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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

COBTREE MANOR ESTATE COMMITTEE

 

11 JANUARY 2012

 

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT AND REGULATORY SERVICES

 

Report prepared by Joanna Joyce, Acting Cobtree Officer 

 

 

1.           Park Ranger’s progress report

 

1.1        Issue for Decision

 

1.1.1   To consider work of the Park Ranger at Cobtree Manor Park.

 

1.2        Recommendation of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services and of the Acting Cobtree Officer

 

1.2.1   It is recommended that the Committee note the actions taken by the Park Ranger and the future work set out in Appendix A to the report. 

 

1.2.2   It is recommended that the Committee endorses the draft programme of events for the coming year 2012 as set out in Appendix A to this report, and approves the inclusion of the sum of £2,200.00 in the draft estimates of accounts to cover the cost of engaging external event leaders.

 

1.2.3   It is recommended that the Committee endorses the increase in leaflets detailing events from 2000 to 3000 for 2012, and approves the inclusion of the sum of £450 in the draft estimates of accounts to cover the cost of design and printing.

 

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

 

1.3.1   The Committee previously resolved to receive a progress report on the work of the Park Ranger at each meeting.  Attached at Appendix A is the report for the most recent period.

1.3.2   The Committee’s attention is drawn to the “7 Ages” sculpture for which installation is due to be completed in January.

1.3.3   Set out in Appendix B is the draft programme of events for the coming year; which builds on the success of the programme of 2011.  It should be noted that a number of events require the engagement of external leaders; as a result there is a request that the sum of £2,200 be included in the draft estimates for 2012/13 to meet the costs involved.

 

1.3.4   The Ranger has requested that the number of leaflets printed is increased from 2000 in 2011 to 3000 for 2012. This is because the supply ran out in early autumn this year. The leaflet also contains a map of the park and so is also useful for general park visitors. The success of the events programme for 2011 is also likely to mean an increase in demand for leaflets for 2012.

 

1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

 

1.4.1   The alternative course of action is to reject the request for endorsements contained within the report.  This is not recommended as the recommendations are in the best interests of the future management of Cobtree Manor Park.

 

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

1.5.1   The work of the Park Ranger directly supports the achievement of the Charity’s objectives.

 

1.6        Risk Management

 

1.6.1   There are no additional risks to the Charity arising from this report.

 

1.7        Other Implications

 

1.7.1    

1.      Financial	x
2.           Staffing	x
3.           Legal
4.           Equality Impact Needs Assessment
5.           Environmental/Sustainable Development
6.           Community Safety
7.           Human Rights Act
8.           Procurement
9.           Asset Management

 

 

1.7.2   There is a request in the report for the inclusion of £2,200 in the draft estimates for 2012/13 for the engagement of external event leaders.

 

1.7.3   There is a request in the report for the inclusion of £450 in the draft estimates for 2012/13 for the design and printing of the events leaflet.

 

1.7.4   The Ranger will run a number of the events as part of her day to day duties.

 

1.8        Relevant Documents

 

There are none.

 

1.8.1   Appendices

 

Appendix A - Rangers Progress update October to December 2011.

 

Appendix B - Draft Programme of Events.

 

1.8.2   Background Documents

 

Cobtree Manor Park Management Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT? x     Yes                                               No     If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan?   ..   This is a Key Decision because: ..   .   Wards/Parishes affected: ..   ..

APPENDIX A

 

RANGERS UPDATE OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2011

 

1.  ON GOING PROJECTS

1.1 Events

In November night-time guided walks were undertaken around the park by two groups of local Beavers (children aged 6-11) in order to obtain a badge. This event was attended by 45 children and 17 adults. This has generated interest from Scout and Guide leaders who may run some of their activities at Cobtree next year.

 

In the draft events programme for 2012 the number of events increased from 25 to 29, with three new titles. See Appendix 3.

 

1.2 Community involvement

Volunteer work and student placements are on-going.

 

1.3 Publicity and marketing

 

The book “Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake and the Cobtree Estate, Maidstone” by Elizabeth Melling is now available for sale from Cobtree Cabin.

 

1.4 Park maintenance and development

 

·         Winter maintenance of trees and shrubs; pruning, coppicing, removal of rogue trees from ornamental shrubberies (on-going).

·         Winter maintenance of access routes; woodchip on paths, edging of paths and car park etc. (on-going).

·         Relocation of “7 Ages” sculpture by Will Glanfield, donated by KCC (in progress due to be installed in January).

·         Clearance of the contents of Elephant House (completed).

·         Crown reduction of large oak tree in prominent location, work by specialist arboricultural contractor (completed).

2.     Further work planned for the winter period

·           Pruning of trees and shrubs.

·           Coppicing selected shrubberies.

·           Reducing shrubs and ivy on and around the Elephant House.

·           Planting trees donated by Boxley Parish.

·           Updating the Cobtree Manor Park webpage.

·           Preparing a list of trees and shrubs in the park to be available to the public via the new webpage.

·           Updating the Cobtree Manor Park leaflet for 2012.

APPENDIX B

Draft Events Diary 2012

 

2012 EVENTS PROGRAMME AT COBTREE MANOR PARK
No.	DATE		DAY		TITLE	AUDIENCE			PROVIDER
APRIL
1	04/04/2012		Wed		Family Wildlife Walk	Family			MVCP
2	07/04/2012		Sat		Nature Detectives - High Tech Easter Trail	Family			MVCP
3	26/04/2012		Thurs		Ramble with Ranger	11+			MBC
4	28/04/2012		Sun		Ramble with Ranger	11+			MBC
MAY
5		tbc		Early Birds			11+	volunteer
6	10/05/2012		Thurs		Spring Tucker in the Countryside NEW	16+			MBC
7	13/05/2012		Sun		Spring Tucker in the Countryside NEW	16+			MBC
8	20/05/2012		Sun		Basic Birds - an Introduction	11+			MVCP
9	27/05/2012		Sun		Gert and Daisy - the Story of Maidstone Zoo	16+			volunteer
JUNE
10	08/06/2012		Fri		Mini-beast Safari	Family			MVCP
11	16/06/2012		Sat		Gert and Daisy - the Story of Maidstone Zoo	16+			volunteer
12	21/06/2012		Thurs		Trees of the British Isles	11+			MBC
13	24/06/2012		Sun		Trees of the British Isles	11+			MBC
JULY
14	01/07/2012		Sun		Mini-beast Safari	Family			MVCP
15	05/07/2012		Thurs		Gert and Daisy - the Story of Maidstone Zoo	16+			volunteer
16	19/07/2012		Thurs		Trees from Around the World	11+			MBC
17	22/07/2012		Sun		Trees from Around the World	11+			MBC
18	27/07/2012		Fri		Wild Creatures of the Night	Family			MVCP
AUGUST
19	05/08/2012		Sun		Gert and Daisy - the Story of Maidstone Zoo	16+			volunteer
20	08/08/2012		Wed		Family Wildlife Day NEW	Family			MVCP
21	15/08/2012		Wed		Family Wildlife Day NEW	Family			MVCP
22	22/08/2012		Wed		Ramble with Ranger	11+			MBC
23	29/08/2012		Wed		Ramble with Ranger	11+			MBC
24	24/08/2012		Fri		Bats at Cobtree (European Bat Weekend)	Family			MVCP
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
25	04/10/2012		Thurs		Berried Treasures of Late Summer	11+			MBC
26	07/10/2012		Sun		Berried Treasures of Late Summer	11+			MBC
27	18/10/2012		Thurs		Cobtree Estate Ramble NEW	16+			MBC
28	21/10/2012		Sun		Cobtree Estate Ramble NEW	16+			MBC
29	30/10/2012		Tue		Autumn Forage	11+			MVCP