BEXLEY
RSPB LOCAL GROUP
ANNUAL
REPORT 2006
On Friday 19 May John
Turner gave members an annual report on his first full year as solo Group
Leader.
Highlights of the
year were:
- The presentation
of a cheque for £5000 to the RSPB for the development of the Cliffe
Pools Reserve, which was accepted on their behalf by Gordon Allison
a member of the North Kent Reserves team.
- The planting and
dedication of the oak wood at Northward Hill Reserve in memory of Carol
Winship
Indoor Meetings
These were again well attended the most popular being the film evening
when we showed two films Eagle Odyssey and Early One Morning –a
film without commentary. The most interesting talk was by Adam Rowlands
about that well-known reserve Minsmere which was closely followed by the
September talk on Sandwich Bay, whilst eccentric personality of the year
must go to Marek Borkowski and his Polish saga. Thanks to Alan Mayes for
taking over the task of organising our speakers for the coming year.
Coach Trips
The coach trips have again run successfully with our coach company L S
Travel proving to be both reliable and recommendable. This year’s
trips were Titchfield Haven, Titchwell, Rutland Water and Fingringhoe
Wick on Sunday. All trips were fully booked or nearly so and we have not
experienced the embarrassment of a loss on any trip. We need to keep up
this level of support for all future trips. Thanks to Tony for all his
hard work and to all trip leaders.
Car Trips
The trips have been well-attended particularly Oare Marshes in September.
Other venues have included Footscray Meadows, Lee Valley, Elmley, Lesnes
Abbey Woods, Crossness Nature Reserve, which was positively crowded, and
of course the nightingale evening at Northward Hill. We have also run
impromptu mid-week trips to Riverside Country Park, Bough Beech, Sevenoaks,
Northward Hill and Cliffe. Thanks to all trip leaders.
Conservation
Work parties have been hacking through the undergrowth at Northward Hill
throughout the winter as well as planting the memorial wood and have been
very ably organised and overseen by Chas Parr. Thanks to Chas. and his
volunteers. I am sure he would like a few more volunteers to add to his
group.
Publicity
This has been in the capable hands of Eric Brown. With his contacts in
the local press we have seen many reports of our activities, in fact over
75 column inches with more pictures this year. Many of our meetings and
trips are being mentioned in advance giving us extra publicity. He has
also run the web-site and you can see an up-dated, current and attractive
site. Thanks to Eric for all his time and effort and to Sarah Beacock
and Chris. Knight who are our webmasters..
Fund Raising
Our two chief fund raising efforts have been the Autumn Fair and the recent
Spring Plant Fair which raised over £600. Other events attended
have been the Family Fun Day at the Well Hall Pleasaunce in August, the
Danson Show in July and the Woodlands Farm Fair in the spring (last Sunday
was this year’s event) . Chas. has been ever-present with his Tombola
and Lucky Dip. We have seen the launch of the 100 Club and we nearly reached
our target with 91 participants in the first year. If you have not renewed
yet we urge to do so this evening or by the end of the month. (31st May).
Thanks to Maurice Ewart for promoting this fund raising effort. You can
see the total amounts raised in the annual accounts. A huge vote of thanks
must go to Maureen Thompson our Treasurer who has worked very hard this
year.
Recruitment
This is an area where we need to redouble our efforts in the coming year.
The current membership of the RSPB locally is 3700+. We have started to
look at attending the Danson Show in July on a regular basis where we
concentrate on recruitment rather than fund raising. Other events attended
have had membership forms available as well as name gathering cards. Name
gathering on behalf of the RSPB is an activity which can introduce non
members to the RSPB and lead to the recruitment of new members. Thanks
to Maurice Ewart for co-ordinating these activities.
Communication
This year we have reached all the RSPB membership in our area at least
once with our twice yearly newsletter. However the following areas are
in need of distributors SE18 DAI - Stone and the Fleet Estate. Our thanks
go to all the volunteers who deliver these and to Alan Mayes, Dorothy
Wells and Helen and Marcus Burgess for the maintenance and updating of
our records. Thanks also to Tony Banks for producing the newsletter and
to Eric Brown who has taken over the Editorship.
We have also attempted
to reach the public with activities on ‘Feed the Birds Day’
in October and ‘The Big Garden Bird Watch’ in January when
we set up feeders and telescopes at Hall Place to encourage people to
take part, which we hope contributed to the 78% increase in participants
in Bexley.
A number of members
took part at the peregrine viewpoints in Regents Park and at Tate Modern
last July and August where over 3000 visitors were contacted. We will
have greater representation this year.
Volunteering
As you have heard a few names have occurred many times in this report
and in order to maintain all our current activities which you enjoy and
to expand them we need people to step forward and help to share the burden.
I would urge you to volunteer!
You do not have to
be a member of the committee to volunteer. If you would be willing to
help in any of the following ways your time and effort would be appreciated.
A person responsible
for group sales would be a huge boost to fund raising; but even assistance
to Anthea and Maureen with sales at the autumn and spring fairs would
help. Thanks to Maureen and Anthea for their efforts this year in raising
over £300.
Assistance on our
stall at the Danson Show, Eltham Well Hall and Woodlands Farm for half
a day. A group on whom we could call would be a huge help.
A co-ordinator to
locate sites for pin- badge sales in the locality or mind a pin badge
box in the locality of Sidcup Station or the High Street
A co-ordinator for
sponsorship and advertising.
Could you fill any
of these roles and continue to expand the efforts of the Bexley Local
Group?
Thanks
My thanks go
to:
The committee, who
have worked so hard.
Sylvia Say for volunteering
to take on peanut and seed preparation and sales at Indoor meetings and
at the Spring and Autumn Fairs and some fetes.
Beverley Treece for
volunteering to co-ordinate the re-cycling of computer cartridges and
mobile phones.
Alan and Jean Mayes
who provide our refreshments so efficiently and their daughter Alison
who now collects and sorts used stamps for us and helps at the door.
Maureen Thompson and
Roy Lewis for organising the raffle every month.
All helpers at fairs
and fetes
My wife Jeanna for
all the support she gives me.
How about joining
this list of volunteers and enhance the work of the RSPB? |