Berwick Wildlife Group

Present: Fiona Aungier, Leslie Cook, Molly Hardie, Malcolm Hutcheson, John Inglis, John Rae, Enid Turnbull, M. Williams.

Apologies:

Items	Subject	Decisions to Make	Outcome
1	Minutes of last meeting	Agreed?	Apologies from FA for somehow getting wrong spelling of JI's name on agenda, yet again.
2	Matters arising not below	Discuss briefly.	Bat Event excellent, thanks to LC. Was thought that family with children never returned because of charging. It was agreed in future, at all meetings, not to charge for children under 16 (must in any case be accompanied by paying adult).
3	Recent/forthcoming events.	Outdoor meetings. Big Bat Event Thurs 14th August. Third 2008 Butterfly Walk . 24th Aug at Cocklawburn, 10.30. Bat meetings, 28th Aug (Parade at 8.00) and 11th Sept (Palace Green at 8.00). Sunday September 14th, Squirrels in the Forest. Blawearie Cottages, 1.30pm. Sept 20th, Little Beach litter. Time?	Butterflies, Cocklawburn, 24th August – in hand. Bat meetings 28th Aug and 11th Sept, Palace Green( LC away, will give FA detectors). 14th Sept, Squirrels in Forest, need posters. Beach Litter Survey 20th Sept – 10.00am. JR not there, FA perhaps not, ET to organise (no need to collect extra litter pickers from Council). As apparently few beach litter surveys in Northumberland, agreed we should continue with September survey (done nationally) but give up other quarters as have 2 years' data and little change. Review if situation alters. LC suggested Bat meeting 25th Sept. be held in Castle Vale. FA to alert Margaret Shaw of CARA. Also 2 bat boxes and 2 bird boxes available, might be sited here? FA to check with M Shaw and BBC. Oct 4th – migrating birds. Oct 8th – birds of the Farnes (FA check). 12th November , Kevin Rideout, FA to confirm with him. 10th Dec. Richard Wales on Big Cats (in hand).
4	Further events.	We have some fixed up, lots of suggestions, needs discussion to sort it all out. (Provisonal Prog. attached).	14th Jan – Berwick is Brilliant. Hire projector. Get invitations to Councillors, etc. out in good time. JR to put slide show together (send pictures, or to FA for scanning). 11th Feb – Ian Kille – local geology (FA to contact). Estuary survey on 7th or 21st Feb, 10.00am start. 11th March – talk by Gill Young – hire projector. Lichen walk with Janet Simkin – ? late March – FA to arrange. April – squirrel walk? JR to check with Elizabeth B. May – 9th/10th. BSBI Presidential meeting with farm trip to examine non-native trees? FA to check if can join with them for excursion. June – walk in Goody Patchy with Maurice McNeely. June-July – evening tree walks in town led by M Hutcheson – identify unusual trees – can measure/evaluate later. Green Festival in June/July. Other summer activities – bees in Tommy the Millers? Also other insects surveys (Make dates early)? A plant/flower walk (suggestions)? Late summer – seashore trip (?Holy Island) with Jenny Prince? JR to ask her. 2009 BTO Atlas square – Oxford area – MH will survey, FA will e-mail details to all so can accompany if wish. October – early, migrants as before, plus perhaps geological walk with Ian Kille late Oct? November – Aisling Lannin, marine pollution, 11th December – possibly Phil McLean – FA to contact.
5	Squirrel Group	Report (I have a written one from Elizabeth – others please contribute).	SoS are surveying Detchant and area along Till; are planning workshop end September; had excellent family day East Ord; walk in Kyloe for BWG 14th Sept; Richard Wales now Red Squirrel Officer for S. Scotland; also new grey control officers for Northumberland.
6	Grants, etc	Three Rivers Housing – money in – more pics of people doing things needed. Northern Gas Networks – 2008 grant application? Sept. deadline. Fill and send? Money from Save our Squirrels – for squirrel work?	Three Rivers Housing have sent us £200. Pictures of people on wildlife outings to hand on from JR (bees) and Elizabeth B (squirrels) – more would be good. Northern Gas Networks: FA to put in grant application for bat detector and tree tapes. Money from Save our Squirrels now in BWG account. Agreed priority use for squirrel-related things.
7	Membership list	Update (please, Enid).	Funds up on last year (when only just enough to cover vital expenses).
8	Any Other Business	.	JI saw people ?surveying plants at Yarrow Slake. JI to contact Phil Davey. M Hutcheson concerned about jet skis on Estuary, especially when swans and other birds moulting. He will contact Do Shaw in first place. We need to try and get protection on Estuary.
9	Date/venue of next Meeting	Wednesday 17th Sept, Castle – is anyone going to be here? Next is 15th October.	.