Minutes of the AGM of Lime Kiln Wood Trust
At 18.10 on 15/02/2023
The Derby Arms
Attendees: Michael Burke (Chairman), Jack Ellerby (Vice Chairman) Richard Scott, Colin Barr (Treasurer), Mandy Lane, Sally Varian, Peter Davis, Jenifer Burke, Peter Matthiessen.
- Apologies for absence: None
- Minutes and Actions from the previous minutes.
PD apologised for the minutes appearing to be dated 2027. A deliberate mistake that nobody spotted.
First Aid Kit – MB Kit has been cleaned checked and back in situ at Barkers.
Bat Detector software has yet to be purchased but ML agreed to remedy the situation. All keen to know what species we have as resident.
School contact – MB Once again confirmed that he had received no response despite several approaches. The meeting heard however that the school do visit on a Monday morning on a fairly regular basis. We have also been approached by John Hamilton from Forest School – asking if they might visit. The meeting agreed that as long as we were not expected to supervise then there was no objection.
Barkers have continued to work well with us in clearing the obviously dangerous trees that have fallen but apologised for the lack of firewood available for collection. Demand has outstripped their capacity to supply but it will be rectified. The meeting discussed if leaving fallen trees with some root contact was sensible as they might regenerate. However one massive root ball from a toppled beech was diverting the main path. It was decided to leave this for a while. It was noted that Barkers now have greater capacity to enter the wood as they have purchased a new light forestry tractor and trailer.
Work on the glade earlier that day (MB and PM) had cleared all the remaining Buddleia and cut back the sprouting sycamore and hazel stumps to maintain the openness of the glade. Brambles had yet to show their strength.
RS and PM had recently attacked the main ride up to the glade to retain the shape.
Insurance Policy has been renewed (CB) at the same cost as last year and we are happy that we receive the appropriate cover needed for our unusual
situation.
The latest batch of homemade Bird Boxes are now up. (MB/PM) but it was thought a more robust and woodpecker proof variety would serve us better.(MB)
The recent planting of a small number of Hornbeam seems to be successful as they are all surviving we think. Spring will tell us.
- Chair persons Report. The Chair apologised for not having prepared a formal report due to pressures of International Travel. (Fishing in Argentina) however his verbal report will be supplied shortly by email.(MB)
There were several items of business with the Barkers during the year. The first aid kit had been recovered and cleaned. After discussion with members it was returned to the Barkers’ shed, even though there is no record of it having been collected from there for any work event. There had been several discussions with RB about availability of wood for members’ use. There seemed to be an impression that there had been little interest from members in collecting wood There was currently none available . RB had been extremely busy following the storms of the previous year. However, he promised to make some logs available later in the current year. He had completed clearing most of the fallen trees in LKW which were accessible and had value as timber. Several large trunks and root systems remained, some of which were still alive. He had inspected the roadside trees which some of us regarded as a risk but could see no problem with them. This was in accordance with our professional tree survey.
Extensive repairs to the boundary walls had been completed, some by trust members and much by Jack Ellerby in his professional capacity. This work was all to a high standard. All boundaries were currently intact. Work on re-coppicing our first coppice area had been completed. This had proved laborious and raised the question of whether trust members were currently physically capable of carrying out extensive coppicing work in the future. The glade had been kept clear and an increase in the area of herbaceous vegetation had already been noted.
There was visual evidence that the wood was still being used as a resource by Lindale Primary School, though no contact had been received from the staff
Dr. Jonathan Green from Liverpool University had sought permission to use the wood for a field exercise with undergraduate students; we had agreed to this.
MB said that he enjoys the contact with other wood users when he visits.
- Treasurer’s Report.
CB highlighted the historic fact that it was almost 12 years to the day that we carried out our first bank transaction. Over the year we have a deficit of just £28 and the major items of expenditure remained the same.
After a struggle with Insurance last year we have renewed at the same price without difficulty.Public Liability issues having been cleared.There was a debate last year bout members not claiming wood paying a reduced sub but as nobody had any wood last year it was almost a moot point.
Proposed by JB and Seconded by RS
- Webmaster’s Report. PD presented his extremely brief report which commented that occasionally we had been hosting booster drugs but even that had stopped a obviously no meaningful traffic hits the website. JE suggested that reposting was a good idea to encourage traffic but all in all the website is more of a repository of our information than a public facing facility. Minutes will again be posted after redaction by the Chairman.
Proposed by JE and Seconded by SV
- Election of Officers.
- Chairman. MB agreed to continue to stand.
- Vice Chairman. JE agreed to continue in the role.
- Treasurer. CB agreed to continue.
- Webmaster. PD also agreed to continue.
The meeting voted unanimously to propose and accept all nominations.
- Provisional work program:- Glade, Coppice , Boundaries
MB opened a discussion to the meeting and RS wondered if there was a timescale involved in our Management Plan which was a commitment to the grants we received. He also questioned if we needed to revive or alter the 5 year plan. PM suggested that we are slower getting through the plan but there was no mission creep. MB commented that our coppicing activity is getting less as age takes a toll and disbursement of the members. Reviewing Coup 2 would be ok even in 2 years time. CB wondered if volunteers would be a resource if provided with tea and cake. Insurance might hamper that option. SV was nominated as a volunteer to see if Lindale Parish would like to get involved. JE has contact with a very busy professional Coppice worker who he has invited to offer some advice at some stage perhaps suggesting ideas. MB suggested that he felt that the Hazel was doing very well but not providing vertical growth but rather more spreading out. Not a problem as diversity was the aim not product. Clearing the undergrowth around the Glade was proving effective but the proof will appear in Spring as new growth emerges. The elimination of Buddleia was not universally approved as they are great insect feeders but not native. However figwort has been seen and expanding it seems.
- Habitat and Species.
Hornbeam planting will be left to its own devices and we shall see what happens. Revised species lists would be a welcome boost and RS was asked if Dave Breham? Would be interested in helping.
A Moss/Lichen survey might also be a positive contribution and JE recommended a publication called “Entangled Life”. Such a survey would need to be soon or at least before the main growth starts.
The existing Bat Boxes remained intact on damaged trees but others would be welcome. Adding more bird boxes requires a longer ladder as MB and PM discovered. JE suggested we might find out if John Martin or Richard Flyt might be approached the help.
Squirrel traps are still being placed by Wetherslack colleagues and we do not seem to have a big problem.
CB suggested we might have another Moth trapping night with Ed Mills which hopefully some of us might attend this time.
- Any Other Business.
A short break ensued while dinner was ordered.
The future of the Trust
PM opened a discussion regarding the future of the Trust.
It was eventually agreed to continue as we are for the present.
(Details have been restricted to members of the Trust and are not published on the website)
Local members to explore the potential for active volunteers to help maintain wood as we hoped we might.
Change to banking arrangements
CB mentioned that the current cheque based banking facility was somewhat tedious but hope was on the horizon with newer technology. Still needs 2 from the 4 signatories (PM,RS,CB,ML) but can now be done electronically.
There being no other business the meeting ended at 20.13 with best wishes and safe keeping to all.
Date of next meeting: Time and place to be confirmed. (MB)
