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MN
KC
GB
AD
DD
CG
RC |
Murray Nurse (Friends of Farnham Park)
Ken Crick (Moor Green Lakes)
Geoff Bullen (Friends Queen Elizabeth Park)
Adrian Douglas (BVCS)
Dora Deacon (Cove Brook Greenway)
Colin Gray (Fleet Pond Society)
Roy Champion (Rowhill Nature Reserve) |
SD
AH
SB
MH
PS
DB
RH |
Sue Dent (BVCS)
Antonia Hebbert (Cove Brook Greenway)
Sheila Brooks (Rowhill Nature Reserve)
Mike Hatch (Brickfields Country Park)
Peter Scott (Moor Green Lakes)
Debbie Brown (Rowhill Nature Reserve)
Ron Hills (Waverley BC) |
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Eddie Whalley (Surrey Heath BC)
Christa Rhode (Frimley Fuel Allotments)
Zehra Peermohamed (WBC) |
1. Introductions . . . Action - All
- The meeting was organised by AD to see if the local conservation groups feel that they would benefit from an opportunity to meet other local groups to enable them to exchange information and expertise, to discuss issues and ideas that might be relevant to other groups in the area.
- Each group gave a brief introduction to their site and activities. These are summarised on the attached table which might be a useful summary sheet. Please treat the attached very much as a draft and let me have any amendments, comments, additions which you feel would be helpful. It can then be redrafted and circulated.
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2. Insurance
The BTCV being unable to offer groups insurance this year has caused a lot of problems but most of the groups at the meeting have or are in the process of resolving the difficulties and are now covered to work this year. It has affected approximately 3000 groups across the country.
- RBC have arranged insurance for the groups within their area / on their land. This is via Zurich and covers Rowhill (£690), Cove Brook (£230), Brickfields and Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park. RBC is covering this cost itself as they recognise the fact that they could not manage these sites without the local groups. New policies should effectively replace the old although some details are still being checked, such as working off site.
- Fleet Pond have had to find their own cover and have done so for £420. The firm they are using is not offering cover to anyone else. It is possible that next year Hart DC may be able to cover them.
- Friends of Farnham Park. Are covered by Waverley Borough Council as part of the wider group of Waverley Conservation Volunteers. Land owned by WBC so area already has public liability cover.
- Moor Green Lakes Group have a quote for £260 to cover their work. Are waiting for feedback from the site owners RMC to see if their insurance will cover. It is also possible that they may be covered by Hampshire CC insurance, BVCS are checking this.
- 2 groups which were not at the meeting which may not have cover yet were Frimley Fuel Allotments Conservation Trust and Friends of Oakley Park in Fleet.
Possible contacts for those who are still looking for cover include:
- Keegan & Pennykid Insurance Brokers - Douglas MacIntyre 0800 731 8030 (Moor Green contact)
- Zurich are one of the major Local Authority insurers and will cover individual groups, their contact is: 023 80724059. GB reported that Zurich are negotiating with BTCV to provide cover for groups again via BTCV.
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3. Membership, getting volunteers out on site
Generally all the groups found a similar pattern of:
- Relatively large memberships with very few actually turning out for conservation tasks on a regular basis.
- Bias towards retired age group as they have the time to become involved. Some groups actively target this group for volunteers.
- Good turn outs for 'special events', generally very popular.
AD explained that BVCS is able to provide training courses via the BTCV at a very reasonable costs. To date have been based at Ash Lock Cottage but could be held elsewhere, can be either weekdays or weekends. BTCV offers a wide range of courses, a list is attached to these minutes. Courses run so far include Strimmer, Task Leadership and Tree work (courtesy of Roy Champion). If you are interested in any particular courses please let Adrian know and he can make arrangements.
3. Funding
Groups have been successful at obtaining grants and funding from a variety of sources including:
- Corporate sponsorship Thompson Directories, FQECP John Lewis, FP
- Transco, FP
- Hants Community Action Fund FQECP
- Millennium grants
GB - there would seem to be a lot of potential in the area to obtain funding from local businesses. Need to make sure that applications are made in a very business-like manner, effectively submitting a business proposal clearly outlining costs, benefits etc. |
4. Parish Surveys
The groups at the meeting concentrate largely on their own specific sites. KC reported that BBOWT are leading a scheme to encourage parishes to take an overview of the nature conservation in the whole of their area. This may be a source of funding, may also be possible for some groups to slot into the system and contribute directly to it. More details attached. |
5. Proposed Tractor purchase
RC outline the proposal by Rowhill to purchase a tractor for use on their site. As a working woodland it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage Rowhill with man (and woman) power alone. RC already regularly has to hire dumper trucks and diggers to keep up with the woodland and path work that is needed on the site. He is proposing to buy a small tractor which would suit the site and meet the management needs. As this is a big purchase and potentially a very useful tool may be possible to come to a 'joint' arrangement for purchase and / or use.
Discussion:
- CG explained that HDC has recently purchased a new tractor (Kubota 2400) and extras for use on HDC sites including Fleet Pond. This particular tractor is probably too large for use on Rowhill but has a great deal of potential.
- Using a tractor on site would have implications for insurance and would have to be added.
- There are H&S implications if mixing volunteers with machinery of this size and power. Some Local Authorities would not mix volunteers with heavy machinery of this kind (RH). However, would effectively be safer than some of the machinery that RC is having to hire in at present.
- All drivers would need to be appropriately trained.
- Would need on-going funding for maintenance.
- May be possible to store at Rowhill, or possibly at Ash Lock.
Conclusions:
- Overall most interest and potential use was from RBC sites: Rowhill, Brickfields, FQECP and Cove Brook.
- Proposed at as first stop the RBC sites get together to make a joint bid to RBC. May be able to take on some maintenance which is currently being done by contractors.
- RC to follow up.
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6. A. O. B.
Fleet Pond, siltation. CG summarised the situation with Fleet Pond. The problem of siltation has been worsened as a result of:
- TAG work to meet CAA regulations around Farnborough Airfield which has removed trees and stripped soils.
- Work on heathland towards Twelseldown.
- Most recently work to clear heaths behind Pondtail in Fleet.
All of these works have generated increasing amounts of silt which is flowing into Fleet Pond and no adequate measures have been taken to halt or restrict the process. CG has tried to negotiate with HDC, TAG and the MOD to get the problem taken seriously but none have provided a solution. The pond itself is in dire need of dredging, itself a huge undertaking estimated to cost £1.5 million but there is no point in even starting this if it is not possible to stop the on-going movement of silt into the pond. Seems to have been a one-sided emphasis on restoring heathland in the area with no concern for other sites, even though FP is an SSSI. RC has experience of using silt traps on Rowhill and can loan CG one of the ones they use to try at Fleet Pond and use as an example if appropriate. CG would appreciate any thoughts or support in solving this problem. |
7. Future of the Group
The conclusion of the meeting was that:
- Was worthwhile continuing the meetings for moral support, help with problems and to discuss issues and ideas.
- Best to have a regular pattern, emergency meetings could be called if there was an urgent issue that needed discussion.
- Hold meetings every 6 months.
- Keep representation per group to 1 or 2 people to keep group manageable.
- A central database of contacts would be useful. MH offered to host on the Brickfields web site. Can also be put on the BVCS web site in due course. List of contacts & e-mails attached. Potentially a central source of information for group, events, issues etc.
Some thoughts to bring to the next meeting or let Adrian know beforehand:
- Are there any other groups which should be included? Possibly Friends of Oakley Park (Fleet) and Friends of Zebon Copse (new group in Fleet).
Regular slots:
- Sites roundup, who is doing what where.
Issues that might be raised at this or future meetings:
- Tool sharing, who has what, anything that would be useful to other groups?.
- Expertise sharing, ditto.
- Status of and dealing with invasive plant species.
- Blackwater Valley Local Groups leaflet / information for web site.
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8. Date of next meeting
7.30 p.m., Tues 12 November 2002 Venue: Rowhill Nature Reserve Centre. Thanks to Rowhill for the offer of a venue.
Please note this date and venue may change as it clashes with a Rushmoor Council event that members will probably want to attend. Details will be posted here as soon as possible. |
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