June 11th 2025
Attendees
Alex Cruickshank (AC - BBOWT – Chair) Pat Stone (PS - BVHC), Dave Munson (DM - Common Volunteers), Roger Stone (RS - Friends of Brill Common), Emi Slater (ES - Brill Parish Council – Common Rep), Tim Patrick (TP), James Tuffley (JT - Brill Parish Council)
Bobs Damerell (BD – Minutes),
Apologies: Christine Bailey (CB – BVCH), Liz Springs (Brill Parish Council), John Cable (JC - Walks Committee, Liz Cotgreave (LC – The Walks)
Update on Wildlife and Community Ranger Project
It was agreed for the advert for the Ranger to go out in the summer to catch students finishing their courses and looking for a new job.
The closing date for applications will be 19th September with interviews on the 29th September
Hybanks
ES updated that Cllr Tuffley is due to visit Hybanks to discuss the fencing bordering the Common and the property. Cllr Tuffley to feedback the result at the next meeting.
Norcotts/Goats
The Council has raised a concern with Bucks Council regarding the application to extend the property over potential Common Land.
The Council is also meeting with the residents of Norcotts over the live stock fencing that has been erected
Summer programme
Brill circular walk – A lot of work has been carried out on the Brill Circular Walk to make this accessible for all to be able to access this.
The Common Volunteers have strimmed the area of Himalayan balsam following the clearance work in winter.
Hay – Common Vols will be making the hay again this year and will liaise with Vana Trust to see if they can use the Hay.
FOBC – The bottom track at North Hills has been cleared and and outside commoners has also been cleared after the cows have finished.
BVCH – It is important to identify areas for the winter program for bramble clearance on the Common.
The garden furniture rubbish that was dumped on the Walks has been cleared
The Ragwort has also been cleared on south hills side
There is a horse chestnut on the Walks that has died and will need attending to.
8 of the new trees have died in the Walks.
Ragwort/Himalayan Balsam/Sycamore
It was agreed for the Volunteer Day for pulling Ragwort will be 12 July at 12pm. A poster will be created and put up on the noticeboards and website.
March 3rd 2025
Attendees
Alex Cruickshank (AC - BBOWT – Chair) Pat Stone (PS - BVHC), Dave Munson (DM - Common Volunteers), John Cable (JC - Walks Committee), Roger Stone (RS - Friends of Brill Common), Emi Slater (ES - Brill Parish Council – Common Rep), Tim Patrick (TP), Liz Cotgreave (LC – The Walks)
Bobs Damerell (BD – Minutes),
Apologies: Christine Bailey (CB – BVCH), Liz Springs (Brill Parish Council)
Actions from the previous minutes
Sycamores - It was confirmed that Tim Ludlow has completed the work removing the larger Sycamores with his digger.
Ragwort – BD to contact LS for an update of the use of the bins from the Memorial Hall to dispose of the ragwort.
BD & ES agreed to take the current bags of dead ragwort to the Bucks Council waste centre
BD to contact Halls Waste Management to obtain a quote for the removal of the pulled ragwort.
The Sheep – ES & BD confirmed attempts to contact the shepherd without success. It was agreed for ES & BD to visit the shepherd at his residence.
Garden Waste on The Walks – ES & BD to draft and send a letter to the resident who is dumping garden waste on the Walks.
Encroachment at the bottom of Tram Hill. - The Advisory Group objected to the plan to not remove the stones at Cuckoo Close Farm, but have signed document which states that the land is still Common Land owned by the Parish Council and any liability regarding the stones would be met by the resident. The Advisory Group objected and requested the stones be removed
Heritage Lottery Grant for a Ranger for management of the Common
It was confirmed that the advert for the Ranger role had been published with a closing date of 12 March. Interviews are scheduled for the 24th March 2025.
The Group agreed for the applications to meet with ES, AC & BD for a formal interview and also 30 -45 mins with members of the Advisory Group on the Common to discuss the practical aspects of the role.
Funding – It was confirmed that the funding received from the National Lottery is ringfenced for the Common only Concern Common itself rather than the Walks.