Dr Peter Pritchard – an appreciation

Peter died on 6th January in his 100th year. He was a leading figure in the initiative to purchase the Hurst in 1995 and it is largely thanks to him that we can enjoy the meadow today.

The Hurst was owned by a company called Dorchester Lakes Ltd, which tried to restrict access to the land, but when they went into receivership this was seen as an opportunity for the village to step in. The Parish Council, led by Cllr Maurice Day, called a meeting which was addressed by Peter, in a packed St. Birinus Primary School. Peter set up the Hurst Water Meadow Trust and led the initiative to raise funds, delivering a letter to every household in the village and receiving donations or loan promises totalling some £34,000. The sale was to be by sealed bid and the prospect of success was thought to be slim until South Oxfordshire District Council moved to make a Compulsory Purchase Order in the event that the Trust was outbid. Peter said that the receiver’s fury on learning of the CPO was enough to “melt the telephone line”. Driven by Peter’s tenaciousness and energy the Trust acquired the 18 acre meadow for £31,000 and the fishing rights for a further £2,000.

Peter was a founder trustee and hon. secretary, steering the Trust through its early days and starting to develop the Hurst meadow into a haven for wildlife and an important area of recreation for Dorchester residents and visitors. Even when he had retired as a trustee Peter maintained an active interest in the work of the Trust and the management of the meadows, applauding the purchase of further land along the lower Thame in 2009 (Old Bridge Meadow) and 2015 (Overy Mead Piece). He was often in the meadows inspecting our efforts from the seat of his ‘all terrain’ buggy and on at least one occasion this vehicle, with him still on it, had to be extricated from the mud when he was too ambitious in his site inspection! It was always a pleasure to see him when he joined us during our working party coffee breaks.

We feel that we have lost the ‘grandfather’ of the Hurst Water Meadow Trust but it is good to recognise that generations of future Dorchester residents will appreciate and benefit from the Hurst which Peter helped to secure for their enjoyment.

Tree planting

In early December members of Sonning Common Green Gym joined us for the last working party of 2017 when we planted 120 small bare-root hedging plants on Overy Mead Piece. They are planted in two short sections alongside the post and wire fence which separates our meadow from Shillingford Farm land. The species we have used include hawthorn, common dogwood, guelder rose, wayfaring tree, spindle, field maple, hazel and dog rose. These should grow to provide shelter and food for wildlife and to relieve the visual monotony of the long wire fence. A further two short sections towards the Thames will be planted at a future date.

The plants were purchased with money donated to the Trust to mark the wedding, in September, of Matt Kirk and Tanya Morris. We hope that Matt, Tanya and their generous friends will visit the meadows to see the growing hedge.

Gillian Johnson (Hon. Secretary) on behalf of the Trustees
01865 340925
admin@hurst-water-meadow.org.uk
www.hurst-water-meadow.org.uk

New Trustee appointment

We are very pleased that Chris Smith has agreed to become a trustee, with effect from 1^st November 2017.

Chris moved to Dorchester from London in December 2011. When he retired from an IT career in the motor trade and in financial services he became a regular volunteer in the village: excavating for the Dorchester Archaeological dig, helping to build a database for the museum, and becoming Chairman of Dorchester Tennis Club.

Chris also joined the Hurst volunteer work parties and while working on the meadows became interested in all aspects of the management of the land. Since March 2017 he has been organising the Tuesday volunteer workers on the meadows and has acquired a loyal band of regular volunteers, planning the programme of work with great efficiency to meet our long-term land management goals.

The Trustees look forward to benefiting from the experience and skills that Chris can contribute to the work of the Trust.

Winter grazing

Horses, or more correctly polo ponies, are back on the Hurst for winter grazing. Providing that the meadow is not flooded they will remain as long as there is grass for them. The regime of grazing after the hay cut helps to encourage diversity of plant species and is a feature of traditional meadow management. Often cattle or sheep are used for grazing but they would be more difficult to contain in the Hurst and less compatible with the many canine visitors to the meadows.

The Trustees thank all who have given support to the work of the Trust this year and wish everyone a happy Christmas and New Year.

Gillian Johnson (Hon. Secretary)

on behalf of the Trustees

01865 340925

email: admin@hurst-water-meadow.org.uk

Meadow matters

Our thanks to Andrew Townsend for cutting the hay on the Hurst meadow again this year. It was cut on 26th August and baled on 29th, the cut having been delayed by wet weather earlier in the month. Andrew will use the hay for his livestock during the winter.

The later cut allowed flowers such as knapweed to set seed which was enjoyed by flocks (or charms) of goldfinch. Also, from late July onwards there were reports of barn owls hunting over the Hurst in the evenings.

Thank you to regular walkers in all three meadows for your diligence and help over dog mess and litter, especially picking up the odd wrapper or empty can that has been discarded. This is much appreciated.

Money matters

Having completed our annual accounts up to the end of March we are beginning to look ahead at how Brexit might affect us. Last year our total income was £13,700, of which £6,000 came from farming grants. Almost all the rest came from donations and associated tax credits. We spent a little over £12,000, of which £9,000 was for land maintenance (mainly tree surgery beyond the competence of our volunteers, and tractor mower running costs). Other significant costs included fees of £1,200 for preparing our new 10 year land maintenance plan, and £650 for our liability insurance.

The reality is that our total actual expenditure is dwarfed by the unaccounted value of the weekly work of our land management volunteers. This exceeds all our expenditure put together. They gain a real sense of personal ownership of the meadows, as well as good exercise and learning new skills. They meet on Tuesday mornings and some weekends. Contact Chris Smith to find out more about Tuesday sessions (chriscssmith@btinternet.com) or Graham Beland about weekend sessions (belandgraham@gmail.com).

We have to plan that Brexit will mean lower farming grants, perhaps none, and we will become more dependent on donations. Small amounts from lots of people will go a long way to keep us solvent. If you might consider making a contribution to our work please contact me and I will be pleased to send you more information. Thank you.

Gillian Johnson (Hon. Secretary) on behalf of the Trustees
01865 340925 email: admin@hurst-water-meadow.org.uk

Saturday 1st July 2017

Families and individuals are invited to the Hurst meadow: 10.00am to 12.00noon under the big oak tree. Everyone welcome

• Help to install the ‘bug hotel’ built at the Dorchester Festival
• Find out about the wildlife on the Hurst and how we know the animals are there
• Story telling about meadow life
• Demonstration of scything
• Identifying meadow flowers

Hurst water meadow trust, Dorchester-on-thames, Oxfordshire

www.magnificentmeadows.org.uk