The group considered a report from Eileen Kay, Community Learning and Development which outlined the objectives of the Sub Group and highlighted relevant actions to be undertaken by group members.
Discussion followed and the Committee acknowledged the impact of transportation costs for local primary schools on their already straightened budgets. The Chair emphasised the need to promote Duchess Woods and encourage local schools to use the Woods.
Johanna Urquhart confirmed the need for schools to utilise their
local environment and enquired on the possibility of the Wood being mapped for
orienteering. Mr Macbeth confirmed that this exercise had already been
undertaken by
David Lewin commented that perhaps the Fairy Tale Woods event could perhaps be a ‘springboard’ for local children to make more use of the Wood.
The Chair put forward the suggestion of a Schools representative on the sub-group but Ms Kay drew attention to the difficulty of teaching staff being released during the school day to attend meetings.
Decision
The Committee agreed:
1. That the Sub-group would consider further options and bring these to the next Duchess Woods meeting scheduled for February 2015
2. That the Chair would make contact with Anne Milne, Head Teacher at Rhu to ask if representatives of Duchess Wood Local Nature Reserve Committee (DWLNRC) could attend a Head Teachers Cluster meeting with a view to determine how best to promote Duchess Wood.