AGM minutes 2009
The Friends of The Trap grounds
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 17 March 2009
St Margaret’s Institute, Polstead Road, Oxford
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION. Norman Gregory, in the Chair, welcomed approximately 40 members of the public to the second AGM of The Friends of the Trap Grounds. A quorum was confirmed to be present.
2. MINUTES OF THE 2008 AGM held on 4 March were unanimously approved (proposed: Mary Gregory; seconded: Bryan Wardley).
3. PROGRESS REPORT. Committee members reported on the main activities of the Friends in the past 12 months: clearing rubbish and brambles (with the help of Oxford Conservation Volunteers); creating new paths and glades; collaborating with the school of SS Philip and James on a Lottery-funded environmental art project; leading guided walks for visitors to the site; commissioning a five-year management plan; and updating the species lists in the booklet The Wildlife of the Trap Grounds (now in its 11th edition). Special thanks were givento Anthony Roberts, the Countryside Officer who represents Oxford City Council on the Committee, for his much-valued advice and practical support: his team has pollarded decaying willows, felled dominant sycamores, and tackled the invasive Giant Hogweed. Thanks were expressed also to Anthony Grieveson for creating and maintaining our website (www.trap-grounds.org.uk). (The full text of the annual report is included on this website.)
4. TREASURER’S REPORT. Polly Holbrook (Hon. Treasurer) presented the accounts for 2008, showing a total income of £7835 (including a Lottery grant of £4750) and total expenditure of £271. (Details appended.) The accounts did not include recent items of expenditure (new tools, professional advice and practical support, and fees and expenses relating to the artwork project), incurred since the end of the financial year.
5. MANEGMENT PLANS. Anthony Roberts showed slides to illustrate the mosaic of wildlife habitats on the Trap Grounds, and he presented proposals contained in the draft Five-Year Management Plan to conserve and enhance the site for wildlife, recreation, and education. Plans include the construction of a boardwalk alongside the stream (subject to approval by the Environment Agency), leading to a bird-observation screen, for the benefit of wheelchair users; and the creation of an east–west corridor to provide flight-paths for birds and insects, and a new pathway for visitors.
6. ELECTION OF THE COMMITTIEE. Members of the current committee were re-appointed to serve for the coming year (proposer: Jim Campbell; seconder: Margrit Campbell): Norman Gregory (Chair), Catherine Robinson (Secretary), Polly Holbrook (Treasurer), Alan Allport, Caroline Jackson-Houlston, and Diane Wilson. Peter Higgins was elected to replace Peter Loudon, who has left Oxford; Martin Townsend was elected to replace Clive Hambler, who has retired due to the pressure of other commitments. Anthony Roberts (Oxford City Council Countryside Officer) serves ex officio as a non-voting member.
There being no further business, after a break for refreshments Professor Alan Allport gave an illustrated talk about the wildlife of the Trap Grounds. The meeting ended at 9.30 pm.