Berwick Wildlife Group

Present: Fiona Aungier, Leslie Cook, John Inglis, Enid Turnbull, M. Williams.

Apologies: John Rae, Elizabeth Bamford, Molly Hardie, Malcolm Hutcheson

By invitation: Gillian Simmonds of BBLSP.

Items	Subject	Decisions to Make	Outcome
1	Minutes of last meeting	Agreed?	Agreed following amendment: that JR had asked that updated membership lists be circulated to all committee members.
2	Matters arising not below	Discuss briefly.	none.
3	BBLSP	Discussion with Gillian Simmonds re. Refreshed Community Plan and the (natural) environment.	FA welcomed Gillian Simmons of BBLSP who told members that the Community Plan was being ‘refreshed’ prior to the change to a unitary authority so that progress could forge ahead. More than 300 consultation documents had been either posted out or made available in public places, but only 26 responses had been received!! GS talked on the changes to local government, future of BBLSP and role of consultation bodies in the future. Nature Conservation Action Plan has now been changed to include designated areas as well as Berwick within a county-wide remit. A mechanism should be included to enable the new authority to set up Community Forums which could advise on specific areas of concern. The Masterplan has moved to its second format with a consultation period after 2nd.May. There will be a major publicity campaign. Gillespies no longer leading the project, it is now KSA. FA asked for clarification of ‘conservation' and 'environment’ in the document as it was ambiguous. GS agreed to change it to conserving ‘ecology of the natural environment’. LC said that Community Councils in Scotland were working well. GS replied thatnew Community Forums are to be set up to ensure all planning applications are widely notified to the public and groups. Plans will eventually be available on the internet. GS noted various other suggestions from the group (e.g. nature conservation not only near the Nat. Park) and said she would include them in the Refreshed Community Plan. FA thanked GS for her contribution to the meeting.
4	Recent/forthcoming events.	Indoor meetings. David Rollo. Next is AGM (7th May) with JR's talk. Dec. 08 talk? Outdoor meetings. Spring walk at Plantation, Sat. 5th April. Led by group members – who will be there? Displays. BOG potato day at Kelso – thanks.	Indoor meetings. David Rollo’s talk was excellent. Microphone would have helped. Extremely high turnout. AGM is 7th May, speaker John Rae December Talk to be given by Richard Wales on 10th. Subject tba. LC to check availability of hall. Outdoor meetings. Spring walk at Plantation, Sat. 5th April. Led by group members. JI offered to cover ‘birds’ if he is available. Displays. BOG potato day at Kelso very well attended. Lots of interest in BWG memberships.
5	Surveys	Squirrel surveys – brief report please. Beach Litter 13th March. Butterflies (T the M and Cocklawburn) begin Tuesday April 1st Summer Birds 4th May. Membership of squirrel/butterfly groups. BBC/Woodland Trust want records.	Squirrel surveys – 3 transects completed. Feeders have been installed in Plantation with BBC permission. Beach Survey. High tides had left Little Beach clean, but the Pier Road site was badly polluted. Two new helpers came. Butterflies (T the M and Cocklawburn) begin Tuesday April 1st. Cocklawburn - one group to start with; 3 groups for T the M. Summer Birds 4th May. Membership of squirrel/butterfly groups, ET and Molly H to be the named members. BBC/Woodland Trust wants records. Item carried forward to next meeting. Sarah Dulwich of RSPB wants volunteers to survey on a farm at Beal. JI, JR, Malcolm H to be asked.
6	Grants	Morrisons and Northern Gasworks. Progress. Ideas, please.	FA – Northern Gasworks grants 2008 not yet on stream. Verbal offer of £50 from Morrisons for litter pickers etc (spent already).
7	Goody Patchy	Keeping us informed.	Ross Weddell says Network Rail land above it to be sold. Is earmarked for industrial use.
8	Cittaslow	Shrub planting.	Tub planting to be carried out in Marygate.
9	Tesco	We have not done anything yet……we should	We havn't done anything yet. Need to make suggestions re. planting on site.
10	Cocklawburn Dunes Possible Cattle Erosion	Meeting with Steve Pullen, Jo Wilkinson, JI & FA re. fixed pt photos, etc.	Following meeting with Natural England, FA, Malcolm H & EB to do fixed point photos thrice yearly to record erosion and vegetation change. Currently vegetation looks good. Also do butterfly transect, and record any Pirri-pirri Burr.
11	Any Other Business	.	Wagtails, Tappee Fen. FA now has all data on computer up to 2007.Committee would like to thank Plilomena Johnson for observing and recording wagtails almost daily throughout the year. JR said it highlights what motivated individuals can achieve, and it is a powerful piece of work that emphasises the importance of very small green/wildlife areas in the urban environment.
13	Date/venue of next Meeting	Wednesday 16th April – then Wed 21st May.	.