Report of Turnpike Field Working Group Meeting held on 6th February 2023

Report of Turnpike Field Working Group Meeting held on 6th February 2023

1. The Muddy Paths project is virtually completed with a superb boardwalk, complementing the gravel section done earlier: see https://www.audlem.org/news/turnpike-volunteers-have-nailed-it.html. When the weather is drier the ruts will be levelled and the remaining bags of MOT spread. Heartfelt thanks go to the many volunteers for their help, hard work, machinery and storage facilities. We are indebted to the Peak and Northern Footpaths Society and Cheshire East who have provided grants to fund the purchase of materials for this project.

2. Various safaris are being arranged for adults and young people via Cubs, Guides and schools to demonstrate to them the wide variety of wildlife to be found in the field. See https://tfra.audlem.org/doc/D718192.pdf for the most recent Wildlife Report

3. A pond dipping platform is to be built on the pond in the upper field, thanks to donations from village groups.

4. Seasonal wildlife leaflets are being prepared in conjunction with AWEG.

5. Various maintenance tasks will be progressed in the near future with the aid of a number of volunteers – clearance of alder saplings, over growing reeds, grass and other plants around the ponds, also skimming of algae.

6. The Fields in Trust application is nearing completion. The field was purchased in 2018 following multiple consultations with the community, the primary objective being to protect it from unwanted development and to preserve in perpetuity it as a natural space, available for the community of Audlem. Registering it with Fields in Trust ensures that this does continue in perpetuity.

Following the allegedly fraudulent activity on the Parish Council bank account, there is a view by a few residents that the field could be sold to recoup some money. However, in practice this is not feasible as a 40-year loan was secured, again with the agreement of the community, to fund the purchase. Selling the field would not cover the outstanding cost of the loan.

7. The Notes of the Meeting can be found here

https://tfra.audlem.org/doc/D727455.pdf