Agenda item

To consider and comment on the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust - Barlow Common Annual Report 2022 and the Wildlife Habitat Protection Trust - Hambleton Hough Annual Report 2022.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting David Powell from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) and Martin and Craig Blakey from the Wildlife Habitat Protection Trust (WHPT). Members were asked to consider the content of the 2021-22 annual reports and make any recommendations.

The Committee noted that Barlow Common had been leased out to the YWT since 1 March 2013 on a 99-year peppercorn agreement, and as part of the lease requirements YWT had to provide a site-specific, ten-year Management Plan, which was due for renewal in 2023.  The YWT reports annually to the Council on their activity.

Mr Powell advised Members that he had taken over the management of Barlow Common in April 2022, since that time he had been writing the new ten-year Management Plan, which would come into force from April 2023. Members heard that the new Plan had a more holistic approach to the management at the site in terms of the scrub control which aimed to support and boost some of the species that had been found to be present at Barlow Common.

Members noted that the site benefitted from a dedicated group of volunteers who had provided 449 hours of volunteer time in the past ten months, with the time focused on refreshing the picnic area tables and benches and path edges, litter picking, and repairs and widening to the footpaths across the site.

Members were informed that over the course of the next ten years the aim of the YWT was to positively manage the area of established and emerging woodland on the site, maintain the areas of integral open space as semi-natural, managed grassland and wildflower meadows, to create a mosaic effect; and maintain and enhance the open water habitats of the site, expanding them where possible. 

In relation to the pond at the south end of Barlow Common, Members heard that this pond had been restored as it had a length of boardwalk along it, therefore it was important for educational purposes.  Prior to the Covid pandemic local school children had attended the site; the YWT were working to promote and encourage the re-introduction of school visits. 

Finally, the YWT were exploring different funding options to help make better, sustainable use of the visitor centre building, which was in a very good condition, for example, to use as a café to offer refreshments from.

The Chair stated that he visited Barlow Common regularly and he felt that the site had improved noticeably, there was very little litter present, and that there was quite a lot of wildlife to be observed.  The Chair also requested that Mr Powell contact Members when promoting school trips as the Council may be able to help with the cost of the transport from the respective school to the site.

In terms of Hambleton Hough, the site had been leased out to the WHPT since 17 September 2012 on a 99-year peppercorn agreement lease; the WHPT also provided the Council with an annual report.  An initial ten-year Woodland Management Plan had been put in place for the site, this plan had now expired and would be renewed by the WHPT.

The Committee were informed that over the past 12 months the WHPT had concentrated its efforts on planting 4000 new trees and putting measures in place to control bracken and undergrowth to allow the new trees to grow and mature unhindered.  However, in April 2022, once all the site had finally been planted up to specification, a large section of Hambleton Hough had been destroyed by a fire.

Members were pleased to hear that the site had since been re-planted and re-staked and moving forward the WHPT would be monitoring the site, providing regular maintenance of the woodland to ensure all the paths were clear; and replacing any trees that did not survive the replanting.

Discussion took place regarding a number of complaints which the WHPT had received from local residents in Gateforth, Members heard that the complaints had been investigated but nothing had been substantiated. 

Members felt that Hambleton Hough was a lovely place which local people could reach easily by bicycle, with their families, for a cost-free day out and to start learning about the environment and wildlife.

RESOLVED:

The Committee noted the annual reports.