Agenda item

The Superintendent of Burnham Beeches & Stoke Common to be heard.

The Committee received an update from the Director of Open Spaces on behalf of the Superintendent of Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common, and Members noted the following:

Christmas Storms

·       The Burnham Beeches site was closed fully for 1 day (Christmas eve) and partially on two further occasions.  No major damage was done in the area but some clearance was required on each occasion.  The Christmas period saw limited staff on duty which made this a particularly challenging period for those on rota.

Events – 1300 participants attended the following events:

·       Christmas carols at the Café and  lantern making - 100 people attended

·       Hosted school 9 visits– 540 students attended

·       Guided walks x 2 – 45 people attended

·       Health walks  x 4 – 40people attended

The total number of volunteer hours was 1331 (366 hours were accrued by under 18s)

Ongoing projects included: 

·       Heathland restoration

·       Post storm clear up

·       Ancient tree survey

·       Office support work.

Stoke Common

·       Continuation of heathland restoration works at SC – 1.5 Ha of Mulching – stumps and young birch

·       Additional 0.5Ha of secondary woodland cleared on the north common.

Burnham Beeches

·       Work on pollards with MEWP (Mobile elevated work platform) + tree safety following storms Joint work with NLOS to cable brace a pollard.

·       Narrowing of Lord mayors drive undertaken – included the complete re-modelling of one side of the entrance apron, provision of a pedestrian access path, drainage and tarmac works. 

·       Additional Works Programme (City Surveyor) - 350sqm of tarmac repair were carried out on Lord Mayor’s Drive

Staff Changes

The Assistant information Ranger/Conservation Officer was due to leave her post at the end of January and the recruitment process had begun.