2013 – Oct 29
Minutes of the Meeting Held on 29th October 2013 at 7-30pm at the University of Hull Scarborough Campus.
The President, Robin Hopper, welcomed the 19 Members and Guests present.
Minutes of the Meeting held on 1st October: These were displayed on the screen, and signed as a correct record.
Matters Arising: None.
Correspondence: The Secretary had received, via a circuitous route, a letter from The Weeping Elm Group, referring to the tree at the Ellis Centre site on Dean Road. The Group were seeking the Society’s support in preserving the tree, which had survived Dutch Elm Disease and was over 100 years old. The Secretary agreed to write a letter of support. The AGM of the YNU was to be held on Saturday 16th November at the Palm Court Hotel, Scarborough. The North England Raptor Forum Conference was to be held on Sunday 17th November at Askham Bryan College, York. The NE Yorkshire Geology Trust were to celebrate a 10 year association with Robin Hood’s Bay, and a special event would be held at the village hall on 9th November.
Records and Reports:
John Hume had seen Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies and a male Southern Hawker dragonfly at Low North Camp on 27th October, and three Black Darters at Harwood Dale fish ponds.
Brian Walker had seen Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies in Deepdale on 26th.
Kath Bushell reported Small Tortoiseshell butterflies in Troutsdale, and Common Buzzard and many Goldfinches on Allerston Moor.
Robin Hopper reported that the Peregrines were resident on the Castle Headland and that one was a young female with a ring, possibly ringed at Lindisfarne.
After a short break, the speaker for the evening, Nigel Rylance, Planner for the Forestry Commission, gave an illustrated talk on “Forest Plans”. He used Dalby Forest as his example of how all the complex factors had to be taken into account when planning the future management of the Commission’s forest. The aim was to demonstrate sustainable forest management and articulate this to all concerned whilst developing a strategic framework for the next 50 years.
The Geology of the soil types was crucial to the success of tree growth, and trees inappropriate for the soil type planted in the past would be replaced by more suitable species, resulting in greater diversity. Other factors had to be taken into account, especially the Archaeology, SSSI’s, ancient semi-natural woodland, important species, and 450,000 visitors annually. Diseases, especially new invaders, and global warming, meant that long term planning of the use of species likely to survive and be productive 50 years hence had to be taken into account. Continuous cover management, instead of grow and fell, would provide a more sustainable environment, and a wider mix of species would see a greater proportion of broad-leaved woodland.
After several questions from the floor, the President thanked the speaker for a fascinating insight into forest management. The meeting closed at 9-20pm.