Committee Minutes – 17th November 2024

Minutes of a meeting of the Ryburgh Wildlife Group Committee at Stone House, November 17^th 2024

Present: Mike Rundle (Chair), David Cooling, Nick Parsons, Barley Wilson, Gill Waldron

• Apologies : Neil Dandy, Ian Wilson Minutes of the meeting on October 30^th were approved
• Financial Report Balance as of today £2462.80
• Membership Secretary Report

1. 76 households are currently members, 6 may not renew, one couple will not renew since the bird hide was locked and experienced as less accessible. Continue to follow up (David)
2. David has reviewed the website and proposed a restructuring, which was welcomed by the committee, and has been deemed as workable by Tim Colman. As the website becomes restructured, information about the committee, activities and wildlife sites will be required.(David will email all committee)
3. Upper Wensum Diary report. David is making this for a different audience from the newsletter, with information about activites and developments which will be of interest. He will continue to send a brief report to Anne Prentis to submit each month. David

• Hide and Scrape   The scrape is in need of clearing the large amount of silt washed off into the stream from the fields. There is little clear water in it, it is overgrown and not currently attractive to birds; apparently more attractive to rats at present according to an entry in the log.   The scrape cannot be cleaned out until 2025.  Decisions will have to be made about where to dispose of the silt which cannot be deposited on the flora-rich meadow. Nick  will  contact the Norfolk Rivers Trust to establish whether they may be able to advise methods for containing soil from the fields from reaching the water course.

The hide does not appear to be well used at present as evidenced by the few records in the book. The presence of locks appears unwelcoming, (and there have been a number of negative comments about them from members, including, in one case, being given as the reason why membership wasn’t being renewed.  Mike  will contact Steve to discuss further.

• Norfolk Wildlife Trust There was extensive discussion about how to progress the relationship with NWT and what RWG’s aims are in so doing.  The aim and the form of the suggested meeting in the spring were considered.  It was agreed that RWG doesn’t have the manpower to manage such a meeting in conjunction with a Nature Watch programme at present.  Several objectives for a joint meeting which would consist of NWT, RWG and as many local groups as possible were considered, a) to bring groups under the umbrella of an  NWT community initiative such that information about other initiatives, achievements and barriers was shared so that all could learn, b) to focus on wildlife pathways which might be linked due to the activities of local groups acting, for example to advise their PCs on their biodiversity responsibilities , or c) to concentrate on future plans to work together hopefully with the support of the NWT in carrying out specific initiatives.   The format of a meeting would depend on which aims were focussed on, if it were about communication between groups, principally it would take the form more of a round the table business meeting, rather than an event with a speaker. It was decided that such a meeting should be a stand alone event at the Memorial Hall, chaired by NWT, inviting as many other groups as possible, and to suggest several short (eg10min) presentation about best achievements and most difficult problems.  Then to discuss how to work together in the future and on what projects, with the hope and expectation that NWT would support such a development and be the host of any subsequent network.

It is clear that there are several, disparate attempts to create connections, such as the Norfolk Green Care network and others which are found online, but their aims may not be specifically for wildlife conservation.   It was agreed that  Mike would contact Jen Burlingham, NCC’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy Project Officer who is currently looking at projects for the River Wensum, to establish what is resulting from that.  Mike will email Helen Baczkowska to suggest a Zoom/Teams meeting in December,  Nick      will write the content about RWGs aims from the joint venture.

• Biodiversity No news, no contact from the PC.
• Sennowe Pond Ella is visiting this Wednesday.  Barley has looked at the Norfolk Ponds website from which it is clear that it is likely to be an ancient marl pit, judging by its size and position. It is not a ghost pond, since it is evidently a pond, if a derelict one.  It is planned to open up on the west and south sides which will preserve the variety of shrubs, including several spindles. The pond should not be cleared out after February because of amphibian activity after that. Leaf litter and vegetation can be cleared before the spring, if there is no owl roost , Nick to advise). Working party dates are 14^th December and 11^th  These will be advertised in the newsletter, David, and volunteers asked to contact  Mike . Chain saws and other equipment will be required so that volunteers must be suprervised by a committee member, but not necessarily on a designated working party day if that can be agreed. A health and safety protocol will be necessary  Neil .
• Future events

1. History walk Peter Trent’s walk this coming Saturday 23^rd. 18 people on the list, coffee and biscuits will be provided Gill, and a dish for donations which will be given to the church.
2. Holt Ridge Morris, wassail. Saturday January 18^th. Starting at 3pm with walk with lanterns, saucepans, lids, drums onto the field to bless fruit trees, dancing outside the hall if possible from 4pm. The Pop up Pub will open from 4, but will need to be set up before 3. Hall booking to be extended from 2-5 Gill to book, this will be paid for by RWG. Tea, coffee and cake will be available Barley and Miranda from the Pop up group.
3. John Savory walk Was enjoyed by 14 people, very positive feedback, there is a write up in the November newsletter.  John would be willing to do it another time if asked.

• Any Other Business

1. Photo submission for November has only 2 entries, to encourage members to post their pictures.
2. Bug Hotels – Barley is looking for 4 venues, Flagship Housing who are responsible for Highfield Close social housing have made a total of 160 wildflower areas on their property, 3 of which are in the close, Barley is negotiating with them. She has a suitable barrel for the Maltings one – Ian and Neil to plan with them. Steph and Mark from Westwood Lane have agreed to site one on their verge outside the front wall.  Perhaps ask Garden Centre for sponsorship towards new canes, and to ask individuals who enjoy making things to help.Mike will ask Gerald Rawlings,  Gill,Stanley Judd. A template will be available on the website as a guide.  Ian and Barley.
3. Relationship with Crisp Maltings . Ian and Neil to re-establish contact and to discuss bug hotel, as above. To enquire if they would sponsor the NWT meeting in 2025, and possible the pond restoration ( this to be decided depending on restoration decisions.)
4. AGM – Provisionally for Wednesday February 19^th at the Memorial Hall 7.00pm To include a quiz.

Date of next meeting, Monday 16^th December, 7.00 Stone House