Oaks Meadow Annual Review 2022-23

At last years AGM work on the playground area had just begun and I’m pleased to say that it was completed by Christmas, meaning that it was tried out during the school holiday. Since then there has been an ever growing number of families from nearby and further afield who regularly enjoy this facility. Many have said that this is the best play ground in the area especially as there are toilets on site!! The mud kitchen is the highlight for many children although not so much for the parents and the washing machine at home. The gazebo was installed at the same time offering covered seating for visitors and a useful resting place for the working party volunteers.

In December we were fortunate to receive a specimen silver birch tree from “The Queen’s Green Canopy” which has been planted behind the bench overlooking the pond.

At the end of last year persistent rain meant the pond reached an all time high and the meadow was waterlogged throughout. The same has happened this year and drainage is desperately needed, especially along the front of the site to the entrance gates. Currently we have the funds for the drainage, but not the car park that we recently received planning permission for although a CIL bid has been submitted, it will not be processed until next year and if successful funding will not be released until May.

We are indebted to the Opportunities Group, especially Joey & Sasha, who come to the meadow every week to help with general maintenance of the site and develop their own sensory garden.

Sue Reynard, guardian of the vegetable patch, did a grand job of planting out donated seeds and plants in the spring. The harvest this summer of courgettes, potatoes, cucumbers, butternut squash, carrots and pumpkins was enjoyed by many from the gateway box.

The reflective garden has come on in leaps and bounds. The dead hedge has been built up with donated cuttings from local gardens and boosted with trailer loads from Jon Cook tree surgeon. A water feature of a large silver ball was installed and created much enjoyment especially for children and frogs alike. With thanks to a National Garden Scheme Grant we were able to buy 4 wooden archways, complete the planting plan and top up the beds with supersoil.

In March we had the official opening of the site which was well attended considering the weather. The Burnt House Vineyard opposite provided warm drinks and seating for us all to dry out afterwards.

Danny Bellamy made and fitted the Oaks Meadow signs at the entrance gate from wood that was donated by Michelle Chisholm of the Autism & ADHD group.

The orchard produced some scrumptious apples this year and we will be able to taste how good they were at the end of the meeting.

A coronation celebration in May saw a number of people having a go at maypole dancing. There were some impressive plaids formed on the pole and some unholy knots when they got out of sync, but it came right in the end.

Last month we had the long grass cut between the playground and the entrance gates, thanks to District Councillor John Matthissen who arranged this with MSDC. This is in preparation to plant part of that area as a wildflower meadow and the part around the basketball net as a mown area for ball games.

I am eternally grateful to the team of Trustees who administer everything that happens on the meadow and the work that is required behind the scenes. This year we have had two resignations, firstly Nicola Cleaver who has taken up a position on Battisford PC and then Sara Waterer who is unable to continue with the level of work that she was doing for us although she still supports our work when she can. I am pleased to inform you that Darren Lambert has become a Trustee this year and that Chris Holman has just been accepted onto the board and we look forward to working with him in the near future.

Steve Green our Health and Safety Officer has undertaken a playground safety course and monitors the equipment weekly to make sure that the children using the area can do so safely.

The Five Year Strategy document has been reviewed and I am pleased to report that we have been on target for Phases 1 and 2.

All of the other policies that we hold have been reviewed and are current. A Risk Analysis Register has been compiled and there were just three points that needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency. This has now been done and mitigation actions planned or already put into practice.

The focus for 2024 will be building the Oaks Meadow community by all ages for all ages and the Trustees welcome any help to achieve this goal.

Also see Plans for 2024

December 2023