LOHP Members' Newsletter: February 2003


As you'll see below, there's been a lot of activity since the first newsletter went out in August last year. We can only give a brief outline of all the happenings here, so if you want to know more, please get in touch.

Good News (1)
Heritage Lottery Fund - we now have "permission to start" (i.e. money in the bank) from HLF. This is for specified work over 5 years on the Frith and the Lows, and includes money for purchase of tools and volunteer training - details of this in forthcoming newsletters. The first major job will be the installation of livestock fencing and new access gates on both sites, for which we are currently tendering. We still need to do a lot of clearing of fence lines before the fencing contract starts - see "Work Parties" for further details.

Good News (2)

Our application to enter the Frith and the Lows into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme has been successful, and we have signed a 10 year agreement with DEFRA. This provides part of the partnership funding for the HLF grant (the rest is made up of volunteer work, so we'll be counting on your support), and will provide payments towards managing the sites to restore the pasture, fen, hedgerows and pollarded trees, as well as establishing two new permissive paths.
Look out for items about these successes in the local press soon - we will be sending
out a press release about the project and the new funding in the next few days.

Other fundraising
Despite our successes, we still need to raise more money to cover ongoing costs, including our public liability insurance, annual rent on some of our land holdings and general running costs. We have a number of ideas for fundraising events, but would like to hear from you if you have any suggestions. We also need help in organising these events. Our first major effort is likely to be a 50:50 auction, towards the end of April. Dan Haskin (the trustee nominated by Thelnetham parish council) has volunteered to act as auctioneer, but we need promises of items to be auctioned before we can confirm the event. If you have any unwanted items for the auction, proceeds to be split 50:50 with the charity, please contact us as soon as possible with details.
TEN- Transnational Ecological Network
As reported in the August 2002 newsletter, the multi-partner bid for European funds was initially rejected, but a scaled-down version, with the LOHP still playing a prominent part, has been re-submitted, and is currently at the "pre-assessment" stage in Europe.

Trustees meetings
The first AGM was held in Thelnetham in November 2002, and was followed by a fascinating talk, by David Mitchell from Mid-Suffolk District Council, on veteran trees in the Suffolk landscape.
At the meeting the existing officers were all re-elected. The meeting agreed to create a new membership category of "Friends of the Fens" for those willing to pay an annual subscription of at least £10 per person. The ordinary membership rates of £1 per person, and 25p for junior members, remain unchanged.
The trustees have been holding regular meetings to make sure we keep making progress on issues such as grant applications, and the complicated business of becoming a registered charity
Land management

Grazing - the cows on the Frith and horses on the Lows last year made a great impression on the vegetation, although they did develop a bit of wanderlust on one or two occasions. This year, we will introduce stock as soon as the permanent fencing installed..

Water levels - this winter has been amazingly wet, and water levels have been very high, particularly on the Lows. This has been excellent news for snipe and woodcock, which have both been seen frequently in the area.

Tree work - over the next few weeks we will have a tree surgeon on site, carrying out essential safety work on trees overhanging the B1113 and re-pollarding some of the oaks. This may look brutal in the first year, but it is a traditional practice that prolongs the life of the tree and increases its interest for wildlife.

Oak tree survey - our local Wildlife Watch club have started a survey of all the oak trees on the Frith - the children been recording heights and girth, estimating age and noting any special features. This will help to form a baseline record for the future.

Other surveys - we're keen to record as much as possible about the wildlife in the project area, so will be organising other surveys as time goes on. We already have a number of experts willing to help out with identification of everything from mosquitoes to mosses! Work parties and other help needed



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