April 2024 | Friends Group

Minutes of Meeting 04 April 2024

16:00 via Zoom

1. Attendance/Apologies.

Present: Jeff Stafford (JS), Raymond Randall (RR), Liz Hawthorn (LH), Brian Breeze (BB), Stephanie Nunn (SN), Kaitlyn Miller (KM), Richard Cottam (RC) LBH Parks Officer

Apologies for absence: None

Other Abbreviations: Ranger Mick Greenslade (MG), Dave Bender (DB), Kate Tyler (KT)

2. Minutes of previous meeting. – Minutes of previous meeting (7 March 2024) agreed.

3. Matters Arising.

Wildflower Meadow – has been cut and will be sown towards the end of April. RC will provide date when known.
Bank Transfers – SC still investigating if possible from Friends account.
Holes in fence line – have been checked. RC will speak to MG about blocking of holes used by wildlife.

4. Chair/Vice Chair Reports.

Chair – Nothing to report.

Vice Chair – RR, LH and DB attended the Thames21 Leading Action for Healthy Rivers training course on 18th and 19th March. Need to attend a river event and complete 2 assignments before being put forward for possible accreditation. The assignments are being updated as the current ones are not really suitable, but will not be available until May. If accredited, the Friends Group will be covered by Thames21 insurance for work in/by the river, provided the necessary information has been supplied to them in advance and at least one of the accredited persons is in attendance.

5. Secretary’s Report. – nothing to report.

6. Finance Report.

no change from last month

Balance held £7,850.16 (This includes £5,000 Groundwork cycling grant)

£951.88 is reserved under Capital Grants

Balance of unrestricted funds £1,898.28

7. Park Officer’s Report.

Preliminary Email received from Bradley Wadwell, EWT regarding possibility of putting on a small fete-like event in July.
No major issues in the park.
London in Bloom and Britain in Bloom judges expected to visit HCP in summer. Still awaiting news on Green Flag Award.
Fishing club going well at Albyns Farm. Friends Group have received complaints that fishermen are chasing away the cormorants – RC is not surprised as they can eat a lake dry of fish and is not worried as long as they are not harming them. LH will contact the fishing club and ask if they are still seeing bats.
Graffiti on the Covid Memorial has been jet washed but is still faintly visible.
There will be inflatables in the park on Tuesdays during school holidays. RC will send details to RR.
Nothing more has been heard regarding Spitfire Scramble.
An Orienteering event will be held on 14 July 2024.

8. Events.

Dawn Chorus Walk – Sunday 5 May is the preferred date, 5am start. RR and LH to arrange.
RR to contact KT and Bradley Wadwell (EWT) to arrange a meeting to discuss the possibility of the Friends holding a Dog Show at their July event.

9. Cycling.

Mayors Charity cycling event is on Sunday 28th April, starting at 10am.
Cycle maintenance events start this Saturday 6 April. 9 courses over 6 months are planned.