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This website entitled "Johnson's Creek, A Wildlife Haven", has been, and is being
produced, to photographically showcase the wildflowers and wildlife, which can be
found in a suburban garden in Plymouth. A garden, which at an early stage
was found to be one of the most important areas for wildlife in the city.
Here a range of habitats occur in a relatively small parcel of land, and this
has given rise to the diverse range of wildlife and wildflowers that can be found.
The name Johnson's Creek has been applied to a very specific area of Manor Park,
of about two acres in size, because of its significant importance to wildlife
within the city. Some resident species are protected by the
Countryside and Wildlife Act, namely bats, grass snakes and slow worms.
Apart from legally protected species there are numerous other species,
which occur within the boundary of the site, that can be considered rare or vulnerable,
and these, together with the rest of the fauna and flora are being managed in a
sympathetic manner, as to conserve both them and their habitat.
Johnson's Creek cannot really be considered a Wildlife Garden in the horticultural sense
of the phrase. The area concerned has always been an area what can only be
considered rural, consisting of mixed woodland, wet grassland, and a large pond, which is
fed by a small brook, a tributary of the River Plym, after which Plymouth is named.
The present owners Steve and Karen Johnson discovered a wilderness when they
bought the property and garden, with a considerable area of wet grassland full of
Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and Soft Rush (Juncus effusus); and the woodland
absolutely choked with Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), which was damaging much of the existing woodland. The primary concern with regards to the management of the site was the spread of
Japanese Knotweed, and this plant initially took two years to control, and has nearly
been totally eradicated from the site, by thorough spraying and cane injection treatment.
The laurel being much easier to control and eradicate being replaced by a fresh planting of native deciduous tree and shrub species, and a multitude of them as to further increase the diversity of both the flora and fauna, which may be found within the area in the future.
Like any area such as this, the conservation work and management is ongoing,
and if successful, it is hoped that we will be able to show more and more images
of Johnson's Creek flora and fauna on this site, and eventually, in the future,
share tips on how to encourage wildlife and how to manage gardens
of similar benefit to the environment.
Please note, the images featured on this site do not reflect the areas true diversity,
many species being either camera shy, or having yet to be caught on camera.
Site Map
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