Minutes of Core Group Meeting
8th Dec 2014

Present: Martin Calvert (Chair), Mervyn & Joan Clayton, Diane & Trevor Kitto, Jenny Page, Adrian Coltman, Pete Foulston, Michael Betteridge, Geoff Holden.

Apologies for Absence Minutes of the Meeting Held 17th November 2014 Matters Arising Correspondence Action Mornings FGVW Christmas Cards & Christmas Markets

Audrey's Meadow FGVW Annual General Meeting Tree Felling AOB Dates of Next Meetings

1. Apologies for Absence

Paul Ellis, Adam & Carol Bull.

2. Minutes of the Meeting Held 17th November 2014

Agreed as a true record.

3. Matters Arising

• Planning Application
  The planning application to build houses in the woods has been re-submitted following previous objections. The only difference is that 1 house has been removed from the centre of plan which was over a mains CSO drain. The Group are encouraging people to re-object. Martin and Adrian gave out leaflets about the application and how to object in Chapel Allerton on 6 December (and also sold 15 packs of Christmas cards).
• Rabbits
  Martin has passed this gentleman's enquiry about introducing rabbits into the woods to Dan (Parks and Countryside) in the hope he will give a sympathetic reply.
• Ash/Poplar Trees Near the Bracken Woods
  At the last meeting Geoff raised the issue of the ash and poplar trees getting too large and also that some of the poplars looked like they have been marked by the Council for felling. Martin contacted the Council to find out what was happening as originally these trees were supposed to be thinned every ten years, however he has not yet had a reply.
• FGVW Spending
  Paul advised we have spent quite a lot of money recently. The TCV (Trust of Conservation Volunteers, formerly BTCV) work cost £900 (no Vat), but this should be covered by Audrey's money. FGVW Christmas cards cost £360 to produce this year, but the money has already been recouped by sales. Adam will be paying money into the FGVW bank account this week from FGVW stall takings at recent local events.

4. Correspondence

Yorkshire Water contacted Mervyn regarding the planning application to build houses in the woods. They said keep watching the planning site as they will be making some comments over the next week.

The group received a sympathetic e-mail from Karl Sinclair regarding tree felling this was passed around for all to read.

Councillor Urry met Martin to learn more about the Council's proposed plans for the woods, and also spoke about MICE money to Martin. He wanted to know the cost of building paths, and Mervyn estimated about £30 per metre.

5. Action Mornings

• Sunday 23 November 2014
  The Action Morning was attended by 35 adults and children. Daffodil bulbs were planted, and a hedgerow was planted opposite the "horses' field" including hawthorn, holly, hazel and downy birch. A copse of rowan, crab apple and downy birch was planted at the bottom of Gledhow Lane near the junction with Gledhow Valley Road and daffodils were also planted in this area. Work continued on clearing Audrey's Meadow.

Future Action Mornings

Proposed dates and tasks (subject to change):

• Sunday 14 December 2014
  Working on Audrey's Meadow, clearing bramble, roots and raking. Rubbish will be cleared away from meadow area out of sight. If there are any children we could encourage them (with their parents) to build wildlife habitat piles. Volunteers please meet on the carriageway in the woods, near the lake jetty.
• Sunday 18 January 2015
  
• Sunday 15 February 2015
  
• Sunday 22 March 2015
  
• Saturday 11 April 2015
  

6. FGVW Christmas Cards & Christmas Markets

Including bird boxes and without payment for tables we raised £470.90 ...Well worth doing! Sales of Christmas cards have now covered the cost of production and are selling extremely well. Wendy Jones-Blackett said she would help us with next year's cards if we wanted her to. Diane and Trevor asked if we could have more new seasonal greeting cards - to discuss later.

7. Audrey's Meadow

The man with the tractor has been ill and so we don't know when he is coming to turn over the soil. Kay (an ecologist) suggested we should plant annuals as the soil is fertile and perennials do not like fertile soil. Pete suggested planting "yellow rattle" and also a path to define edges of the flower area and hold back brambles.

8. FGVW Annual General Meeting

The FGVW Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 23 January at The 3 Hulats from 7.30pm, subject to booking and all serving officers being able to attend. Food will be provided. The meeting will include the election of officers for coming year. Nominations for the positions of Chair, Treasurer and Secretary need to be received before the AGM.

9. Tree Felling

Martin will put up a notice from FGVW stating our position regarding the Council's tree felling plans.

Wade's Charity have been in touch with Martin as they have had an enquiry from public regarding felling. The Trust were happy and supportive of the Council's work.

Joan and Mervyn have been told that the trees on the right hand side of the bridge that were marked up a couple of weeks ago would now not be taken down by the Council's contractors as it would not be cost effective. Mervyn is not happy at the amount of trees marked up for felling and said there should have been smaller groupings as in previous fellings. Joan pointed out that if the trees come down to help biodiversity and management of the woods, that's understandable but if the area coming down is larger just to make it cost effective for the Council's contractor then that is not right. She also pointed out that maybe we should go for a large grant so we could get the whole of the woods managed properly by the Council Forestry Department (as they should have been doing for the last 30yrs!) All other woodland areas in Leeds seem only to have been managed by the Council Forestry Department where these woodlands have obtained a grant e.g. lottery funding.

10. AOB

• High-Vis Vests
  A box of high-vis jackets has been kindly donated to FGVW by REAP.
• Bulbs for St Gemma's Hospice
  Joan contacted Groundwork (who supplied FGVW with bulbs last month) to see if there were any left over as St Gemma's Hospice are creating a new garden area. Groundwork rang to say they were passing 1,000 bulbs to her for the Hospice, which will be planted this week.

11. Dates of Next Meetings

• Action Morning - Sun 14 Dec 2014
• Core Group Meeting - Mon 12 Jan 2015 (Gledhow Sports & Social Club)
• Action Morning - Sun 18 Jan 2015
• FGVW AGM - Fri 23 Jan 2015 (The Three Hulats, Chapel Allerton)
• Action Morning - Sun 15 Feb 2015
• Action Morning - Sun 22 Mar 2015
• Action Morning - Sat 11 Apr 2015