Minutes of a meeting of the committee of the Ryburgh Wildlife Group at Stone House on August 4th 2025
Present- Mike Rundle (Chairman), Barley Wilson, Ian Wilson, Gill Waldron.
Apologies – David Cooling, Neil Dandy
- Minutes of the meeting of July 7Th 2025 were approved.
- Financial Report The BBQ surplus was £124, with one member payment and sale of excess produce to bring a further £22.50. The bank account stands at £2150.44.
- Membership – static, all have paid ( except one member who will be reminded when next he meets Mike).
- Initiatives – tree mapping. The Woodland Trust have produced an Ancient Tree Inventory which looks very comprehensive and easy to use. ( Ian will send a link) Tom Cook has emailed David and spoken of ancient trees in Sennowe, and has offered to incorporate them in a walk for members. David to respond, suggesting dates in the autumn, perhaps to include looking for fungi (see item 7). Tom raises concerns about the Persimmon Homes project at Twyford spoiling existing habitat, Mike will enquire of Persimmon whether RWG can assess the project.
Swifts/swallow nests. There have been a number of responses by members hoping to help with this count. Ian will look and collate the reports to establish, with Nick, a system for next year.
Leaflet There was discussion about David’s leaflet proposal. Gill to contact him with the outcome.
WhatsApp group It is early days. Members will need more reminders. It is important to differentiate it from the village wildlife WhatsApp which John Hopkins began at the start of the pandemic, or there will be confusion since some members are in both.
- Crisp Progress – Bug Hotel. Ian has an empty carcass he has made, it needs filling at a joint session, and another is in the pipeline. The first one is for the school, and we propose the second to be at Westwood Lane. We are not keen for one of Crisp’s proposed sitings, which would be out of sight of the village. Perhaps time for another meeting (Ian, Neil).
- Sennowe Pond and Scrape. Mike has met with NWT and the Sennowe contractor, all is organised for early September. Perhaps a good idea to get pictures for a Press release when the contractor is there – Mike will inform the committee when he knows. He has talked with Steve who is keen for the clearance of the scrape and will send a proposal. Is it possible to ask the contractor to do the job added to his pond maintenance work on the estate in September?
- Future Events . NWT walk, August 14th, Barley and Mike will attend, Barley to tell Steve that they are interested in visiting the scrape. Also to tell Tom Cook and Adrian. Warham Camp, all organised, numbers are trickling in. Proposed Autumn walk at Sennowe to visit ancient trees, perhaps to use the Woodland Trust Inventory as a demonstration for members. Perhaps to ask Tony Leach (Mike) if he would contribute a fungi search to the walk, David to put that to Tom in his email reply.
- There is a general disappointment that RWG isn’t attracting a youth membership and discussion about how to improve that, Mike will get in touch with a neighbour who would be able to give him a contact at Fakenham School. Gill to contact Gemma from NWT and ask whether the Youth Liaison Officer can give us advice. Barley to ask the village youth what would interest them.
Date of Next meeting, Monday September 22nd, 7.00 Stone House.