Committee Minutes – 30th September 2024

Ryburgh Wildlife Group committee meeting held at Stone House on September 30^th 2024.

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

Apologies: Neil Dandy

1. The Minutes of the meeting on 19^th August were approved
2. Financial Report As of today, £2045.80 in the bank.
3. Membership Secretary Report( including species report and website refresh) Membership is static, we may loose some as October is renewal month. No response from the Little Ryburgh resident – chase up (Gill).  Website Tim Colman is  happy to continue website management and doesn’t want a fee – we will arrange a gift (David). The number of active users is increasing. David will look at restructuring menus available on the website. Species List  David has been compiling a butterfly list for 2024, some notable absences this year – it was agreed to include the Pensthorpe species list since it abuts the parish boundary.   Nick is preparing a bird species list, Ian/Barley one of flora and we should include moths. (Gill has subsequently bumped into Roger and he has a continuing moth list and will send it whenever we wish). If this is a topic for the AGM and the lists are on the website, there is potential for encouraging member involvement to add species and also for specific activities such as the RSPB Garden Birdwatch and the Big Butterfly count.
4. Joint meeting with NWT Oct 2^nd. There was significant discussion about the agenda for this meeting. Nick recounted recent ad hoc meetings with NWT officers when meeting to discuss other matters.  Ian has recently been to a ‘Wild East’ meeting and that and other national and local  habitat restoration/preservation initiatives might be a useful template for RWG in the quest to extend pollinator pathway through nascent existing wildlife corridors nearby. Support from the NWT in pursuing this aim is a major topic for us, and their ability to facilitate contact and exchange of views between local groups, perhaps by supporting joint meetings. The second major topic is the proposed  pond restoration project by the railway line, NWT have managed such projects and may advise on sources of funds. All available to attend the meeting.
5. Biodiversity policy Mike reported that Chris Weston had received favourably the proposed wording for the policy which Mike had sent the PC. A meeting is suggested, yet to be arranged.
6. Sennowe Pond  This will require funding and a management plan. Apparently Sennowe have restored several on the estate and Ian reported that the gamekeeper, Gavin, has offered to contact Carl Sayer from the Norfolk Ponds project who may be available to inspect and advise. Ian to chase Gavin if necessary. Sennowe will remove the debris, and it will be necessary to keep a buffer zone to protect the pond from agricultural run-off. It may also require fencing to protect from dogs being walked on the field/railway line. It is not clear whether we would be responsible for maintenance, or whether the estate would include that in their maintenance programme. If we are likely to commence work on clearance in the late autumn (after leaf fall), Nick will use thermal imagery to check for roosting long-eared owls before any work starts.
7. Future Events
   1. Farm Walk 2 with John Savory – suggest Saturday or Sunday 26^th/27^th October, meet at Highfield Beet Pad at 10.30.
   2. History walk Peter Trent suggests Saturday November 23^rd, in the morning.
   3. Celebration of 10 years of community woodland Holt Ridge Morris will come and wassail, details to be finalised, they will dance in the Hall or Car Park before or afterwards. It may coincide with a Pop up Pub event booked at the Hall for 18^th January. Barley is applying to the Tree Council via Norfolk County Council for grants to fund trees to construct a community orchard on the left hand side of the Playing Field, if the Playing Field Committee approve the application.  RWG to plant the trees, hopefully on the same occasion, or the same weekend.
   4. Feedback from Sennowe Walk Very enjoyable, perhaps particularly because it was a small group which allowed for more in depth discussion on the walk. Tom Cook has received an award for sustainable woodland management – details unknown by RWG.  Suggest future Sennowe walks should be advertised as limited to 10.  Perhaps an opportunity was lost because little was made of the River Watch project to the members who walked the river before meeting at Sennowe.  Proposed to re run the river walk as an event to contribute to the next River Watch due in May 2025.
8. Any Other Business
   1. Gill  suggested a photograph competition possibly based on the website with the aim to produce a calendar of wildlife in Ryburgh to sell at the shop for 2026. If each month is to have an appropriate photograph, best to start now, so that the calendar can be completed in a year’s time. After discussion it was decided not to advertise it as a competition but to encourage members to send photos for each month. People can use photographs in their archive if they are taken in the parish. David to write a note for the October newsletter.
   2. Barley would like to increase bug hotels, asking Maltings to fund/build one based on a beer barrel outside their Head Office. Members to be encouraged to fill them, other sites might be the Shop,  Highfield Close and May Green in Little Ryburgh. Barley/Ian and others.
   3. Barley has tried to contact the relevant person restoring the churchyard in Kettlestone as requested but persistently, no response. No further action at present.
   4. There have been several enquiries about lack of accessibility to Ryburgh Common because of the tree blocking the path. Mike will talk to John Savory in his capacity as Common Trustee.
   5. David has listed the groups achievements this year, he will circulate and add a final one to the newsletter.
   6. Date for the AGM to be decided at the next meeting.

Date of next meeting, Monday November 18^th, Stone House, 7.00pm