At a recent meeting of the Bishop’s Meadow Trust, Jim Munro was elected as the new Chair of the organisation, replacing Vic Green who has done a brilliant job over the past years. Ed Partridge was elected as Vice Chair.
Providing news about what has been happening on the Meadow and with the Trust, Jim writes:
Straws from the Meadows
Bees are back
Thanks to our volunteers and to Andy McLaren and his little red tractor the bee meadow has been tilled, compacted and sown and it looks as if the first signs of life have already begun to appear. We also removed the wreckage of a tent from the blackthorn thicket at the west end of the Meadow.
Haymaking
The new grass is now well up and it looks as if the hay crop this year will be a good one – if the weather behaves itself. Last year’s massive effort on ragwort clearing seems to be paying off because there is little sign of new growth, even in Manor Field which was horrendous last year. Instead we have buttercups which look nicer and are not harmful to cattle even if they don’t taste nice.
New notice Boards
We have ordered three notice boards similar to those in Gostrey Meadow so that the Trust can keep people informed on what is happening and offer information about the Meadows themselves. The sites have been carefully chosen to be as unobtrusive as possible
Office Bearer appointments
The office bearers for 2016 are:-
Chair – Jim Munro
Vice Chair – Ed Partridge
Finance director – Graham Aston
Garden Party
Lou James is holding a garden party on Saturday 25th July in the ground of the Old Vicarage in support of the Trust. Due to other commitments, Lou could not avoid carnival weekend. I know how busy a lot of us are at this time, but please see if you can come along and support what we know will be a delightful event. Any help which you can give on the day will be very much appreciated.
A generous gift
Ronnie Broughton was a much respected and dedicated member of the Trust and his illness and death lost us a staunch supporter. His family have kindly offered to plant a grove of trees in his memory. The trees will be native species and chosen for their attractiveness to insects and to the moths and butterflies that were his passion.
Dates for your diaries
Wednesday 15 June and Saturday 18 June – help wanted for general maintenance including sorting out wobbly fence posts and clearing up the rampant new growth of bramble and nettles which is always encroaching on the hay meadow. Meet at 10.00 at Crosby Gate. Bring gloves and water.
Saturday 25 June – help is needed to support the Garden party in the Old Vicarage.
If you can help on any of these dates, please tell Vic Green on vic.green@bishopsmeadowtrust.org.uk
We are putting together a comprehensive 3 year land management plan for the Meadow. When this is done, we will be setting up regular working parties and giving plenty of notice. We appreciate how difficult it is to make time at short notice and are very grateful to all those who have done so up until now.
The 2016 Annual general meeting will be on the 9th October at the Pentecostal Church Red Lion Lane. Further details and information will be sent nearer the time.
Jim Munro standing on the far left with other directors