Annual report for year ended 31 March 2000

A quieter year

Following last year's major activities (building new road bridge, improving access lane, constructing scrape and bunds etc), this year has allowed the meadow to develop naturally and with less disturbance. 

Maintenance of meadow

The meadow was chain-harrowed on 20 April 1999 and the hay was cut on 16 July. This was followed by grazing by 19 cattle from 6 August to 13 October 1999. The oak tree was treated by tree surgeons, but further attention will be needed. The footpaths were mown several times using the tractor mower (kindly funded by the New Horizons Trust) and this was much appreciated by the public. 

Repair of culvert

Tractor damage to the culvert was made good by a wall of concrete-filled bags on 13 July 1999. The materials were generously donated by Rogers Concrete for which we are most grateful. 

Flora and fauna

Wildflowers have flourished. Cowslips are becoming established and fritillaries will shortly be planted, thanks to help from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). With only one slight flood of the meadow in December 1999, rabbits and moles have appeared. Roe deer and muntjak have been sighted. 

OSCA Conservation Award

The Trust was awarded £500 and a plaque under this scheme arranged by Oxfordshire County Council and sponsored by National Power. The plaque is attached to the gatepost next to the stile. 

Public footpath access

The bridge stanchions and metal gate were painted by trustees and volunteers on 9 July 1999. The footbridge and stile at the Overy end of the footpath have been replaced by the Oxfordshire County Council. The trustees plan to install a kissing gate on 17 April 2000 at the northern end of the footpath to replace the `squeeze-stile'. This will allow access for children's buggies, wheelchairs and angler's trolleys. The material costs were kindly met by the Dorchester Parish Council. 

Angling

The season has been successful, thanks to the work of the bailiffs, and £870 has been received for permits. 

The two small plots of `severed land' between Buck Pool and the bypass

This project is still under negotiation, and we are confident of a favourable outcome. 

Feedback

The two main donors to the access bridge project (ENTRUST landfill tax rebate and the South Oxfordshire District Council) have audited the project. Both audits were extremely favourable in terms of project management as well as financial control. Similarly, the New Horizons Trust were pleased by the use being made of their donation. Two of the organizations had pictures of our projects in their annual reports. Our grant from the landfill tax rebate scheme was the first in Oxfordshire. 

Trustees

Mrs D. Pritchard resigned from the board of trustees on 20 May 1999. Cllr. Chris Sleigh has been appointed in her place and this takes effect on 26 April 2000. 

Finance

The appeal made primarily to residents of Dorchester who had come to the village since the last public appeal in 1995, produced donations of £3,954 (of which £2,500 came from two charitable trusts) and covenants totalling £5,450. These generous responses will cover contingencies and running costs for the present. Bank balances on 31 March 2000 totalled £4,892 as against £1,377 at the end of March 1999. We still need donations to ensure the future conservation and management of the meadow.

Previous annual reports

1999, 1998, 1997