29 April 2008
BRUNSWICK SQUARE CENTRAL LAWN ASSOCIATION
Meeting Tues 29 April 2008 at Christ Church, Brunswick Road
Attending:
Jim Procter (Chair), Russell Steel (Vice Chair), Freda Caulkett (Treasurer), Ursula Windsor, Eva Harvie, Nicholas Totty, Terry Robson, Margaret Robson, Chris Prosser (Sec)
Apologies:
Amanda Procter, John Gannon, Carole Carpenter, Bob Wyatt, Anthea Graham, Martyn White, Stephen Prosser
Minutes from the previous Meeting (12.03.08) approved
The minutes from the short meeting held (in preparation for the AGM) on 12 March were presented verbally by Chris Prosser. These were accepted by the meeting. Freda Caulkett proposed the approval of the minutes, seconded by Margaret Robson.
Finance
Gloucester Community Grant Award
We have recently heard that the BSCLA has been awarded £2000 for 2008/09 with further funding to come in 09/10 and 10/11. Notice of the subsequent years’ awards will be sent to us this November when the available budgets have been reassessed by the Council, but we can hope that the following two awards will be of similar measure. The BSCLA had applied for a Gloucester City Council Community Grant of approx. £11400 over the allotted period of three years (£4K year one; £4K year two; £3.4K year three approx). Although the award we have received is not the full amount we had bid for, it is still a tremendous result for the maintenance and development of the gardens and the three years’ funding will add up to the biggest grant award achieved for the gardens of the Square.
The BSCLA will have to keep and forward onto the Council details of our activities re the maintenance of the gardens and community activity generated there, as a result of the extra funds we have received from them.
Our thanks go to Malcolm Dunn of the Community Development Team at Gloucester City Council who gave us advice and encouragement while we were compiling the bid.
Chris Prosser to contact Malcolm Dunn re publicity regarding the award – in particular, a press release in addition to the Council newsletter.
Yorkshire Tea party
Freda suggested a Yorkshire Tea party in the Square – organised though her by the BSCLA in association with the Glos Federation of the WI, since the WI receive a lot of support and sponsorship from the Yorkshire Tea company. Freda will contact Yorkshire Tea to see what food and materials they might provide and then come back to us to set a provisional date for the event.
Wishing Well
It was suggested that a simple, discreet wishing well in the borders of the Square might raise some funds and add an attraction for the children using the Square. It would have to be shallow and made safe with a grid over the water. Terry Robson agreed to look into the cost of a ready made /made-in-house water well that might be suitable. It might be sponsored by a local business.
Greetings Cards
Margaret’s greeting cards continue to do well in generating funds. It was suggested they might keep a display in the Africafe or at Ecclesiastical Insurance for a short while. Margaret/Terry could approach them in they felt comfortable to do so. Chris would ask if it would be possible to display them also at the NHS PCT.
Fund-raising Meeting
Jim, Terry, Margaret, Russell and Chris agreed to meet separately to discuss further fund-raising – in particular, suitable grant applications – 7.30pm Tues 3 June at Jim’s house.
Garden Maintenance
Meadow Area
Jim and Chris have planted some of the wildflower/grass seed purchased for the West end of the Square. Nicholas gave useful advice on planting the remaining area to achieve the best result without spoiling the appearance of that area in the meantime.
Pruning
• Andrew the gardener is to be asked to perhaps prune back less, to retain some of the foliage and deadwood that does help to encourage wildlife.
• Andrew has also asked if the yuccas in the NW corner of the Square could be pruned. We agreed to have one pruned to see how it fares.
• The ivy around the London Plain tree needs to be cut back – although it is attractive, it may start to harm the tree.
• The ivy on the chestnut tree outside No 4 may also need cutting back for the same reason
Jim to speak to Andrew re all of the above
Silver Birch (South Side) Replaced
Russell has had the old silver birch stump removed and has replaced it with another silver birch sapling, with the help of the children from the Hugo & Holly Nursery.
Holly Tree
Russell and Jim have taken out the ailing holly tree in the North-West corner of the Square, but have transferred some of the wood to a woodpile for the “wildlife” area in the South-West corner.
Tree Survey
We need an impartial review of the trees undertaken by an arborist (rather than a contractor). Jim to action asap
The most urgent work identified, that Russell cannot deal with, is the removal of the broken branch from the big chestnut tree at the East end and similarly, the removal of a split branch from the pollarded chestnut tree on the North side. We should take advice from the arborist on the need for this work and the expected cost.
Croquet Square
Russell has started to cut a square in the lawn to a shorter length, to see if it can be nurtured to a quality somewhere near to a croquet lawn. It will need rolling and tending, but it may be good enough for informal games to be played at the weekend/evenings. This would be an additional, fun-for-all-ages activity to be held in the Square. Terry may look into promoting the Square as a potential venue for informal games, to people linked to the established club in Cheltenham. They may well give us useful advice too.
Sea Cadets Fundraiser
Martin Nash, Chairman of the Gloucester Sea Cadets has booked the Square for the 17 May and is proposing to get a temporary licence to perform live music and to sell alcohol for part of the day. The event is well organised and those at the meeting were happy that the Square was to be used by the youngsters and that any alcohol sales would be dealt with responsibly – knowing that it could increase their profits from the day significantly.
Chris will be the main BSCLA contact for Martin; Chris will also ask Bob if he might help the Sea Cadets to sort out their electricity supply for the day from the outlets in the lampposts.
Memorial to Peter and Beryl Kennedy
David Kennedy would like to sponsor a memorial to Peter and Beryl somewhere in the gardens (a sunny spot!) and has asked what people would like. Chris to contact David and suggest a new tree (possibly one of the trees we have been advised to plant alongside the existing three silver birches, Western end), a new bench or even the wishing well idea – and to bring his choice back to the next meeting.
Mrs Whiles
Mrs J Whiles has maintained the “Fred King” North East corner of the Square for many years as it had been tended by her father. However, she has written to Freda, along with her generous annual donation, to let us know she is no longer able to look after the gardens for reasons of her failing health. Freda will write to Mrs Whiles to thank her very much on behalf of everyone around the Square and to wish her well for the future.
Dates of next meeting(s)
As agreed at the AGM, meetings will now generally be held every two months; additional meetings can be called at any time to discuss particular or urgent issues and these will be publicised via a full circulation.
All further general meetings to be held at 7.30pm at Christ Church
in Brunswick Road, unless otherwise notified
Weds 11 June
Tues 2 September
Weds 12 November
Tues 13 January 2009
Weds 4 March
Mon 16 March AGM
If you currently receive these Minutes by post, but would be happy to receive them by email, please let me know. Thank you.
Chris Prosser, BSCLA Secretary
10 Brunswick Square, Gloucester GL1 1UG
sprosser1@btinternet.com Tel. 01452-413439