very quickly and will be much easier to manage in future.