Location: Tite & Locke
Date & Time: 2 July 2026 @ 7.00pm
Chair: Hilary Short
Agenda details
(R = report being held. All reports can also be accessed in the documents folder for this meeting.)
- Apologies.
- Minutes of last meeting (PDF copy of decisions and actions)
- Matters arising from last meeting.
3.1. Pony Wood board. (IP)
3.2. Update on grant for path repairs (refer to item 4.6 of meeting 12.03.26) HS
3.3. Progress with new gates for Carr House Meadow & Hay Meadow HS - Management:
4.1. Arable Field:
4.2. Woodland and hedges:
4.3. Ponds and Wet Pastures:
4.4. Orchard
4.5. Meadows
4.6. Review of Health and Safety policy (R Michael Sheppard) - Volunteer activities:
5.1. Volunteer activities for April & May (R RM)
5.2. Volunteer job reports (R GB)
5.3. Proposed tasks for July & August (R RM) - Monitoring:
6.1. Monitoring Report (R GB)
6.2. Progress with surveys: Frequency of snipe counts
(refer to item 6.2 of meeting 12.03.26) SB/CG
6.3. Cattle Monitoring:
6.3.1. Cattle Monitoring Report (R RG)
6.3.2. Future responsibility for cattle monitoring. (RG)
6.4. Fences:
6.4.1. Responses to supplementary report on fences (R x2)
Page 2 - Standing items:
7.1. Arrangements (all)
7.2. Financial control: actual and expected income and spending (all)
7.3. Organised events:
7.4. Items to Report from/to FA.
7.4.1. The FA Respect Statement & Procedure for raising a concern (R x2 MT/HS)
7.5. Items to report from trustees - AOB
- Date, place & organisation of next meeting:
Arrangements
July
- NE key dates: Arable farmer to harvest crop & undertake related works after 31st July. Surface
can be cultivated lightly if stubble is clean before end September (or within a month of harvest if later)
Areas of severe compaction should be sub-soiled. Seed and nectar-producing plants can be sown in
small areas. (HS) - NE key dates: Arrange with arable farmer to undertake 1st mowing of wildflower and bee friendly
margins (due, after 15th July) straight after crop harvested. Cuttings to be blown into middle of Flora
Field. For sward height of 3–10cms, cuttings removed. Leave approx. 10% uncut each year.
Also, annual rotational cut of beetle banks. 2021 – do all four beetle banks again? (HS) - NE key dates: Decide whether parts of wildflower margin require over-sowing. Arrange over-sowing
of NE-specified mix between 1 August & 30th September. (HS) - NE key dates: No stocking limit on cattle numbers in Big Meadow, Lower Sowerholme, West Field
1st July to 30th Nov. If hay is to be cut, cattle remain out of Hay & Carr House Meadows until
haymaking then should come into graze aftermath – otherwise cattle to graze off the meadow late
August/September. notify graziers. (HS) - NE key dates: Rush cutting allowed in HK10 fields from 1st July. Hay Meadow post haymaking.
- Commission arable margin survey for late July/early August. (HS)
- Plan proposed winter work on ponds & ditches (esp. US channel) for implementation in Sept.
Arrange dragging out of vegetation from ponds and ditches as necessary for between 15 Sept and
31 January (usually no more than once every 5 years).Spoil to be spread thinly over the bank.GB/RM) - Re-cut (scythe) path through Upper Sowerholme, and the open patches on the drier parts. (RM)
- 2028 – arrange refresher chain saw training. Certificates expire September 2028 (RM)
- Check the wildflower margins for cutting & staking in preparation for the crop harvest. stake where
necessary. (HS/RM) - Cut off seeding heads of thistles in Hay Meadow and If required, Carr House Meadow (RM)
August
- Arrange 2nd mowing of wildflower and bee friendly margins, for after 31st August. For sward height
of 3–10cms, cuttings removed. Leave approx. 10% uncut each year. (HS) - Set out notices re fruit picking + messages via Facebook & FA email list (AG/HS)
- 2028 – Arrange first aid training for those whose certificates run out on 01 December 2028. (RM)
- Survey hay meadows for later flowering species if these have not yet been recorded (HS)