Plymstock councillors highlight community grants, SEND support and local projects

I had the privilege of attending the recent hedge laying session at King George V Playing Fields. This was organised by Devon Rural Skills Trust (DRST) with permission given by Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, Sherford Development Park and the OPM rugby club. It was great to learn from the experts about how hedge laying works.

Hedge laying is an ancient rural craft dating back to before the Roman invasion and sustains the life of the hedge. The particular hedge at KGV is made up predominantly of hazel, a self-coppicing species, meaning once it reaches a certain height it will essentially lay itself on the ground and continue growing (something that the practice of hedge laying mimics) and will be in full leaf again by the end of May.

The elm is also worth noting, elm has suffered dramatic losses in the past few decades, evidence has shown that laying elm helps to stave off the disease meaning essentially a laid elm is better than a dead one.  

If you would like to see how quickly a laid hedge grows back, then you can visit a hedge laid last year by the DRST in Pounds Park (Central Park) which after being laid to ground level, now stands over two metres high.  

You may be interested to learn more about hedge laying from the Devon Hedge Group www.devonhedges.org/devon-hedges/hedge-condition/ or from the Wildlife Trust www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/hedgelaying  

The work carried out at KGV Fields will form a continuous ‘curtain’ of trees rather than several separate stools. The hedges’ ability to sequester carbon has been unaffected by laying, and in fact the process encourages rapid growth and will actually capture more carbon in its first few seasons. The trees simply standing do not provide any buffer from pollution, it just means you cannot see the cars.

The reason that a length of hedge is laid at once is so that the re-growth is equal across the line. leaving no gaps. In the links above, it explains the original purpose for hedges was to contain livestock, so the aim is to create a barrier. When judges look at a hedge they want to see that a ‘butterfly could fly into it, but not through it’.

Hedge laying is hedge management, as opposed to a tree which will not simply stay that size, they will continue to grow. In self-coppicing species like hazel, they will spread out (across the path) unless managed. Not one of the trees laid is dead. Hazel grows from a stool, many of the limbs from that stool have been removed but the stools all remain.

If it had not been laid in the way it has, the area was due to be flailed with a tractor this winter, which has now been  prevented. 

I remember my grandfather hedge laying when I was a child and this time was the first time I saw women taking the art to their hearts. Most rewarding for me was to see younger generations learning the skills under the watchful eyes of experts of the craft.

The UK champion was in attendance, and I was mesmerised with his skill and concentration in producing a perfect section of hedge.

Over the past few weeks I’ve continued getting out and about across Plymstock Radford to speak directly with residents and community groups about the issues that matter most locally.

Recently, I joined Sam from Plym Yacht Club for a ward walk around Oreston Quay. The quay is one of our area’s real assets and it was valuable to discuss waterfront access, the condition of the space, and concerns residents have raised.

These conversations on the ground are essential. They help me ensure I’m representing the priorities of local residents with the Council whether that’s maintenance, safety or protecting community facilities.

Alongside this, I recently opened applications for my councillor Community Grant. Each councillor receives a small annual allocation of public money to support grassroots projects.

The community grant is public money – YOUR money. I’m simply the custodian trusted to allocate it to projects that make a real difference in our community. I want everyone to know this funding exists, understand how it works, and have a fair chance to apply.

Most importantly I want residents to see exactly how these funds are used and the positive impact they deliver. While these are relatively modest sums, they can make a meaningful difference to our brilliant local community groups

I’m pleased to confirm that funding from this round has been awarded to:

• Drake Sailing Club – to support people with disabilities and others who face barriers to participation to experience and enjoy sailing

• Ocean City Radio – to support operating costs so they can continue broadcasting and promoting local charities and community groups

• Plymstock Oaks RFC U16s – to support their end of season presentation evening

• Oreston Community Academy – to contribute towards essential setup costs, including seeds, tools, and learning resources for their allotment

Thank you to everyone who applied and to those who continue working hard to strengthen our community. I’m always keen to hear from residents and local groups. If you have an idea that could benefit our area, please do get in touch!

There have been a few positive announcements made recently by the Government, Plymouth City Council and two local schools about Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, commonly known as SEND.

For many years, the cost to Plymouth City Council, other local  authorities and schools for the provision and support for children with a learning, emotional, physical or health disability has risen hugely. This resulted in the government permitting local authorities to set aside the SEND debt that has accrued for special needs support, from the main annual budget.

It was a significant relief to local authorities when the government announced that 90% of this debt would be met by central government. Then followed the long awaited White Paper on SEND which outlines how children will be supported in years to come.

This will need to go through Parliament, but I am especially pleased there is a commitment for specialist provision for children with SEND within mainstream school settings whist recognising that for those children with more complex needs, a special school will be the best place where their needs can be met.

The White Paper also highlighted the success of Plymouth’s secondary schools improvements at the end of Key Stages 3 and 4 which are now in line or above national and regional averages. Coombe Dean and Plymstock School have performed exceptionally well for their achievement and progress.

I was proud to read that Goosewell School and Coombe Dean School, both in Plymstock Dunstone Ward, received a letter from Bridget Philipson, the government’s  Education Secretary congratulating and recognising the achievement of their disadvantaged pupils in 2024-2025 which were among the strongest outcomes nationally.

And in Plymouth, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission published their SEND monitoring visit report highlighting how partners across education, health and care have changed how they work, with children and young people now playing a much stronger role in shaping services. Inspectors described a clear shift towards a more joined up, child centred approach that has helped families access support earlier, strengthened inclusion in schools and improved how the most vulnerable children are supported. 

They also praised new ways of listening to young people, better early help for families, and closer collaboration between schools and health services – all contributing to more consistent, timely and compassionate support. Inspectors also note a significant drop in exclusions of children with SEND and stronger oversight of those with complex needs. This is all good news.

Back in March 2024, my Chronicle item included the successful planning application to extend the off-road cycle and walking path further linking Laira Bridge and Sherford via a tunnel under the Colesdown Hill  Tunnel and also a pedestrian crossing on Elburton Road just east of Billacombe Roundabout. I also mentioned how I would work to bring about better access for walkers and cyclists along Dawes Lane linking Elburton and Brixton near Otter Nurseries.

Both these projects have now started with Dawes Lane expected to finish before the end of May, and the Colesdown Hill path extension in Spring 2027.  Plymouth City Council and I will press for each contractor involved in the complex project to work as smart as possible with each other with an aim to shorten the duration of the road diversion which is inconveniencing local residents.

The Plymstock Community Speed Watch team will be back out in March with our efforts having been hampered recently by the dark evenings and dreadful weather.

We are also looking for additional volunteers to enable us to target more areas. Please contact me if you would like to join our wonderful group of volunteers. We hope to have regular meetings in preparation for Speedwatch across Plymstock during the warmer months.

We have all been out and about carrying out street surgeries and meeting residents. I have to say I was impressed by the speed at which the road defects in Dunstone View were repaired and completed three days after they had been photographed and reported. I also received a quick response from the council with regards to the further defects along Peeks Avenue which will be repaired in due course.

Following a street surgery in Springfield Road where a resident reported that Muggerbrook Park needed some attention, I visited the park the following day with my granddaughter Ayda.

I have written in the past that Ayda likes to spend time with me on what she calls ‘council work’. She is very enthusiastic having become a member of the school council. She called me first thing in the morning to arrange when we would be going and reminding me of what the resident said. It was good listening to Ayda and seeing the park through a child’s eyes. Needless to say, this has been reported.

Some may question why I involve my grandchildren in my political life? I see it as encouraging them to become more aware of the community and look at what can be done, if possible, to make the environment that we live in better.

It is pleasing to see that major investment has been secured for parks in Plymouth’s budget doubling the revenue for play equipment maintenance to help keep parks safe. Hopefully, we will be able to sort some of the issues in Muggerbrook Park.

Meeting residents is the part of my councillor role that I enjoy the most. I am always happy to be contacted and to meet up with residents to help with issues. The only downside is that unfortunately whilst empathising with residents’ concerns, we cannot solve or resolve all the issues reported for reasons beyond our control, but it doesn’t stop me trying!