Meeting of ECONET
21st May 2007
Parks Department Offices, Prospect Park 7:30pm
Present
Dave Kenny Dave Booth (RBC)
Alan Stevens (Treasurer) Judith Oliver (Minutes)
Anne Latto Jenny Cottee
Paul Forrest-Jameson (BTCV)  
 
Apologies: Steve Ayres, John Lepiniere, Tricia Marcouse
Minutes of Last Meeting & Matters Arising
1. Jenny thanked meeting for bird boxes. May be more needed.
2. Anne Latto asked re consultation at Clayfield. Dave Booth reported that the consultation had been cancelled and the future use of all open spaces will be reviewed within the next 2 years. Friends of groups should continue their work as in the past.
 
Publicity
1. Econet Leaflets as designed and produced by Alan Stevens have been delivered to RVA.
2. Econet has an entry in RVA directory on line.
3. Econet is a partner on the BBC Breathing Places website with 3 Reading sites where regular work is taking place i.e. Clayfield, Mapledurham and McIlroys.
4. A colour poster should be sent to Alan for distribution to RVA etc. [JO action].
5. Econet has a link on Map Reading website.
6. Good PR inside RBC leaflet Spring into Action.
 
Group News
1. Clayfield work parties well attended 8 - 12 mixed ages. The oak on the show field is showing signs of re-growth. One of the branches felled has been carved by Andrew Noyes into a dragon which Bright Ideas have painted, and wood chip is spread around beneath. The David Rees days were popular and thought provoking.
2. Balmore continuing ad hoc tree care work.
3. Mapledurham Annual Brownie tree planting taken place. May wild flower id walk. Tree Officer to look at oaks on ancient boundary bank.
4. Blundells had a bluebell search. Noted increased numbers of bluebells [clearance work responsible?] Bluebells a month early, few clumps of Spanish and hybrids. Search to be repeated next year
5. Dave Kenny is looking for 'notable,veteran, or ancient' trees in the area to put on the Ancient Tree Hunt website www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk.
6. BTCV have money for a) 16 - 25 yr olds trying conservation volunteering Andrew Noyes in charge [short debate followed on age groups targeted for volunteers] and b) Training programmes First one 'Manual Handling' [moving stuff] on June 28th more to come on a variety of subjects.
7. CRoW Good turn outs. Assisted Brookfield School achieve a Green Flag award.
 
Health & Safety
1. See BTCV training courses.
2. The review of risk assessments seems to have stalled. Dave B will provide examples at next meeting.
 
Treasurer Report
1. Summary on website http://www.econetreading.org.uk/admin/Accounts20062007.html.
2. Money will have to be spent on tools this year.
3. The meeting agreed to pay the treasurer expenses of £35.
4. The meeting agreed to pay money towards the cost of a roof rack purchased by John Lepiniere for his car.
 
Tools
1. Gloves have now turned up, racking in the new storage area will be put up this week, and a CRoW task will sort out the tools and do an inventory update within the next month.
2. Keys are with Andrew Noyes and Alan Stevens.
 
Reading Environmental Network
1. Jenny Cottee put forward ideas re a greater Reading Green Network. RVA are proposing a day in September [possibly 23rd] at RISC to discuss the pros and cons of such an organisation to be attended by 'green' and 'greenish' groups. More details will be available at the Forbury World Environment Day. Contact or Jenny at .
2. A short discussion ensued on the purpose of such a group.
 
AOB
1. J O raised the issue of need for a board/banner/tee shirt/hat/sweatshirt with logo which could be worn/ displayed by conservation volunteers on tasks. Lively discussion, Hi Vis vests were not popular, Paul noted that such a thing was a good marketing ploy. JO to investigate further.
2. Alan needs more info from groups - of all Econet members. What they are doing, numbers attending, and to claim any expenses!. Numbers are particularly important to assess the level of insurance we are paying.
 
Date of Next Meeting
This should be an AGM so please note in diaries!
 
MONDAY 8th OCTOBER at PROSPECT PARK [Parks Dept. Offices]
Top