AGM 2024-2025

22nd November 2025 at 14.00 at Headley Village Hall

Present

The committee and 15 members

Apologies

Lyn Richards

Minutes of the November 2024 AGM

The minutes of the meeting on 16th November 2024 were accepted as a true record of the meeting. There were no matters arising.

Chairman’s report  

I am pleased to say that since the last AGM in 2024, there is much to report about the Friend’s activities that is encouraging.

First about the Heath itself. Thanks to Theo and Peter in particular. With some spells of fine weather later in the year and the continual excellent stewardship of our Ranger, Theo Howard and his volunteers, we have been able to enjoy to the full the unique environment of the Heath.

Briefly, some highlights. it was a wet and stormy winter up to Christmas followed by a cold snap in January and at times the Heath seemed a bleak place. But, undeterred, the NT and the volunteers worked on Purley Plain, beating back the gorse, to open it up.

The summer, though, was beautiful with birds singing, insects buzzing and a fabulous display of wildflowers. Gorse clearing was continued at Goodman’s Furze and by the Old Gravel Pits allowing other, more desirable, species to germinate and get a foothold.

One exciting bit of news was that a female of the Chalk Blue Butterfly was spotted leading to hopes that the species had successfully recolonised the heath, after being absent for over 40 years.

Lastly about the Heath, I am sad to report that one of the Trail posts was destroyed by fire, when there was a huge illegal firework display and lots of fireworks on the Heath, just before Bonfire Night. It took 4 people to pick up the debris and the boxes of unused fireworks. There is a spare QR code to go onto the replacement post.

Turning to the work of the Friends, Ecologist Dr Giles Groome delivered his latest survey of eight permanent botanical sites on the Heath. The information is given to the National Trust for their records, to help with the management plan.

Started in 2009, this is a regular survey to monitor the health of the Heath commissioned and paid for by the Friends. The results of the latest survey are still being analysed and will be reported to Friends in the future.

Two silent films made in the 1960’s by Humphrey Mackworth Praed have been digitally restored and subtitles added to describe what is happening. Thanks particularly to committee members Robin and Lucy Hunter and Peter Denyer for their sterling efforts.

Work was completed on an accompanying slide show introduction to the Heath which includes the principal matters of interest from prehistory to the present day and its geological formation. The slide film and slides have been put onto the new website of which more in a moment. They are available on Facebook too.

On 10th May, the new Headley Heath Military Trail was officially opened ceremony featuring speeches and a guided walk led by local historian and committee member Peter Denyer with Lord George Bridges, grandson of the wartime Cabinet Secretary, declaring the trail open.

The Friends had a very generous bequest from the Bridges family to be used to mark the contribution of Robert and Tessa over many years to the wellbeing of the Heath. We agreed with the family to use this to pay for the new Trail with the contribution of the Bridges family acknowledged on the Trail.

Other events included an enjoyable butterfly walk led by Theo Howard on Saturday 19th July and one on fungi on 18th October also led by Theo with over 50, members and non-members, attending.

I mentioned the new website just now and am very pleased to report it is now open for use by Friends and anyone else. We hope it will enhance – transform even – the work of the Friends.

It is easy to navigate and includes sections on the Heath, Visiting, the Friends, Events, Newsletter, AGM, Galleries, Links and Contacts. The last Newsletter and the minutes of the last AGM are reproduced in full in case you missed them. The section on the Heath contains information much of it illustrated on habitats, flora, fauna, the evolution of the Heath’s two topographies and the impact of human activity from the Middle Stone Age to today.

An important new capability is that members can join and/or pay their subscription via the website and our map of the Heath can be purchased also. We are in the process of updating the map, with recent changes and additions included.

It will be kept regularly up to date and be a valuable supplement to our regular newsletters.

Allied to this we have overhauled the work of the committee especially how we welcome new members, a topic which has had some issues in the past. I am pleased to report that membership has now been taken over by committee member Lucy Hunter aided by Robin Hunter who have devised new procedures which I am sure will handle membership matters smoothly from now on.

As part of looking at membership, the committee considered the Friends annual subscription. It has not been increased for a very long time still being a minimum of £5 pa. We want to increase it to a minimum of £10 p.a. which is still not a large sum of money. The extra funds will enable us to do more to assist visitors to the Heath and help the National Trust in its conservation work.

At our last committee meeting we discussed the events programme for 2026. Planning is well under way with a provisional programme of a talk in the Octagon of St Mary’s Church Headley on the Heath’s medicinal herbs in February, a walk looking at trees in winter in early March, a Bat walk in May/June, a Butterflies walk in July and a Fungi walk in October. Also, we would like to contribute to the event on 3 October 2026 celebrating the 80th anniversary of the National Trust taking over the Heath. More detailed information on all these events will be published in the next (Spring) Newsletter.

The one matter which continues to concern your committee is membership. Not only is membership declining, albeit slowly, but our average age is increasing. We need to attract new members, especially younger ones, and the committee is considering what measures we can take.

Your thoughts on this would be welcome and if you know friends or acquaintances who might join, please use your undoubted powers of persuasion.

Lastly, I hope everyone will continue to enjoy our wonderful Heath and I hope to see some of you at the forthcoming events.

My final task is to thank all the committee members for their hard work. All but Sarah Clayton have already been mentioned. Apart from her valuable contributions to all our work, Sarah is our secretary and her administrative and management skills ensure we function effectively.

Also, our warmest thanks go to our Treasurer, Paul Curtis and our Auditor, George Nixon. Again without them we could not function effectively.

And, of course, most importantly, our thanks to you the Friends of Headley Heath, Without your support, the Heath would be a poorer place.

Report by National Trust Ranger, Theo Howard

Theo Howard gave a comprehensive report of the conservation work of the National Trust during the previous twelve months.

Treasurer’s and financial report

The finances of the Friends of Headley Heath are in a healthy position with Net Assets of £12,134 available. Of that £3,662 is the Bridges Glade Donation, and £478 the Henry Beavon bequest.

Accounts for the year ending 30 September 2024 have been submitted for auditing and signed off by auditor, George Nixon on 30th October. All necessary documentation has been sent to the Charity Commission.

Total Income to 30/09/2024 was £568. Total expenditure to 30/09/2024 was £645, giving a deficit of £77.

Membership: We have 68 (44 paid up members & 25 overdue), 11 honorary and 9 volunteers so total 89.

The financial report and accounts were approved, and adopted by the meeting.

Election of Committee and appointment of officers

Members of the Committee (William McKee, Peter Denyer, William and Lucy Hunter, and Sarah Clayton) have all agreed to stand again.

The committee was re-elected.

Appointment of auditor

George Nixon has confirmed he is happy to continue as auditor next year.

This was approved by the meeting.

Increase of annual membership of the Friends from £5 to £10

The increase to a minimum of £10 p.a. was agreed by unanimous vote.

Questions and discussion

Refreshments and talk about the Canadians here in WW2

After tea and biscuits, William McKee gave a very informative talk about the history of the Green Belt, and how it has been protecting our green spaces in Surrey.