Agenda item

The Committee received a presentation from Steve Bailey on the work of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership.

The Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership was a partnership project between Hampshire County Council, other local authorities and community organisations and worked to improve and maintain the River Blackwater and the many open green spaces alongside. The partnership aimed to maximise the valley’s potential for outdoor recreation, landscape, wildlife and healthy living by involving and co-ordinating the work of local authorities, communities and landowners; and undertaking vital maintenance work and conservation work.

The Partnership looked after a total 62km worth of paths including a 37km stretch along the Blackwater Valley. This included vital flood mitigation work, path repair and maintenance, and conservation work. During the last year, despite the Covid-19 restrictions, this included 5,300 volunteer hours over 123 projects, the sowing of 10.5KG of wildflower seeds and the logging and recording of over 200 species as part of conservation work. Essential footpath repairs and path maintenance continued to tackle the heavy increase in path users. For example the Frimley Hatches nature reserve part of the Blackwater Valley had experienced a 40% rise in visits in comparison to previous years. This was part of a steady 8% increase in Blackwater Valley path users since 2009.

The Partnership worked with the Council on maintaining and the enhancing of its greenspaces.  The Partnership worked alongside the Council to maintain paths, and mow grass at sites including Diamond Ridge Woods, St Catherines Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), Blackwater Park and Turf Hill Park. Furthermore the Partnership worked together with the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust to collaborate with organisations such as the Surrey Heath Tree Wardens to promote conservation work. This included work such as the installation of bat boxes at sites such as Windlesham Field of Remembrance and Warren Wood.

The Partnership was in relatively good financial health and was due to post a slight budget surplus for this financial year. A similar very small surplus was also predicted for the next financial year.

Following Members’ questions and comments the following points were noted:

·         In comparison to the Basingstoke Canal Authority the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership did not run large-scale income generating events. Instead the partnership worked with third-parties to help run events on the Partnership’s SANGs. This included a contract with a housing developer for the provision of events on a local SANG in Hart, which credited the partnership with £10.000-£15,000 a year.

·         The Council’s Outside Body representatives on the Partnership were always positive about the organisation; and felt that the Partnership was deserving of more local authority support.

The Committee thanked Steve Bailey for attending and his detailed presentation.