Minutes 09/10/06

Minutes 11/07/06

Minutes 17/01/06

Present: Sue George, Joanna Randle, Stella Price, Chris Hammal, John Churchill, Chris Rance, Laurence George, Rob Spencer, Gil Butler, Toby Horwood.

Apologies: Jane Spears, Roger and Margaret Moreton.

1. Went over what has been achieved since the last meeting.

2. AGM

• Last years minutes were agreed.
• Treasures Report: We opened our bank account in June 2005 with the Co-op bank. 18/07/05 grant of £1139.85 from BVSC / B:cen. 20/10/05 grant of £2497.00 from Biffaward. Payments out 18/10/05 £102.58 Selco (wood), 14/11/05 £19.99 Argos (laminator pouches), 17/01/06 £11.86 for printing. Balance at 13/01/06 £3517.95. Interest earned £3.68 (since 20/10/05 when account exceeded £2000).
• The following people were elected; Chair : Joanna Randle, Secretary : Sue George, Treasurer : Chris Rance, Other Members : Rob Spencer, Chris Hammal, John Churchill, Gil Butler, Laurence George, Stella Price and Toby Horwood.

3. Future projects.

• The parks birthday picnic will be on Friday 19th May at 3.30. If the play area is finished before that we’ll open it on the same day but in the morning. Hopefully with music played by Raddlebarn’s orchestra.
• We may not have a ranger to support/advise us and supervise our work parties after the end of March. We felt that the work parties and other events that we hold are an essential part of this groups ethos and we will write a letter to our MP, etc. if necessary.
• We are going to look into the possibility of starting a toy library (balls, skipping ropes, etc.). The toys would be brought out as often as possible to be used by any children in the park, free of charge. We would need to expect that the toys would get lost and broken.
• We can apply for a £50 grant from CSV before June for tools and equipment to be used at our work parties.
• There is a problem with piles of mouldy and stale bread being left on the grass to feed the birds. Have a poster written in different languages on the notice board.
• The River Rea heritage trail is hoping to hold another event this summer but this time at Hazelwell Rec.
• We would like to extend this group to cover Selly Park Rec. And will discuss changes to the constitution at the next meeting.

4. Our next AGM will be on Tuesday 16th January 2007 8pm at 118 Gristhorpe Road.

Minutes 23/11/05

Present: Sue George, Joanna Randle, Stella Price, Chris Hammal, David Williams, John Churchill, G Stamer, Chris Rance, Laurence George, Rob Spencer.

Apologies: Sam Pote, John Randle.

1. Went over what has been achieved since the last meeting.
   • Benches and bins have been ordered.
   • We can have hazel and hawthorn whips to plant, BCC will pay not sure if they will arrive by the next work party.
   • We have 2500 daffodil bulbs to plant in the park, hopefully we will be able to organise for the school children to plant most of them. We will offer some of them to the new Ten Acres Residents Assoc. to plant round the new trees in Cherington Road.
   • The Section 106 money allocated to this park may be spent on a tarmac path near the electric substation joining Gristhorpe Road to the loop path.
   • There will be another meeting of local residents and Bournville councillors, trying to start a friends group for Hazelwell Rec.
2. We looked at various play area equipment catalogues and quotes. After a long discussion decided which items would be the most suitable.
   • The majority of the equipment we like is from Hags, they do a range called Unisteel for the older kids. Cone Climber, Multi Pondo and Buddy swing.
   • Sutcliffe Todlerzone multi-unit and cycle roundabout.
   • Wickstead talking flowers and swings (only one double junior swings if having a buddy swing).
3. A local resident came along to request that the trees in the park are inspected and pruned more regularly also that the leaves are removed from the ground quicker.
4. Next work party is Saturday 3rd December 11-3 to plant native trees in the dell.
   Our next meeting will be the AGM on Tuesday 17th January 2006 8pm at 118 Gristhorpe Road.
   Friends of Cotteridge park have their Carols by Candlelight on Friday 16th December 6pm.

Minutes 02/11/05

Present: Rob Spencer, Chris Hammal, Sue George, Darren Parkin, Laurence George, Chris Mansell, Gilbert Butler, Margaret Moreton, Roger Moreton, Joanna Randle.

Apologies: Sam Pote, Chris Rance, John Randle, David Williams, Stella Price, Marek Waliszewski.

1. Went over what has been achieved since the last meeting.
   • Centenary Picnic in May, Raddlebarn school children sang happy birthday in the park at the end of the school day. Many families stayed in the park afterwards. After an hour there were still about 120 people in the park.
   • We had a stall at the River Rea Heritage Trail launch event and helped on the BOSF stand at King's Heath garden show.
   • Have been attending: b:cen Selly Oak community network, Selly Oak ward committee and Selly Oak advisory board meetings.
   • Input into the new park strategy document and local priorities.
   • Mowing has been changed to grow a meadow.
   • Made two notice boards, built two sets of log steps, cut down more laurel, held a children's bug hunt and did a survey.
2. Grants Awarded: b:cen £1139.85 and Biffaward £4994.00.
   • £20 printing costs (5p per copy). Have printed just over 100 pages since January.
   • £156.79 Historical Interpretation Panel. Almost ready to be printed, just waiting for a few more pictures.
   • £159.13 Notice boards. Spent £102.58 on materials and £4.99 on a graffiti remover spray. They were installed in October and have already needed graffiti to be removed. It was agreed that the rest of the notice board money could be spent on a laminator if necessary.
   • £803.93 Brochures. Received a quote for A4 double sided, full colour, 150gsm recycled paper and vegetable inks £375 for 4000. But we need to supply artwork. Decided to wait till play area is refurbished in March so a photo can be included. The brochures could be sent to libraries, visitor centres, etc.
   • £4994.00 for Benches, litter bins and dog bins. It was decided that it would be a good idea to treat all the items with anti graffiti paint before installation. We chose black and green cast iron benches with the dates 1905 and 2005 at the ends, two green picnic benches and black and gold litter bins.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. There is money for the play area to be refurbished and extended. Four playground suppliers have been asked to quote. The area is to be one third 0-5 year olds, two thirds 5-11 year olds, with a soft surface and extra swings. Once the quotes have been received will have a public consultation meeting in Raddlebarn School.
4. Future projects:
   • Keep working on removing the laurel, plant the trees that we are already growing in our gardens and try to get hold of more hawthorn and hazel whips.
   • Have an event or work party publicised in the 'Out & About' brochure for Jan-June 2006.
   • When the current play area fence is removed we can have it to replace the old one that runs along the main path.
   • Mike Hodder might be able to help with info for the history panel.
   • Raddlebarn School are planning for the 'opening' of their new school gates, the children will do activities in the park.
   • The possibility on new tarmac paths in the park.
5. Have not arranged a date for playground consultation meeting.
   Next work party Saturday 3rd December 11-3 to plant native trees in the dell.

Minutes 22/03/05

Present: Rob Spencer, David Williams, Sue George, Laurence George, Gilbert Butler, Joanna Randle.

Apologies: Sam Pote, Chris Hammal, Chris Rance, John Randle, Stella Price.

1. Went over what has been achieved since the last meeting.
   • Joanna is now part of The Birmingham Open Spaces Steering Committee. The forum is wanting to support park friends groups, increase membership and produce a beginners pack detailing how to start a community group and sources of funding.
   • Oakdale have been approached on the subject of graffiti again.
   • Local timber merchant are currently deciding if they are able to give up the materials to make two notice boards. If notice boards go ahead a teacher from Raddlebarn has volunteered to paint 'Friends of Muntz Park' across the top.
   • A local historian has agreed to write the text for a history board and a sign makers has agreed to make it for us free of charge.
   • At the last work party we discovered that we have an area on Japanese Knot Weed. We will seek advise on how to deal with it.
   • We have a list of approved native trees that would like the conditions in our park: Field Maple (Acer campestre), Hazel (Corylus avellana), Hawthorn (Cratageous monogyna), Pendunculate/English Oak (Quercus robur), Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea), Elder (Sambucus nigra), Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Wild Cherry (Prunus avium).
2. The River Rea Heritage Trail Launch is at Kings Norton Playing Fields on Easter Monday 28th March. We have a table to display info about the group. We will be selling 150 ml Palms Hand cleansers for £1 with 50p going into our funds. The event is 10am-4pm.

   10.00 am Start
   10.30 am Rubber Duck Race on River Rea
   11.00 am Lord Mayor's Visit
   12 noon Rubber Duck Race on River Rea, Guided history walk (George Demidowicz) to Lifford 1hr.
   12.15 pm 'Knights training' by historical re-enactors
   1.00 pm Rubber Duck Race on River Rea
   2.00 pm Rubber Duck Race on River Rea, Guided history walk (Dr Mike Hodder) towards Wychall 1hr.
   3.00 pm Rubber Duck Race on River Rea
   4.00 pm Conclusion

3. Centenary Picnic on 20th May will be 3.30 onwards. We will invite local residents, parents and children and teachers from both schools to bring a picnic after school on the Friday. Play some traditional games like skipping, hopscotch, rounders and skittles. There will be no charge to attend.
4. We have wildlife/tree survey cards from Ecorecord to fill in. We need volunteers with specific knowledge to take on a particular card i.e. trees, birds, animals.
5. Will apply for a b-cen grant (the closing date is 31st March) for new benches, bins, dog bins and printing costs for advertising the group locally.
6. Local parents have asked for the play area to be extended and the children want undergrowth to play in.
7. Have not arranged a date for the next meeting.

Minutes 22/02/05

Present: Rob Spencer, Chris Hammal, David Williams, Sue George, Marek Waliszewski, Laurence George, Gilbert Butler, John Randle, Joanna Randle, Stella Price.

Apologies: Sam Pote, David Peach, Chris Rance.

1. Went over what has been achieved since the last meeting. Bench tops in play area have been replaced, the bird boxes made at Raddlebarn have been put up. We had a litter pick and borrowed a chipper so we could remove more of the laurel. Service Team have been in the park for about two weeks pruning the laurel. Some of the group have also been to other friends group events, clearing rubbish along the River Rea and Wychall Reservoir.
2. Sue George and Chris Rance went to a council organised meeting to talk about the new Birmingham parks strategy document.
3. For the park centenary on 20th May we have decided that we don’t have time to apply for grants for bouncy castles or face painting. So we will just invite all the children from both schools to bring a picnic after school on the Friday. Play some traditional games like skipping, hopscotch, rounders and skittles.
4. We discussed how we would like the park to develop and what could we do to help. The main points that were decided were:
   • Cut down the remaining laurel, at the bottom of the dell.
   • Do a wildlife/tree survey this year.
   • Carry on with clearing rubbish, every February, June, October and whenever we do other supervised work.
   • Paint the play area if we are provided with equipment and supervision.
   • Continue the loop path to Gristhorpe and Umberslade Roads, with bark edged with logs if possible. Make some wooden steps (like the sort at the Lickey's) down into the dell. Perhaps a bark path around the dell.
   • Continue to ask for new benches (not in play area) and bins.
   • See if we can get local timber suppliers to give us the materials to make two notice boards, to advertise our and other local events and display information on local history and wildlife.
   • A few of us have native trees in our gardens that we will see if we can plant in the park by mid-march. There is also charity that give away native trees to other groups. Raddlebarn school received loads of free plants from them a few years ago. Stella will check if they have anything suitable. We also decided that we would get a list of suitable trees together so that we could have a go at growing our own.
5. The next meeting is on Tuesday 22nd March 2005 at 118 Gristhorpe Road, 8pm.
   Birmingham Open Spaces next meet at the MAC on Saturday 12th March at 10.30am.
   Try to arrange a work party/start wildlife survey on 19th March.

Since the meeting:

• We can cut down the remaining laurel, at the bottom of the dell once the birds have finished nesting.
• There is a web site called Ecorecord which sends out free survey cards and keeps the results in their records.
• We can’t be supervised on 19th of March and it’s too late to be putting trees in. But we can move it earlier to 5th or 6th March.
• We’ve been invited to the launch of the new River Rea Heritage Trail on Easter Monday 28th March at Kings Norton Playing Fields.

Minutes 18/01/05

Present:Marek Waliszewski, David Peach, Darren Parkin, David Williams, Sue George, John Churchill, Laurence George, Gillbert Butler, John Randle, Joanna Randle, Chris Rance.

Apologies: Sam Pote, Rob Spencer, Chris Hammal.

1. Everyone introduced themselves and spoke briefly about why they are interested in FMP.
2. Joanna talked about the activities she has been involved in over the last few months, representing the park. Setting up a web site www.sellygreen.co.uk/park/park.htm, organising a litter pick in October and 16 new trees and 30 hazel whips planted, working with Raddlebarn Primary school to plant daffodil bulbs and make bird boxes to be put in the park. Met with Simon Cooper (Area Parks Manager) to discuss any improvements they could make, new equipment, etc. Attended Birmingham Open Spaces Forum with Chris Rance.
3. Constitution was read and agreed, nominations were taken for committee members. The committee for this year is:
   • Chair : Joanna Randle
   • Secretary : Sue George
   • Treasurer : Chris Rance
   • Other Members : Sam Pote/Rob Spencer, Chris Hammal, Marek Waliszewski, David Williams, John Churchill, Gillbert Butler, Laurence George, John Randle.
4. We decided to not have a membership fee, and only open a bank account if we apply for any grants or receive any donations.
5. The next meeting is on Tuesday 22nd February 2005 at 118 Gristhorpe Road, 8pm.
   • The next event is a litter pick on Saturday 12th February 2005 1-3pm.
   • Birmingham Open Spaces next meet at the MAC on Saturday 12th March at 10.30am.
   • There is a conservation work party on Saturday 22nd of January 2005 for the River Rea meeting at Hazelwell Road, Stirchley at 11am.
6. We talked about how to celebrate the parks centenary in May 2005, and whether we can get a grant. Contact local press to advertise this event. We will talk more about this at the next meeting.
7. We discussed how we would like the park to develop and what could we do to help. The main points that were decided were:
   • Cut down laurel, replace over time with less dense native shrubbery e.g. Hazel. Have a work party to do this look at using a shredder and chain saw. Turn the dell into a nature area, encouraging wildlife, hoping to create a meadow area with mown grass paths. Create a bird feeding station.
   • Carry on with clearing rubbish, every February, June and October. Find out what the current contract is for cleaning the park.
   • Paint the play area if we are provided with equipment.
   • Talked about the possibility of exchanging manpower for equipment.
   • Have the loop path continued to Gristhorpe and Umberslade Roads.
   • New benches and bins. Have notice boards to advertise our and other local events and display information on local history and wildlife.