Woodland Management
Significant work through the Woodland Grants Scheme
took place under contract. About 2,000 trees have been felled that a former
owner had planted as a commercial crop. Our intention is to replant with
indigenous trees and by natural regeneration in order to restore an historic
landscape so visible from Symond's Yat rock. The winter rainfall delayed work
initially and had to be stopped during the breeding season for a nesting
Goshawk. Other tree work has included increasing sight lines below Rock Bank;
Sycamore and Birch clearance above the lower diagonal path; Sycamore felling
within Rockland wood; Hazel coppicing around the Folly and Ridge path.
Maintenance
Fencing above the lime kilns has been done as a
safety precaution and steps installed to improve access to the kilns below. A
discreet interpretation plaque is now fixed to the face of the structure. The
snakes and ladder path from the triangle has been repaired and trees cleared
from the rock face of the conglomerate bolder; this being the area of interest
to the Community Earth Heritage Champions Project. Other path clearance work
has taken place on the soldiers path and below Chapel Cottage. Bracken control
continues with help from Herefordshire Council and work parties, and this has
been enhanced by contracting tractor work to control growth beside main paths.
It is also worth noting in this year that the new owners to the Mainoaks estate
have fenced the boundaries between us.
Species Monitoring
The Trust enjoys the skills from a number of
volunteers and a verbal report will be given at the annual meeting on birds,
dormice, reptiles and flora. Other mammals are of course present and the Trust
takes part in the deer management scheme within Wye Valley AONB.
Access
Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
(CROW Act) walkers are allowed access to the common, but there is no such right
for horse riders and cyclists. Over the years there has been pressure put on
the Trust to allow further access for horse riding and this has occurred again
this year. A policy was agreed in 1987 allowing local resident horse riders to
use the higher diagonal path on the west of the Hill and along the Ridge Path
to Jelemy's Tump and the Folly.
These paths are kept wider than other paths in
order to provide comfortable access for walkers and horse riders. Under the
CROW Act the Trust would be responsible for accidents if it acts negligently
and let paths become dangerous to users.
The Trust
will not allow mountain bikes anywhere on the Hill and it is the Directors’
view there should be no increased use by horses of any of the narrower paths
used by walkers. The common is a Local Nature Reserve with fragile paths on
steep slopes; damaged paths take months to recover. The Trust wishes to act for
the benefit of the local community and there will, therefore, be an agenda item
to allow Shareholders to put their views and discuss this issue at the General
Meeting on 20th October.
Management Team
Over the years the Trust has relied on a few
dedicated individuals to manage our business. This summer Lawrie Lowe, the
Company Secretary for the past 15 years and Lance Harbord, who has been the
Parish Council Director for a similar period have stood down; their places
filled by Romie Walton and George Woodward. In addition the three A Directors
elected by Shareholders, need to rotate; and Martin Rowberry will stand down at
the AGM this year after 7 years in the role. Their contribution has been
invaluable and I am pleased to say that Lawrie and Martin will continue to work
within the management team. The Trust relies on committed individuals to keep
it operating smoothly and we are succeeding to build up a wider team of
knowledgeable people, not just the Directors. We value the contribution of any
Shareholder or other residents if they would like to get involved with helping
the management team.
Annual Inspection
The Trust has initiated an annual site inspection
which takes place each August. This will enable us to develop a balanced work
programme, risk assessment for work parties, ensure grants are maximised, and give
due attention to health and safety.
The annual General Meeting of the Coppett Hill Common Trust Ltd was held at the Goodrich Village Hall on Wednesday 20th October 2010 at 7.30 pm. The notice of the meeting and the apologies were read by David Leat (Chairman) Mr Leat introduced Romie Walton who is the new Company Secretary. Trevor Hulme, Herefordshire Council representative was also welcomed.
1.Report & Accounts
The Directors Report & Statement of accounts for the year ending 31st March 2010 were summarised by Lawrie Lowe, who was the company secretary during the year. Its acceptance was proposed by Mike Thompson and approved unanimously.
(A copy of the full auditors report is available for any shareholder interested in reading it.
2.Directors
The 3 ‘A’ Directors, Mr David Leat, Mr Martin Rowberry, Ms Wendy Innes resigned. Martin Rowberry stood down and David Leat and Wendy Innes offered themselves for re-election. Mr Ron Marshall was nominated as a new director by Will Morgan and approved unanimously by the shareholders who also endorsed the re-election of the remaining directors.
Mr Lance Harbord, who was the Parish Council Representative on the board, had stepped down during the year and Mr George Woodward was appointed in his place. The Chairman thanked both Mr Harbord and Mr Hulme (Hereford County Council) for their commitment.
3. The Reappointment of the Auditors
It was proposed, seconded and resolved that Messrs Knight Bennett & Co be appointed for the coming year.
Romie Walton
Company Secretary 2nd November 2010
Minutes of the General Meeting
The annual General Meeting of the Coppett Hill Common Trust Ltd and The Friends of Coppett Hill was held at the Goodrich Village Hall immediately after the AGMs of the Trust and the Friends
Mr David Leat Chairman of the Trust taking the chair and Mr Lawrie Lowe, Chairman of the Friends, acted as Vice Chairman
1 Chairman’s Report
David Leat reported that the last of the conifer trees had been removed from Rocklands Woods and that deciduous trees would replace these. He pointed out that the Wye Valley woodlands are unique and very interesting and it is an important responsibility to maintain this ancient landscape. With the removal of the commercial crop and the replanting with trees of local provenance the woodland will regenerate in keeping with it’s heritage. The local community’s activities, interest and willingness to support the work by attending regular work parties demonstrates their appreciation of the Hill’s assets and helps maintain with species monitoring as well as supporting it as a local nature reserve with regular species monitoring. Annual inspections also monitor all the areas on the hill to identify the work that needs to be done throughout the year. They are carried out every year in August.
2 Access
This year the Trust has again been approached by various riders to increase the areas of riding on the hill. Under The Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW) walkers are allowed access to the common, but there is no provision for horseriders although in 1987 local resident riders were given access to the higher diagonal path and the Ridge Path. David Leat asked for comments from the shareholders and views were expressed both for and against the use of the Hill by riders other than those resident in the Parish.
The Horse Riding Policy, confirmed by the Directors after the meeting is shown separately
3 Woodland management programme
Lawrie Lowe summarised work in progress.
The current woodland crop of conifers is currently being taken to the sawmill. But it is going slower than we would like.
There are a couple more items included in the Woodland Grant Scheme. We have to clear a path for bats on Little Hill, which will be done by a work party around Christmas. The Sycamores around the triangle area have been felled. The cutting of Sycamores in Rockland Wood is on going and will be completed with another work party. When these are all completed we will have completed the work currently planned under the Woodland Grant Scheme. Lawrie pointed out that all the work parties are listed at the back of the agenda.
4 Natural History
Wendy Innes reported that we have a good range of habitats supporting Flora and fauna on the Hill. Trained members of the Friends and the Trust all closely monitor these.
She reported that it had been a bad year for butterflies, probably due to the weather, which after a promising early start was dull and wet and often cold and windy.
There were however, lots of Common Blues and it was a good year for Skippers. She saw a total of 6 Silver Wash Fritillaries in the Lime Kiln area, but very few Pearl Bordered Fritillaries. Wendy is having a meeting very soon with the West Midlands Butterfly Conservation project officer.
Dormice boxes; there were 2 with nests with 3 & 2 babies respectively.
Reptiles; there were good sightings of slow worms, about 51 lizards were seen and a fair number of grass snakes but only 1 adder
Birds;. Chris Crane said it was a good year for birds on the east side of the hill. 15 of the 20 nesting boxes were occupied. 8 Great Tits & 6 Lesser Tits, there were 106 eggs and 96 fledglings. It was thought that a Pied Fly Catcher had started to build in one of the boxes, but we still have had no breeding pairs.
Trevor Hulme Hereford CC
Said there were a very rare breeding pair of Goshawks on the hill.
George Woodward said that although he had been seeing signs of Wild Boar on the Hill in the last 5 years, he was convinced that they were just passing through and had not moved into the Hill.
Lawrence Moss reported on the Earth Heritage Trust Geology Project, which was concentrated on the Pudding Stone. He would be conducting a walk on 30th October and there was a map of the geology of the area on the Coppett Hill website.
5 The Trust and Charity Status
Lawrie Lowe commented on the relationship of the Friends and the Trust, and how the Friend’s contributions to the Trust were significant to the funding and maintenance of the Common. . Preliminary discussions had also taken place about changing the status of the Trust from a ltd company to a charity, which could give a financial, administrative and tax benefit. However it would mean changes to structure and could be expensive to do. The discussions will continue in the next year with a view to reporting to next year's AGM. As part of the exercise, we would look at whether there could be scope for an organisational merger of the Friends with the Trust.
Andrew Bartle asked whether a charitable status might make grants easier.
It was generally agreed to look at all the options.
Romie Walton
Company Secretary 2nd November 2010