Annual report for year ended 31 March 2003

Buck Pool Spinney opening

The project was completed early in April 2002 and was formally opened by Mr Hugo Brunner, Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, on 10th April 2002. This was a very pleasant sunny occasion attended by many members of the public, councillors, donors and ecologists. Jane and Leo Hill supplied the mulled wine.

Appointment of land manager

Stephen West of Europaeus Land Management Services has been appointed to look after the meadow and trees, and to advise the trustees on conservation of the habitat and wildlife. He is happy to work in with our volunteers.

Work on the meadow and spinney 

Graham Howard and his team kindly did the hay cut on June 27th. Unfortunately no grazing could be arranged last year, as few farmers now keep small herds. We hope that Stephen West will be able to find a grazier in 2003. We had planned an autumn cut instead, but the floods came early and this was not possible. The meadow was flooded four times and floods were particularly deep this year. A small notice board was fixed by volunteers near the Overy stile on 24th August 2002. The Environment Agency trimmed back some boughs overhanging the Thame at the end of September 2002. The bank above the sluice has been damaged in the floods and has been fenced off for safety. Two ash trees by the Thame and the old black poplar by Buck Pool were trimmed by Stephen West and colleague on 1st Feb 2003. Volunteers tidied and chipped the brushwood (for muddy paths) on 8th Feb, and also put wire netting on the footbridge deck which had become slippery in the wet weather. Further tree work was done on 27th March followed by a volunteer work group on 29th March.

Evening tour of the meadow and Abbey on 7th May 2002

This was a great success and was well attended by the public. 

Henley Show 14th September 2002 

By invitation of the SODC Countryside Officer we, and many other local conservation bodies, had a display stand at this show which was a pleasant occasion with many interested visitors but no contributions so far.

Financial summary 

Income for the year to 31 March 2003 was £5,574 (2002 = £20,237). Expenditure was £4,781 (£20,331). Bank balances are £6,805 (£6,012). The accounts can be inspected. The DEFRA Countryside Stewardship grant produced £980, The Countryside Agency (remainder of grant) £1.125, and fishing permits (for non-residents) £1,241. Tax recovered totalled £790. The balance came from covenants and donations from the public (£843) without which we could not keep going. The trustees would welcome subscriptions and donations from people who enjoy using the meadow.

Appeal for funds for a reserve and contingency fund for the Trust 

This was postponed because of the unpredictable state of the Stock Market and the lack of active projects this year.

Website www.hurst-water-meadow.co.uk 

The website is regularly updated by the hon. treasurer, and has between 250 and 500 visits every month. It produces a number of compliments, and also requests for information and advice about project management, building otter holts, willow spiling and other topics.

Angling 

This has proved as popular as usual this year, both among residents of the village and visitors. Some boughs have fallen into the river from the copse on the north bank which we hope to clear, but the land is not ours. Permits from non-residents are a valuable source of income for the Trust, and we are very grateful to the bailiffs, Chuck Selwood and Tony Jones, and to Angelina and Eugene Witcombe for their help.

Public involvement 

Once again, the trustees wish to stress that the meadow is for the benefit of residents of the village and the public in perpetuity and we need your comments and views on its conservation and management. We are extremely grateful to the volunteers who work cheerfully and tirelessly in the work groups - usually on a Saturday morning.  

Litter is a constant problem and many walkers take a plastic bag and pick it up, for which we are most grateful. In this way we can all keep the meadow looking more as nature intended.

Damage to the Hurst

Since completion of this report, there has been an upsurge of damage.  

Thanks to the help of volunteers, repairs have been made, but at a cost of about £200. We hope that residents will be vigilant and report any signs of further damage.

Peter Pritchard hon. secretary 

Previous annual reports

2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997