Notes of KTRG Meeting of 25/10/16 @ 19.30 hours hosted by Rosemary and Tony Dowd
Present: Ron & Anne Murray (RM & AM), Garry Meyer, Ranger (GM), Maureen Holt (MH), Colin Leeves (CL), Rosemary & Tony Dowd, (RD) Robert Barnett (RB), Denise Taylor (DT), Ken Norman (KN), John & Annabeth Horsley (JH & AH)
Apologies: Ann Norman, Nick Taylor, David Burton, Peter Simmonds, David & Linda Earl, Elaine Corcut, Hailey Sellins, Kim Willis
1) Matters arising
There were no matters arising from the previous meeting.
2) Dates for conservation days and future meetings and sheep grazing:
Conservation day: Sun 13/11/16 @ 10.00 hours
Christmas meeting at the Mill House: Fri 16/12/16 @ 19.30 hours
Committee meeting 14/03/17 at the Mill House
Conservation day: Sun 19/03/17 @ 10.00 hours
Sheep are grazing the Ridge now, concern was raised about the lack of electric fencing and allowing sheep access to the hedges. Allowing sheep to nibble the trees would be counterproductive as we have spent the last quarter of a century planting trees to thicken the ancient Saxon boundary hedge along the gardens backing onto the Ridge. This hedge also forms the boundary for the Southdowns National Park. According to GM this was tried in the hope that the sheep would eat and reduce the ever widening thicket of brambles, nettles etc.
This is the first year the sheep have been allowed to roam freely across the whole of the Ridge and people and dogs being forced to walk amongst them. There are also gaps in the hedge along Mill Road where sheep could easily escape into the road.
(At the time of writing this has since been rectified and electric fencing re-installed.)
3) Grant Application
A grant application by Ron Murray to BHCC has been successful and the group has received £2000 for the installation of dormouse/bird and bat boxes, planting of bulbs and wild flowers, Dormouse handling courses
4) Pond update
An estimate of £750 from ‘Pete the Pond’ has been received to:
Remove the overgrowth of vegetation from the pond made of soft and hard rush plus elodea sub aquatic species. Once cleared to be planted with new native aquatic species to increase the biodiversity of the pond to help encourage wildlife. Wintering hibernaculum to be planted around the pond edge.
Sussex Wildlife Trust to be consulted for ideas which would be the best way forward to care for the pond and what further species to plant.
5) Water connection progress
We are waiting for the contractor to finish the work.
6) Matting update, repairs to gates
A number of gates have been re-sprung and adjusted, more to be done. Putting down matting at access points to be addressed by Ranger. City Clean deal with dog bins, any dog bins that have to be removed will not be replaced.
7) Consideration towards purchasing plants and bulbs for Coney Wood and the Ridge:
At the time of writing a further 300 primrose plugs and 3000 bluebell bulbs have already been planted in the wood. A big thank you to the few volunteers who did a magnificent job!
8) Invitation to join Community Works
Open spaces need a voice and representation, Denise Taylor, our Hill Top co-ordinator has kindly put her name forward for election. Denise is also chairing City in Bloom, so a busy Lady!!
9) Management Plan
A new format is expected from David Larkin, Head of Rangers, in due course.
10) Any other business
Leaflet holders need to be replaced on the Ridge, six to be purchased.
Kim Willis has kindly offered to do door-to-door leafletting, AH to provide some membership leaflets too.
What is left of the old Braybon Field, off Millcroft, next to the Scout Hut, has now been adopted by BHCC as an open space and is called Gatton Park Open Space, access from Redhill Close.
Leading Practical Volunteer Tasks course is being held at Stanmer Park on Saturday, 26th November from 10 am until 3 pm. There is no charge, tea and coffee will be provided and participants should bring their own packed lunch. Places are limited to one or two members from each group. The aim is that groups have individual leaders which would allow a group to work independently from the Rangers at a time when they are not available.
We are very fortunate that our group already has a couple of trained ‘leaders’ but if anyone else is interested please contact neil.doyle@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Date of next meeting 14th March 2017 at the Mill House.
Our grateful thanks to Rosemary & Tony Dowd for their kind hospitality.
Compiled by Annabeth Horsley 10/11/16
Notes following the 25th Annual General Meeting of Keep The Ridge Green
Friday, 22nd July 2016, at 19.30, in the Malcolm Young Room of the Ascension Church Westdene, Brighton
Present:
Ron & Anne Murray, Maureen Holt, Colin Leeves, Rosemary Dowd, Ken & Ann Norman, Nick Taylor, Peter & Jen Simmonds, David & Linda Earl, Denise Taylor, Garry Meyer (City Parks Ranger), John & Annabeth Horsley, Guest: Martin Robinson (Chairman of Brighton and Hove Wildlife Forum/BHWF)
Apologies:
Tony Dowd, Gill Gilling, Hailey Sellins, T & H Saunders, Kim & Mike Willis, Robert Barnett
Ron Murray, Chairman, has given an address in which he outlined the major events during the year as:
Water Supply Connection & Matting Purchased June 2013 at £1,960 - As part of the Lottery Grant Funding awarded to KTRG we gave the council this money to purchase water equipment and matting for use on the ridge. As three years had now elapsed without any action being taken, even though we continued to ask for the work to be carried out, a request was sent to David Larkin in May 2016 asking for our £1,960 to be repaid to KTRG forthwith. David quickly established that the various items had been purchased in 2013, and were being stored at Stanmer. Subsequently within days our new ranger Garry Meyer was actively installing both the matting and water connection, which is ongoing and scheduled to be completed this year.
KTRG Information & Notice Boards - Two information boards have been missing from their designated sites for up to 2 years, and the notice board adjoining the mill driveway has been unusable for the past year. We obtained quotes for replacement units which varied in price from £450 to £1,500. As we considered these prices to be extortionate, these have now been custom made at home for £120, and 2 placed on site by Garry on the same day of collection!!
Pond Fence - During the 2013 Lottery fun day on the ridge, a petition organised by Brian Oram established that there was on overwhelming support for a fence to be erected enclosing the wildlife pond. After three years and delays in specification and public liability issues, together with part grant funding, changes to specification, water logged site, we were able to have the work carried out from the 31st May 2016 at a total cost of £3,240. The workmanship and practicality of the fence has been much praised by the public.
Sheep Grazing - This proved to be problematic this year due to a prolonged wet winter and sheep foot rot problems. However the land improved and the sheep managed to eat their way through the long grass.
KTRG Workdays - Subject to weather conditions most planned work was carried out by our group volunteers to an agreed schedule. More help would be appreciated on future workdays.
Green Gym - Our former ranger Peter Craske had previously organised the work schedule on our behalf. Since leaving I have taken over as co-ordinator and have established a good working relationship with the Green Gym chairman and members of the group. A busy schedule for the future is planned and the team are keen to be associated with KTRG.
Unauthorised Encampments - We have continued to be vigilant ensuring that the ridge has been kept clear of unauthorised encampments. The private mill driveway being blocked by private cars etc.
Coney Wood - As a result of the extensive planting of trees and wildflowers carried out over the last 4 years, the wood has blossomed and is very much appreciated by the public. The wildlife has continued to thrive now that the area has reverted back to a quiet woodland landscape.
In conclusion I would like to thank all members of KTRG for their support, together with the ongoing work of the committee. Ron Murray
Financial – A working grant of £1000 was received from the Council and after the expenditure of the pond fencing of £3240 and approx. £500 for bluebells and wildflowers, our bank balance is now at £2086.27.
Ranger’s Report: Peter Craske has left Brighton and Hove City Council. He accepted voluntary redundancy as a result of the recent Ranger cuts and we wish him well for the future. Our new Ranger, Garry Meyer, has been with the corporation for a number of years and was already known to some of us having acted as occasional stand in conservation day leader when our usual Ranger was not available. Due to the depleted workforce Garry now covers 10 sites and groups, which is a very large area and can only increase the already immense pressure on the Ranger Service as a whole. He did not have the luxury of a hand-over period and had no prior knowledge of any outstanding items. However, he has already addressed several of the items and work is now advancing well. Several of the missing notice boards and signs have been re-instated and more are to come.
The installation of the water supply is progressing and will be finalised as soon as all the materials ordered have been received. Hopefully it will be completed by this Autumn. The water supply will come from the Farmer’s field and there will be several on/off switches on route in various locations.
Residents may have noticed the group of wheelbarrows tied to a lamp post on Dyke Road Avenue adjacent to Three Cornered Copse. These were used for re-surfacing the path from Three Cornered Copse down to Hove Park. This path is, like many others, known for getting extremely muddy and if the re-surfacing work proves to have been successful Garry proposes to do the same to the top path along the field into Coney Wood.
Garry is keen to work with the group on conservation days and also getting involved and leading the members of the Green Gym who also encourage people, who may have had health issues, to attend and have benefitted from the physical exercise and camaraderie of working together.
Elections:
Chairman/Officers/Committee members elected en masse as follows:
Chairman – Ron Murray / Treasurer – Robert Barnett / Membership Secretary – Peter Simmonds
Wildlife Consultant and WL Groups Liaison – Maureen Holt / Coney Wood Co-ordinators – Rosemary & Tony Dowd, Kim Willis / Website – Colin Leeves / Conservation Day Leaders – Kim & Mike Willis /
Newsletter Distributor – Elaine Corcut / Westdene School Liaison – Hailey Sellins
Hill Top co-ordinator – Denise Taylor / Windmill Drive Co-ordinator – Rowena Burton / Brangwyn Co-ordinator – Brenda Poundsbery / Committee Member and Acting Secretary – Annabeth Horsley
We are still in desperate need of a Secretary, Conservation Days Co-ordinator (to liaise between the group and Ranger) Newsletter Producer and a Publicity Officer.
The membership subscriptions are to be kept the same, £5.00 per family or £2.50 per single household and we attach a subscription form for 2016/17. Your continued support is very much appreciated.
VACOS
We were very pleased to welcome Denise Taylor, our new Hilltop Co-ordinator, who also chairs Brighton and Hove City in Bloom. If that wasn’t enough Denise is also chairing the newly formed VACOS and she says that:
“BHCIB organise citywide gardening competitions and have engaged with community groups over 25 years. The lack of communication between the groups and the council became apparent so they set up a VACOS (Volunteers Alliance for Community Open Spaces) to promote support and encourage groups. The lack of resources and problems with volunteering are some of the issues they hope to address as they join forces with other interested agencies to work alongside the councils Open Spaces Strategy. They believe that Cityparks are grossly underfunded and want to establish a dedicated liaison officer to ensure correlation with the proposed alliance of volunteers in the greenspaces sector.”
Any Other Business
Various items were raised, which will need to be discussed more fully at the next committee meeting and addressed during future conservation and Green Gym work days, ie:
All these jobs require volunteers and the usual half a dozen or so members who attend conservation days are not going to be able to cope and more volunteers are needed. How can we attract new members and more people willing to come and help on conservation mornings in general? One suggestion was that education in School is one way forward to get children used to and familiar with the idea of volunteering and the work that is involved once they become adults. We are very fortunate in our group that we have a good liaison with Westdene School through one of our Committee members and classes of children can often be seen having ‘wildlife lessons’ on the Ridge. They have also been very helpful and involved with wildflower and bluebell planting on the Ridge and in the Wood.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 13th September 2016, 19.30 hours, and will be hosted by Rosemary and Tony Dowd at the Mill House.
Conservation Days: 25th September and 13th November 2016 @ 10.00
Green Gym: 18th August 2016 @ 10.00 – 13.00
Ron Murray/Denise Taylor/Annabeth Horsley/July 2016
Friday, 22nd July 2016, at 19.30, in the Malcolm Young Room of the Ascension Church Westdene, Brighton
Present:
Ron & Anne Murray, Maureen Holt, Colin Leeves, Rosemary Dowd, Ken & Ann Norman, Nick Taylor, Peter & Jen Simmonds, David & Linda Earl, Denise Taylor, Garry Meyer (City Parks Ranger), John & Annabeth Horsley, Guest: Martin Robinson (Chairman of Brighton and Hove Wildlife Forum/BHWF)
Apologies:
Tony Dowd, Gill Gilling, Hailey Sellins, T & H Saunders, Kim & Mike Willis, Robert Barnett
Ron Murray, Chairman, has given an address in which he outlined the major events during the year as:
Water Supply Connection & Matting Purchased June 2013 at £1,960 - As part of the Lottery Grant Funding awarded to KTRG we gave the council this money to purchase water equipment and matting for use on the ridge. As three years had now elapsed without any action being taken, even though we continued to ask for the work to be carried out, a request was sent to David Larkin in May 2016 asking for our £1,960 to be repaid to KTRG forthwith. David quickly established that the various items had been purchased in 2013, and were being stored at Stanmer. Subsequently within days our new ranger Garry Meyer was actively installing both the matting and water connection, which is ongoing and scheduled to be completed this year.
KTRG Information & Notice Boards - Two information boards have been missing from their designated sites for up to 2 years, and the notice board adjoining the mill driveway has been unusable for the past year. We obtained quotes for replacement units which varied in price from £450 to £1,500. As we considered these prices to be extortionate, these have now been custom made at home for £120, and 2 placed on site by Garry on the same day of collection!!
Pond Fence - During the 2013 Lottery fun day on the ridge, a petition organised by Brian Oram established that there was on overwhelming support for a fence to be erected enclosing the wildlife pond. After three years and delays in specification and public liability issues, together with part grant funding, changes to specification, water logged site, we were able to have the work carried out from the 31st May 2016 at a total cost of £3,240. The workmanship and practicality of the fence has been much praised by the public.
Sheep Grazing - This proved to be problematic this year due to a prolonged wet winter and sheep foot rot problems. However the land improved and the sheep managed to eat their way through the long grass.
KTRG Workdays - Subject to weather conditions most planned work was carried out by our group volunteers to an agreed schedule. More help would be appreciated on future workdays.
Green Gym - Our former ranger Peter Craske had previously organised the work schedule on our behalf. Since leaving I have taken over as co-ordinator and have established a good working relationship with the Green Gym chairman and members of the group. A busy schedule for the future is planned and the team are keen to be associated with KTRG.
Unauthorised Encampments - We have continued to be vigilant ensuring that the ridge has been kept clear of unauthorised encampments. The private mill driveway being blocked by private cars etc.
Coney Wood - As a result of the extensive planting of trees and wildflowers carried out over the last 4 years, the wood has blossomed and is very much appreciated by the public. The wildlife has continued to thrive now that the area has reverted back to a quiet woodland landscape.
In conclusion I would like to thank all members of KTRG for their support, together with the ongoing work of the committee. Ron Murray
Financial – A working grant of £1000 was received from the Council and after the expenditure of the pond fencing of £3240 and approx. £500 for bluebells and wildflowers, our bank balance is now at £2086.27.
Ranger’s Report: Peter Craske has left Brighton and Hove City Council. He accepted voluntary redundancy as a result of the recent Ranger cuts and we wish him well for the future. Our new Ranger, Garry Meyer, has been with the corporation for a number of years and was already known to some of us having acted as occasional stand in conservation day leader when our usual Ranger was not available. Due to the depleted workforce Garry now covers 10 sites and groups, which is a very large area and can only increase the already immense pressure on the Ranger Service as a whole. He did not have the luxury of a hand-over period and had no prior knowledge of any outstanding items. However, he has already addressed several of the items and work is now advancing well. Several of the missing notice boards and signs have been re-instated and more are to come.
The installation of the water supply is progressing and will be finalised as soon as all the materials ordered have been received. Hopefully it will be completed by this Autumn. The water supply will come from the Farmer’s field and there will be several on/off switches on route in various locations.
Residents may have noticed the group of wheelbarrows tied to a lamp post on Dyke Road Avenue adjacent to Three Cornered Copse. These were used for re-surfacing the path from Three Cornered Copse down to Hove Park. This path is, like many others, known for getting extremely muddy and if the re-surfacing work proves to have been successful Garry proposes to do the same to the top path along the field into Coney Wood.
Garry is keen to work with the group on conservation days and also getting involved and leading the members of the Green Gym who also encourage people, who may have had health issues, to attend and have benefitted from the physical exercise and camaraderie of working together.
Elections:
Chairman/Officers/Committee members elected en masse as follows:
Chairman – Ron Murray / Treasurer – Robert Barnett / Membership Secretary – Peter Simmonds
Wildlife Consultant and WL Groups Liaison – Maureen Holt / Coney Wood Co-ordinators – Rosemary & Tony Dowd, Kim Willis / Website – Colin Leeves / Conservation Day Leaders – Kim & Mike Willis /
Newsletter Distributor – Elaine Corcut / Westdene School Liaison – Hailey Sellins
Hill Top co-ordinator – Denise Taylor / Windmill Drive Co-ordinator – Rowena Burton / Brangwyn Co-ordinator – Brenda Poundsbery / Committee Member and Acting Secretary – Annabeth Horsley
We are still in desperate need of a Secretary, Conservation Days Co-ordinator (to liaise between the group and Ranger) Newsletter Producer and a Publicity Officer.
The membership subscriptions are to be kept the same, £5.00 per family or £2.50 per single household and we attach a subscription form for 2016/17. Your continued support is very much appreciated.
VACOS
We were very pleased to welcome Denise Taylor, our new Hilltop Co-ordinator, who also chairs Brighton and Hove City in Bloom. If that wasn’t enough Denise is also chairing the newly formed VACOS and she says that:
“BHCIB organise citywide gardening competitions and have engaged with community groups over 25 years. The lack of communication between the groups and the council became apparent so they set up a VACOS (Volunteers Alliance for Community Open Spaces) to promote support and encourage groups. The lack of resources and problems with volunteering are some of the issues they hope to address as they join forces with other interested agencies to work alongside the councils Open Spaces Strategy. They believe that Cityparks are grossly underfunded and want to establish a dedicated liaison officer to ensure correlation with the proposed alliance of volunteers in the greenspaces sector.”
Any Other Business
Various items were raised, which will need to be discussed more fully at the next committee meeting and addressed during future conservation and Green Gym work days, ie:
- Pond – now the fence around the pond is installed we can ask ‘Pete The Pond’ to advise and estimate on maintenance.
- Nettle/bramble/bindweed growth along hedge and encroaching further into the meadows, also the overgrown path along the field into Coney Wood.
- Benches, signs, lecterns and gates need to be cleared from vegetation obscuring/blocking them. This has always been a problem but seems to be a lot worse this year as it is everywhere else.
- The newly created glades in Coney Wood to let in light and thus encourage more food plants for dormice etc. will need coppicing soon.
- Dog fouling appears to have increased recently and ways are needed to be found to encourage dog walkers to pick up, take home and bin. Garry mentioned that one dog walker was successfully prosecuted last year for repeated dog walking at Woodvale Cemetary despite numerous warnings.
All these jobs require volunteers and the usual half a dozen or so members who attend conservation days are not going to be able to cope and more volunteers are needed. How can we attract new members and more people willing to come and help on conservation mornings in general? One suggestion was that education in School is one way forward to get children used to and familiar with the idea of volunteering and the work that is involved once they become adults. We are very fortunate in our group that we have a good liaison with Westdene School through one of our Committee members and classes of children can often be seen having ‘wildlife lessons’ on the Ridge. They have also been very helpful and involved with wildflower and bluebell planting on the Ridge and in the Wood.
- The Black Rabbit roundabout at the entrance to our City was mentioned as all the trees were destroyed. Apparently this was due to problems with the underground water supply and the Highways Agency had to cut down the trees. At present it looks very unsightly and is not a nice welcome to our City but apparently the Patcham Councillors are addressing this.
- Concern was expressed about several cats roaming the Ridge at night. Sadly, dormice and many birds are now endangered species and very vulnerable to cats, especially at night and early dawn. This danger could be very much alleviated if cats were kept locked in during the night.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 13th September 2016, 19.30 hours, and will be hosted by Rosemary and Tony Dowd at the Mill House.
Conservation Days: 25th September and 13th November 2016 @ 10.00
Green Gym: 18th August 2016 @ 10.00 – 13.00
Ron Murray/Denise Taylor/Annabeth Horsley/July 2016
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