Issue - meetings

Friends of Duchess Woods Activity Update

Meeting: 04/08/2020 - Duchess Wood Local Nature Reserve Committee (Item 3)

Friends of Duchess Woods Activity Update

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Minutes:

Martin Grafton provided a verbal update on the activity of the Friends of Duchess Wood. Mr Grafton confirmed that a lot of the period since the last meeting had been impacted by the effects of Covid19 and lockdown. With the easing of lockdown restrictions, Mr Grafton advised that activities were beginning to resume in the woods. Volunteers had been doing work on new fencing and other minor maintenance tasks, the community payback team have also been assisting by cutting grass amongst other activities. Mr Grafton noted that since the last meeting of the Committee the Friends have been in discussion with Luss Estates around their future relationship and management of the Wood.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to note the content of the update.

 

 

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Meeting: 25/02/2020 - Duchess Wood Local Nature Reserve Committee (Item 4)

Friends of Duchess Woods Activity Update

Update by Friends of Duchess Woods

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Minutes:

Mr Grafton advised that work parties would commence at the end of March and there would be a Committee meeting at the end of March to decide what the work parties will be doing. Mr Grafton noted that Friends of Duchess Wood were engaging with Chivas who do work in the community once a year and it was hoped that 10-20 employees may spend a day doing work in the Woods.

 

Mr Grafton confirmed that Stewart Campbell had been liaising with Scottish Natural Heritage regarding the Local Nature Reserve Status and this would be explored further. It was agreed that Mr Grafton would forward this information to Sean McCay and would discuss this and future arrangements with him following the meeting.

 

Mr Grafton advised that Friends of Duchess Wood may contact Persimmon Homes to ask if they would be willing to assist with funding as a goodwill gesture. Councillor Douglas noted that the path which Persimmon Homes have put in place appears not to be fit for purpose and stops quite abruptly in the Woods without connecting to a main path which could be used by wheelchair users or prams. Mr Offord confirmed that Persimmon appear to have made an effort to blend in the development to the area in comparison to their developments in other areas. It was agreed that Councillor Douglas, Mr Grafton and Mr Offord would draft a letter to Persimmon regarding the path and that Councillor Douglas would check with the appropriate officers within Argyll and Bute Council regarding what had been agreed for the path with the planning department.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed:

 

1.    to note the content of the update; and

2.    that Councillor Douglas would research the planning specifications of a path connecting the Persimmon Homes development to Duchess Wood and subsequently draft a letter with Mr Grafton and Mr Offord to Persimmon Homes regarding this.

 

 

 

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Meeting: 19/11/2019 - Duchess Wood Local Nature Reserve Committee (Item 5)

Friends of Duchess Woods Activity Update

Update by Friends of Duchess Woods

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Minutes:

Martin Grafton advised that there was little to report in terms of activity due to the ongoing closure of the wood.  It was noted that the Friends of Duchess Wood had held their AGM on 18th November 2019 and that there had been no change to the Committee and office bearer positions.

 

It was noted that once the wood had reopened that the Friends would revert back to their monthly maintenance regime.  It was also highlighted that a number of houses in the new Persimmon development had been built very close to the wood and there could be future issues with overhanging tree branches.

 

The Committee also noted that the Friends of Duchess Wood were still in contact with the Branching Out project and would advise them when the wood was open again.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the update provided.

 

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