Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16th October 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16th October 2020 were approved as a correct record.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda item.

No declarations were received.

To receive a presentation from the Senior Ranger on park activities for the period October 2020 to March 2021.

A copy of the financial report is attached.

The Group received a PowerPoint presentation by the Senior Ranger outlining park activities for the period October 2020 to March 2021. In doing so, comment was made as follows:

Staffing and Volunteers

COVID-19 continued to impact both staff and volunteers over the reporting period. Volunteer work parties were unable to progress which had resulted in increased work upon staff at a time when the Park remained busy owing to the national lockdown. This was further exacerbated with one member of staff having undergone planned surgery but the Café Supervisor fortunately stepped in to help with ranger tasks and practical work where possible.

Volunteering activities also ceased again in November 2020 as many were in the vulnerable or shielding category. Where safe to do so, solo volunteering activities had commenced. SEN volunteers were yet to be welcomed back to the Country Park and their return would be undertaken in collaboration with carers and Cambridgeshire County Council who funded their placements.

Members were encouraged to note that every countryside volunteer received a handmade edible Christmas gift which was hand delivered by a member of staff enabling a welfare check to be undertaken as well. The return of the Green Team volunteers was planned for week beginning 8th March 2021 with small work parties returning thereafter from 29th March 2021 onwards. Having received an explanation on the background to the Green Team, Members were assured that appropriate risk assessments had been undertaken to welcome the group back on site.

Park Management

Despite the lack of volunteers and additional usage of the Park, the Group were encouraged to note the range of work undertaken at the site over the reporting period which included the application of the second layer to path along the Top Ride in Bob’s Wood, essential tree safety works, winter tree works creating a glade in Bob’s Wood together with the felling of a section of the new plantation, pulling reeds in the wash, construction of an outdoor shelter near the café to facilitate COVID safe usage, the sourcing and production of new benches around the café, improvements to the bird hide area, preparing and re-siting the Tern Raft on the wildlife lake and keeping up with increased litter and anti-social behaviour at the Park. 

In response to a question raised by a Member, the Countryside Manager reported that she was in contact with a local resident who organised community litter picks and that the District Council would be partaking in the Great British Spring Clean campaign again which would be taking place from 28 May to 13 June 2021.

The Group noted planned activities over the spring/summer which included urgent temporary repairs to flood damaged paths, installation of more outdoor benches, annual refurbishment of benches and park furniture, follow up on last year’s work with surveys and assess impact on wildlife, assisting Huntingdon Bee Keepers association in preparing the apiary for spring/summer and starting the mowing and strimming regime for the amenity grass. Having regard to the former, it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To note that the next meeting of the Hinchingbrooke Park Joint Group will be held on 15th October 2021 at 10:00am.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group would be held on 15th October 2021 at 10:00am.