The Great Fen : Progress on the Peat

HENRY STANIER  

It’s been over 20 years since the launch of the “Big Idea2” as it was originally known. So tonight find out more about this wetland for the future. But it is more than just a wetland. Find out how it all started and the progress made now that thousands of hectares are under conservation management. There are currently projects on wet farming , climate change and the restoration of a farm that will finally link the northern and southern areas already under the Wildlife Trust’s management. Henry will have some stunning photos and wildlife videos.  Henry’s passion for dragonflies has taken him down numerous paths over the last 30 years, enjoying time with many fellow enthusiasts on the way. It eventually led to him becoming a Monitoring and Research Officer for the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants and he is now based at the Great Fen. For 20 years or so his work has been setting up, training and co-ordinating many teams of volunteer wildlife surveyors across the 3 Counties. His work has embraced the monitoring of birds, bats, dormice, amphibians and plants, plus insects and other invertebrates. He has also run courses on species identification for many years ranging from dragonfly lava to raptors. 

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                                        PETERBOROUGH BIRD CLUB ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

                                                                           24TH APRIL 2024
                                                                                   Agenda

                                                           PETERBOROUGH BIRD CLUB
                                                                       Minutes of Last Year's AGM

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 25th April 2023at 7.30pm in the Post Office
Social Club, Peterborough.
1. Apologies.
26 Members attended with apologies from Richard Whitticase, Ian Gordon, Adrian Hallam,
Rachel Fisher, Graham Boydon.
2. Minutes of the AGM held on 26th April 2022.
The Minutes were accepted as a true record and duly signed with no matters arising.
3. Chairman’s report for the year.
This year, the Club has been able to hold a full indoor meeting programme, however, post
Covid the attendance levels have fallen which is not a unique situation for PBC. One
reason for this could be that some members may feel vulnerable to catching Covid in
group situations.
During the past year, the Club has lost 19 members but gained12, leaving a total of 69
members. The demographic trend of the club is towards the older population in common
with other Bird Clubs and the Committee has discussed the problem without reaching a
conclusion on the way forward. However, the Chairman has made contact with the new
Anglia Ruskin University with a view to develop links with the Environmental Studies
course and invite students to the meetings. Attracting youngsters under16 would require
members to have a DBS check.
The Chairman reminded members that the membership fee from 1st January this year is
ten pounds per member but several members have not yet amended their standing order
or changed to pay by a bank transfer to the Metro Bank or by cheque or cash. The
Membership Secretary will supply the bank transfer details.
Some good quality talks have been given to the Club including two from the RSPB who
delivered their talks for free and, consequently, a donation of £100.00 was to be made to
the RSPB.
Another comprehensive programme of outdoor visits was produced by Bob Titman,
although the weather was not always commensurate with good birding. However, birds
that will stick in the memory are the Tawny Owl at Eldernell and the fantastic posing Long
Eared Owl at Deeping Lakes entrance.
The Club’s old website and the Limosa newsletter has been replaced by a new website
using “BIRDCLUB”, a website developed by the North East Norfolk Bird Club. The new
website is for club members only who can share photographs and sightings on the site
which also provides news, information on the club’s future events. It also offers guides to
the best places to see birds in our area. Currently, 43 members have registered on the new
site and other members are encouraged to register. Thank you to Ian Wilson and Adrian
Hallam.
Next year the indoor meetings will be held at a new venue, St Mark’s Church Hall, Lincoln
Road on the LAST WEDNESDAY of the month which will require the room to be set up
ready and the refreshments to be made available in the kitchen.
Any new ideas and suggestions are always welcome.
4. Treasurer’s Report.
The Treasurer had not received the audited accounts from the auditor. However, the
accounts show an opening balance of £4099 and a closing balance of £4117, however,
some recent debit items still need to be included and one being subject to an invoice
being received. When the audited accounts are received, it was proposed that an extra-

ordinary meeting will need to be held at a future indoor meeting. The proposal was
accepted. There are also continuing problems with the Club’s previous bank statements
which contain information on individual payments paid to the Club. However, the Club
remains in reasonable financial health.
5. Appointment of independent auditors.
As Tony Davies, the auditor, has not returned the audited accounts to the Treasurer nor
said that he was prepared to audit the accounts next year, the approval of
the auditor will need to be included on the agenda of extra-ordinary meeting mentioned
above.
6. Honorary members.
There are currently seven Honorary members of the Club following the death of Bill
Williamson. They are Nicolas Watts, Charlie Kitchen (warden, RSPB Nene Washes), Jon
Taylor (Warden, RSPB Ouse Washes),Phillip Parker (Warden, Kings Dyke),Sarah Lambert,
Chris Park (Nene Park Trust) and David Needham (PeterboroughNatural History Society).
The motion from the Committee was that they continue as Honorary members.
The motion was passed unanimously.
7. Election of Committee members.
The Committee was appointed on 26th April 2022. The members are Annie Fox, Ian
Gordon, Adrian Hallam, Keith Lievesley, Bob Payne, Stewart Short, Richard Whitticase and
Ian Wilson. There were no further nominations and the Chairman proposed that they form
the Committee for the next twelve months.
The motion was passed unanimously.
8. Election of Officers.
The current officers appointed at the last AGM are:
Keith Lievesley - Chair and indoor meetings organiser.
Bob Titman - outdoor meetings officer.
Richard Whitticase - Treasurer.
Bob Payne - Secretary.
Ian Wilson - Membership secretary.
Adrian Hallam - IT officer.
All were reappointed.
9. Nomination of bank signatories.
The current three bank signatories are: Richard Whitticase, Keith Lievesley and Bob
Payne. The Chairman proposed that they be reappointed.
The motion was passed unanimously.
10. Date of next AGM.
The date of the next years AGM will be on Wednesday 25th April 2024.

Click for location details  

Indoor Events are free to members and we warmly welcome nature loving non-members for a small donation of £2.50 cash on the door.

One of the best inland sites in the UK. Our trip will hopefully coincide with the returning Ospreys. Note: There is a charge for entry at the reserve. 

Anybody with an interest in nature, from beginner to expert, are welcome to join us on our Outdoor Events that are free. It is a good way to get to know existing members and possibly improve your expertise.

Meet: In the car park at Egleton reserve.  

Post code: LE15 8BT  

Map ref:   

Leader: Bob Payne 01780783041 

  

 Click for location details

Experience the joy of an early spring morning’s bird song, which will include Nightingales. Then

follow this with a Willow Brook Farm breakfast.

Anybody with an interest in nature, from beginner to expert, are welcome to join us on our Outdoor Events that are free. It is a good way to get to know existing members and possibly improve your expertise.

Meet: At Willow Brook farm Car park off Stamford Road, Helpston Heath  

Post code: PE6 7EL  

Map ref:   

Leader: Keith Lievesley 01780740679 and Ian Gordon 07543971727 

   

 Click for location details