Brill Common & Village Green Advisory Group Meeting Report
March 11th 2024 5pm

Attendees: Alex Cruickshank (AC - BBOWT – Chair) Pat Stone (PS - BVHC), Christine Bailey (CB - BVCH), Elaine Dickinson (ED - Walks Committee), Dave Munson (DM - Common Volunteers), John Cable (JC - Walks Committee), Roger Stone (RS - Friends of Brill Common), Liz Springs (LS - Brill Parish Council), Emi Slater (ES - Brill Parish Council – Common Rep), Tim Patrick (TP)

Bobs Damerell (BD – Minutes)

MINUTES & ACTIONS FROM LAST MEETING

  • The Minutes were approved as a true record of the meeting

  • AC confirmed that he had sent through an example copy of the grazing license. ED to confirm with the farmer if there is a grazing license on the Walks for the sheep and if not if they would be willing to enter in a license.

  • BD confirmed that he had met with the landowner of the adjoining field and that a site meeting was being arranged. The land owner suggested they would be willing to clear the ditch and had offered to investigate installing a chalk base layer under the right of way before restoring the original path. The Group agreed to arrange for the ditches to be cleared first and once this is complete to look in to the chalk proposal.

  • DM confirmed that 3D of the Winter schedule was completed in December 2023

  • ES to continue to chase JV about the Walks mower to be placed on the Walks.

  • BD & ES to contact the current Commoners holding grazing rights regarding the new Countryside Stewardship Agreement.

  • ES to continue with the drafting of the signs for cars parked on the Common

WINTER SCHEDULE FEEDBACK

TP confirmed that the sycamore on S21 has been removed though has left the brambles. TP assisted with the scrub clearance at bottom end of North Hills with FOBC. The goats have been moved and will remain in situ until June 2024.

TP raised that Forest School have undermined part of the fence which may allow from the Walks onto the Common which has created a large enough hole for sheep to escape from the Walks.

Action: ED to bring the fence to the attention of the committee as part of the upcoming review of The Walks.

BVCH updated that there has been a change of plan for this winter. There has been more grass on Tram Hill site this year and as such the Cattle were placed there first. The herd is currently moving between the two sites dependent on grass. The herd is currently on ‘Commoners’, where TB testing has been carried out with confirmation that all cows received a negative test result and clear of all TB. BVCH are currently reviewing whether to move the cattle back here in the summer. 

Action: ES to post a notification celebrating one of the herd ‘Bluebell’ turning twenty-one.

FOBC confirmed that they have completed their areas of the winter schedule as well as S22 & S26. 

Common Volunteers updated that S4 has been completed. The volunteers have  started on the Windmill area and completed with brush cutters an area ‘B10’ which had very thick brambles. Clearance has been carried out at the bottom of Tramhill near the ponds and the triangle out near the bottom of Tramhill. JC confirmed that the volunteers have been hard at work hedge laying (location?) 

ED (Walks) confirmed that bark had been obtained footpaths, and will be laying this in March or April.

SPRING SCHEDULE PLAN

TP has agreed to mow the Walks with KF. The Parish Council flail mower to be stored on the Walks and following the confirmation of a written for damage and petrol etc, BVCH have agreed for the BVCH tractor to be used with the mower. It was agreed for TP & KF to cut the Walks when deemed necessary rather than under a more rigid schedule

BVCH confirmed that the cows will be moved when it is decided that the herd has eaten enough of the grass. There is a schedule but this is also dependent on the weather.

FOBC are currently gearing up for the Removal of the Ragwort towards the end of spring / early summer and requested a call for volunteers mid-spring to help with the clearance.

Q. Is it still a requirement to collect the ash after the bonfire?
A. That is the requirement of the CSA.

It was agreed to have a number of agreed bonfire sites on the Common.

Common Volunteers: DM updated that the volunteers have been hampered by the mower not currently starting due to damage from rodents. Once this is fixed then work will start on the cutting of the grass etc.

The Walks: ED, as already discussed, once the nettles start appearing then Tim is ready to cut the grass and nettles in the Walks.

LS requested that the blackthorn abutting Hartwell’s Barn be cut back or removed. DM confirmed he would check the Blackthorn and what action to take. 

The Walks Mowing & Mower arrangement confirmation As discussed under the Spring schedule plan

FUNDING APPLICATION ACTION PLAN / RANGER

ES confirmed that the PC is preparing to make the application for the Common Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship Agreement, which would be for approximately £10,000 per year for ongoing management of the Common.

Applying for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Community Fund would provide the funding for the Ranger position to assist and manage the operations on the Common and particular the continued future of BVCH.

LS working with the Farming Cluster who as a group are looking to make an application for £5.000,000 and what areas would be viable for the Group / Parish Council to apply for. 

ES is working with AC to draft The Ranger Job Description. Which would also include responsibility for checking the Public Rights of Way, herd, management of the Common etc. 

All members confirmed their agreement to continue with the appointment of the Ranger role.

AOB/NOTICES

Bottom of North Hills – TP updated that a large numbers of dog poo bags (approximately 100) have been tossed into the hedgerow. TP has installed a wildlife camera and will share the information with the group.