Present: Peter Fry, Malcolm Still (Chair), Justin Bettey, John Bowman, Jennifer Cooper, Ian Hammerton, David Meade.

Apologies: Richard Stone.

Allotment project: MS & PF are continuing to work with this project and will supply an article for the Borough News. They also stated that a pond would be sited on the nature reserve. This pond will be 30ft by 20 ft and will contain natural wildlife. The cost of the pond is estimated at £600 and finances will need to be approved by the steering group.

Borough News article: JB stated that if an article is to appear in the Borough News then the group needs to put it together by the 18th of Feb. It was agreed that this could not be done and that JB will try and put a shorter article together.

Actions: JB to put a short article together and circulate it with the minutes. If no negative response is obtained by JB from group members then the article will go into the Borough News. [JB has been unable to complete this task due to the Borough News not having sufficient space this month]

Group Aims & Objectives: The group provisionally agreed the Aims & Objectives of the group. At the next meeting the group will approve these. Action: Will all members read the Aims & Objectives included with the minutes.

Invitees to the next meeting: Action: JB to send out invites to the list that was compiled. Unfortunately David Sharp the Ecological representative from B&Q could not make the meeting due to work commitments. JB will invite to next meeting.

Countryside Project: Jennifer gave the group an update on the projects that the Countryside Project are currently involved in. These included:

• Wilmington Oakfield park - Clearing & remaking the path
• Bean primary school : Initiating a re-cycling scheme
• St. Johns Jerusalem : Planting of Pollarding Willows on the English heritage site

Jennifer also stated that there was little interest from Parish Councils on the work that the Countryside project can do and wondered how the group could initiate some response. Action: JB to include parish councils on the invitee list to next meeting.

Woodlands: Ian Hammerton gave an update on the status at Joydens wood including..

• Clearing of Pines has been undertaken
• Extension of heathland in the centre of the wood
• Clearing of gorse and scrub
• Opening up of the pond area which is now filled with water - the first time in years
• Oak trees are also to be planted in open areas
• Clearance of bracken needs to be undertaken

Ian also mentioned that one of the stables adjacent to the wood had built a manure silo that had caused the problem of support joists protruding into the wood.

Also the group discussed the issue of the static residential site. It would seem that new sites are erected with the consequence that trees are cut down to make room. Apparently this exercise is not reported in the planning application notices. Action: JB to investigate via the planning dept.

Beekeeping: JB stated that West Malling Borough Council have set up a "Garden Accreditation Scheme". The principal is that local residents and groups are encouraged to promote wildlife and good garden practices in their garden. The council will then award a bronze, silver or gold star.

The group thought that this might be a good idea to put into practice

The group made two requests for JB to take back to the Council..

• Why can a Biodiversity Action Plan be undertaken in Dartford?
• What happened to the Borough maps on Biodiversity that P.Kessel had

Action: JB to investigate the above two issues

Next Meeting: Wed. 21st Feb 2001 from 6:30

END: Return to the QED Biodiversity Group home page ...