Agenda item

To consider the report of the Greenspace Development Officer.

The Greenspace Development Officer submitted a report informing members of the activities undertaken within the Country Park since the last meeting of the Joint Management Committee held on 20 November 2017.

The report outlined the following:-

·         Maintenance of Sites

·         Environmental Stewardship – Higher Level Agreement 2010-2020 Update

·         Public Events

·         Werneth Low Country Park Greenspace Volunteer Service

·         Remembrance Sunday 2017

·         The Lower Higham Visitor Centre

·         Visitors 2017

·         Wildlife Centre Conservation

With regards to Maintenance of Sites it was reported that the summer grass cutting programme was due to commence in April 2018.  The programme included the Lower Higham Visitor Centre, car parks, access points, picnic areas and strips along footpaths.  It was also reported that certain footpaths would need to be resurfaced during the summer months and quotes for the works were currently being sought.

The report included attendance at public events for the Country Park’s winter 2017/18 programme.  The annual Service of Remembrance had been held at the Cenotaph on Werneth Low on Sunday 12 November 2017, which was attended by over 500 people.  Details of activities planned for spring were outlined and the summer 2018 programme of public events was currently being compiled.  Visitor monitoring data for 2017 was also provided.

Since the last meeting of the Joint Management Committee volunteers had held three meetings and at their October meeting had agreed the programme of works to be undertaken during winter and spring 2017/18, a copy of the programme was appended to the report.  One of the volunteers, Mr Mike Kelly, had completed the re-laying of 200 metres of hedgerow in Shepley’s Meadow.  The project had been funded by the Heritage Lottery and jointly managed with a Woodland Officer from Manchester City of Trees and was expected to achieve £5.00 per metre.  Mr Kelly was now laying a further 38 metres of hedgerow at Ash Cottage on Higham Lane.

The Volunteer Service had celebrated their 30^th Annual General Meeting on 5 February 2018.  A selection of slides was shown that detailed the work of the volunteers over the 30 years.  Since 1988 the volunteers had played a major and significant role in the stewardship and care of the Country Park and had provided an invaluable service.  Their work focussed across the whole management spectrum of the conservation of Werneth Low and had saved a considerable amount of money, provided a viable means of engagement with the local community and ensured that the Country Park was fit for purpose.  The Chair of the Joint Management Committee asked for the Committee’s thanks to be conveyed to the volunteers for their hard work and commitment.

In relation to Lower Higham Visitor Centre, the Committee were told that the updated First World War exhibition had raised much interest and a class from Holy Trinity School in Gee Cross had visited the centre in January 2018 to learn about the Country Park and the purchase of land and farms in memory of the 710 servicemen that were killed in The Great War.  The Greenspace Development Manager told the Committee that funding was available for a defibrillator at the centre, which would ideally be located outside the centre to ensure it was readily available, and would be

discussed with Hyde War Memorial Trust at their forthcoming meeting.

Members of the Committee requested that an update be given at the next meeting of the Joint Management Committee on progress of the renewal of the 1979 agreement, which was due to expire in 2020.

RESOLVED:

(i)         That the report be noted; and

(ii)        That an update on the progress of the 1979 agreement be provided at the next meeting of the Joint Management Committee.