WALK BY THE STORT VALLEY PROJECT MEETING AT FAIR GREEN 11th JULY 2002 SAWBRIDGEWORTH

The Walk was lead by Diana Richards around some of the wooded areas of Pishiobury Park. The walk started at Fair Green where about 20 people gathered. We left the Town along Springhall Lane and looked at a ditch which had been breached allowing motor cyclists on to the flood plain. Further along we took the footpath towards the River Stort and showed the two pieces of land that EHDC had bought with our encouragement. We entered the Park in the North East corner into Nursery Wood.
We looked at the way that unrestricted grazing prevents the natural regeneration of the woodland and the work done to regenerate the wood. Standing dead trees were noted showing the policy of allowing trees to die on their feet, in order to provide habitat and food for wildlife.
We then moved to Oak Walk where it was explained that because it was a right of way it was necessary to cut dangerous branches in good time and a TPO on each tree could cause delay. As the whole park was protected there could not be any unrestricted interference with the trees. Efforts to replace lost trees on Oak Walk were described.

A Draft Agenda for our next meeting on Thursday 8th August 02.

Matters arising:
Area Forum, any points members wish to raise.
HCC Structural Plan, find short form at meeting and answer questionnaire.
Road Safety on Fair Green, progress
Art in the Park, any attendees wishing to comment.
Parish Footpaths, progress

Agenda:
SVP Targets, take up John Riders suggestion to focus on some targets for the coming year. Members please have a think before coming to the meeting. I would like us to get back to our roots with a little more environmental activities.

AOB.
DNM. The 8 August 02 at 8.00pm in the Hailey Day Centre.

Sec note: To balance up my comment on the interaction of cattle to walkers in the last minutes, I heard a commotion in the park and witnessed a young lady in hysterics with her dog, surrounded with cattle. Before I got to the scene I shouted to the lady to stand still, the cattle stood still and faced me and she was able to escape-totally exhausted. The cattle were no problem to me and walked off.

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