Home | Dalbeattie Forest Community Partnership | DFCP Meeting 26th July 2010
Dalbeattie Forest Community Partnership
A meeting was held on Monday, 26h July 2010 at 7pm in the Dalbeattie Initiative Office.
Present. William Montgomerie, Vicki Coleman, Scilla Dennis and George and Val Wallace.
Apologies. Phil and Betty Howard, Robin Fuller and Gibb Wallace (FCS), Claire and Gavin Phillips
Previous Minutes. These were accepted. Matters arising. (a) No progress has been made on insurance for work parties. (b) Toilets have yet to appear at the Richorn car park (c) The picnic table has yet to surface at Woodhouse - it still lingers at Mabie. (d) Since the beginning of the year, volunteers have contributed 550 hours to the Woodhouse biodiversity site.
Forest events. There were no takers for the walk to the Moyle on Saturday 3rd July. The Mobility Safari had four participants, one in a wheelchair, who braved the former red squirrel trail. They generously donated £10 to DFCP funds. The next walks in the forest will be a loop around the dry loch and another to Woodhouse, as part of the Dalbeattie Walking festival.
Colvend/Smithland developments. (a) The former Scout hut has been the scene of more drinking parties with cans and bottles littering the floor, furniture smashed and enormous logs squeezed onto the fireplace. (b) The proposed route up to a viewpoint on the hill in the recently logged area would be possible with care but an alternative trail through the remaining woods might be a better alternative. (c) The picnic table beside Smithland loch has been recently painted.
Galloway News article. It is anticipated that two articles involving DFCP will appear in the next edition, 30th July, of the Galloway News. These will reports on the recent Action Earth activities at Woodhouse and the continual problem the garbage left by drinking parties in the Totem pole area of the Town wood. These articles have since appeared with the Action Earth photo having the incorrect names attached. Apologies to Andy, Scott, Graham and George. Vicky was correctly labelled!
Woodhouse update. (a) Due to the high level of the water after the recent rains, the stonemason has been unable to make any progress on stabilising the well (b) The thirty holes for the fruit trees have been dug and now await the compost and trees themselves. (the holes are also proving to be excellent frog and toad traps – so we need to check them and release the unfortunate captives (c) It is planned to place the anticipated picnic table near the original ponds. (d) The meadow seeds have been planted in all the ploughed areas but have been slow to germinate. (e) There are plans to make more habitat piles and also make small bundles of bamboo or other hollow stems as bee habitats. (f) The bracken is much reduced but some areas still need bashing.
Treasurers’ report. The balance now stands at £1120.09 but excludes the £10 donation. A breakdown of the Action Earth expenditure of £250 was attached to the agenda. More money will need to be spent on fencing materials for the new trees – before the higher VAT is introduced. Fencing could be a winter job.
AOB. (a) Notice Board. Suggestions for the format and information to be included on such a board were requested. (b) Nature Trail. The route and items of interest would need to be considered. (c) The forest entrance at Tinkers loaning has been much improved by the new culvert recently re-built by the Council.
Date of the next work party and committee meeting. The work party will be on the 28th August and the next meeting will be on Monday 30th August at 7pm in the Dalbeattie Initiative office. Volunteers should contact the Chairman at 01556 611677.