7pm Wednesday 15 February, Mitcham and Carshalton Rugby Club
Agenda
- Welcome and apologies
- Biodiversity in Sutton – David Warburton
- Update from Elliot Colburn MP
- Councillor Gemma Mundy update
- Looking back at 2022
- Treasurer’s report
- Questions
- Committee member elections
Present: Babs Guthrie, Hayley White, Isobel Harris, Kris Leszkiewicz , Elliot Colburn MP, Jed, Councillors Gemma Mundy and Paul Cole, Jeanette Tidy, Peter Harris, Megan Harris, David Warburton (Sutton Council), Ed Woods, Ted Edwards, Sandra Edwards
1. Welcome
Babs welcomed everyone to the meeting, summarised the agenda and introduced David Warburton, Sutton’s Senior Biodiversity Officer. All committee members were present, no apologies.
Read the slides for the meeting on Canva
2. Biodiversity in Sutton
David gave us an overview of Sutton’s biodiversity plans including green ratings for the town centre and measures taken to improve biodiversity in other parks. He gave an overview of the management plan for Poulter Park including the new hedgerows in the orchard and the possibility of seasonal grazing cattle for the front field.
You can see his presentation slides here.
3. Update from Elliot Colburn MP
Elliot updated the meeting about his efforts to reduce emissions from the Beddington incinerators by encouraging them to remove plastics from waste before burning to limit the toxicity of particulates. He also reported cross borough efforts to reduce antisocial behaviour on the Wates Way Industrial estate business estate. Police from Sutton and Merton boroughs will work together to tackle noise pollution coming from parties in the estate. He thanked the group on behalf of the constituency.
Poulter Park residents raised the ongoing problem of the smell from Riverside Biowaste. Elliot will meet with residents at 1pm on Monday 20 February to investigate.
4. Update from Councillor Gemma Munday
Gemma thanked all Friends of Poulter Park and Revesby Wood volunteers.She summarised her role as councillor:
As local councillor she can help get access to council officers, keep us up to date with opportunities the council is running (like the art competition) and keep us in the loop with funding opps. If there are any issues, I can speak to the council on your behalf. I live really close by, along the Wandle. I’m here to represent you and am available. She can also help with updates (like newsletter), leafleting, door knocking about particular issues.
Overview of Parks Service Support for Friends Groups
The Council is investing heavily in parks. LBS Rosehill renewal funding (majority to be used for St Helier Open Space improvements). Local Authorities Treescape Funding (Forestry Commission) including 220 trees at St Helier Open Space. Public Health funding for St Helier skate ramps refurbishment recently completed
Urban Tree Challenge fundings (Forestry Commission) – mostly for street tree planting. Things coming up over the years ahead that will impact how parks are used and what they look like:
● Climate Change (impact on landscape, the type of plants and trees, maintenance)
● Growing resident demand for green space as boroughs population increases, like more flats in Hackbridge and Sutton town centre. (wear and tear on facilities, paths, requests for lighting)
● Increasing interest in volunteering and friends groups – massive increase in the number of people wanting to help care for green spaces and have fun with neighbours and friends
● Increasing awareness of Biodiversity – not only do we have obligations to care for nature, but many park visitors want to see nature and are asking for more meadows, trees and wild areas that wildlife needs to thrive.
● Renewed interest in health benefits – Parks helping by providing places to walk and run, take part in sports and engage socially. Also leads to demand for more facilities.
● Further reduction of pesticide use
● New machinery and automation is helping to reduce the number of staff needed to maintain parks, but staff shortages are an issue, especially skilled gardeners.
● More support for friends groups.
This is the offer the Parks Service makes to friends groups:
● Each friends group will be designated a member of the Parks Management Team as a contact point. The manager will attend at least one meeting for each friends group during the year, at the request of the group’s Chair. Other officers may also attend to discuss their specialism, e.g. trees
● The Parks Service will copy promotional flyers for friends groups. Up to 100 copies of flyers or leaflets will be produced on two occasions each year. Papers for copying must be delivered and collected from the Parks Service office. We cannot post items for groups, but items can be posted to us at 24 Denmark Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 2JG using the Council’s internal mail system from libraries and Civic Offices.
● The Parks Service request a copy of each friends groups constitution and ask each group to keep the managers up to date with changes in the groups personnel and contact points.
● Groups are advised that if they want to be considered as full partners, their constitutions should reflect the Council’s Core Values and aim to represent all sections of the community.
● The Parks Service can organise meetings for all the friends groups in Sutton to meet together when there are issues of common interest.
● Provide materials, bulbs, trees and plants to support projects in parks.
● Support friends groups in applying for funding with external bodies, by searching for suitable funding sources, providing information and quotations for work and assist with completing forms.
● Promote membership. Publish details of friends groups on the Council website and provide links to friends group’s websites
● Encouraged applications for Neighbourhood Grants through the Local Committee.
5. Committee report
Isobel updated the group on our activities in 2022 including:
- 40+ bags litter picked as well as sundry ponds, paint cans and bathroom suites
- 4 person committee formed
- 2,000 bulbs planted
- New website and Instagram presence
- 107 hours volunteered by 18 people
And shared topline plans for 2023:
- We’re in early stages of planning to take part in Sutton Parks Landscape Artist of the year
- We’re applying for neighbourhood funds for a notice board to share information about the park and wood
- We’ll continue to care for our park and wood, to deter fly tipping and keep it beautiful and wild
6. Treasurer’s report
Treasurer Hayley White updated that the group currently have no funds to report on but are in the process of opening a bank account in order to apply for some.
Kris and other members asked if we could run some fundraising events. All ideas are very welcome!
7. Questions
There were no questions
8. Electing the committee and resolutions
The committee were unanimously elected by show of hands
- Babs Guthrie (Chair
- Hayley White (Treasurer)
- Kris Leszkiewicz (Secretary)
- Isobel Harris (committee member)
There were no resolutions.
The meeting ended at 8.45pm. Thank you to everyone who came!
Friends of Poulter Park and Revesby Wood 