Category: Community (Warminster)

Minutes of a General Meeting of Sustainable Warminster held at Warminster Civic Centre on Tuesday 27th February 2024, 7pm:

Apologies: Jennie Gilling, Colin French, Tim Hancock, Amelia ap Ellis, Barbara Dodd, Fiona Stafford.

Present: 12 Attendees. Chair – Maggie Richens. Minutes – Heidi Dawson-Hobbis.

1 Matters Arising. No actions.

2 Membership Resort. Currently 79 members – 48 female, 31 male.

3 Treasurer’s Report. Current balance £2694.57. The Toad Party made a profit of £179.12. Included in the bank balance is a grant from St. Giles Church, Imber, which will be used for plants in connection with Plan Bee.

4 Details of the Environment and Sustainability Event on 23rd March. No more information had been seen prior to the meeting but Maggie had received an email this evening about participation, stating the event will run from 12 – 4pm. It was discussed that we should focus on biodiversity for a stall – toads, bats, and bees, and a meeting to arrange this was to be scheduled.

5 Great British Spring Clean (Litter Pick) on 23rd March. The litter pick will be highlighted on Facebook and runs between 10am – 12pm, drop into the Civic Centre to pick up equipment.

6 Green Homes Event. The Green Homes Event runs from 9th March for two weeks with the Wiltshire Climate Alliance. Individuals have agreed to open their homes to the public at set times to educate on changes that can be made. Jules will be opening her home up and has invited everyone to visit. Sign up on the website at https://wwb.greenopenhomes.net/wiltshire-and-swindon-green-open-homes-292 Jules also agreed that she was happy to write an article for the Warminster Journal.

7 Toad Patrol Report and Review of the Toad Party event. This event went very well with lots of publicity for the toads, and toad patrol gaining new members, now up to 75, and included more children. The event was so popular that there was a queue of people to get in and some had to wait for half an hour, so a bigger event space is likely to be needed if we run again. Harriet had publicised to the local primary schools and on Facebook, and 465 people attended. It was noted that a microphone would be useful for future events and Maggie mentioned that she might have one she could donate. Regarding the road closure the Council are still stating the idea the Council put forward of a fence and Iain had discussed with the Clerk of the Town Council why this was not a good idea. Iain and Harriet will bring up the plight of the toads. Rachel has asked for any photographs to be taken of dead toads so she can make up a book of condolence. It was also commented that the BBC have been very supportive, and that Wiltshire Wildlife Trusts have also visited the Reserve and have been asked to write to the Council. Harriet said she would contact Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy to see if they will contribute to protecting our toads. Suggestions were made that funding could be useful for banners for the roadside (potentially with statistics of deaths), badges to wear to promote the group. It was also noted that the road counter data showed that many drivers broke the 30mph speed limit so there could be a push to get the road changed to 20mph limit.

8 Condition of River Wylye update. Iain stated that there is an issue with the Wylye becoming quite milky in places reflected an increase in silt, this appears to be coming from the area of the Jubilee Gardens development, with soil stripping a possible cause. He asked that people take photos if they see the river looking milky and inform the Environment Agency.

9 Wiltshire Wildlife Trust report on the Warminster Park Lake. This had not been seen yet but will likely be on the Council’s agenda at their next meeting. It was suggested that planted coir floats could be used to aid wildlife to escape from the lake, as at presently there is no way for hedgehogs, toads, etc., to get out of the steep sided lake. Await the findings of the report.

10 Talk on Hedgehogs. No progress to report currently.

11 Carbon Literacy Training. Jen Gale has offered carbon literacy training to the group with a cost of £10 for each certificate. Jules will contact Jen to arrange some potential dates and possible venue.

12 Longleat Walk. Maggie will contact Jim McConkie to discuss areas, numbers, etc.

13 Green Drinks for April. Suggested that the next one will be at the Fox & Hounds on Monday 8th April at 7.30pm.

14 Any Other Business. Next general meeting date to be 17th April. Heidi to book the room.