January 12th 2025

Written By Hannah Hulme Hunter

Attendees

Alex Cruickshank (AC - BBOWT – Chair) Pat Stone (PS - BVHC), Dave Munson (DM - Common Volunteers), Roger Stone (RS - Friends of Brill Common), Emi Slater (ES - Brill Parish Council – Common Rep), Tim Patrick (TP), James Tuffley (JT - Brill Parish Council), Jon Cable, Fiona Bennett-Meere (Wildlife & Community Ranger)

Bobs Damerell (BD – Minutes), 

Apologies: Christine Bailey (CB – BVCH), 

Matters Arising

It was confirmed that the First Aid Kit for the Common Volunteers has arrived

Report from Wildlife & Community Ranger

    • FB-M confirmed that the Risk Assessment is currently being drafted.

    • An Inventory of the tool list has been completed and currently assessing what new tolls will be required.

    • The fencing at Hybanks has been assessed and what needs to be done. A temporary fence has been put up along the boundary for the short term

    • FB-M to draft a monthly article for the Parish Council Newsletter

    • The Ranger to also link with former work partners including BBOWT and Wildlife Trust

    • The Ranger has also been linking with the school to help with Forest School Sessions.

Report from the Common Volunteers

    • Areas B2, S40, S7, S1 and the Copse by the pond have been completed. Work still needs to be done on S21 & S20

    • The is still some bramble clearance to be done on the triangle on South Hills

    • The new hedge trimmer has been purchased and goggles provided to users

    • The Commander Mower has received approval for an service from the Parish Council

    • DM confirmed that he would be standing down from leading the Common Volunteers in February after which JT has agreed to lead the group.

Report from TP

    • The goats are on a schedule moving around the Common and are currently at B4

    • The plan is to have a mixture of cutting and grazing of the brambles.

    • Once the brambles are cut the goats will then eat and graze the newer growth

    • TP & JT to remove the sycamore at S19/S20

FOBC Report

    • RS confirmed that the groups work has been hampered by the weather

    • The Brambles at S42 has been cleared to the ground

    • It was agreed for Tim Ludlow to carry out the flailing at S18

    • Tim Ludlow has also cleared B11, B6, S42

    • The sycamore has been felled at S16 and needs the stump ground

    • Tim Ludlow to also flail the Sycamores at S18.

    • The Hazels to be coppiced and pollarded.

    • The group agreed to inform the group if there is a suggested change to the schedule and to provide as much notice to FBM

Encroachment

The following area was raised as possible encroachment: 20 Church Street

Hybanks

TL & FBM to clear the fallen trees along the fence line and install the new fence

HLS Agreement 

    • It was confirmed that the agreement, due to end on 31 December 2025, had been granted a one year extension.

    • The Council to apply for the SFI scheme in June 2026 once the scheme re-opens.

    • Aspire is scheduled to cut the grass in the walks.

Next meeting

April 13th 2026 at 5pm

Hannah Hulme Hunter
Next

September 15th 2025