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Minutes of Meeting, June 2025

Friends of Maryon and Maryon Wilson Parks Meeting

Thursday, June 12th, 2025, St Thomas Church

Minutes

Present (13)

Christine Anthony (Chair, CA), Emma (Secretary, EO), Gulle (Committee member, GS), Gary (Committee member, GD), Elen (Committee member, EB), Roger, Jose, Dave, Steve (Committee member), Catherine(Committee member, CT), Sorren, Jane, Matthieu.

  1. Apologies for absence

Natalie Zarb (Treasurer), Andrew, Glenda, Kirsty

  1. Minutes from the last meeting
  • It was noted that Andrew was present at the last meeting (AGM April 25th, 2025). He was also very much a part of the discussions held regarding the future of Maryon Wilson Animal Park.
  1. Chair’s Welcome
  • CA opened the meeting by informing the members that Mickey is recovering well. However, she wishes to withdraw from the Committee for a period. Attendants were informed by Gulle that the Friends’ constitution states that a replacement Committee member can be invited to join, without going through the formal voting process until the next AGM.
  • CA also referred to the sad incident in Maryon Park, when a Friend of the Parks found a person who had sadly taken their own life. The Committee has reached out to the Friend who found the deceased person and offered support. CA also contacted Richard Gregory (RG) to offer support and to thank him for all he does within the parks. 
  1. Park safety issues/ tasks not addressed
  2. A fallen tree in Barrier Park reported by CA and GS posed a big safety issue. However, trees have now been chopped up. 
  3. GS reported that the burnt-out dog waste bin in Gilbert’s Pit will not be replaced. However, it has not been removed either.
  4. Strimming has been undertaken in MWP by Jamie.
  5. Flooded path in MWP reported by EB and rectified by RG.
  6. Nettles in MWP reported to Parks by CA.
  1. Litter Pick Update

CT provided a litter pick update (April 8th, May 8th and June 10th). CT reported that we are running out of grabbers. Claire Lambert is to be approached regarding this. CA informed that the number of volunteers who attend the monthly litter picks is counted, as this is important when match funding opportunities arise.

  1. Charlton House Plant Sale- CT updated regarding the recent plant fair at Charlton House, 18th May. Good footfall and interest in the Friend’s information table. A good opportunity to network with other organisations and 5 new Friends were recruited.
  2. Rotas- GS kindly prepared an availability rota for the forthcoming open day in MWP (21st June) and Picnic in Maryon Park (29th June). The meeting also discussed ideas for the above, including plants, bric-a-brac, jigsaws and animal ginger biscuits.
  1. Geophysical Society update- Laurie Baker confirmed that he and a colleague would have an awareness stand at the MWP Open Day. He has also offered to run walking tours of Gilbert’s Pit.
  1. Art and Creative activities in the parks
  1. Invited Guest Sorren Alsford- Sorren is a local resident. She contacted the Friends as she is interested in sharing her love of the local area with the community and running craft sessions. She is an artist and archaeologist. S. Sorren runs scavenger hunts. She has a wide repertoire of skills, including carving discarded antler horns, making nettle twine, creating sculptures out of waste and giving talks on local archaeology and her work. She has offered to deliver complimentary crafting sessions. Her business is entitled: SALSFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES. We will stay in close contact with Sorren.
  1.  Meeting also informed by EO that Creative Nature will host a free willow craft workshop at the Open Day in MWP.
  1. Feedback from meeting with Councillor and council staff, April 23rd, 2025, and Future of Maryon Wilson Animal Park
  • GD summarised the above meeting. Several members of the Friends Committee also attended this meeting.GD informed the meeting that he wore “2 hats” at this meeting, namely, as a Friends Committee member and also an independent member of the local community. GD updated attendants regarding activities in the parks, such as Friends’ contact with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV). GD outlined a business model for the restoration of the disused toilet block in MWP.  Whereby, the toilet block would be converted into a not-for-profit café with an events space/classroom/community hub. Revenue raised by extra activities would be shared between the Council and the café operators. The council agreed to meet again to discuss this further. GS stressed that the above plan might not necessarily be the viewpoint of the Friends, and any decision would have to be voted upon. 
  • We also discussed what was happening with Section 106 monies. CT reminded attendees that Lovells have funded restoration work at St Thomas’s and provided funding to the New Charlton Community Centre. 
  •  CA considered if containers used (and owned by Lovells) on the building site opposite MW Park could be converted into storage space and/or a space for a café. GD agreed to circulate the minutes following the meeting to Committee members.
  1. Funding Update
  2. EO informed the meeting that we are waiting to hear from the TCV regarding corporate conservation days. A useful meeting was held between Karen Pernyes (Project Officer, TCV), James Squires (Operations Leader, TCV), various Friends Committee members and Council representatives, on April 22nd 2025. This meeting explored the feasibility of holding Corporate Conservation sessions in MWAP.
  1. EO outlined the Community Voting Day idea to create woodland sculpture animals which would form a trail around MWP and become one of the focal points of the centenary of the animal park, in 2026. All agreed to support this initiative. 
  1. MD has offered to source printers who can support with development of interpretation panels in MWP.
  1. Publicity and Income Generating Ideas

Briefly discussed the possibility of creating calendars, cards and notelets to increase revenue. GS showed the meeting examples of previous calendars, featuring different aspects of the Parks. 

  1. Review the Constitution 

Attendees agreed to review the Friends’ constitution and rules regarding number and type of meetings and spending rules, etc., at the next meeting in September, in time for ratification at next year’s AGM. GS offered to host ad hoc Committee meetings at her home. 

  1. MWP Centenary and 25th Anniversary of Friends of Maryon and Maryon Wilson Parks

CT, CA, GS (and Carol) raised several ideas to mark the above. Ideas include an exhibition at Charlton House/ St Thomas’s Church, outlining the history and development of the park, featuring photographs of the park over the years. Everybody is encouraged to think about this over the next few weeks and months.

  1. Maryon Park Community Garden Report

Tim and Edna kindly sent a copy of their report. This was circulated at the meeting.

  1. Treasure’s Report

NZ emailed CA and EO an email copy of her report before the meeting. NZ confirmed the bank balance remained the same as per the AGM, £492.48, as there was no income and no approved outgoings- although we do have 1 pending payment of £40 for the room hire for the meeting on the 12th. Holdings post that payment will be £452.48. NZ also confirmed that the accounts are always examined by a qualified/practising financial adviser. 

  1. AOB

CA informed the meeting that the Green Flag Award status for Maryon Park will not be made public until July.

  1. Next meetings 

Committee meeting only will be held on Thursday September 25th 2025 at 7.30 at Kinveachy Gardens.

Friend’s general meeting will be held on Thursday October 16th at 7.30 pm (venue to be confirmed)

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