Berwick Wildlife Group

Present: : Fiona Aungier, Leslie Cook, Molly Hardie, Malcolm Hutcheson, John Inglis, Elizabeth Martin Fisher, John Rae, Enid Turnbull, M. Williams, Gill Young

Apologies:.

Items	Subject	Decisions to Make	Outcome
1	Minutes of last meeting	N.B. No meeting in August as little to discuss – draft agenda circulated for information	Minutes of July meeting accepted.
2	Matters arising not below	Discuss briefly.	None.
3	Royal Border Bridge	On Thurs 13th August JI discovered ecologists (www.whitcher-wildlife.co.uk) doing (another) bat survey under the RBB, commissioned by Amco who are "going to re-inforce the pillars of the bridge". Did not know of Ruth's (our) survey and "lighting brigade". Tim Kirton did not know of AMCO proposals. Letter sent to Whitcher Wildlife cc. Tim Kirton	Letter sent to Whitcher Wildlife cc.Tim Kirton on 21st.Aug. has received no reply. M Hardie proposed FA contact AMCO – to be persued. JI passed round info. leaflet on proposals for lighting RBB. Wildlife considerations appear to be being taken seriously.
4	Swifts in Tweedmouth	Letter to Network Rail and Housing Association still not drafted – have at least downloaded information.	Letter is in pipeline.
5	Governors Garden	Proposal to knock down buildings, although not apparently to rebuild yet – comments to be in by 17th Sept. LC has drafted letter.	Developer has applied for alteration of planning consent in order to knock down buildings, although not apparently to rebuild yet – comments to be in by 17th Sept. LC has drafted letter which was read to committee & which objected on grounds of disturbance to bats. Letter to be delivered to Wallace Green by hand before deadline.
6	Cocklawburn stiles and litter	Reply from Natural England.	Reply from Natural England in appreciation of BWG’s photographs, and of the mosses survey. They suggest BWG contact Tom Cadwallander re. upkeep of the site.
7	Recent events and surveys.	Butterflies. Only 2 more weeks to go. Do we continue at both sites? Can we get more helpers? Geology. Trip to Siccar Point with Ian Kille (for AONB) excellent. He is leading an outing for BWG on 11th October (Cocklawburn). Bats. Last batty meeting of year due 17th September. Another good year of meetings – thank you, Leslie and "bat group". Need to resolve identification of recorded sounds. Cocklawburn photography GY will be doing it soon (as soon as FA has time to help). Small Mammals Survey. Excellent catch in Tommy the Miller's (bank voles plus others). Plans for further survey there and at Cocklawburn week beginning 21st Sept. Whin and other grasslands. Have surveyed Oxford Pits (not outstanding) and Ewe Hill, Kyloe (excellent). Further work required in spring here, and other areas to investigate. Moths. A trapping evening organised by Barry Prater and NTS, 18th September, 7.30pm, St Abbs Reserve car park. If want to go phone 0844 493 2256. All BWG membership on line have been e-mailed. Seashore Safari on Holy Island with Jenny Prince. 19th September, 9.30. Beachwatch, 20th September, Little Beach and Pier Beach. Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) survey of lichens relating to air pollution. FA has attended "teach in" in Newcastle, has packs, instructions, etc. It would be nice if we could provide at least one, preferably several, records from Berwick area, e.g. Walls, Warkworth Terrace, Ord Drive – other suggestions? Sept, Oct and November. 24th October, migrants walk (JI and Malcolm).11th Nov., Aisling Lannin; Jan., Liza Cole; Feb., Phil Mclean, March Graham Bell ?details. Need to think about next summer's surveys.	Butterflies. Only 2 more weeks to go. M Hutcheson suggested surveying at 09.00 before cold breeze comes off sea. M Hardie suggested surveys at 09.00 and at 11.00 for comparison. Arrangements for 2010 to be decided later. Geology. Trip to Siccar Point with Ian Kille (for AONB) excellent. He is leading an outing for BWG on 11th October at Cocklawburn. Bats. Last batty meeting of year due 17th September at Fields House. Another good year of meetings – thank you, Leslie and "bat group". Need to resolve identification of recorded sounds shortly. Cocklawburn photography GY + FA to undertake Fri. 18th.Sept. Small Mammals Survey. Excellent catch in Tommy the Miller's (bank voles plus others). Plans for further survey there and at Cocklawburn week beginning 21st Sept. JR and others to set and monitor live traps. Whin and other grasslands. Have surveyed Oxford Pits (not outstanding) and Ewe Hill, Kyloe (excellent). Further work required in spring here, and other areas to investigate. Moths. A trapping evening organised by Barry Prater and NTS, 18th September, 7.30pm, St Abbs Reserve car park. If want to go phone 0844 493 2256. All BWG membership on line have been e-mailed. Seashore Safari on Holy Island with Jenny Prince. 19th September, 09.30. Park at Chare End. M Hardie has put out posters. Beachwatch, 20th September, Little Beach and Pier Beach. Meet at L.B. car park 10.00. JR to organise. Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) survey of lichens relating to air pollution. FA has attended "teach in" in Newcastle, has packs, instructions, etc., which she displayed. Oak ash & sycamore to be surveyed. Suggested sites were Walls, Warkworth Terrace, Ord Drive – other suggestions discussed. FA to organise for Oct and November. Sat 24th October, 10.00 a.m., migrants walk JI and M Hutcheson to lead, need posters with map showing location of Little Beach. Future Events: 11th Nov., Aisling Lannin; Jan., Liza Cole; Feb., Phil Mclean; also in Feb Estuary bird count, date (and fall-back) to be arranged, time 2.5 hrs before high tide;March Graham Bell (Siberian Dream – Ross's Gulls). Discussion on further suggestions for spring and summer events and surveys.
8	Casual records	These have been more numerous than ever this year (excellent!), and more easily processed thanks to JR and Malcolm's hard work (splendid!). Need to check we are not duplicating records (particularly bird, butterfly and bee records).	These have been more numerous than ever this year (excellent!), and more easily processed thanks to JR and M Hutcheson’s splendid hard work. Checks made to ensure wildlife records were not being duplicated – present system seems fine.
9	NTS/EMS/NE staff changes.	Kevin Rideout has left St Abbs. No replacement yet. Aisling Lannin is going from European Marine Site to Natural England. Her replacement at EMS will start soon	Kevin Rideout has left St Abbs. Sent BWG e-mail appreciating our work and wishing future success. No replacement yet. Aisling Lannin is going from European Marine Site to Natural England. Her replacement at EMS will start soon. Records of the Scottish Borders Biological Record Centre are moving to Lothian Wildlife Information Centre.
10	Opportunities for displays, etc.	Have had two recently which FA turned down. Can re-think! Opinions, please	Have had two recently which FA turned down as being outside our remit. We need to continue presence in appropriate areas.
11	Any other business	.	JR delivered report from squirrel group which continues excellent work. No signs of greys at Longridge Towers, but some squirrel activity near Chain Bridge. Monitoring group is being formed in Wooler. M Hutcheson noted NWT handing out squirrel literature at recent Berwick Food Festival.
12	Date/venue of next Meeting	21st October, then 18th November, 7.00pm at Castle. (7.00 @ The Castle Hotel).	.