April 13th 2026
Attendees
Alex Cruickshank (AC - BBOWT – Chair) Pat Stone (PS - BVHC), Roger Stone (RS - Friends of Brill Common), 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
Encroachment near 30 Church Street to be raised with the Parish Council
Clearance of trees by TP
Report from Wildlife & Community Ranger
FB-M confirmed that she had been working well and linking with each group
Thanks to TP and JT for all hard work on trees and help putting up fences.
The glade by the pond has been cleared
The fence in Hybanks is in progress and now just waiting for the wire
Currently exploring funding for newt conservation and restoration of the ponds
The Hedgehog talk has been scheduled for April 29th 2026
There is also a talk on Swifts in the pipeline
Information boards – any ideas from the groups etc / locations would be welcome
Report from the Common Volunteers
The bramble clearance has been completed including the area by the windmill with the assistance of TP.
The group have cleared by Hector’s lane and Span Green.
Tidying under the power lines has taken place allowing the vegetation to grow
Next work will be sycamore sapling pulling
The Commander mower has been confirmed as written off by Tracmaster
Report from TP
TP confirmed that the goats have been moved to North Hills
TP has helped the Common Volunteers with tree removal and bramble clearance
FOBC report
RS confirmed that S42 has been completed.
The group is hoping to flail around S18.
The first aid kit has been received.
BVCH
The Common is looking good
North Hills grass had late growth and is looking very good and there hasn’t been any need to purchase any hay.
TB testing will be taking place on May 12th
Next move is likely at the end of May – early June, and likely to be south Hills
Spring / Summer Plan
The focus will be on Himalayn Balsam removal and ragwort pulling
The group need to have a method for the disposal of Ragwort
The group to arrange a Ragwort Pulling day
Encroachment
Any new areas to bring to the Parish Council
Springfiled Cottage
Grass cutting on the Common, need to establish and clarify the Council’s position
HLS Agreement / SFI
The Council has entered into another annual HLS agreement for 2026. This is to allow for further information to be disseminated to the Council for a longer term agreement starting in 2027.
The Group expressed unanimous support to apply for a new HLS agreement including a capital works for scrub clearance with an investigation into the value of including Span Green.
The Walks
Grass cutting -The Council is exploring options for cutting the grass in the Walks
AOB
Virtual fencing – The group was unanimous in its support to recommend the Parish Council investigate the usage of virtual fencing in the village
Cows in the Walks – potentially look at possibilities at the next meeting
Electric Bikes - The group expressed its concerns over electric bikes on North Hills and dogs and to bring this to the attention of the Parish Council
Possible new dog poo bins – The group to recommend possible new locations for additional dog bins
January 12th 2026
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