Lowick Green Management Group
Registered Charity No:- 1161934
Chairmans report November 2023 – November 2024
The Green remains in good condition, there has been some traffic damage due to the very wet summer making the ground soft. Littering has been minimal and no more nitrous oxide chargers have been found.
No events have been held on The Green this year probably due to a very poor summer, but the green has been well used by children learning to ride bikes and playing football.
Grass cutting has been very expensive this year at £1100 as opposed to £700 last year. This is solely due to the wet summer being ideal for grass growth. I have had to cut my sections much more this year often more frequently than once a week. Unless you keep pace with the growth it becomes seriously difficult.
No more wild flower seeds or bulbs have been planted this year, conservation has concentrated on repairing storm damage to exiting trees and planting new ones. Seven new trees have been planted. An Alder, two Aspens, a Sweet Chestnut, A Large Leafed Lime, an Alder Buckthorn and a Field Maple. All have taken, and the alder and aspens are doing especially well as they are well suited to the wet conditions. Planting was carried out by John Black, Rob Dove, Chris Harrison and Graham & Sue Nichol. Planting and erecting protection from deer was quite a task as the ground is very stony, cobbles up to 10” diameter had to be removed. The Walnut tree planted two years ago has finally started to thrive after a very slow start.
As agreed at the last meeting work has commenced to clear the fallen willow trees. Once this is completed, we will plant something to replace them. If anyone has any thoughts on what they would like please let me know.
This year a serious effort has been made to control the Himalayan Balsam which has invaded the land in front of Hopefield cottages. In order to control the bracken, brambles and nettles to allow access and I cut the area twice using a special scrub blade on a large brushcutter. Members of The Group, and six volunteers from Cumbria Wildlife Trust Duddon Support Group pulled balsam on three occasions. A total of 1900 balsam plants were pulled on our section and the CWT section to the west of the stream. We also assisted CWT working parties with balsam control on their land to the south of the A5092. This work was coordinated by Scott Petrek the CWT reserve manager for Lowick Common.
As agreed at the last meeting, we hope to improve the land in front of Hopefield cottages by clearing unwanted vegetation and planting some juniper bushes. I have cut a path along the field wall and cleared our side of the stream. A number of people have commented on how nice this area now is.
Chairman:- Richard Ellwood; Secretary:- Tracey Walker; Treasurer:- Judith Dove
Clearing and maintaining this area will not be easy. To help matters I applied to The Hadfield trust in September for funding to provide a hut so that the large mower can be stored here for regular use. It is currently stored in poor conditions too far from the point of use and is deteriorating. We also intend to build a small wooden bridge to allow the mower to be taken across the stream and make crossing easier for walkers. My application was successful and we received £2063 towards the works and a friend contributed £250 making a total of £2313. We will discuss the way forward at the December meeting.
Ali Harrison, Anna Guest and Katy Jones, have taken over as controllers of the allotments, though my contact is usually with Ali. I received a complaint about the general state of the allotments, especially about the large “compost heap” with nettles leaning across the track across The Green. Ali has made arrangements for Ben Thompson and John Sutcliffe to remove the heap; she has also asked me to make a grant application to replace the fencing once she has three quotes. I will first try Bay Wind who have provided funding to other local charities.
I carried out the autumn cut of the wildflower areas myself in October. Sorry if anyone felt left out, but the autumn has been so wet that it was impossible to organise anything properly. I managed it in a couple of six hour days with the rain starting again just as I finished. I have ceased cutting the verge on the east side of the A5092; with ever increasing and aggressive traffic, bottles thrown from cars and deep ruts caused by heavy vehicles leaving the road it has just become too difficult and dangerous.
The seat in front of the Old Police House has been sanded off and given two coats of oil-based stain.
The rotting Parish Council Notice Board next to the telephone box was replaced early in the year with an aluminium one. The parish council paid for the board which was ordered by and installed by The Group. The installation team was John Black, Rob Dove, Chris Harrison and myself. The Group paid for the installation materials.
We need some new, preferable younger members, I will petition a few people to see if I can get them to attend the AGM. Although it is only once a year we need some fit people to assist with the autumn clear up. We also need a succession plan for ageing trustees.
Full details of donations and expenditure is given in the accounts but briefly we have received: - £200 from the Lowick Village Hall Fund, a letter of thanks was sent. £350 was received from Lowick Parish Council. £350 from the K-B walk, thanks to Simon for the application. £200 was made by hiring out the large mower.
Richard Ellwood, Chair.
Chairman:- Richard Ellwood; Secretary:- Tracey Walker; Treasurer:- Judith Dove
Lowick Green Management Group Annual General Meeting December 10[th] 2024
Financial Report
Income
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The Tai Chi donation has stopped, partly due to the poor weather and partly because using the grass at the side of the Hall is more convenient for the group.
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We have lost a couple of our Friends donations, due to relocation, but thanks to a regular donation from Mr & Mrs Nichols and a very generous donation from another of our members, our Friends donations have increased.
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The Annual Grants from the Keswick to Barrow Walk, Parish Council and the Village Hall Committee are vital in keeping us solvent.
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We had a welcome payment for the hire of of our heavy duty grass cutter
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The allotment rent has not been paid this year yet, although only £1 is not really significant!
Payments
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The Annual Insurance went down - amazingly!
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We spent more on grass cutting this year owing to the early spring and mild, wet summer, to ensure that the Green always looks good.
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The bank charges stayed the same
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Richard bought posts to support the newly planted trees on the Green which were bought as a gift by one of our members. The trees were planted by members of the Committee and Friends, so particular thanks to all those who gave up their time to help.
Also, thanks to all the committee members and volunteers for their work on the Green this year, and thanks to Martin for his vigilance and knowing when to cut the Green.
| Also, thanks to all the committee members and volunteers for their work on the Green this year, and thanks to Martin for his vigilance and knowing when to cut the Green. |
Also, thanks to all the committee members and volunteers for their work on the Green this year, and thanks to Martin for his vigilance and knowing when to cut the Green. |
Also, thanks to all the committee members and volunteers for their work on the Green this year, and thanks to Martin for his vigilance and knowing when to cut the Green. |
Also, thanks to all the committee members and volunteers for their work on the Green this year, and thanks to Martin for his vigilance and knowing when to cut the Green. |
Also, thanks to all the committee members and volunteers for their work on the Green this year, and thanks to Martin for his vigilance and knowing when to cut the Green. |
Also, thanks to all the committee members and volunteers for their work on the Green this year, and thanks to Martin for his vigilance and knowing when to cut the Green. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income and Payments Breakdown | |||||
| Income | 2023 | 2024 | Payments | 2023 | 2024 |
| Friends | £232.00 | £394.00 | Grass Cutting | £700.00 | £1100.00 |
| Tai Chi Donations | £240.00 | Insurance | £230.68 | £176.20 | |
| Keswick to Barrow | £350.00 | £350.00 | R Ellwood - Posts | £47.52 | £232.77 |
| Village Hall Committee Grant |
£200.00 | £200.00 | |||
| Parish Council Grant | £360.00 | £360.00 | |||
| Allotment rent | £001.00 | ||||
| Mower hire | £200.00 | HSBC Bank Charges | £60.80 | £60.80 | |
| £1383.00 | £1504.00 | £1039.00 | £1569.77 | ||
| Excess | + £344.00 | -£65.77 |
| Comparison between 2023 and 2024 | Comparison between 2023 and 2024 | Comparison between 2023 and 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | |
| Brought Forward | £3990.12 | £4334.12 |
| Income this fnancialyear | £1383.00 | £1504.00 |
| Payments this fnancialyear | £1039.00 | £1569.77 |
| Diference | + £344.00 | - £65.77 |
| Carried Forward | £4334.12 | £4268.35 |
Judith Dove ( Treasurer)
| Lowick Green Management Group Accounts November 2023– November 2024 | Lowick Green Management Group Accounts November 2023– November 2024 | Lowick Green Management Group Accounts November 2023– November 2024 | Lowick Green Management Group Accounts November 2023– November 2024 | Lowick Green Management Group Accounts November 2023– November 2024 | Lowick Green Management Group Accounts November 2023– November 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance Brought Forward | 4334.12 | |||||
| Income | Payments | |||||
| 10.11.23 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4346.12 | |||
| 21.11.23 | K2B | 350.00 | 4696.12 | |||
| 25.11.23 | JMH Services | 50.00 | 4646.12 | |||
| 29.11.23 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4641.12 | |||
| 11.12.23 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4653.12 | |||
| 20.12.23 | Insurance | 176.20 | 4476.92 | |||
| 29.12.23 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4471.92 | |||
| 10.01.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4483.92 | |||
| 29.01.24 | Bank Charge | 5.40 | 4478.52 | |||
| 08.02.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4490.52 | |||
| 29.02.24 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4485.52 | |||
| 11.03.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4497.52 | |||
| 29.03.24 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4492.52 | |||
| 09.04.24 | R.Ellwood – Posts | 232.77 | 4259.75 | |||
| 10.04.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4271.75 | |||
| 29.04.24 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4266.75 | |||
| 10.05.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4278.75 | |||
| 17.05.24 | JMH Services | 250.00 | 4028.75 | |||
| 29.05.24 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4023.75 | |||
| 10.06.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4035.75 | |||
| 29.06.24 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4030.75 | |||
| 08.07.24 | PC Grant | 360.00 | 4390.75 | |||
| 10.07.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4402.75 | |||
| 19.07.24 | Village Hall Grant | . 200.00 | 4602.75 | |||
| 24.07.24 | JMH Services | 400.00 | 4202.75 | |||
| 24.07.24 | P Crow – Mower hire | 200.00 | 4402.75 | |||
| 29.07.24 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4397.75 | |||
| 12.08.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 440975 | |||
| 28.08.24 | Friends Yates | 250.00 | 4659.75 | |||
| 29.08.24 | Bank Charge | 5.40 | 4654.35 | |||
| 08.09.24 | JMH Services | 250.00 | 4404.35 | |||
| 10.09.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4416.35 | |||
| 29.09.24 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4411.35 | |||
| 10.10.24 | Friends Nichols | 12.00 | 4423.35 | |||
| 19.10.24 | JMH Services | 150.00 | 4273.35 | |||
| 29.10.24 | Bank Charge | 5.00 | 4268.35 | |||
| Carried Forward. Balance at 8th November 2024 | 4268.35 |