Meeting/AGM – Monday 1st June 2015

Just to confirm the meeting and AGM on Monday 1st June at Upper Marshes, Catherton Common, DY14 0JJ (a location map below).

Please attend and also encourage any other local riders to come along. We need more support from local riders and users of the bridleways!

Any contributions towards drinks and nibbles will be appreciated if you could bring something along.

Let me or John know if you are able (or not able) to attend.

Hope to see you on Monday.

 

 

 

map-upper-marshes

Next Meeting/AGM – 1st June 2015

Next meeting date combined with AGM has been proposed as Monday 1st June. Proposed venue Mannerly Mutts HQ at Chris’s house (Upper Marshes).

Please let me or John know if you are able to make this date or if you would prefer an alternative.

Other news-

Work party Chris, Pete, Jackie, Kay, Clare and Arthur cleared back the smaller overhanging brambles,branches etc. from route C – Detton end. John had already done a good job clearing the larger branches and re-hanging the gate on the permissive route field.

John has put in a request to Shropshire Council for some stone to be used on this route. Tim Simmonds will look into planning their support for this plus other projects at an internal meeting they are having in next couple of weeks. We will need to chase Tim for some info prior to the AGM.

Meeting 28th April 2015

Present: John, Steve, Yvonne, Kay, Chris

Improvements/Work Parties

Route C – Detton Prescott

Steve and John have improved route C from Detton end down to brook (see previous post). This now urgently needs work on the overgrown hedge on the left going down the hill before it gets too bad. This will be removing the longer overhanging small branches using loppers, secateurs. There is space to leave the cut brashings in the hedge.

Also need to move the old bench which was dumped in way of gate

Work Party Friday 8th May Route C

Meet Detton end at 6:30pm. Bring  loppers, secateurs and gloves.

 

Route F- Crammer Gutter

Someone (probably SWT) have put some large stones between gate and the brook. These are dangerous and difficult to go over by horse.

Chris will roll these out of the way and inform SWT that this is not a good idea and what he has done.

 

Other Issues/Future Projects

Route N – Cleeton Court

End nearest Cleeton Court is badly rutted by use of farm quads over winter. Difficult to ride over. Will put this on list to discuss with Tim Simmons (Shropshire Council Byways Officer)

Route C Detton Prescott

The section we drained in past leading down to gate needs some new topping stone. 1 load of 75mm down.

 

Shropshire Council – Tim Simmons

John has tried to contact Tim to get an update on the important work he said he would carry out but has not been able to speak to him.

John and Chris will try to email him to get a response. 

 

Guided Ride

John has offered to run a guided ride. Will discuss when there are more people at future meeting.

 

Finance/Funds

Cheques were paid to John and Steve to cover the costs of work completed to date. Further funds will be reacquired before we can undertake any more major projects.

 

Fund Raising

Options for a fund raiser were discussed e.g. quiz, ploughman’s, table top sale, BBQ. It was suggested we at least have a social”get together” for helpers to keep people motivated and hopefully encourage more helpers/members. Discuss at next meeting when hopefully more people will attend.

 

Next Meeting/AGM/Support

It was proposed we make our next meeting our AGM to try to gain more helpers and renew interest in the group. We could put up a few posters on notice boards, bridleways etc. There are still a lot of local riders that could be more involved and need encouraging.

Date of Monday 25th May was proposed. On checking this is a Bank Holiday so may be better to put it back to June.

Please let John/Chris know if there are any Mondays in June that you are not able to attend.

2015 Projects and Grant Application – Jan Meeting

Our funds are low. The Christmas Skittles fund raiser has helped. We have also had a couple of donations, one from Stottesdon Parish Council (many thanks to Clare for organising this) and one from Penny Fryer who was not able to attend the Fund Raiser so sent us a generous cheque instead (many thanks Penny).

We have been sent the P3 Grant Application Form for 2015 (P3-grant-2015). As they have sent it to us it looks like we may be able to get a grant for this year which would be good.

We urgently need a meeting to agree on priority projects for 2015 so we can complete and send the form back before 30th Jan!

We could combine this with a social for a meal at a suitable pub or just meet up for a drink.

Any thoughts or preferred week days in next couple of weeks.