AGM 2022 and Chairmans Report




Chairs Update

 

 

Although our constitution says an AGM will be held annually we have followed government guidelines and postponed meetings in 2020 and 2021 to comply with covid legislation and so this will be our first AGM since 2019.

 

Since the covid outbreak FoLLNR activities have – for obvious reasons - been severely curtailed and we have not been able to hold the monthly open days that were so popular and well attended in the preceding 7 years. This has further been compounded by the unavailability of the Centre building this year and which looks like it will remain closed until 2024.

 

Covid also prevented the various walks, talks and discovering wildlife events that have been a feature of previous FoLLNR event years - although Andy Harding and Keith Gander kindly hosted a Warbler walk for us in the spring.

 

The monthly task days were in the most part also cancelled although we did manage a few sessions to clear the views around the hides and to help construct a new raised pond in front of the centre car park. It is hoped that we can resume a regular program of work in co-ordination with the PT over the coming year.

 

We have continued to update our website as far as possible and have continued to maintain a species list thoughout each year. We have also gathered information from the FLICKR site, Ringing Records and members observations to ensure a comprehensive list of records for LLNR is sent to BMERC each year, in order that official records continue to reflect LLNRs status as one of the most valuable sites for wildlife in the county.

 

When safe to do so FoLLNR representatives have continued to meet with Parks Trust representatives quarterly to discuss, work plans and exchange ideas for the site and it is right that we thank them for their support over the years and work carried out to maintain the site.

 

In September 2021 a new planning application in respect of the land adjacent to the nature reserve was submitted. This would have resulted in the destruction of most of the habitat to the east of LLNR, many years of disturbance through construction work and in excess of 700 people living in close proximity to the nature reserve.

 

As we have done in the four previous planning applications FoLLNR led and co-ordinated the objections on ecological grounds to this application and challenged any assertions made by the applicant which we knew to be untrue or misleading. Finally after over a year of campaigning I was delighted to hear that the application had been refused on the 15th November this year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank BBOWT and the local RSPB group who gave fantastic support to the objections and to the many FoLLNR members and members of the public that wrote in objection to the application.

 

In it’s comprehensive report outlining the many reasons for the refusal of the application MKC noted the objections made by FoLLNR, BBOWT and the RSPB Group as part of the ecological argument against development and noted the large number of members of the public that had written in objection.

 

Kenny Cramer has continued to run his ringing programme at LLNR over the last couple of years - when covid relaxations permitted - and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all his efforts and support and for the wealth of information his records provide and once again demonstrate the unique value of LLNR as a wildlife haven.

 

I would like to thank also the help and support provided by my fellow committee members:

 

Neil, Keith, Dave, Roy, Michelle and Malcolm who like myself have been in this for the long term

 

I would also like to thank our new committee members who I hope will not change their minds once they get to know us

 

Lastly I must give special thanks to our Treasurer Pauline and to Janice our secretary, who does a fantastic job of co-ordinating and communicating with the membership and the Parks Trust and who has acted as my sanity and behavioural moderator at meetings over the years.



Minutes of Annual General Meeting of

Friends of Linford Lakes Nature Reserve

Wednesday 23 November 2022

 

Start time: 7.30 pm at the Pavilion, Campbell Park

Attendance: 23 people including Phil Bowsher, Head of Environment at The Parks Trust  

Welcome from Tony Bedford, Chair of FoLLNR

Tony welcomed everyone to this first AGM since May 2019 before the restriction of activities due to Covid-19. He thanked The Parks Trust for making their offices available for the Friends’ meetings. 

Update from the Chair of FoLLNR

The Chair’s report is available to view on the Friends’ blog website: https://fohescnews.blogspot.com

Treasurer’s Report

Pauline Studman explained due to the pandemic there had been no income during the last couple of years. The only expense was for bird food. The current balance totals £5976.

Election of officers

The following officers were elected.

Chair Tony Bedford. Proposer: Simon Bunker; Seconded: Jane Grisdale

Treasurer Pauline Studman. Proposer: Jenny Brown; Seconded: Sue Bunker

Secretary Janice Robertson. Proposer: Andy Harding; Seconded: Keith Gander

All officers were elected unanimously by a show of hands.

Update from The Parks Trust 

Phil Bowsher thanked Sarah Griffiths and Carla Boswell for being the main contacts with the Friends. He reported that during the pandemic there had been an increase in anti-social behaviour on the reserve. Since then, there have been more communication lines set up to    co-ordinate liaison with the police, and more voluntary wardens who now patrol the site daily. 

The reserve facilities have been improved with replaced boardwalks, and increased cutting of trees and vegetation. The Centre building is being refurbished and updated to improve sustainability of heating, lighting, toilets, and external cladding to meet current regulations. Sarah Griffiths has planned improvements to the educational facilities. The building works started well but protected species (Bats and Newts) were found in more locations than was anticipated for. The works have now been paused until discussions about mitigation measures have been finalised with Natural England. A year has been added to the timescale and the Parks Trust wish to apologise for the inconvenience to permit holders. They will look into improving the temporary car parking site. 

The PT applied for a National Lottery grant but was not successful. Other grant possibilities will be explored. An extra member of the Biodiversity team was appointed (Lewis Dickinson) but Martin Kincaid has unfortunately been absent for long periods. 

The management plan for the reserve is being finalised. The Action Plan for the wider Milton Keynes is taking The Parks Trust’s time and commitment and LLNR is a key site. 

Questions from the floor

Tony commented on the ponds that are still dry after all the rain, and that wet woodland is a priority habitat. Mal McGar said the drainage pipes used to be cleaned out regularly. Phil said the problems need to be identified and that we have a hydrologist contact to approach for a quotation for looking at the site.

A question had been received before the meeting from Chris Coppock about bird ringing on the bund possibly causing disturbance and could consideration be given to different locations and days rather than at weekends. Keith Gander replied on behalf of Kenny Cramer, the BTO bird ringer. Kenny works during the week and can only operate on Saturdays with setting up on Friday evenings. Some weekends are not used because of unsuitable weather. Regarding the possibility that the bird ringing is disturbing to birds, Keith said that the species count suggests that birds are hardly affected. For instance, cuckoos have been caught there and records show that the site is one of the best in the country, holding 25% of all cuckoos ringed in 2021. The nets have been set up on the perimeter and bug bank for some weeks now. 

Keith asked whether The Parks Trust has any protocols regarding prevention of avian flu. He said Kenny follows the BTO’s strict regime, which includes regular sanitising of equipment and hands, and bags to hold birds being used once only and washed afterwards. Phil said The Parks Trust follow DEFRA’s advice. Tony asked for instructions on what to do if anyone finds a dead bird. Phil wanted people to report any incidences. Carla will circulate information to the wardens and put notices in the hides. Tony will add information to the Friends’ blog.

Chris Coppock also mentioned the “appalling mess along the access road. I cannot believe the Trust has no ability, either legal or (joint with MK Council or the Environment Agency) to remedy this situation. What steps has the Trust taken, or will it take, to sort this out?” Phil said The Parks Trust has tried many approaches but now intends to write to the landowner to say The Parks Trust will be carrying out management to cut back vegetation along the road. The rubbish is out of The Parks Trust’s remit, being the responsibility of the local authority to communicate with the landowner. The road is not a right of way but permit holders are allowed along it only to access the reserve.

Mal McGar commented that there are more trees on the reserve than 40 years ago. Phil said the management plan will be addressing these impacts. It was a young site then after the gravel extraction ended and is now a maturing habitat.

Jane Grisdale suggested that the Friends could use some of their funds and at the same time publicise their name by taking part in the BTO’s Cuckoo Tracking Project. Their satellite tagging scheme investigates migration routes of individual birds and results can be watched on the internet. Tony would be happy to receive costings of the sponsorship in order to consider the idea. The reserve is of national importance and should be recognised better. Phil said getting an SSSI status had been considered and will continue to be explored.

Sue Bunker asked how was The PT managing the bats and great crested newts that have to be moved because of the Centre building works. Phil said an ecologist has to monitor them. The cladding will be modified to allow the bats to roost there again (only found in summer/winter roosts, not maternity roosts) and more bat boxes on poles will be constructed. The newts would be disturbed with the digging around the site so will be moved as much as possible by staff with licences. Otherwise The Parks Trust will provide more ponds elsewhere on PT land (Newlands, Pineham, etc.) via a local authority/Natural England licensing scheme.

Dave Carter asked if there would be provision for swifts and kestrels etc. Phil said the existing swift boxes would be retained and further boxes will be considered for the external building once completed.

Ian Bailey had asked before the meeting about the aims and objectives of the Friends group. Tony read out these listed in the group’s constitution (see Friends blog https://fohescnews.blogspot.com). The recently updated Memorandum of Understanding outlines the continuing partnership with The Parks Trust as separate independent bodies with the aim of managing the wellbeing of the site and its activities.

Peter Maric asked when would the Friends return to organising its popular activities. Tony said if accommodation could be made available, some events could be planned. At present it is difficult to organise events at the reserve because of the lack of catering and toilet facilities.

Andy Harding thanked The Parks Trust for arranging continuing access to the moth trapping at the reserve started by the late Gordon Redford and for providing an extra trap. Tony thanked Andy for mentioning Gordon and said Gordon was a tremendous friend and a sad loss to us all.

Mal McGar asked whether disabled users could be allowed into the main car park. Sarah said that for security reasons the building has CCTV alerting any opening of the gate. The Parks Trust will investigate improving the overflow car park which may have hardcore under the mud. But there are various rules and permissions needed before work can start.

There was discussion on how events could start again. Jane Grisdale said they raise awareness of the importance of the reserve and increase membership. Sarah and Tony said there are about 400 permit holders and 300 members of the Friends group. Sue Bunker suggested all newsletters could give links to the Friends blog and Flickr photo site. Tony said activities will start again as soon as possible. 

Close of meeting

The meeting concluded at 8.45 pm.
















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