News

By Steve Walker

Spring is around the corner and as I sit here it is a beautiful warm sunny day.
 

The next meeting of HEdGe – Hawkinge Environment Group is to be held at the Hawkinge Community Centre, Heron Fostal Avenue, Hawkinge at 7.00pm on Friday 12 March 2010.

If you have anything you would like to add to the agenda please get in touch with me.

New members are very welcome.

Steve Walker
Secretary for HEdGe – Hawkinge Environment Group
C/O White Cliffs Countryside Project
First Floor, 42 Townwall Street
Dover, Kent , CT16 1JP
Telephone: 01304 241806
Mob: 07899 758748
Email: steve.walker@whitecliffscountryside.org.uk

The Provisional agenda:

Agree minutes of last meeting

Wildlife surveys: What information do we need to gather? How we going to compile them?

Training: BTCV pond warden courses, equipment for Wardens litter pickers etc?

Publicity

Reports from members

What space and equipment do we need to order for Funday this year?

Any other business.

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Minutes of HEdGe meeting 15th February 2010

Attending Pat and Geoff Blanks, Ian Davies, Tim Barnes and Steve Walker.

Apologies of absence

Denis Hart, Helen Harrison, Eileen Blythe and Beryl Rose. Wendy bell.

Steve apologies to Wendy for his arriving late at the meeting.

Beryl has resigned from the group. She sent us a lovely letter of support. Beryl feels that now we have a stronger local membership and that she finds events have not proved convenient for her to attend. That she has not been able to contribute much to the group recently. Beryl was a founder member of the group and has contributed her ideas and wisdom to the group. She achieved great popularity with children visiting our stall at Hawkinge fundays.

We are sorry to see her go Steve will write a letter from the group thanking Beryl for her contribution.

Minutes from last meeting

Agreed

Wildlife surveys

As we had reduced numbers it was decided not to make any decisions regarding the wildlife surveys until the next meeting.

Report back from members

Ian has been down to check Sole Pond.

We now have the go ahead from Shepway District Council to replant the Spitfire way buffer strip where the fire was.

Hawkinge Enviroment Group has 25 free hazel trees to plant in a wood.

We are still awaiting go head on artworks for Hawkinge Map!!! – Beryl suggested an unveiling ceremony of the map.

Training and equipment

We have been looking for a course for our Pond Warden to go on BTCV haven’t yet published there courses for pond wardens and were looking for someone to lead these courses.

The only other course we found was at Oxford and would cost £250 ponds for two days.

Promotion of HEdGE

Tim said that we needed to get more publicity and Pat said that we need to support Denis on promting HEdGe. We have many successes to promote.

It was discussed that it was vital for us to get more people involved with HEdGe.

We agreed to put a small ad into the Hawkinge Roundel to promote membership of HEdGe.£10.00

BTCV insurance

It was agreed that Steve would apply to the Parish council for payment of our insurance so that our Pond warden, Footpath Warden and any Wardens of Frank and Bettys Field will be covered for working on the parishes behalf.

Wardens for Frank and Betty’s Field

HEdGe agreed that we would seek wardens to check on Frank and Betty’s Field.

We would start by approaching neighbours and anyone who walks there regularly. They could report back through HEdGe

Ian agreed to become the first warden.

Pat said that we have some funds available for equipment that might be needed such as litter pickers, gloves and bags.

White Cliffs Rangers

White cliffs countryside project is setting up a rangers scheme across Shepway and Dover district. The scheme will bring together volunteers who work outside often on there own. It was thought that Ian could benefit from joining.

Lone Working Policy

It was agreed that HEdGe would adopt a lone working policy that accompanies the white cliffs rangers scheme. In essence HEdGe member working alone outdoors on HEdGe business should tell someone where they will be and when they will finish. If they do not report back within an hour of when they have said they will finish the buddy, friend or relation should take action to contact the missing person and follow the procedure (See below). There are cards available with White Cliffs Countryside Project details of the procedure with lots of contacts. Please get in touch if you need some handy little laminated cards. (Steve).

Possible Funding Bid

Steve outlined a wish list for a possible funding bid between Hawkinge Parish Council and White Cliffs Countryside Project.

Provsional title: New villagers in an ancient landscape

This is a wish list of volunteer task events, family fun events in the countryside to encourage residents outside to enjoy the beautiful surround ancient landscape

1 Getting to the countryside

2 Walking In the countryside

3 Caring for the Countryside

4 Older people / younger people family events in the countryside

HEdGe members are invited to put there ideas forward their ideas such as funding for publication of the wildlife survey.

Ian said that he would let me have a copy of an advert inviting bids for an environmental fund.

Any other business

Next Meeting is at: the Hawkinge Community Centre, Heron Fostal Avenue Hawkinge at 7.00pm on the 12th of March 2010 (booked)

© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2010