There is much to report on since January! We have achieved and surpassed our first financial target of £1000 thanks to some fund raising events including a quiz night, sponsored dog walk and an Easter egg hunt, the generosity of some local firms including Glaxo Smith Kline of Stevenage and Display Cor of Little Wymondley, and the amazing generosity of some of our customers. Thank you to all!
Clearing has moved on apace with regular volunteer days on the first Sunday of each month. Much of the old brambles and elder have been cleared to reveal some ash trees and even some oak and elm. Shrubs and flowers have been planted ready to display next year and we are awaiting work to start on the ponds. There was an amazing pile of rubbish removed from the main pond - including the garden sink - but they now need digging out to remove all the silt.
In July we were very privileged to have Gill Gauntlett from BBC 3 Counties Radio broadcast her show live from the Garden as part of our opening ceremony and fun day. Gill officially opened the Garden by planting a tree, after taking part in some welly wanging with her garden expert, Steve Day! Pictures from this event and many more pictures can be found on our facebook page. Please sign on to this as a fan to receive regular updates from the garden.

Whatever else you may think about the snow, there is no denying the way it can transform an untidy mess into a place of beauty, as the following pictures demonstrate. Please click on the thumbnails to see the pictures full size:

Attendees: Angela Dent, Dave Dent, Harold Lindsay, Emily Watts, Peter Risby,Hazel Risby, Paul Beatty, Angie Beatty, Tina Watts, Paul Watts.

Apologies: Melanie Lindsay

1. Minutes from previous meeting:
Minutes approved

2. Matters Arising:
- Fundraising: EW and TW letter writing carried forward.
- AD sent information to ‘The Comet’ and ‘About my area’ website. Bucks head website updated, has own WCG page, pictures of work so far have been uploaded.
- Logo: PW suggests asking village school to design a logo as a competition, possibly with a small prize. TW to donate a prize and we could also ask local businesses to donate a prize for the winner / runners up. PW to speak to head about who the competition should be aimed at, probably only students in the junior school. Committee would decide on the winner.
PW to ring Alison Emmerson, Head teacher.
Update 10.12.09 PW has spoken to AE and she is very happy for the school to take part in a competition to design a logo for the project.

3. Clearing Update:
- The first two days have gone well, bottom end of paddock now cleared, completely accessible. Next day 12th Sat.
- PB interested in the ponds and biodiversity. PB suggests finding source of the spring to open up. PB will investigate. Clearing work in ponds could begin on 12th Dec.
Actions: AD to contact Caroline Howells or Fiona Underhill for tools for sat.
- Could the old pony shelter become a bird hide? Might need moving else where on site, or it could be a mini education centre, white board on what’s been spotted and what’s being grown / in flower. Flora and fauna identification posters.

4. Money Matters:
- Opening a community bank account with Barclays Bank. Proposed by Peter Risby, Seconded by Hazel Risby.
- HL and AD will be joint signatories and EW will sign community project forms.
- Are we going to become a registered charity? Could we get funding from more sources. EW raises concern over setting up charity just yet, something to think about in the near future, everyone to consider the idea.
- Constitution from Fiona Underhill – we need a mission statement and formal constitution in order to get funding from North Herts District Council. We have an example statement that we can adjust to suit our project. We should include what would happen to any money if the project folded.
Actions: EW to send example constitution with meeting minutes for everyone to read through for discussion at the next meeting.
DD needs to check with brewery if public liability insurance covers the paddock.

5. Fund Raising:
- Pub will outlay an initial £100 in order to open the bank account.
- Ideas: quiz night, guess how many sweets in a jar, raffles.
Could we do fund raising on the pubs wild food night on 23rd Jan? The night is run by outside caterers.
Music festival in the summer, AD has a contact with people at Three Counties Radio. Planning for this event should begin in the New Year.
- Other ideas: pancake day races, swear box, a ‘100 club’, bonus ball pub ‘lottery’, hog roast night in the summer and jazz evening, novelty dog show, race night. Sell flowers, veg and fruit at road side grown in people’s gardens.
- Would individuals be interested in taking on their own small areas of the garden, suggested by HR, that person who has the area pays to carry out the work, save money instead of raising money to do it.
- Mr Terry Gilbert is chair of parish council and runs a business, suggested he may be someone to seek sponsorship from.
Actions: EW to include asking local businesses to sponsor areas of the garden or specific work tasks in fundraising letters, including Mr Gilbert.

6. AOB:
- Sign for entrance to garden, suggested by PW.
Actions: AD to speak to a neighbour and some locals who are carpenters
- Need to chase up all people initially interested and raise awareness. EW suggests producing a newsletter.
- 350 to 400 houses in Little Wymondley. Next leaflet drop could be a newsletter.
Cost? £30/£40 from a printer used by AD for 500 leaflets. Could we get them delivered via Comet deliverers? People from meetings could do a street each.
Actions: TW to ask Parish council to have the old notice board for WCG notices.
AD / EW to put a news letter together.
- A Facebook Page might be useful, easy to set up and free.
- Also suggested that we also submit a piece to the school newsletter. The head teacher is keen to create better links with the community.
Actions: AD to get information to PW (who is also Chair of the School Governors) for a piece in the next school newsletter.

7. Date of next meeting:

Wednesday 13th January 7.30pm at the Bucks Head.

Apologies for absence to be sent to Emily Watts at emilywatts2@hotmail.com or to Angela Dent on 01438 353320.

Two clearing days were held at the end of November with a band of willing volunteers. Fiona Underhill from CMS led the first day and provided the tools, which we used on the Saturday. The main effort was concentrated on clearing the access points and cutting back the brambles. A member from CMS had already been earlier in the week to mow the lower end of the site and the debris from this was raked and piled up to rot down. It is now clear what an attractive area this could become with the oak tree and the ponds providing the central focus.

Here are some pictures taken of the efforts being made.




The next clearing day is Saturday 12th December from 10am. There will be festive treats for all volunteers!

WCG Project Committee Meeting Wednesday 25th November 2009

Attendees: Dave Dent, Angela Dent, Paul Watts, Melanie Lindsay, Richard Wilson, Peter and Hazel Risby, Emily Watts

Apologies: Tina Watts, Harold Lindsay

1. Minutes from previous meeting:
The issue of vehicular access to the site was raised at the previous meeting. Contact has been made with the farmer (Brian) who rents the field at the back of the site. He has agreed that access can be made from this field (from Blakemore End Road), and he has various types of machinery available (including a digger) that he will be happy to volunteer with when required, possibly in the New Year.

2. Formation of Committee:
It was felt that even with so few in attendance at the meeting that a committee should still be formed in order for the project to proceed. Melanie Lindsay informed everyone that her husband Harold would be happy to be Treasurer. Angela Dent put herself forward for Chair and Emily Watts put herself forward for the position of Secretary. All present agreed. ML, Peter and Hazel Risby put themselves forward to be committee members. Anyone else who attends future meetings is also welcome to join the committee, or take on the post of Deputy Chair.

3. Visit by Countryside Management Services:
Fiona Underhill from CMS visited on 12th November to advise on how to move forward with clearing the site. She will be able to plan work for clearing days and lead volunteers who attend, as well as providing many of the tools. The plan of work for the next two clearing days (26th and 28th November) is to make / clear an entrance to the site from the pub garden, coppicing small elder and hawthorn shrubs, and raking grass / vegetation that was mowed down today by her colleague from CMS.

4. Clearing:
Oak Tree - following a survey by Richard Wilson (arboriculturist) the tree is currently in chronic decline, most probably brought on by drought stress (possibly following an alteration in the water table when the Bypass was built).
RW thinks that the tree can be recovered. The soil surrounding the tree has been compacted, due to animal grazing, de-compacting the soil through 'air spading' could recover the tree from its current state. RW contacted a company that does this but they quoted £400. RW has also contacted the Conservation Foundation and Ground Work Herts to see if they could help at a lower cost or point us in the right direction to find funding for the work. Once the soil de-compacting work has been carried out, the immediate ground around the tree would have to be free from paths etc to prevent the soil compacting again.
Fallen branches, caused by heavy snow fall, need to be removed as soon as possible as they pose a danger at present. RW is prepared to carry out the work at cost price, including the labour of 1 person (RW volunteering labour), and is prepared to invoice for the work as and when we get some funding to pay for it. The proposed date for work to be carried out is 4th January 2010. Until then RW will cordon off the area around the tree.
In order to maintain the health of the tree it is proposed that water irrigation is designed to feed the tree, from the ponds once reinstated, or rain water collection methods.
Angela Dent queried if it would be possible to contact local councillor Sal Jarvis to seek funding for the tree surgery. Angela Watts, as a member of the parish council, will be asked to contact SJ. EW also suggested contacting Barbara Follet (East of England Minister) to seek funding.
Actions: AW to contact SJ. EW to contact BF.

5. A.O.B:
Funding: suggests made to ask local village business for donations / sponsorship, including Sainsbury's.
Raising the projects profile. Ideas suggested:
Press release / submit a regular article to the Comet newspaper and The Hitchin Village Directory. Also look into getting information on to www.aboutmyarea.co.uk
Continue to submit pieces to PAX
Branding, project needs a logo, chosen colours and fonts used for posters and other communications to make our literature recognisable and familiar to people. Give the project an identity. Suggestions / designs welcomed for a logo. Does anybody know a graphic designer?
Set up a website. Currently the Bucks Head has a space on their site for the project, this could be developed.
Regular reminders to rally up original enthusiastic supporters / volunteers to get involved. EW to send round reminders of meetings and work days to those on contact list.
Fundraising ideas to be discussed at next meeting.
Take regular photos of work in progress to help promote the project. Some 'before' photos have been already been taken by local photographer Fran Hale. Suggested RW could take some photos whilst up in the oak tree.
Actions: AD / EW to submit article to Comet and other media.

6. Date of next meeting:

Tuesday 8th December 7pm at the Bucks Head.
Apologies for absence to be sent to Emily Watts at emilywatts2@hotmail.com or to Angela Dent on 01438 353320.

In early November, the self styled Bucks Head Slashers made the first foray into the undergrowth. As you can see from the pictures, it took a good deal of effort but a path was cleared around the whole site, finally allowing us access!

To be held in the pub on Weds 11th November from 7pm

There was a good turnout of interested people for our first meeting and a general feeling of enthusiasm about the project. Many thanks to everyone who came and everyone who has expressed an interest since the meeting. We can't do it without you!
After much discussion, the following ideas were considered for the area:
* orchard of apple trees to provide a potential harvest and related activities
* wildlife area with nature trail and seating; linked with
* pond restoration. There are two spring fed ponds which are currently choked with undergrowth and trees.
* hedging along the edge of the area bordering the footpath
* bird boxes. This is a school project to monitor the life cycle of our local birds
* beehives, chickens, animals - perhaps better considered at a later date...
* allotments were a popular request but there are issues with water.

It was agreed that a survey of the area is needed to see what plant and wildlife is resident before we make any final decisions about how the area will be used. So one of the first jobs is to clear access to the field and then a pathway around the perimeter, around the ponds and across the middle so we do a proper assessment with the help of local agencies.
Also, we need to form a committee to deal with applications for funding and to make decisions about how the project will progress.
Everyone who left their details will be contacted soon for the next stage!

We have recently taken steps to develop our back meadow into a community garden. After some years of complete neglect, much work is required to clear and develop the area, so we are going to start small. The primary school has already expressed an interest in using bird boxes, some wish to develop a haven for wildlife and some would like to use some of the land for allotments. Other proposed projects include hedge planting and restoration of the ponds. We are open to any and all suggestions and welcome volunteers at any time


The Bucks Head Community Garden Project Meeting
Thursday 15th October from 7pm
in the conservatory

Everyone welcome who is interested in either helping with this project or sharing ideas, or who just wants to find out what is going on!