In the absence of the chairperson Alan S and John L did a double act, including minutes.
Matters Arising
Jenny C commended Alan and Paul F for the standard of the web site.
A new tool store is in place at Prospect Park. The
container is shared with RBC and Tools for Self Reliance. It is very crowded,
not yet organised and difficult to negotiate for required tools as
everything is on the floor. In time this should be rectified by RBC
who would welcome suggestions as to layout. At present only Alan S
has keys.
The grant application was submitted to RBC. Letter
received in December confirming the recommended level of funding is £500
(medium priority). Applications are due to be considered on 12th February
and ratified on 20th February. We should know whether our application has
been successful by the end of February.
News and Updates
Mapledurham Playing Fields. Last work party had their work
cut out after the recent storms, with many fallen trees to clear. Most were
dead Elm covered with Ivy but other trees were lost such as a productive
Crab Apple. On going work includes taking out Sycamore. More bird boxes are
required for the site, these can be supplied from surplus at the tool
store. (action John)
A number of trees on the site have been registered in the national database
of veteran and ancient trees
(www.tree-register.org)
by the Friends
of Mapledurham Playing Fields. Our ancient trees are regarded in
Europe as our most important ecological habitat, ahead of lowland wet
woodland, heath (of which Britain has 80% of world resources), rocky
cliffs and so on. The Mapledurham trees are on a boundary bank and are
associated with old ridge and furrow farmland which can be identified
from aerial photographs (GoogleEarth).
Conserve Reading on Wednesdays (CROW) have carried on with
a solid programme, half in Reading half outside the borough, and even
worked on December 27th (coppicing at Withy Copse, Tilehurst) for fresh
air and exercise as an alternative to more Christmas cake and chocolates.
Clayfield Copse. On Wed 7th February 10:00am, David Rees
of the Oxfordshire Woodlands Group, is joining CROW to coppice Ash for
binders (e.g. for hedgelaying) as a saleable product for which David has
outlets. A doubt has arisen as the area in question is outside the Copse
and is the subject of a forthcoming RBC consultation, negotiations are in
progress with RBC but best to check before turning up although a similar
task should be possible in the unlikely event of prohibition.
On Sun 4th March 10am David is returning for a walk and workshop looking at
woodlands as a community resource. This has been organised on behalf of the
Friends of Clayfield Copse. Listening to David is a treat
for those who like their minds stretched, perhaps he has the answer to
global warming!
Blundells Copse. Tilehurst GLOBE will
advertise CROW's hedgelaying task on January 31st as it will be of interest
to local people. A Bluebell search is planned in order to take out alien
Spanish Bluebell which weakens native English stock.A large Sycamore
was ring-barked to control it (and provide valuable standing dead wood) but
seems to be thriving! It was concluded that such trees usually take about
three years to die.
Jenny C asked whether surplus bird boxes could be made available for
sale to raise money for Tilehurst Globe. This was agreed.
(action John)
Health and Safety
A chain saw would have been useful at Mapledurham Playing Fields after the
storm but the Group is not insured for this. A specialist would need to be
called in, probably at expense. More manpower would have been an
alternative, it was suggested that on such an occasion a last minute
email to ECONET members may have helped.
There was no word of progress on H&S advice for the public on Reading sites
as mentioned at the last meeting (Kit B). (Paul F-J has experience of
similar provision!)
Paul F-J has provided us with the latest version of the BTCV generic
guidelines of risk assessment (hard copy), these are held
by Alan S. These may soon be available in electronic format.
BTCV is now starting to use an interactive system to do risk assessments,
Paul F-J hopes this system may eventually be made available to the groups.
Risk assessment and other courses were again considered
but no recommendations made, it is up to individuals to make requests
as they feel the need then things could be arranged. Paul F-J has offered
the Group a free RA course but apart from Jenny C, no interest has been
shown.
Paul F-J explained the current BTCV position with running courses,
support funding is no longer available so they need to be cost
effective although various discounts would apply to ECONET.
Accounts
The CROW account has been closed and the balance transferred to ECONET.
The ECONET bank balance now stands at £3,300 approx..
Combined ECONET and CROW accounts for the current year, April 2006 to
March 2007: Income to date is £695 (grant, task charges and interest)
with a further £270 (£305 estimated by year end) of task charges to be
invoiced. Expenditure to date is £635 (insurance, BTCV membership, task
expenses and tool purchases) with a further £220 estimated to be paid
by year end.
Insurance renewal papers where received late and our cheque has not yet
been presented. However we have confirmation that our payment has been
received and we have cover. (Our insurance expired on the 31st December).
Delays are thought to have been caused by changes in BTCV personnel.
[Certificate of insurance and policy documents received 23rd January.
Alan S]
Publicity
Renewal of website fees arises November 2007 and will cost
in the region of £100. Paul F will continue as web master and will deal
with this.
It was considered that the excellent publicity brochure
which had evolved over recent years is not cost effective and it is hard
to see if it brings any new participants although about 1000 had been
distributed over the year. Brochures cost around £400 although BTCV
could now do it cheaper. People become involved by word of mouth,
through the Volunteer Centre or finding the website, awareness is
also created through the local newspapers. Alan S showed a simple
black and white A5 leaflet which clearly explains ECONET on one side
and CROW on the other. This was considered perfectly adequate and at
present there are just plans to print a few of these to leave for
collection at the Reading Volunteer Centre.
In addition a colour poster could be produced quite
cheaply at BTCV to be displayed at Reading Library instead of the usual
brochures. Alan S to send electronic leaflet to BTCV and give some
thought to a poster.
Alan S will also have ECONET added to the Volunteer Centre database
which can be view over the Internet.
Newspapers should be kept in mind and although some
special events can
be profiled in advance, the option of 'live' photo opportunities keeps
our work in the public eye.
Paul F-J said BTCV is happy to promote local groups and maintains
directories of groups available on the website (ECONET telephone
number is incorrect - Alan S to get corrected).
A.O.B.
It was pointed out that the Group can no longer be affiliated to BTCV, as
Clause 5 of the constitution states, but is a member of
the Community Group Network. It was therefore agreed that the clause be
amended to a more general wording "The group shall apply for the
appropriate membership of BTCV [formerly British Trust for Conservation
Volunteers], and shall observe the conditions of that membership".
Rescue, the traditional cleanup event, will this year be a
week earlier 10th and 11th March. RBC is meeting (tomorrow) to decide
venues. There is currently no information on the RBC website. Jenny C has
been in contact with Chris Cliburn regarding McIlroy Park. There is an
ECONET clean up task at Waterloo Meadows [currently scheduled for the
17th March - Alan S].
Word has it more emphasis on the value of volunteering should mean a
gradual increase in attention from RBC in the future hopefully bringing a
few more volunteers forward. Watch this space!
Date of Next Meeting.
Monday, 21st May 2007 at 7.30pm Environment Centre, Prospect Park
(all being well with the new building).