Home | Dalbeattie Forest Community Partnership | Annual General Meeting 2010
Dalbeattie Forest Community Partnership
The Eleventh Annual General Meeting was held on Monday 28th June, 2010 at the Dalbeattie Initiative Office.
Present: Susan Maclellan, Robin Fuller (FCS), Betty and Phil Howard, Gerry Douglas, Vicki Coleman, Scilla Dennis, William Montgomerie, George and Val Wallace.
Apologies: Graham Platt, Amanda and Phil Jones, Gibb Wallace.
Previous Minutes. These were accepted.
Chairman’s report – ‘Looking back over the past twelve months we can rightly point to a number of satisfactory developments and achievements.
Potentially disruptive, the much heralded timber operations in the Townwood have been completed with few or no complaints from the public. This necessary management plan appears to have also been a commercial success, with eventual benefit to the habitat.
The ‘Big Easy’ trail has been substantially improved and is now a popular alternative choice of route between Woodhouse and Barnbarroch.
The meadow area at Woodhouse is gradually being transformed with further eradication of bracken and Japanese knotweed and with the planting and seeding of wildflowers. Again, the coppicing and fencing of hazels has been extended with the help of High School students. Three projects at Woodhouse, which were mere proposals at the last AGM, have been implemented. The historic well has been excavated and now awaits proper restoration. Pond No.3 has been dug and the improved amenity around that corner of Woodhouse has been commented on favourably by numerous forest users. Native orchard trees have been planted with the encouragement of Jools Cox of South West Community Woodlands, bequeathing a legacy to future generations.
At the same time, the usual programme of events scheduled for the forest continue to be well attended by a growing number of visitors, as witnessed by the busy car parks at the Townwood and Richorn.
With the help of David Black and his Community Service personnel we have been able to maintain the increasingly used Moyle Hill and Barcloy Hill trails.
Once again the Partnership has been kept going by the willingness of our members and volunteers to give freely of their time and effort. 380 volunteer hours have been accumulated since the last AGM. We were particularly pleased to get help from Andy Kalotka, Graham Mclellan and Scott Hartley. Importantly, we have continued to enjoy the support and encouragement of Robin Fuller, Gibb Wallace, Tony Lightely and their colleagues at Forestry Commission Scotland, who keep us on the right path. Sadly now, we have to say a special thank you to our outgoing vice-chairman, Gerry Douglas of Anchor Cottage, Sandyhills who has given the partnership ten years of loyal and steadfast service, representing the interests of the Colvend and Southwick end of the forest. We wish him the very best for the future.
This year we have had vital funding from Dumfries and Galloway Stewartry Area committee, from Colvend and Southwick Community Council’s Robin Rigg Fund, from Scottish Natural Heritage (Action Earth) and from Sulwath Connections.
The usual minor aggravations sometimes give us cause for concern including: motor bikes and quad bikes being illegally driven in the forest: vandalism at the Scout Hut: drinking parties and litter in the Townwood: dogs jumping in the ponds and disturbing the fragile ecosystem.
The Bioblitz at Colvend last August how much biodiversity exists in the forest when 400 plus species identified in a single morning.
Finally, we look forward in the coming year to the people of Dalbeattie and surrounding villages continuing to take an interest in the partnership and hope recruit fresh volunteers’.
Treasurer’s report. An audited statement of the accounts was presented and the balance is £819.32. See balance sheet attached.userfiles/file/DFCP%20balance%20sheet%202010.pdf
Election of new committee. The following were elected to the committee: G Wallace, V Wallace, W Montgomerie, B Howard, V Colman and Scilla Dennis. The retiring members, Phil Howard and Gerry Douglas are thanked for their past services.
Election of office bearers. The following were elected:
Chairman: G Wallace. Vice–Chairman B Howard
Treasurer: W Montgomerie. Secretary: V Wallace.
Any Other Business.
(a) There appears to have been no progress made on the proposed footpath to follow a route through farmland between Richorn and Barnbarroch.
(b) Robin reported the unwelcome news that there have been grey squirrels trapped in many of the surrounding woodlands – namely Mark hill, Doach wood, Mabie Forest and between Sandyhills and Caulkerbush.
(c) Robin also pointed out that the thinning operations in the forest would allow more light to penetrate and encourage natural regeneration of the trees. Much of the success of the activities appeared attributable to the consultations held in the library.
(d) The contract for the restoration of the well has been given to Garth Heinrich.
(e) There have been no replies to the applications for disclosures for DFCP members. Vicki offered to make enquiries.
(f) Both Gerry and Phil H felt unable to continue to be on the DFCP committee and regrets were expressed at their departure.
(g) The DFCP section of the Dalbeattie Matters website has been revamped and now has an events section. See dalbeattiematters.co.uk.
(h) An enlarged map has been made of the Woodhouse area to show the different areas of activity.
(i) The toilets for the Richorn car park are still sitting at Mabie, awaiting planning permission for installation.
(j) The Scouts have given up their interest in the Smithland building and it will now be sealed up but allowing an owl inlet with nesting barrels placed nearby.
(k) The Tinkers Loaning entrance has been improved with the culvert under the main road cleared, so that at present it is dry. Phil reported that a number of cyclists had crashed due to gravel on the main road as they sped past.
(l) There will be a bat walk in Dalbeattie on Thursday 19th August as part of the Dalbeattie walking festival. It hoped that our three bat detectors will be used on that day.
Date of next meeting and work party.
There will be an Action Earth work party on Saturday 24th July for work at Woodhouse. To attract funding from SNH, it is hoped that there will be a big turnout of volunteers on this occasion.
The next committee meeting will be on Monday 26th July at 7pm in the Dalbeattie Initiative office. Suggestions for the agenda should be sent to George on 01556 611677.