The Chairman’s Annual Report presented at the 9^th AGM of Mawdesley Millennium Green Trust on 9^th October 2007

 

Introduction

I’m pleased to report we’ve had another good year, with several new developments installed on the Green, lots of help from our supporters and a well-deserved sustainability award from Lancashire County Council, in recognition of all the effort and enthusiasm put in by everyone over the past 8 years.

We have actually been rated as top performers within the Borough of Chorley.

Grateful thanks must again go to all concerned, including our Trustees, Fundraisers, carers, sponsors and teams of Volunteers. This village can be justly proud of the community spirit that has helped make the Green such a resounding success.

Management Issues

This year I should like to start with some management issues in the form of a big thank you to my two sparing partners, Pauline and Chris. I fear I take them both for granted, so I would like to embarrass them now by presenting them with a small token of my appreciation. Another lady I should mention in this regard is Chris Willis. Chris has been with us from the very beginning as a Trustee, Member of Mawdesley 2000 and of our Care Team. It’s always sad when someone says goodbye and we wish her well in all her other community activities. Chris was presented with a memento of her association with the Green at our last Trustees Meeting.

Insurance cover for our remaining Trustees was increased recently and we’ve launched a new contract designed to encourage other organisations to make better use of the Green. Why not consider it for your next event, as an outdoor version of the Village Hall? 

Land Development

One of the key developments completed this year was the installation of a skate park, costing over £35,000. Thanks to the hard work and perseverance of TRIX over a 2-year period, and the co-operation of the Trust in hosting this amenity, the dreams of over 40 local youngsters have come true. We are also pleased to report that the fears of some residents regarding increased noise, traffic and general disruption have not been realised, although we still need to cut down on the amount of litter being generated and continue to moderate any bad language.

The new park has also added £1700/year to our insurance costs, which, I’m pleased to say, TRIX has pledged to cover through further fundraising, as we go forward.

To this end there will be another Bonfire night on the Green on 3^rd November this year.

With the help of £750 from the Green Partnership Award we have further developed our wildflower meadow, while creating a woodland habitat close by. Emma Morris and Joan Kirkwood have been key to this development with significant support also coming from Dominic Rigby, LCC Countryside Officer and our willing volunteers. As a result, the meadow looked even better this spring.

More recently we’ve also hosted a family of doves, complete with dovecote. Maureen Barker, our own Doctor Doolittle, has charmed them from their roost near the sheltered accommodation down onto the Green and into their refurbished dovecote. So much so, that we are expecting to see signs of new life there any day now.

Besides these high-profile additions, we have also invested considerable resources into widening the main path, at a cost of £4600, to enable larger vehicles to get on the Green, from time to time. We’ve also upgraded the electrical system and refurbished the roof of the main shelter, while, just last Saturday, 15 of our valued volunteers planted 4 large sacks of daffodil bulbs, in readiness for the spring.

Finally, we must also thank our resident contractor, Mr David Jones, for his grass-cutting skills, which have never let us down.

Before I move on to fundraising, I must also mention the subject of vandalism for a moment. I shall no doubt be accused of courting fate, but the level of damage on the green this year has been relatively minor – a bent cigarette box and a broken broom handle – and long may this last! 

Fundraising

So where does all the money come from? That’s primarily due to the efforts of Mawdesley 2000, another team of willing helpers, who have put on 4 major events again this year, raising a total of over £1800. The valuable Gardens Open Day, run by Pauline, a Jazz Concert, Quiz Night and our very popular Fun Day. In fact, our next quiz night is on Friday evening 19^th October in the Village Hall. If you would like to get a team of 6 together you will be made very welcome.

To compliment these events we have raised a further £1300 through the 100+ members of our 50 : 50 Club, who have been putting their hands in their pockets consistently now for over 7 years, for which the green is very grateful.

Last, but by no means least, we have our local Parish Council to thank for donating £3,300 of its precept this year to our worthy cause. Incidentally, even Father Christmas’s helpers have donated £144! 

Future Developments

So, what of the future? How can we make our Green even better? How can we keep up this momentum?

As many of you will already know, The Trust has a duty to ensure that the Green, as far as it can, fulfils the needs and aspiration of our community, which will inevitable change with time. This year we have seen even more people using the Green, particularly during the summer.

To date, nothing has been decided, but we already have aspirations to install a nature trail which will take walkers though our small wood and around the back of the wildflower meadow, with seats on the way to enable you to rest and enjoy the nature.

We have recently been offered a grant of £950 to set up 2 beehives adjacent to the Green to get people involved in this ancient art and sell Green Honey in the village. We are still looking for more help with this.

Alan Whittaker of LCC has recently obtained an award of £300 for us to install another litter bin near the skate park, and some of our funds have been put aside to provide a better water supply, which is needed when we have events on the Green.

Finally, we have a desire to establish some toilet and storage facilities on the Green, so we can store tools and equipment, while catering any volunteers or special visitors to the Green who may be “took short”.

Whatever is decided, we are always open to constructive suggestions from the wider community, regarding any new developments. 

Closing Comments

Before I finish I must make a few closing remarks.

Sustainability is not easy when none of us are getting any younger. Let’s be clear, we are not hanging up our boots yet, in fact who can talk of retirement when we have Sid Ellis leading our Volunteer’s Days, but we must always be looking for new blood. People who can share our vision and take it forward in a sympathetic way. To this end, can you please look around and let us have any likely names?

Secondly, I’ve been accused this year of a rather high-handed attitude, particularly regarding the skate park. I must confess that even I can get enthusiastic sometimes, particularly where young people are concerned.  I promise to try harder to involve others in the future and thank you all for tolerating and even supporting some of my excesses.

Finally, to all of you here - thank you for attend this meeting and showing that you care. We have travelled a long and winding road together and, as long as Mawdesley residents continue to care, I’m sure we can sustain this attractive amenity.

 

Thankyou.

 

Rod Collins, Chair of MMGT

9^th October 2007