Preparing for next years projects
November 29, 2010
Well although we still have 3 projects outstanding (hope to see completion in the next 2 – 3 weeks), last week involved an awful lot of preparation for 2011, that said it was also a week where we looked back over the last year as we reported to our members at our AGM, and met with EA colleagues.
Monday I spent most of the day with the Forest of Bowland AONB, who were holding the second Farm Environment Plan – planners (or FEPers for short) training day. In essence they were training interested parties in how to undertake Agri-environment scheme applications such as Higher level stewardship schemes. As well as myself there were presentation from the AONB, Natural England, and the RSPB. Each of us were raising awareness of our particular interests, with people who will eventually undertake FEP’s. What we hope this will lead to is habitat schemes being undertaken as part of Agri-Environment Schemes that would otherwise be missed. The reason being is that to the untrained eye streams of less than 2 metres in width are seen as ditches – in most instances. So after a presentation inside we then under took a field visit to look at some of our work and areas that need work on the Hodder. A useful day indeed!
Tuesday was one of my longest days in the office, or any office for that matter, of my life. An 8:30 start went right the way through to 22:30! I’m not kidding! The reason being is that I had to do a whole load of data analysis so that I could prepare my AGM report. Which I completed just as the first members arrived! A good evening was had by all, and generally I think people were amazed by just how much work we have done in the last 12 months! Although a good turn out was achieved, I would love to have seen a few more, but I have high hopes for next year!
Wednesday I had a slightly late start (I think it was deserved after such a long day on the Tuesday!), and I spent much of the day catching up on projects and trying to head to completion of a few more, as well as draw up our list for next year. It’s an optimistic list, mainly from a fund raising point of view, but we’ll give it a real good go! In the late afternoon, Dave Wilmot and myself headed upto Stock beck to look for any Redds on our new spawning gravel, although no definites could be confirmed, there looked to have been one trial redd dug on one of the gravel riffles. After that we headed to Swanside and failed to see any redds there, but it is early.
Thursday was a day in Lutra House, the local EA offices. I had meeting after meeting lined up from 10:00 till 16:00. First was a sit down with the Pollution team to look at our result and how we can highlight areas of interest, and also to report on activities of the year. It has to be said the EA pollution team are doing a cracking job. They are just a small team covering a big area but I was blown away by what they’ve done this year.
Next was Becky Mc Allister from Biodiversity (for the Calder Catchment) to go through our proposed project for next year. We both came away with a long to do list and a better schedule in place for the coming year. After Becky it was Amanda Lord-Knowles who is the Biodiversity officer for the Ribble and Hodder. The meeting was the same format as the one I had with Becky but also a bit more of a get to know each other session as Amanda has only recently taken post. It was a long day but a valuable one. On the way home I stopped at Mearley brook and finally found my first salmon redd of the season!
Friday I had a meeting at Barrowford 3 to discuss final detail of an interpretation panel and a fence, but also to check the final snags on the fish pass. I also worked on the a couple of projects for next year, and then a quick trip to Sawley to see if any salmon were about, but no luck. Fingers crossed for the coming weeks.
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