AGM Summary
3rd October 2024
Summary of the AGM of the Committee for the Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park, held on September 9th. Full minutes available here.
The Committee was agreed as follows for the next three years:
- Sue Runciman (Chair)
- Stella Claridge (Finance Officer)
- Lynne Lambert (Communications and Park History)
Twelve people attended the meeting, as well as representatives from Rushmoor Borough Council.
Main Outcomes
The Pond
The work to regenerate the pond commences this autumn, with the removal of ten semi-mature trees, most of which are leaning over the pond and giving it shade as well as leaf- and branch-litter. If it is to regenerate, it needs more light.
The edges of the pond will be graded to a gradient of 1 in 10, to allow for more growth on the banks and therefore more habitats than at present.
Silt will be moved to the small area beside the ‘island’, making the appearance of the pond smaller, but it will also be deepened to a depth of three feet, to increase capacity and reduce the possibility of flooding.
There was a good deal of discussion around this; several options were considered and this plan was considered by the council to be the best option taking into account the constraints of costs. The work on the pond has a budget of £7,500, from Esso.
[Post meeting note: Due to the recent poor weather, the work on the pond has been postponed. RBC are keeping a watchful eye on it, to determine likely timings.]
Interpretation Boards are in hand, the wording having been agreed, and will be installed once the work on the pond has been completed.
It was commented that the regeneration of the pond will be a very positive thing for the local community once it is established.
Heather Lewis reported the above for the council, and was thanked for her attendance and detailed knowledge.
The Management Plan
The Management Plan was briefly commented on, and recognised as a useful tool that has involved several different agencies in its creation. Steve Bailey, who put it together, was thanked for his work on it and his work in the park, including the leading of the regular work parties. It runs until 2028, but will be reviewed next year.
Steve explained the priorities for the year, which are mainly clearance – of non-indigenous plants, and of areas that have been cleared but need tidying, and the planting of bulbs. Benches will be installed in the winter: they have been provided with challenging fixings, which has caused delay.
The historic rhododendron tunnels will be kept.
FQEP Annual Report
Membership is up to 144 from 137, and FB followers up to 839.
The monthly amble is now followed by a social gathering at the Thatched Cottage public house, and some members have formed a team for the Quiz Night there, which we attend once a month; some members attend Fleet Film together also.
Our activities for families — and in particular, ‘Where’s Rudolph?’ and Easter Hunt activities — have been very well attended this year. One mother commented that the Rudolph activity was the best thing her family had done over the Christmas period.
The Cove Brook Fun Day was a real highlight of the year and we look forward to attending again. We are very pleased with the work on the Farnborough Road car park, which is now smooth and divided into clear bays. The road into the park at this point however may need further work.
We will soon have a shed in the park, out of sight and protected by a cage, to facilitate our work parties. We are extremely grateful to the two local residents who have allowed us to keep a shed in their garden until now.
Financial Report: Stella Claridge
The report runs up to May 31st as we expected to hold our AGM rather earlier in the year, and in future will do so.
Income was £1,186.42. Expenditure was £698.15. The balance as of 31st May was £1,352.15. The main income has come from a donation by Blackwater Valley Friends of the Earth of £300; a grant from HCC to go towards a new shed of £512, donations from events and from the Rushmoor Lottery. Our main expenses have been bulbs, yew hedge plants, nesting boxes, a table and a banner for events.
AOB
It was reported by a local resident that there is now a Climate Change group, and a new Climate Change Community Officer, and that we can expect to be invited to join them very shortly.
Sue Runciman closed the meeting by thanking everyone involved in its work and maintenance, and for the interest shown in it by so many local residents. It has been a very successful year for the group, which continues to have a positive impact on the park, working in partnership with our council and in particular with Andy Ford, our Park Manager, and Steve Bailey, who works not only for the council but also with Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership.
For the Love of Honey Bees
The meeting was followed by a presentation by Lynne Lambert on the life cycles of honey bees, and a tasting of various honeys was enjoyed by all.