Hurst water meadow news

October 2001

Buck Pool Spinney 

Since the annual report in April 2001 there has been good progress. Volunteers cleared a footpath through dense scrub and bramble on 30th June. Litter was removed and grass seed planted. We now await the widening of the weir bridge and construction of a new footbridge over the eight-metre flood drain by the Environment Agency Constructor Unit (who built the Long Bridge). The work starts on 17th September and should take about a month. The footbridge will consist of two stout hardwood beams set on concrete foundations. The deck will be of durable hardwood (keruing) and the handrails and stanchions treated softwood. The footway will be four feet wide. All the hardwood is from certificated sustainable sources. The decking and handrails will be fitted by volunteers after the contractors have finished.

Until the bridgework is complete, the site will not be safe for the public who are requested to avoid the spinney until it is opened in the autumn. There is no legal access from the bypass, and we hope to prevent trespass from there in the future.

We plan that volunteers will build a timber otter holt and encourage the return of water vole, with advice from the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust. Their Otter Project officer, Julie Stubbs, visited the site on 6th September and selected a suitable site for the holt. The Northmoor Trust will produce a Conservation Management Plan starting in spring 2002.

Funding of Buck Pool Spinney project

Raising the money has not been easy, as the trustees only have three years' security of tenure, but this is renewable. If the owners re-possess the site, the Trust may have to refund part of the grants. The sources of funding, for which the trustees are very grateful, have been as follows:

• The Countryside Agency Local Heritage Initiative £8,497
• South Oxfordshire District Council Capital Grant £4,550
• Shell Better Britain Campaign £1,750
• Public subscriptions and Trust funds £4,025
• Dorchester on Thames Society (for strimmer) £ 569
• New Horizons Trust (for chainsaw) £ 463
• Total £19,854

In addition, the trustees have received much service `in kind' from the architects Fielding and Morrison, the surveyor Julian Sayers of Adkin Rural and Commercial, the solicitors Mark Taylor and Stuart Capel, and all the many volunteers who have worked hard and willingly on the project.

Maintenance work on the meadow

Due to the foot and mouth disease precautions, there was no public access to the meadow between 2nd March and 30th April. The public footpath had been damaged last autumn by the grazier's tractor and transporter getting stuck in the floods. This produced deep ruts that have now been levelled by Brian Hopkins with his JCB and grass seed planted. Until the surface is firm, please keep to mown detours on each side. Brian also pulled two trees out of the river, and built up the river bank below the Long Bridge. The old ash tree root by Buck Pool has been moved to a better vantage point and will be sculpted to make a rough seat.

Appointment of new trustee

Sadly, Leo Hill, one of the original trustees, has resigned owing to pressure of other work. He has been a tower of strength and wisdom over the years and will be sorely missed. We can thank him for supplying and erecting the oak gateposts and for much help with erecting the stile and notice board and in transporting materials to the site. The trustees have agreed to appoint Mrs Sue Dixon in his place. Her skills will be valuable in extending the trustees' education programme for schoolchildren and adults to help them gain a better understanding of the balance of nature and of conserving the natural environment and landscape. She is a parish councillor and so she will be the second parish councillor/trustee, as laid down in our Trust Deed.

Website www.hurst-water-meadow.co.uk and publicity

Andrew Clements and Colin van Roon have added many pictures to the website, which is being regularly updated. There were 299 sessions logged for August. Five people spent more than 45 minutes on the site. We have been encouraged to enter the website for an OSCA award and are awaiting the verdict.

Following the offer of the grant of £8,497 from the Countryside Agency Local Heritage Initiative, there was favourable mention on 28th August in the Oxford Mail and on Radio Oxford and in the Wallingford Herald of 30th August.

Public and volunteer support

The trustees have been delighted at the support and encouragement they have received from the many users of the meadow. Volunteers have given their time and energy on many occasions. The response to the public appeal for funds was very generous. All these factors have been important in encouraging funding bodies to give us grants.

Ideas and suggestions

As always we are keen to hear your views on the way the meadow is managed. Please let Peter, or any of the trustees, have your suggestions and views.

Chairman of trustees Roy Tudor Hughes 340104. Hon: secretary Peter Pritchard 340008. Hon: treasurer Andrew Clements 340753. Ecologist John Metcalfe 340054.