Thanks are due to Old Leo’s Rugby Club who opened up their clubhouse for our AGM free of charge. They serve an excellent pint of beer!
We had a reasonable turn out of twelve with apologies from four Friends.
The minutes of last year’s AGM were approved; the Chair presented his annual report (see below); the treasurer presented the accounts and the accounts were approved. The officers and committee were chosen.
The new officers and committee are:
Chair: Roger Gilbert
Treasurer: Judith White
Secretary: Stephanie Clarke
Auditor: David Hall
Committee (in addition to the above):
Rob Hall
Tom Swire
Win Barney
Brian Joyce
Phil McAteer
Jen Potts
The Chairman’s Report for 2012-2013
It has been another varied, interesting and enjoyable year.
Litterpicking
Firstly, there has been our regular litterpicking whose importance cannot be overstated. Litterpicking makes a huge difference to the woods and it was the quantity of discarded litter which led to the birth of the FOAW in the first place. So thank you to everyone who has contributed by picking up litter!
Adel Moor
Over the last year we have had three mornings working on Adel Moor (19 May, 18 August, and 21 April) and – in conjunction with the other groups who work on the moor – we are now seeing a huge improvement. I know that Steve Joul is very pleased indeed with the progress that is being made.
I was delighted this year when I saw the amount of new heather which is now growing. It looks great. So thanks to everyone who has helped on the moor.
Paths
Man Conquers Stream!
We have had four mornings clearing paths (15 July – to the Buckstones, 18 November, 17 February and 16 March). This work is important and makes a difference. For example, work done on Crag Lane about two years ago is still benefitting walkers and last Sunday I could see that path widening carried out in March of this year was of benefit.
One of the things which we have been doing on a fairly regular basis is clearing fallen birch trees from paths. Apart from making some of the men feel like lumberjacks, it obviously improves things for walkers.
Adel Bog
Adel Bog: 29 July 2012
We have only had one day on Adel Bog in the last year – when we felled trees and dug up unwanted vegetation. We inspected the bog last Sunday and it is looking pretty good to me. Despite the dry weather over the last two or three weeks, there was a lot of standing water and a lot of mud. We saw the hoof prints of roe deer in the mud – which I found very exciting.
Nest boxes
Refurbishing a nest box
Due to the poor weather and the number of boxes, this took three events this last year and we did not finish the task till 8 February. However, the good news is that Cllr Buckley gave us a grant of £200 which enabled us to buy 8 woodcrete nestboxes which should be better and drier than the wooden ones and will be a lot easier to get down and clean.
One of our new woodcrete boxes
We also took the opportunity to refurbish some of the wooden boxes and rejig them so that we can lift them down from the tree, so hopefully the nest box survey will take a lot less time this December/January. Pretty well all of the titboxes were used and there were two nuthatch nests.
Japanese Knotweek
Last September half a dozen of us spent the morning cutting back holly round the knotweed so that Steve could get access to it and treat it properly with glyphosate. Steve and Andrew went along a few days later and treated it. We had a look at it on Sunday and it looks as if we have more or less got it defeated. There are a few shoots coming up, but touch wood another dosing by Steve this year will finish it off.
The Stairfoot Lane Steps
You couldn’t make it up!
About two years ago BTCV put in some steps leading up from the stream to the Stairfoot Lane carpark. These were great and well used but it was generally agreed that they stopped short of where they needed to go to at the top and consequently emerging from the steps at the top was a bit hazardous. In October, with Steve’s help we put a further five steps at the top and greatly improved the steps. We also got a picture of David sitting in a wheelbarrow which was probably the most amusing picture of the year.
The Buck Stone
In March last year we did two days work on this and made it accessible to the public again. I have had good feedback on the work we have done. We noticed in about July last year that the bracken was overwhelming it again and this March we had a session clearing and tidying it up. I visited the Buckstone a few days later and I thought that it looked great.
The Christmas Garlands
Santa’s Elves hard at work!
In 2010 and 2011 Steve Joul put on sessions in making Xmas decorations. This year we decided to have a go on our own and try and raise some money by selling them. We sold about 25 wreaths and made a profit of about £125. I thought that this was a great success and I hope that we shall do the same this Xmas.
Educational/social events
Newt traps and birdsong walk
On 5 May 2012 Steve led a newt survey and birdsong walk. This was a great success attracting a good turn out with several family groups – it also raised about £40 for our funds.
Woodland survey with Steve Joul
Happy woodland surveyors!
Steve has been carrying out surveys of the woods to ascertain their health. Last May he carried out his first survey with FOAW and it was a great success. He carried out another survey last Sunday which I took part in for the first time. I found it a very enjoyable day and I learned a lot.
Diamond Jubilee Fun Day
“Roll up! Roll up!”
On 4 June we had a stand at the Diamond Jubilee Fun Day organised by the Parish Council. As usual thanks go in particular to Judith and Stephanie for the amazing stand they created. Watching Judith and Stephanie prepare their displays is like watching the finalists on Masterchef creating an eyewatering dessert. Thank you to them and to everyone who took part in that day – whether by helping to put up our stand, buttonholing the punters, or clearing away at the end. You helped contribute to a fantastic day – where, from recollection, we raised about £30.
Curry and Fun Quiz Night at Red Pepper
Finally, we had the Curry and Fun Quiz night at Red Pepper on 15 April. From my point of view this was a really fantastic night and every thing worked out perfectly.
Who knows what item no 17 was?
We really have to thank Red Pepper for their generosity in agreeing to put on a charity night for us. The arrangement was that we shared the takings on the meal on a 50/50 basis and after taking into account the takings from the raffle we made about £314 for our funds. They put on a really wonderful meal for us with great humour – it cannot be easy serving 59 people in one sitting!
We must also thank Steve Joul for putting on a really interesting quiz. I am aware that one exhibit – the badger’s skull – was dropped onto someone’s plate – but fortunately after he had finished his curry!
I would also like to thank Judith, Stephanie and Olga (of Walkabout) who each generously contributed wonderful raffle prizes.
Finally, I personally like to thank everyone who came to the curry night for contributing to the wonderful atmosphere and for not walking out when I picked up my ukelele!
The future
The new committee will have to firm up the agenda for the next six months, but there is always lots to do. In particular I look forward to further work on Adel Moor and Adel Bog.
Over the next ten days we have two educational events with Steve Joul. This Saturday we have the birdsong walk meeting at 7 am in Old Leo’s carpark. Unfortunately, we have to charge a nominal £2 per person to cover the cost of Steve attending because Leeds CC will only let us have one free talk a year now.
The following weekend we have the newt survey – making and setting traps on the Saturday evening and surveying the contents of the traps on the Sunday morning (at 7 am!). These two events (and you can turn up at either, you do not need to do both) are free!
Please can you publicise each of these events to friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues.
Thanks
So in summary, I would just like to end by recapping all the people we need to thank for supporting us over the last year.
First of all, I would like to thank Steve Joul for all the support – and tuition – he has given us over the year – in particular with the newt survey and birdsong walk, the nest box survey, the work on Adel Bog and the curry night.
When I saw Steve on Sunday he specifically asked me to thank you on behalf of Leeds CC for all the work we have done as volunteers.
I would like to thank Alwoodley Parish Council for its financial support and encouragement.
I would like to thank Cllr Neil Buckley of Leeds CC for giving us a grant of £200 mice money – not to purchase or even exterminate mice – but to purchase woodcrete nestboxes and tools.
Red Pepper, The Avenue
I would like to thank Red Pepper once more for their generosity in hosting the curry night, and Judith, Stephanie and Olga for contributing the raffle prizes.
I really must thank Tony and Old Leo’s for opening up the bar for us tonight and letting us have our AGM here. Please after the meeting, can you please drink as much as you can so that they’ll have us again!
I would like to thank our committee and officers for all their support and hard work over the year.
And finally, I would like to thank all our wonderful Friends – whether here or absent – for the hard work you have all put in over the year. I hope that tonight’s summary has reminded you of some happy mornings or evenings and shown you that you have all made a fantastic improvement to the state of Adel Woods and to our local community.
Thank you!
Friends relaxing after a job well done!