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2022-06-30-accounts

The Friends of Therfield Heath and Greens

Chairs Report

Delivered at the Annual General Meeting on the 20 July 2022

This year has seen us slowly move back to a more normal way of life. It is good to be able to hold the AGM in person.

AGM 2021

At the AGM in July 2021 the following officers remained in place:

The Minutes for the AGM in 2020 were approved.

Committee members Ann Smith, Sally Marchant, David Bubbins and Jane Dottridge continued on the Committee. We were also joined by three new Committee members including Bryony May, Sarah Ramsay and Barbara Jones. Unfortunately, Barbara Jones resigned after three months as she had too many other commitments. The Committee thank her for her contributions during that time.

Membership

Membership to date remains around 90 people with mostly individual members but some family members too.

Accounts

Please see Treasurer’s Report for the year.

Events

We have seen another busy year with several events including;

On behalf of everyone we would like to thank all those who organised and led events, your generosity is much appreciated. Thank you to Sally Marchant, Claire Beale, Doug Radford, Ray Munden, Joan Munden, Keith Fitz Patrick-Matthews, Clive Hall, Janet Rossignol-Bubbins, Jane Dottridge, Chantal from Herts and Middlesex Bat Preservation Group, Ted Pillinger and Tim Wells.

Details of past events can be found on the Friends of Therfield Heath and Greens website under ‘What's On’ www.friendsoftherfieldheath.org.uk

Litter Picking

We also held our monthly litter picks, which are led by David Bubbins, who also writes our risk assessments. We supply the picking sticks and bags for rubbish and recycling. We sort and dispose of the rubbish and recycling responsible. We have purchased more sticks this year and trialled some rings to hold the bags. Our thanks go to everyone who has helped pick litter on the Heath this past year.

Other Projects

Visitor Guide

Ann Smith along with Janet Rossignol Bubbins produced Therifled Heath Visitors Guide, first edition in December 2021. This very professional-looking leaflet could not have been produced without the amazing technical knowledge and expertise of Don Shewan. Thank you, Don. The Racher Trust generously provided £500 to pay for printing.

Sun Hill Common

The Committee also purchased a bench made from recycled materials for the use of people visiting Sun Hill Common – the only piece of Therfield Heath actually in Royston). Nick Beale and David Bubbins installed the bench. Some of the materials used to secure the bench were donated by residents who were having extensions. We plan to put on a small plaque on the bench and we are in discussions with the Sun Hill Common management team about an appropriate handing-over event. Thank you, Karen Pearson, David and Nick.

The goal posts that Martin Lewis so kindly donated are suffering from major usage. The Committee have been paying for replacement parts which David Bubbins has been fitting.

Queen’s Green Canopy

Last June saw some of the Committee, hosting along with some of the Conservators, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire. He and his team had come to visit Church Hill also a Coronation Meadow with a view to planting trees for the Queen’s Green Canopy part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. Subsequently, the Chair and the Treasurer had a delightful visit to BArcham’s Tree Nursery near Ely. We purchased a Hornbeam for the Conservators' contribution to the Queen’s Green Canopy and a disease-resistant Elm as the contribution from The Friends of Therfield Heath & Greens. We have also purchased another Hornbeam because at present no hornbeams are growing on the Heath.

These trees will be delivered and planted in the autumn when we will be looking for volunteers to help plant and care for them. we are hopeful that the Vice Lord Lieutenant will return to be part of the planting ceremony.

We have also been gifted a Silver Birch in a pot that we are currently caring for, which will be planted at the same time. this tree was kindly donated by Steve Drape and moved by Mile from Meldreth Landscapes. Thank you.

Supporting the Conservators

The Friends were very pleased to support the Conservators with their objections to Affinity Water’s plans to erect kiosks on Therfield Heath. Some of the Committee, along with Conservator’s Cheryll Wilson, Head of Conservation and Development, met the Commons Inspector. Sadly Affinity Water changed its plans at the last minute and didn’t let the inspector know in time. The Conservators are having further discussions with Affinity Water and await the Inspector’s report.

Volunteers have been helping Cheryll Wilson with scrub and invasive species clearance as well. Cheryll hopes to organise more sessions shortly, which will be emailed to members or sent out in the monthly newsletter that Anne Smith writes each month.

We also supported Royston Environmental Group’s Sustainability Day along with the Conservators.

The Committee

Sadly in February we had to say farewell to Alex Prosser Snelling our Secretary. He and his family have gone abroad with his work for a few years. his wife Carol Fossick was the Clerk to the Conservators and was a great help to us.

Plans for the Future

FRIENDS OF THERFIELD HEATH ACCOUNTS FROM 30.12.2020 TO 30.06.2022

Income
£
Membership and donations
2709.00
Events
1167.00
Grant
500.00
Other income (Amazon voucher) 200.00
Miscellaneous income
29.97
TOTAL INCOME
4605.97
Expenditure
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 1968.22
Profit for year
Balance brought forward
Cash balance
Balance in treasurers a/c at 01.07.2022
Balance in PayPal a/c at 01.07.2022

Amazon voucher remaining
Cash float
Total		 2637.75
3903.89
6541.64
6407.05
90.87
1.32
42.40
6541.64