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Minutes of Steering Group Meeting
30th January 2025
Present: Martin Calvert, Adrian Coltman, Steve Jones-Blackett, Theresa Williams, Adam & Carol Bull.
1. Apologies for Absence
David Miles, Jeremy Kitto.
2. Minutes of the Meeting Held 16th January 2025
Agreed as a true record.
3. Matters Arising
- Regarding the fallen poplar in Beck Pasture. The estate manager responsible for the land on which the poplar was growing has been in contact with Adrian Coltman. After initial optimism that a thorough clearance job would be done, a man in a van has visited the site at least twice, without our knowledge or agreement. We have not seen a method statement or evidence of insurance. He has accessed the field by climbing over the gate with equipment and logs. There is no intention of removing the brash. This outcome is deeply unsatisfactory and Adrian has sent an appropriate email.
- The planned tree work by Lucy of Leeds City Council has taken place. Dangerous/diseased trees near Gledhow Valley Road were removed, with partial road closures over 4 days. There have been no reports of fallen trees as a result of the recent storm.
4. Action Mornings
- Sunday 19 January 2025
There was a good turnout of volunteers, and fallen trees were tidied up. The Lincombe Drive meadow was tidied and assessed. There was a subsequent phone call from a concerned resident worried about removing cover for wildlife and also reporting fly tipping.
- Sunday 9 February 2025
Volunteers to meet at the jetty by the lake. Work will include path repair, dead hedge filling, path clearance and litter picking. Martin Calvert to ask Ian Potty Park for a trailer of stone to be delivered. Adrian Coltman and Martin Calvert to meet on site on Monday to assess tasks.
5. Trustees Update
There will be a meeting in February.
The insurance quote from Zurich has increased a lot despite the FunDay event being removed from cover. Steve Jones-Blackett to shop around.
6. Project to Eradicate Bamboo and Knotweed and Create Wetland off Gledhow Lane
David Miles reported (via email) that a grant of £19,000 has been approved by npower Business Solutions for additional work to the new wetland.
The SWECO ecologist has almost completed the assessment report on the new wetland. This is already demonstrating Biodiversity net gain.
7. Project to Refurbish Footpaths
The Group felt that the two main paths to be restored should be the Carriageway all the way to the Garages entrance on Gledhow Wood Road and the path on the opposite side of Gledhow Valley Road to the Bath House up to the road crossing opposite "Martin's meadow". Third in priority is the path through the woods parallel to Allerton Grange Way. It was felt the "Lord Mayor's" path is low priority.
8. Water Quality Monitoring
An "outfall safari" training run by the Aire River Trust was held last Saturday and attended by around 30 people from North Leeds Citizen Science groups, including four from FGVW. An outfall safari to build on the current monitoring of the two land drains along Gledhow Beck is planned for February.
9. The Diocese Field
David Miles reported (via email) meeting with churchgoers Mark and Mary Clayton and Michael Churley to discuss progress regarding a licence agreement or purchase of the field.
10. AOB
- Steve Jones-Blackett asked Adam Bull to publicise the date of the 2025 Green Fair on the website. It was agreed that he would promote the event via the FGVW Update email.
- It was agreed that future Steering Group meetings should start at 7pm for the foreseeable future to avoid clashing with social club events.
- A call for volunteers for the Green Fair will be going out shortly. The Group has been informed by the new organisers that a road closure application has been submitted, a group bank account has been set up and constitution agreed.
- A group of corporate volunteers from Border to Coast Pensions Partnership visited the woods on the 8th January 2025. They spent the day clearing brambles from "Audrey's Meadow" and topping up the dead hedge around the lake. David Miles requested wildflower seeds and/or plugs in this newly cleared area. This was agreed by the Group.
11. Dates of Next Meetings (Provisional)
- Action Morning - Sun 9 Feb 2025
- Steering Group Meeting - Thu 6 Mar 2025
- Action Morning - Sun 16 Mar 2025
- Steering Group Meeting - Thu 3 Apr 2025
- Action Morning - Sun 13 Apr 2025
- Steering Group Meeting - Thu 8 May 2025
- Action Morning - Sun 18 May 2025
- Steering Group Meeting - Thu 5 Jun 2025
- Action Morning - Sun 15 Jun 2025
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