Present: Ian Hammerton (Chair), Tony Morris, David Meade, Richard Wiltshire, Mervyn Brown, Eric Tomlinson, Richard Pullman, Alan Cremer and Julia Marshall.

1) Apologies for Absence: Barbara Judge and Kate Harmer.

2) QED Website: This now provides links to English nature and other useful sites.

3) Gardening for Life: Leaflet to be amended to discourage movement of frogs/frogspawn because of a virus.

4) Plenary Planning Session: This has been arranged for Wednesday at 7.00 pm. Group members were encouraged to attend.

5) Richard Pullman: Richard gave a brief resumé of his activities.

6) Swanscombe and Greenhithe: The Swan Valley school is now pen. A tree planting of 280 trees has been arranged with a student and an older person (e.g. grandparent) to be responsible for looking after each tree. Ceremony to take place March 30 at 2.00 pm.

7) Pumpkin Competition: Four compost boxes have arrived and two types of seed plus an instruction video. Schools participating are Wentworth, York Road, Fleetdown and Whitehill (Gravesham).

8) Chair: Ian announced his resignation having established the Group. He was thanked for his contribution by all present. Julia was unanimously elected as his successor, there being no other candidates.

9) Aims/Objectives: The planners were to be asked about short notice for replies re land at North Dartford. Mervyn noted that Joyce Green is one of the few sites of a small rinuculus moth not seen in Britain since the 1930s.

10) Any Other Business:

1) English Heritage have designated the dyke in Joyden's Wood as an ancient monument. A report of species found in Joyden's Wood since 1940 has been published by the Kent Wildlife Trust - this excludes ledidoptera.

2) Static caravans have been installed in Chalkwood (ancient woodlands). The development goes back to the 1960s. Roads have been installed. Cesspits have overflowed.

3) Alan circulated Planet Pledge leaflets.

4) Julie Morton has taken over as Chair of the Transport Group until someone else is found.

5) Details to be circulated about a QED Food Group.

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