Coordinator’s AGM Report for DCV Year 2018/19 Introduction Who led them Although the days worked remained the same as last Once again special thanks to Don and Val who between year the workdays and average attendance have crept them have, again, led many the tasks this year. up again to a new high. Annual summary compared to previous years Task Leaders Tasks Led Richard Meatyard 26 Work Days Att’nd Paid Year Tasks Sites days worked (avg) up Don Simcock 14 18/19 710 51 80 31 10 ? Val Simcock 10 17/18 693 50 80 32 9 ? Doug Kite 9 16/17 630 53 82 31 9 51 Gareth Morgan 6 15/16 541 49 83 31 8 ? John Marsh 5 14/15 561 52 88 32 8 ? Chris Huggill 4 13/14 573 53 86 32 8 44 Peter Warren 4 12/13 561 52* 84 31 8 46 Dave Wyborn 2 95/6 684 55 86 39 8 ** Who we did them for. Attendance figures continue broadly in line with This year Dorset Wildlife Trust retained the crown and previous years. Peak attendance, except for the two with less work from ARC and more at Tyneham, ARC Abbotsbury Beach clean days, coincided with days have dropped out of the top 3 for the first time in many where tasks were followed by a social event. years. Days Work Avg. Daily User Body worked days Attendance DWT 28 181 7 NT Studland & 12 111 11 Purbeck Tyneham Trust 7 103 16 ARC 8 96 13 NT West Dorset 7 49 8 Litter Free Coast&Sea 2 41 33 Rempstone Estate 4 39 10 Swyre, Peter Yates 4 34 9 Purbeck DC 4 28 9 Butterfly Conservation 2 15 9 Illchester Estates 1 13 9 Weekend or single day tasks? This year I have again included a breakdown of The vital statistics - What we did and who for? attendance by day. This year weekend efficiency has Again, the highest attendance figures were for beach been slightly higher than Sunday only tasks and the clean days, due to members of the public joining in, difference in attendance between Saturday and Sunday followed by various (Tyneham) where the task days on weekend tasks has increased. included a social event. Task type Saturday Sunday Work days % What things we did. Weekend 7 11 8 89 Days Avg. Daily Task type Sun only 13 11 81 worked Attendance Rubbish clearing 3 24 Highlights & low lights of the Year Various 10 14 This year with the AGM closer to the end of the DCV year, I have had less chance to forget what we did last Scrub Bashing 26 12 year and rather less time to put my report together. Woodland/Coppicing 7 12 This year we escaped any serious disruptions due to Hedge laying 3 11 bad weather, although it would be fair to say the Dry Stone Walling 4 9 weather was at times challenging. A long hot dry period Construction / Walling 7 8 coincided with invasives season making these tasks Fencing 12 7 hard work. Then we seemed to run into a winter that Pond / Ditching 1 7 while it wasn’t particularly cold or wet, managed to reserve the worst of the wet weather for when we were Tool store &repairs 1 7 working, particularly Sundays. A notable exception to Invasive species, etc. 6 5 this was the Saturday of the DCV Christmas meal which was foul weather all of Saturday and without the Dorset Countryside Volunteers Charity No: 1071723 Page: 1 / 6 Coordinator’s AGM Report for DCV Year 2018/19 prospect of the Christmas meal in the evening I think Peter Warren Technical advisor, chainsaw operator we would have given up as a bad job and gone home and trailer towing. early. Then, to add insult to injury after a dry start the John Marsh & Orchis exchange trips organisers. Sunday went the same way so for me this gets the low- Jane Faulkner light of the year crown. Tess Green Younger members recruitment and Vitower was once again a bright sunny day with a publicity. spectacular sunset, sadly no mumuration this year so the fencing at Abbotsbury just pips it as the highlight of And the leaders, who have lead task this year and the year, spectacular day on a fascinating site and ice without whom tasks would have been a chaotic free for creams to round the day off. all, not to mention lacking biscuits and hot drinks: An unseasonably warm February resulted in a Chris Huggill, Doug Kite, Gareth Morgan, John reshuffling of the early March tasks when clients Marsh, Peter Warren, Don Simcock, Val decided that bird nesting season had started early. Simcock, Dave Wyborn. Creating extra work for Doug and myself as alternatives When it comes to task leading it is very much a case of to the planned scrub cutting tasks had to be found and many hands make light work, so if you can please join scheduled at short notice, a DCV first, I think. our pool of task leaders, just leading a couple of tasks The Orchis visit went well. This year they joined us for each year would lighten the load of the other leaders. the Autumnal beach clean at Abbotsbury and in conjunction with public participation, helped in setting a Conclusion A return to a year of no cancellations. The one Sunday new attendance record of 38! that was rained off was on a Bank Holiday and we took The glow worm walk this year returned to Hambledon the opportunity to reschedule for the Monday. We did Hill with the result we saw rather more and somewhat end a few tasks early when the wet and cold final brighter glow worms this time. soaked through or due to a lack of work. We gained a few new and returning members during the year Younger members although for various reasons they have only been Sadly, despite the best efforts of our publicity officers, occasional attenders. With more volunteers doing both once again we failed to attract any regular younger days of a weekend and improved attendance on members. Sundays particularly, we have hit a new high for work Website days, at least for as far back as my records go and The website continues to attract the occasional new have had a successful and very productive year. member and to stimulate regular enquiries about Richard Meatyard volunteering. Coordinator Accidents 28th May 2019 This year saw only a few minor cuts, scratches and Explanation of figures bruises from a variety of causes, although Swyre and Year The DCV year runs from 1st April to 31st walling seemed to be the main cause. The most March. significant cut being from a DCV arrow that broke as it was being pushed into the ground. Tasks Is the number of single and double day tasks worked during the year. Thanks The work DCV does each year takes a good deal of Days worked Is the number of days on task during the organisation and preparation, this involves some year. members in a considerable amount of work each year in addition to the time they spend out on task and I am, Sites The number of different sites on which as are we all, indebted to them for this effort, for which I we work. thank them and without which DCV would cease to Attendance Our attendance figure records the function number of individuals on each day. This figure includes DCV volunteers, anyone Chris Huggill Treasurer and trailer towing. from the user body any other volunteers Don & Val Who create the interesting and working with us. Simcock informative quarterly newsletter. Work days The work day figure includes only DCV Doug Kite Who seeks out and puts together our volunteers and includes part days where programme of tasks for a wide range appropriate (this is the figure that of client of clients. charges are based on). Gareth Morgan Our publicity officer who actively Paid-up The paid up membership figure is based promotes the work of DCV in the on a calendar year and not the DCV year. press, using the internet, and by leaflet dispensers around the county. Helen Gorman Who arranges and interesting selection of social events, also our secretary. Dorset Countryside Volunteers Charity No: 1071723 Page: 2 / 6 Coordinator’s AGM Report for DCV Year 2018/19 Date Site Client Days Task 18-01 25/3/18 Tyneham Tyneham Trust 28 Various Remove debris, leaves and soil from cottage floors. Sweep and tidy. Renew 3 deer fence posts. DSWA ran training course for free for DCV, 9 participants. Remove soil from pavement, gutter and tidy paths to cottages. Lots of digging, walling is very well received. 18-02 8/4/18 Powerstock Common Dorset Wildlife Trust 5 Fence repairs Cleared remaining sections of fence line. Straightened posts replacing with new as needed and every third one. Cleared overhanging willow trees. Re-tensioned wire. 18-03 14&15/4/18 Loscombe Dorset Wildlife Trust 7 Fencing Constructed new section of fence in hayfield. Did carpentry and fitted struts to pre-installed strainer posts. Beat in intermediate posts. Strung up 150m of stock net and matching 2 strands of barbed wire. Sat, hot, sunny and dry. Sun, wet, wet, wet! 18-04 23/4/18 Abbotsbury Beach Litter Free Coast & Sea 28 Beach clean Probably a record number of beach cleaners! There was lots of LFCS publicity and DCV had a mention too so this was effective. Less rubbish than in the past, possibly due to the cafe offer of free drinks for litter is working well.