Committee Minutes – May 12th 2025

Present: Mike Rundle (Chair), Neil Dandy, Barley Wilson, Ian Wilson, Gill Waldron

Apologies: David Cooling, Nick Parsons.

1. Minutes of the meeting on April 7^th 2025 were approved.
2. Financial Report The account stands at £2217.69
3. Membership Report Stable at 68 households, a few have been reminded about subscriptions. David notes that the Chair of Butterfly Conservation, Norfolk, is a member, and might be a good connection since David has been co-opted onto that committee.
4. NWT and RWG conference on March 26^th. Gemma has produced minutes of the meeting, suggesting a further meeting, to be arranged, at Wymondham, and a plan to share the emails of participants. It also contains links to potentially useful workshops and meetings.  Mike had listed the initiatives which other groups spoke of being important and successful for them, and after discussion, it was agreed that we would investigate local tree mapping, mapping (and potentially advising on) swift, swallow and housemartin nests, to be discussed as agenda items at the next meeting. ( Ian, Mike) It was also suggested that a photograph competition, ‘Ryburgh’s Favourite Trees’ could be an entry at the Village Show ( September 7^th). This will be proposed to the Show Group (Neil,Gill).
5. a) Consider joining the UWFG and takers for Sennowe Walk May 15^th. Those at the meeting were unanimous in supporting the proposal to join as associate members, and the Ryburgh Common Trustees are likely to apply as well. We await Dani’s response.  David suggests a more informal relationship with Sennowe – this discussion deferred until he is at the meeting.  There are 4 members as well as Barley, Ian and Mike to go on the walk, Dani to be informed of numbers. (Gill).
   b) Progress with Crisp Neil has sent a survey list to Crisp who have agreed to do one on their land. Neil to ask when they will commence this.
6. LNRS Consultation The map proves to be complex and multilayered. Mike will respond to the consultation invitation for RWG. He will make the points that wildlife corridors might be identified on the map. Rivers and tributaries are primary corridors and ideally should be identified on the map including the width of the flood plain.
7. Sennowe Pond and Scrape Mike will talk to Fergus on the Sennowe walk about disposing of the silt from the pond. It is probable that the stumps will be removed and piled up by the pond. It is likely that funding will be available for the next phase. There was discussion about the long term responsibility for the revived pond, and it was thought that the Sennowe Estate were responsible for it but that RWG would take a role in monitoring its health and wildlife benefit.
8. Future Events The NWT event on August 14^th will begin at the Hall and visit the pond (Barley).
   BBQ for July 27^th, to be finalised next meeting
   Warham Camp visit on August 24^th – members are booking for this.
   Foxley Wood Purple Emperor and local Purple Hairstreak walk dates to be decided (David).
   The Ryburgh Common walk was poorly supported but very successful in identifying Green Hairstreak butterflies for perhaps the first time in recent years. Gill to write to John Savory to apologise for our oversight in not informing him out of courtesy.
9. Any Other Business Gill enquired about our policy for charging for events, this has lapsed, recently. It was decided that the standard charge would be £5 for members, £10 for non members, for most activities such as walks. This will need to be added to a newsletter (David).
   Tom Cook has  agreed to Ian’s  proposal to thin out some of the bluebells in the Bluebell wood and re-establish them in the Community Woodland, initially, although other sites might follow. Tom wishes to be present and Ian will discuss this further on the walk this coming Thursday. He will then propose a volunteer work party.

Date of next meeting – Monday June 9^th, 7.00pm, Stone House.