Monday, 30 January 2017

Kingsley Bridleway 1, again

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hampshire County Council has made an Order under Section 14(1)b of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prevent danger to the public, as follows:

ROAD TO BE CLOSED: Kingsley Bridleway 1
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: None available
PERIOD OF CLOSURE: From 2 January 2017 until 14 June 2017 or until completion of the repair works, whichever is sooner.

Reasonable facilities will be provided to allow access to adjacent premises while the work is being carried out.

For information visit www.hants.gov.uk/publicnotices, contact the Countryside Access Team on 01962 846981 or email row.notices@hants.gov.uk
JONATHAN WOODS, Countryside Access Team Leader, Castle Avenue, Winchester, SO23 8UL

Monday, 23 January 2017

Coppicing

Coppicing was once a widespread country activity and, indeed, was practised in and around Kingsley.

Apart from sound woodland management coppicing provided employment for hurdle makers. Mostly made of hazel, which was split and woven, the hurdles so made, were a pretty sound barrier for sheep and quite useful for garden dividers. Now, alas, something of a dying art. When I worked in Dorchester my journey to work took me past a couple of traditionally worked copses. Very often I passed the hurdle maker cycling to his copse of choice for the day. I don’t know if he is still around, as having moved, I seldom go that way these days. However, the evidence of his work was plain to see and would be apparent for several years after each season. Looking at a coppiced woods one sees a series of levels. Starting at ground level are the stumps of the most recent activities and thereafter each coppiced section is a few feet taller until the range of tall mature hazels are to be found and they mark the area which will start the process off all over again. Each year of coppicing provides a different habitat for the woodland wildlife and is, therefore, very eco friendly. 

Apart from the hurdles, which provided an income, there were also bean poles and pea sticks which could be sold for a few extra shillings. There was also the chance of finding an odd twisty. These are the result of the honeysuckle vines twisting around branches and as the branch grows and the vine tightens around it a distinct spiral groove is created. Twisty’s are much sought after by the enthusiastic stick making community. A really good twisty can change hands for quite a lot of money.  As a woods was coppiced it opened up an area which allowed the sunlight in and provided the conditions for some plant species to re-emerge and sunny spots within the wood for butterflies and other insects to bask. 

The Copse as it was known in Kingsley, in the days of my childhood, was the wood to the right of the hill leading from the Straits going towards Binsted. We new it them as Wheatly Copse. Coppicing took place within it and also in sections of Alice Holt forest and on a number of the hangers from Oakhanger through Selborne and in the woods below Worldham. Walking through a woods which was once coppiced, it is reasonably easy to identify the areas involved. Hazel trees were planted, they didn’t just occur, and they were planted in lines, spaced for maximum benefit in blocks. Where these old areas still exist the hazel is still the predominant tree although they will be much larger specimens than they would have been in the days of coppicing. So, if you come across an area of hazels,regularly spaced out, and sandwiched between other trees in a large block, you can be reasonably sure you have found an old coppicing site. Don’t forget to look for the perfect twisty as these old site provide the ideal conditions for twisty hunting. But, of course, the landowner's permission must be obtained before cutting a stick. I spend hours happily engaged searching for twisty’s and each time I find a nice one it only serves to spur me on in the hope of finding the perfect specimen, if such a thing exists. Be warned it is an addictive pursuit. 

Although the traditional coppicing activities are quite rare these days coppicing is still up and running around the country. In these parts we have two woods which are owned by The Woodland Trust, Duncliffe and Fifehead. During the winter months groups of volunteers meet at weekends and coppice an area which forms an ongoing management programme. It keeps the woodland rides open and ticks quite a lot of conservation boxes. The Trust has woodland all over the country and offers plenty of opportunity for people to get involved and experience coppicing and many other aspects of woodland management and preservation. I have no hesitation in whole heartedly recommending the Trust. I got involved with them when I retired and have enjoyed every minute, I now act as volunteer warden for both of the above woods and spend a great amount of time within the two of them. One of the great benefits of The Woodland Trust is the fact that all of its woodlands are open to the public free of charge. There is no obligation to become a member in order to enjoy the range of woodlands they own. All activities are supervised by a competent person and tools are provided. Work parties are made up of a wide variety of people and are great fun and provide an ideal opportunity for a woodland picnic. As with all modern organisations, The Trust has a website where both local and national activities can be found together with maps of each wood and parking availability etc. So, if you have an interest in woodlands, butterflies, birds and all manner of things to do with rural life, seek them out. You are in for a treat. 

Kingsley Parish Council Thursday 26th 7:30pm

Kingsley Parish Council meets on Thursday, 26th January 2017 in the Kingsley Centre at 7.30pm

AGENDA

1. Chairman’s Opening Remarks
2. Apologies for Absence
3. Declarations of Personal/Prejudicial Interest
4. Public Question Time
Public Questions
Consideration of agenda items which will be open to public participation
5. Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held on 24th November 2016
6. Matters Arising
7. Planning Applications

Applications ongoing:
TAG Farnborough Airport Air Space Change Proposal

54919/001 Land at Kingsley Golf Club, Forge Road, Sleaford, Bordon
Erection of 7 houses and 6 flats with associated car parking and external works

30633/030 Frith End Sand Quarry, Grooms Farm Lane, Frith End, Bordon GU35 0QR
Variation of condition 1 of planning permission 30633/019 to allow the continued importation, handling and re-sale of aggregates until 31 December 2022

30633/031 Frith End Sand Quarry, Grooms Farm Lane, Frith End, Bordon GU35 0QR
Variation of condition 2, 5 and 24 of planning permission F30633/012/CMA to revise the approved timing, working and restoration of sand extraction operations

27396/048 Old Park Farm, Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon, GU35 9LU
B8 storage building after demolition of existing grain store/dryer

22246/004 Sickles House, Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon, GU35 9NA
Listed building - demolition and rebuild of sun room and garden elevation, part demolition of roof of 20th century addition and rebuild to provide additional accommodation with re-cladding, remodelling of porch, new detached car port, enlargement to car parking area and internal remodelling

22246/005 Sickles House, Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon, GU35 9NA
Demolition and rebuild of sun room and garden elevation, part demolition of roof of 20th century addition and rebuild to provide additional accommodation with re-cladding, remodelling of porch, new detached car port and enlargement to car parking area
New application:

56687 Land South of Crossing Gate Cottage, Sickles Lane, Kingsley, Bordon
Small single storey timber barn comprising 4 stables, short access track, change of use to equestrian
57024 Bakers Court, Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon, GU35 9NZ
Two detached buildings for use as offices and workshop
52947/003 Old Park Farm (Land to the East of Kingsley Sport Club, Sickles Lane)
Kingsley, Bordon
Change of use of land for the siting of up to six tourism pods, car parking and general
landscaping

8. St Nicholas Cemetery & Cemetery Chapel
To receive an update from Cllr Rigden

9. Transport, Highways and Road Safety
Speedwatch update
Road Safety
To consider the renewal of the SLR subscription at the slightly increased subscription of £474.91
(from £456.00)

10. Commons, Village Greens and Rights of Way
Upper Green
To consider re-instatement of east end of Upper Green now Piggery development is complete
1. Level area for safe mowing and seed with grass - £310 ex VAT
2. Remove dead and fallen trees - £185 ex VAT
3. Supply and plant hedging to complete front hedge along B3004 to Piggery Development -
£620 ex VAT
Dog Fouling
Playground annual inspection
Lower Green
To consider obtaining legal advice concerning liabilities for giving permission of utility supplies to
run along across footpath 6 to Dale House and new stables. Initial cost about £250

11. Community Resilience
12. Environment and Biodiversity
13. Kingsley Village Forum
Report of firework incident
14. Housing, Business & Commerce
15. Review of Capital Projects
16. Communications
The correspondence received this month was listed & circulated to all Cllrs prior to the meeting.

17. Broadband
To receive an update from Cllr Coury & Cllr Clayton

18. District Councillor
19. Procedures, Finance and Payments
To discuss digitisation of Parish Council legal documents
To receive an update in regards of the invoice for £930 for services from the Kingsley Centre

Payments to be made & Accounts to accept
December 2016 Payments authorised by Cllr Rigden & Cllr Lowe

Payment
Date Payee
Payment
Mode Description Amount
22/12/2016 HMRC BACS PAYE December 2016 20.60
22/12/2016 Karine Nana Yonko BACS Clerk's December 2016 expenses invoice 0009-2016/17 98.60
22/12/2016 Karine Nana Yonko BACS Clerk's December 2016 salary 399.40
January 2017 Payments to be authorised
Payment
Date Payee
Payment
Mode Description Amount
09/01/2017 Southern Electric DD St Nicholas Chapel electricity bill from 30/09/16 - 22/12/16 18.37
27/01/2017 Karine Nana Yonko BACS Clerk's January 2017 expenses invoice 0010-2016/17 80.50
27/01/2017 Karine Nana Yonko BACS Clerk's January 2017 salary 332.40
31/01/2017 HMRC BACS PAYE January 2017 3.60
31/01/2017 Paul Grace BACS Invoice dated 04/01/17 Upper Green grass cutting 264.00
31/01/2017 Harvey Lamport BACS Allotments annual rent unpaid Nov 2015/16 350.00
31/01/2017 Harvey Lamport BACS Allotments annual rent Nov 2016/17 350.00
Date of Next Meeting of Kingsley Parish Council –
Thursday 23rd February 2017 – 7.30 pm at the Kingsley Centre