PS: Our AGM will be held on Monday 31st March at 8 pm in Lord Pirbright's Hall. Our speaker will be David Williams from Surrey Wildlife Trust who will give a talk "Detecting Mammal Signs".
Our main focus this year has been one of sound consolidation and maintenance. To further the work done last year on the front boundary of the site, we have been reviewing the accessibility of our front entrance with a view to carrying out improvements in 2010. We have also reviewed the safety and condition of the pond boardwalk which has highlighted the need to make significant improvements. Done properly, these will be very costly but we view them as vital if we are to maintain and enhance this major feature of the Wildlife Area and we will investigate all possible grant funding opportunities to supplement the Association's limited resources. Visits by groups of school children, cub scouts and brownies, not to mention families and individuals continue to increase which is very gratifying.
Our website (www.foxcornerwildlife.com) receives an encouraging number of 'hits' and our colour leaflet is particularly popular in local libraries. We are very fortunate to have the skills of Carolyn and Chris Guest who keep the website updated on a regular basis and Nigel Emmerson whose photographs bring the site to life as the seasons change.
On site management, we are again indebted to the small band of volunteers who keep the green path network mown and the site safe for all our visitors. As always, we are so grateful to Pirbright Parish Council who add the seasonal mowing of the Wildflower Meadow to their paths and greens contract. This sort of financial help is always particularly welcome as maintenance funding is almost impossible to get from elsewhere.
This time last year, we were very encouraged to receive donations of all sizes from Association members, the vast majority of which was gift-aided which added 20% to funds through tax reclamation. Running a Wildlife Area of 14 acres requires some funding in addition to the work done by the Committee and our wonderful volunteers.
Needless to say, your support and generosity will be much appreciated. If you are a UK taxpayer, you only need to sign the Gift Aid declaration when sending your donation - we will process the rest.
With all good wishes and thanks for your support.
Yours sincerely
Catherine Cobley
Chairman