Committee Minutes – February 5th 2024

Minutes of a meeting of the Ryburgh Wildlife Group Committee held at Stone House on February 5^th 2024

Present Mike Rundle (Chair), David Cooling, Neil Dandy, Nick Parsons, Barley Wilson, Ian Wilson, Gill Waldron.

1. Minutes of the meeting on January 8^th were approved. There were no matters arising.
2. Financial Report. The current account stands at £2774.02. The Quiz took £35.00.
3. Membership Report One further member since the last meeting, members currently  69 households.
4. Review of AGM and Quiz Well attended, feedback positive, food well received and the quiz was very successful. Some interest in posters, venue wasn’t able to make the best of them, but as yet no real feedback. The positive atmosphere suggests that getting members together for a social gathering might be arranged more often.
5. Biodiversity Plan and the Parish Council. The PC may not be aware of their statutory responsibility to create a plan this year, RWG is willing to contribute. A letter to be sent before the meeting on February 8^th requesting it be on the agenda for the next meeting (Mike)
6. Correspondence with Sennowe There has been no response to Mike’s follow up letter. A meeting to discuss the railway line management plan is in the pipeline, it may be possible to discuss Mike’s correspondence then. (Barley, Ian) A new or repaired gate is required at the shop entrance to the railway line.
7. Litter Pick To be held on the morning of Saturday March 9^th. Meet at 10 am at the Hall. Litter bags to be left behind the Hall and the NNDC to be notified, and asked to provide signs to be erected ‘ Litter pick ahead’ (Mike). Pickers to be provided (Neil) and rubbish bags (Gill). Crisp to be asked to lend Hi Vis waistcoats (Gill). Members to be asked to volunteer (important word) an hour or two of their time.(David). Picking through the village and up the hill towards A1067 which is very poor.
8. Liaison with NWT In response to Gill’s letter requesting a date for a FU meeting as agreed after the joint meeting, Ella has written to suggest we compile a concrete list of items that we wish to achieve. NWT in liaison with Lizzie from the UWFC will propose a joint meeting, chaired by Helen from NWT to facilitate relationship building.  She also suggests more discussion and research about the possibility of reviving ghost ponds. After discussion, it was agreed that a list of concrete aims for the near future included but was not limited to; a) to extend the pollinator pathway beyond the village b) to make good, consistent links with the main schools which serve Ryburgh, All Saints Stibbard and the Fakenham Academy. c) to link with similar groups to better understand useful strategies to achieve our aims d) the continued management of the railway line e) to continue to supply bug hotels where appropriate f) to continue to develop part of the playing field for nature, and possibly g) to establish an otter holt along our stretch of the River Wensum. Discussion about the virtue of a meeting with Lizzie and UWFC members chaired by Helen sprang from the unanimous concern felt by the committee about recent severe hedgerow trimming especially along Mill Road. It was agreed that such a meeting could be helpful in the attempt to reach a common understanding about the need for and purposes of hedgerow management. The committee is always concerned with ideas to help members develop ways of converting theoretical concern for wildlife into practical action. It is proposed to hold a Ryburgh Spring Nature Watch over weekend of May 11th, details to be confirmed (All) and Ella to be asked for her views (Gill).
9. Any Other Business

1. 1. Other Events David is keen to circulate event ideas and provisional or confirmed dates in the Newsletter.
      John Savory has offered a farm walk at Highfield, probably in June. Gill to confirm.
      Tom Cook has offered a walk in Sennowe, we suggest autumn, Ian to check with Steve about availability also to tell him about Dawn Chorus walk.
      Dawn Chorus, Sunday May 5^th, Ian to lead. Breakfast details to be confirmed in due course.
      Spring Nature Watch May 11^th.
      Nick Acheson to be asked to give a talk Nick
   2. Ian and Neil propose approaching Maltings about access to parts of their land to help with the development of the Pollinator Pathway. It is felt that the public relations department would welcome a conservation project which the company could own. Neil to draft initial approach.
   3. David has had no success in uploading newsletters onto website. Barley will be at a meeting with Tim this week and will chase it up. David has not sorted the facebook page yet but will.
   4. Barley has planted the replacement memorial pear tree and the existing one will continue to be nurtured. Peter Trent to be informed. Neil

• Date of next meeting Monday March 11^th00 Stone House