Sustainable Warminster
Minutes of Annual General Meeting
7pm, 10 September 2025 at Warminster Civic Centre.
Present: Amy Darbyshire (chair), Rebecca Krzyzosiak (note-taker), Helen Martin (treasurer), Jennie Gilling (Committee member), Clare Hancock, Dennis Brett, Marion Barton, Maggie Richens, Max Richens, Chris Walford (membership), Barb Dodd.
- Welcome
The meeting unanimously agreed on the minutes of the previous meeting. - Chairs’ Report: a review of the year
Column and comms
- We now have a bi-weekly column in the revived Warminster Journal.
- We’ve introduced improved communications for our members through regular email updates.
Campaigns
Toad Patrol - The meeting discussed the ongoing efforts to protect toads crossing roads, including creating leaflets and conducting door-to-door campaigns. The key to helping the community better understand the campaign is through education.
- Where toads were able to mate successfully in the Spring, the babies are now
migrating back over the road due to the wet/warm weather. More people have joined the Toad Patrol group, as there has been a lot of profiling of toad activity on social media. - There continue to be challenges with dangerous drivers.
- Amy has arranged an interview with BBC Radio Wiltshire about the baby toads
crossing roads.
Actions: - Amy and Rebecca ask the town council if there is a possibility of installing yellow slower lines, speed watch or rumble strips across the carriageway to deter reckless driving and reduce the speed of vehicles using this route.
- Amy to explore whether we can purchase body cameras for Toad Patrollers.
- Amy to provide Clare some leaflets to dispense at the nature reserve car park.
Plan Bee
Pollination Street has been a huge success.
A sub-group is working on a project to expand wildflower planting to identify new areas. There are ongoing challenges in maintaining wildflower meadows, as well as the role of volunteers in this effort.
- Where dogs foul in wildflower meadows, this means the wildflower cuttings are
compromised, as livestock that consume the cuttings (which farmers want in return for their services) can abort their calves, so farmers are not interested in providing cutting services. Local businesses are charging a substantial amount per cut, making it difficult to maintain these areas.
Actions: - Amy and Rebecca explore any abandoned flowerbeds in the town to see if any
can be utilised to grow wildflowers; there are some shaded species which might
be suitable for such locations. - Amy and the wildflower sub-group will update the meeting when there is news
about a meeting with a local housing association where land may be suitable for
wildflower planting.
Smallbrook Nature Reserve Mural
Clare provided the update: - The mural is all finished. It’s been covered with anti-graffiti paint.
- Tanya is working on a board with a key of all the animals which live in the nature reserve, saying what they are.
- A big thanks to all the people who have donated.
- The mural has become a tourist destination for walking groups to visit.
Actions: - Clare to write a column for the paper about the finished mural and the animals
living in the nature reserve.
Rivers and waterways - Sustainable Warminster is establishing a Rivers and waterways subgroup to monitor and campaign for the health of our local rivers and water systems in and around the town.
- Four people have joined the group now. There are plans for the weekend of 19th-21st September to test local rivers and waterways to coincide with a national water health campaign. Much work is being done quietly behind the scenes for this work.
Actions:
Amy, update the next meeting on the work we are doing with the Wessex Rivers
Trust and water testing.
Amy and Iain consider writing a column update for the local paper about the
health of local rivers.
Collaborations
We continue to work with Warminster Town Council, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the MOD, the Community Orchard, and others, e.g., the Wessex Rivers Trust.
We greatly appreciate the support and funding we have received from various sources.
The meeting discussed the World Clean Up day being led by town councillor Jack Jones on 20th September, starting at 10am.
Events
October 2024 – March 2025: Energy Advice Tea Parties and Warm and Well Energy Advice events, at the Warminster Civic Centre.
April 2025: Warminster’s Great British Spring Clean, town-wide community litter-pick; a collaboration with Warminster Town Council.
An illustrated wildflower talk by Paul Jupp of Meadow in my Garden, at the Warminster Civic Centre.
June 2025: Sustainable Style clothes swap & shop, at The Wellbeing Hub, Warminster.
July 2025: Pollination street celebration.
August 2025: A thank you Cream Tea in the Community Orchard for our Energy Advice Event volunteers.
Imber ‘Buzz Day’ with Plan Bee.
Thank yous
A big thanks to Clare Hancok, who organises the Green Drinks throughout the year.
Amy and Rebecca extended their thanks and gratitude to the Committee. Jennie and Helen have been very supportive and wonderful mentors – so thank you again.
- Membership Report
Chris reported a rise in new members: 12 new members since the last AGM. - Treasurer’s Report
Maggie Richens agreed to audit the accounts.
The report shows a decrease in the general fund from the last AGM, with donations helping to offset expenses.
Balances as of 31st August 2025:
Current Account £384.54
Savings Account £6924.73
Petty Cash £79.60
Total £7388.87*
*Retrofit £4108.38
*Plan Bee £1546.96
The General Fund is £1733.53, with an overall total of £7388.87
Actions:
- Chris to follow up with Harriet on the reporting requirements for the retrofit
grant/funding. - The Committee to consider how best to use the remaining funds for the retrofit
grant/funding.
- Continuing Roles and Election of Officers
Everyone in the committee is happy to continue in their roles as they currently are.
Amy and Rebecca have dual roles. Amy, the press officer and Co-Chair, and Rebecca, the Secretary and Co-Chair. Rebecca also supports Amy with the comms and the Warminster Journal Column.
We are looking for someone to take over the secretary role. A request to the entire membership has been sent out, but so far, no one has come forward.
Action:
Rebecca to advertise the role on dedicated volunteer platforms, e.g., Wiltshire Together and others across Wiltshire. - AOB
- A sub-group is working on a project to expand wildflower meadows.
- Maggie and Max updated the meeting about the idea of setting up a community
energy project, similar to NADA in Tisbury, to distribute locally generated renewable
energy.
Actions: - Chris to reach out to the NADA Community Energy group to see if they would be
interested in giving a talk. - Jennie to schedule a talk by Steve Tonkin on dark skies, potentially in November.