Volunteer group helping to keep bridleways open in south shropshire
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.
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.
Work party 6:30pm Detton end of Prescott Bridleway (route c). Bring loppers, secateurs and gloves.
John has already made a start on this route and has adjusted gate and cleared larger branches. We just need to clear back some of the over hanging brambles and hedge.
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.
We propose to have a meeting Monday 27th April starting at 8:00pm at John’s to discuss projects, work parties and funding for this year.
John and Steve have used their digger and dumper to make some good improvements to Route C.
Before and After Pictures
We have booked a table at the Fighting Cocks, Stottesdon on Wed 21st Jan for our annual social get together.
We can have a quick meeting at same time to discuss agree on projects for 2015.
All welcome to come along. Details/menu to follow.
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.
Many many thanks to everyone who helped with the joint Christmas skittles and pub games fund raiser evening last Saturday run together with Farlow & Oreton Village Hall Committee. Help included setting up and breaking down, collecting the Skittle Alley (thanks to Jim from the Village Hall Committee for providing the transport), collecting and making up raffle prizes, selling raffle tickets, running the skittles competition, pin the nose on the reindeer and various games, doorman, organising and running the bar (thanks James), making and selling cakes and puds.
We had a reasonable turnout and everyone who came along enjoyed themselves. Even with slightly disappointing numbers we managed to raise a profit of just over £200 to be split between the Village Hall Committee and Cleehill Bridleways Group.
I have even had offers of a “contribution” from people who could not attend so thank you to them.
It would have been nice to see a few more local riders at the event as we are doing it for them and without funds we are very limited in what we can do. We will need to organise another event in the Spring to raise some funds and hopefully we can “persuade” more local riders to come along.
Following are the key points from the joint meeting with the Village Hall Committee on 20th Nov. Thanks to Lucy for chairing the meeting and producing the notes.
Please encourage anyone you know (particularly if they benefit from the work done by the Bridleways Group i.e. any local horse riders) to come along.