Archive for October, 2009

We are in desperate need of a Secretary.

This is not an onerous position by any means but we do need someone who is willing to come along to our meetings and take a few notes – then type them up for the following meeting.

The pay is non-existent as is the Pension and Health Insurance.

BUT you can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome with a group of like-minded folk who are simply looking after a bit of our heritage for future generations.

If you feel that you fit the bill, please contact Isobel Knox on 01368 863239.

Minutes of AGM on 30th Sept. 2009 (draft)
Present: Simon Bell, Isobel Knox, Alan Kilpatrick, Andrew Morris, Ute Penny, Philip Revell, Eileen Munroe, Duncan Scott-Douglas, H. McBeath, Carol Togneri, Noll Togneri

1. Apologies
Cynthia Stephens, Ruth and Alan Frost, Jacqui Bell

2. Minutes of AGM 2008
Approved as a correct record –proposed Simon Bell, seconded Ute Penny

3. Matters Arising
There has been no further action to retrieve the stone ball from the burn – it was deemed to be safe where it is for now.

4. Office Bearers Reports

Convenor’s Report
Last year was a busy one – this year has been even busier – administratively and on the ground, marked by 11th-hour panics and last-minute work.

GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS/ SUCCESSES:
· On the ground
· Forestry Commission – WIAT & F4P Challenge Funds.
· The Lily Pond

SOURCES OF FRUSTRATION/ “DEFERRED SUCCESS”:
· On the ground
· Forestry Commission – WIAT & F4P Challenge Funds
· The Lily Pond

On the Ground
Throughout the year we have had ongoing activities with our annual litter pick in February, and with monthly volunteer days, where we have variously cut back overgrowth at the pond, tidied the logs, cleared debris from the burn. The special work day we had on Boxing Day to create a good path on the muddy area between Kellie Road and Brunt Court was a great success, but other work days had disappointing turn-outs.
Alas, the Totem Pole project in May – as part of the Cluster Primary 7s Transition Programme hit problems. While the kids thoroughly enjoyed carving the totems under the supervision of sculptress Susheila Jameson, during a period of perfect weather, the totems fell foul of vandalism on the very evening after they had been erected in the afternoon. They were removed for safe-keeping. The hope is that they will be re-located to the Dunbar Grammar school grounds.
Tree inspection and maintenance has also been on-going. Another source of panic being when Dougie the tree surgeon was injured before Christmas and had to delay his start in our woods. He was working in the woods from January through to May dealing with dangerous trees. We have already accumulated another list of trees for him to see to.

FCS Funding
The application process was initiated last autumn, in preparation for the October 08 judging panel. We submitted a bid, after much burning of midnight oil by myself and Philip preparing maps and minutae of detail, but this was deferred by our Forestry Officer. He felt that we could gain more from it by working up the silviculture aspect. He advised that we should use our original management plan, drawn up by Simon Bell in 2000/1 when DCWG began, and that we needed to appoint a Forestry Consultant.
We identified an FC before Christmas – as local as we could find. Mark Page of Greenlaw was our man. Mark set to work, putting flesh on the bones of the management plan and quantifying the work we need to do. Again, Mark was put upon to provide every conceivable detail. Many hours of work – but this time by an expert who knew what he was doing!
SPRING – The deadline for the next round of judging was set as April 09. The new all singing, all dancing bid was timeously submitted.
After much tweaking, consulting, and revising over the summer months, our FCS officer was allowed to disclose to us that our bid was successful – before the media embargo was lifted About 4 or 5 weeks ago, FCS went to press announcing that woodlands the length and breadth of the country had been awarded £££££££s – including Dunbar. We are still awaiting our contract, despite me contacting them on a weekly basis. We are unable to initiate any of the planned work and investment until we receive the contract. – a source of increasing panic.

The Lily Pond
We were awarded £10,000 from the BIG Lottery Fund and BBC Breathing Places, in July 08.
We spent 9 months in utter despair and frustration, trying to make contact with Miller Homes to gain access to the plans of the drains between Muirfield Road and John Muir Gdns, so that we could hire contractors to divert storm water in to the pond to create a faster flow of water, to increase oxygen content. Despite repeated letters and phonecalls, we have yet to hear from them. In the mean-time, Alan Frost our Pond Consultant (who donated his professional time to the project) contacted first the Water Board, who had never received the drain plans for adoption, then E L Council Planning dept. After about a month, they found some plans relating to the area. We noted that the plans had very little in common with the actual drains we investigated. Could this be why we received no reply from Miller Homes?
By this time it was April 09, and the project needed to be wrapped up by June 09, with any unspent monies returned to the lottery fund. In the end we gave back about £2000, having been unable to take forward that part of the proposal.
However – we did have success with the repair of the old dam wall. Thomson’s Public Works Contractors came to the woods in the middle of March (another panic, since they had promised to start on 9th January). They drained the pond, laid the wall liner, created an earth bank, repaired the stone parts of the wall and installed a metal grill over the old sluice gate to make it safe. I am happy to report that the draining of the pond has greatly improved the oxygen content. The Advanced Higher Biology class at Dunbar Grammar conducted indicator tests for water quality last week, and they found it was much more species rich compared to last year, indicating a healthier pond.
Returning to more negative outcomes, I was saddened to see last week that the pond has been trashed with litter – there are dozens of empty spirit bottles floating in it, and the trees we spent a day planting have been wilfully damaged. I worry that the presence of noisy youths has scared away the duck family that was raised on the far bank this summer.

I also represent DCWG to the Community Woodland Assoc, and on ELC community planning.

Finally, I am required to abdicate convenorship in Sept 2010, as my 5-year tenure is up. I will see the FCS work through for the year ahead the next AGM at which the group must seek a new convenor.
Thanks to all committed Committee members. – Isobel Knox.

The problem of young people using some areas of the woodland as drinking dens was highlighted and, in particular, the danger arising from the old laundry building. It was agreed to draw this to the attention of the owners, Dunbar Community Development Company.

Membership Secretary’s Report

Following the decision made last year to unify all Members’ Renewal dates, I have spent much time during the year doing this. However, this task has now been completed and henceforth, all renewals will fall due at the Group’s year end in April each year.

There has been a downturn in membership numbers but is due, in the main, to people leaving the town and not letting us know.

However, since the publication of the latest Newsletter earlier this month, we have recruited 6 new members.

There have been no complaints about increasing the size of subscriptions to a more realistic level but I feel that members should be given a bit more for their money than just a bi-annual Newsletter. I therefore propose that the sum of circa £330.00 should be spent on producing some DCWG Car Stickers.

I suggest that apart from anything else, car stickers will raise the awareness of the Group in and around Dunbar. I have produced a prototype which I have designed utilising the DCWG logo.

I suggest that a Single Member should be given one sticker, a Family Membership be given two and additional stickers be sold at £1.00 each. I wonder if we could approach DCDC and see if we could use their status to reclaim any VAT.

There was a short discussion and the motion was seconded by Chairperson Isobel and passed unanimously.
Andrew Morris

Duncan Scott-Douglas raised the issue of members who are not on email not receiving notification of events and activities. It was agreed that the noticeboards at Hallhill Healthy Living Centre and the Library would be used better in future and kept up-to-date. It was also pointed out that there will shortly be a noticeboard in the woodland itself.

Treasurer’s Report.
Report and Accounts not to be published here.
Copies of the Accounts were circulated and a discussion followed.
Copies can be requested from the Treasurer, Alan Kilpatrick.

5. Election of Office Bearers
The Convenor, Treasurer and Membership Secretary were all happy to continue in post and were duly re-elected. Following the resignation of Stella….the post of Secretary remains vacant, as no nominations were forthcoming. A new secretary will be co-opted at the earliest opportunity.

6. Report on Scheduled Tree Work
Simon Bell explained that major thinning of the woodland was long overdue as no proper management had been undertaken since most of the woodland was replanted sixty years ago. There is currently poor ground flora because of the heavy shade. In some of the drier areas the Spruce are in danger of being blown over and needs to be harvested. In the wet areas where drains are blocked many trees are dying back. The construction of new roads through the woodland and the proximity of housing to the woodland edges also mean that some felling and restructuring of the woodland in these areas is necessary.
The tree work needs to be done before work on upgrading the path network, installation of benches etc. proceeds.
Following the thinning, there will be much more light allowed in which will encourage a more diverse and better structured ground flora. Areas currently planted with spruce will be replanted with a more suitable selection of species.
A specialist forester will be employed to select the trees for thinning, to measure the timber volume, put the contract out to tender and to monitor the work as it progresses. The trees will be sold standing and it will be up to the contractor to fell the trees, cut timber to length, clear the site and ensure public safety. The profit from this timber sale is likely to be small as the costs of felling will be relatively high because of the nature of the site and timber prices are currently very low.
There will be a substantial landscape change but the woodland will recover very quickly to be become much more attractive, particularly after the new and upgraded paths are completed.
There is a question as to the best form of contract for the areas which will be replanted; it may be preferable to require the contractor to look after the trees until established.

7. Vandalism
To avoid vandalism it will be necessary to involve children and young people and to give them a sense of ownership. We may appoint volunteer rangers, perhaps with an identifying uniform.

8. Planning Consultation
A draft development framework for the Hallhill South West housing development had been received. It was agreed to respond with the proposal that the remainder of Lochend Woods must be transferred to community ownership prior to any house building commencing. Isobel will circulate the link to the document and invite further comments.

Meeting Closed.

The following Press Release was passed to the local media today – Tuesday 13th. October 2009:

DUNBAR WOODLAND IS APPEALING.

A walk in the woods is indeed very appealing, but the Management Committee are experiencing some problems and are appealling for help from the public on a number of fronts.

Finally, DCWG is appealing for people to get involved in the running of the Management Group. ‘We have been functioning without a Secretary in particular for a year.
No-one at our AGM last week was available to take on this role. If there is anyone who is looking for a good cause to help, we would appeal to them to join us’.
Please phone Isobel on Dunbar (01368) 863239, or email convenor@dcwg.org.uk.