Brill Common & Village Green Advisory Group Meeting Report
september 2nd 2024 5pm

Attendees

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

Bobs Damerell (BD – Minutes)

Apologies: Elaine Dickinson (ED - Walks Committee), Liz Springs (LS - Brill Parish Council)

Thank you’s

Thanks were made to BVCH for the updates and requests for volunteers in the  newsletter

Thanks were made to Tim Patrick for his hard work and effort in clearing Ragwort from the Common

Thanks were made to Dave Munson for the hard work carried out on the Common during the summer.

Actions from the June Meeting

No matters arising not otherwise on the Agenda

Himalayan Balsam

The areas 19 – 22 are becoming over run with Himalayan Balsom and immediate action is required in October and the winter to remove the brambles preventing access ad remove the scrub on the fields. The Balsom then needs to be strimmed when the first nodule appears and before it is allowed to flower.

The Common Volunteers volunteered to clear the area of brambles and other growth in winter 2024 ready for the removal of the Himalayan Balsom from February 2025.

The group recommended the Parish Council to look into whether Bucks Council can remove the collected ragwort and Himalayan Balsom

Ragwort

Tim Patrick has been working hard on the Common towards North Hills to try and remove Ragwort on the areas where the cows will be positioned. 

The Group agreed to arrange another date to pull ragwort in Spring 2025.

Glyphosate

Following reports of glyphosate being used on the Common ES reiterated that Glyphosate is legally not permitted on the Common due to the damage to the Bio-diversity. 

The Group reiterated that no other herbicides are allowed to be used on the Common.

The Walks Mowing 

Tim Patrick confirmed that the grass has been cut five times this year. 

Alex Cruickshank to draft a Walks Management Plan for the next committee meeting.

The Walks Committee – BVCAG pending an update from the Walks Committee is  recommending to the Parish Council that the Walks Committee be disbanded due to the lack of effectiveness

Garden Waste- Further reports of garden waste being deposited on the Walks. The Group recommended the Parish Council follow the Encroachment Policy on garden waste being deposited on the Walks.

North Hills Encroachment

ES updated the Group that the hardcore on the encroached area has been removed. There have been a number of residents of North Hills who have contacted the Parish Council in objection to the removal of the hardcore. The matter will be discussed at the September Parish Council Meeting

Span Green

Thanks were made to Mark Cherry for the clearance work carried out on Span Green. The Group believe that that Bucks Council have cleared the path all the way to Oakley Road.

Winter Programme

The Group agreed to meet in October to walk the Common and look at what has been done in previous years and discuss the upcoming Winter Schedule.

Ranger Application update

ES working hard on funding application. The Community Lottery Fund was unfortunately unsuccessful. However now working on the heritage lottery fund application. Currently into the second round and hope to submit this in September 2024. Has to demonstrate a clear project the Ranger will carry out eg scrub management, recruiting new volunteers, guided walks etc. Need letters of support and once the project plan has been complete it will be sent to the group to review and comment. An ecological condition assessment of the Common is also required.DM agreed to share the previous year’s Birds and Butterfly summary of species to be included in the submission.

CSA update
No update to report from the June meeting

AOB

Attendance – The members agreed that, should there be six months (two meetings) of non-attendance at the BVCAG meetings then the group reserves the right to review the membership of that individual group.