February update includes news on the Windmill lottery funding and Putney Hospital site
On Tuesday 9th February 2016, the WPCC Board, through its Wildlife and Conservation Forum,
hosted an open lecture at the London Scottish Golf Club on the subject of Grazing on Public Open
Spaces.
Grazing on Public Open Spaces
This topic clearly inspired the local community as over 100 people attended to hear
James Adler of the Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) talk about the work SWT is doing to introduce
various grazing regimes across a number of Surrey’s open spaces. Although there are no plans for
introducing grazing back onto the Commons, the benefits in terms of improved ecology and
habitats were very apparent. The WPCC Board were urged by those attending to at least explore
if such techniques could be used to maintain and improve the habitats of our Commons and Heath.
Wimbledon Windmill - Heritage Lottery Fund
Working in partnership with the Wimbledon Windmill Museum Trustees, an external funding bid
has now been submitted to Heritage Lottery Fund under the “Our Heritage” scheme. Local
community groups and amenity societies provided valuable letters of support for the project. It is
hoped that the outcome of the bid will be known by Easter 2016.
Board Meeting - 8th February 2016
Commons Strategic Plan
One of the key recommendations from the Governance Review undertaken in 2014 was the need
to prepare a Strategic Plan for the Commons. The Charity recognises that its limited resources
mean that it cannot achieve everything it wants to and therefore it needs to prioritise and schedule
its activities. Having a compelling vision and clear objectives for what it will seek to deliver in the
short, medium and long-term will benefit the Charity. The Board agreed a timetable for the
development of a Commons strategy which will include the essential involvement of stakeholders
and the local community.
Putney Hospital Site
The appointment of lawyers Charles Russell Speechlys (CRS) was confirmed to guide and advise
the Trust through the implementation of the Charity Commission’s Formal Action Plan. In April the
firm will present Trustees with clear recommendations on the matters to be resolved and how to
best to proceed to resolution.
February 23, 2016