Agenda item

The Superintendent of Burnham Beeches, Stoke Common and City Commons to be heard.

Kenley Heritage Lottery Fund Bid

A major review meeting would be held with the HLF on 21 November to examine the Conservation Management Plan, activity plan, budget, management plan and maintenance plan. The project was currently on track for submission as a phase 2 bid in March 2015 with an announcement expected in June 2015. If the bid were successful it would be a challenge to implement the project in time for the September 2015 commemorations of the Battle of Britain.

Personnel

Mid-Year Staff Appraisals had been completed and a Support Services Manager was expected to be in post by February 2015. The Personal Assistant to the Superintendent will be taking maternity leave in January 2015 and so options for the coming year were currently being evaluated. On Ashtead Common, a Cambridge University student had just completed a six week work placement and a Merrist Wood student had joined the team on a three month, three day week placement. On the City Commons, the post of Information Ranger had just been filled.

Winter Work Programme – City Commons

The Superintendent noted work on the stock fencing project at Woodplace Farm Fields, Farthing Downs, and recent dangerous tree works on Coulsdon Commons. He went on to note that staff had held an conservation and wildlife talk at West Wickham Library at West, and the work of corporate volunteers across the Commons, with 1,024 hours at Ashtead in particular.

The Superintendent went on to note that the individual who had advised officers from the Commons on the production of charcoal had recently passed away but that the work he had encouraged and advised upon continued to be put into practice on the Commons and was an excellent way to utilise what would otherwise be waste material.

Winter Work Programme – Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common

Major restoration work for Year 7 was underway and included the clearance of 1.4 hectares of secondary woodland from Stoke Common, followed by mulching. The work included tree shearing and clipping.

Exmoor ponies were being used for grazing on North Common for the first time on the area cleared in late 2013. The ponies were able to be utilised on land that other animals would find difficult to graze. The Exmoor pony grazing had the added benefit of preparing the land for further grazing by other animals.

The third invisible fence trial of 2014 at Burnham Beeches had been completed using the new loop at Pumpkin Hill, whereas the Dog Management and Enforcement Strategies had been produced for approval.

 A SITA grant had enabled the return of two work horses to West Wickham from 3 November until 7 November. The horses would be assisting with removing trees from the site.

Sylvia Moys left at this point of the meeting.