FOWWS Trustees meeting 17 June 2025
Minutes of the Friends of The Scrubs Trustees’ Meeting
Tue 17th June 2025 at 6pm - 7.30 pm in the Meeting Room W10
Present: Stephen Waley-Cohen (Chair), Smita Davé (treasurer), Carmel
McLoughlin (secretary), , Sarah Abrahart, Ben Novak, Faye Thomas and Emma
Ranson. In attendance: Tilly Collins, environmental adviser
Apologies: Sarah Johnson and Joaquim Pereira
1. Tilly Collins was welcomed to the meeting. The Minutes of the last meeting
previously circulated were approved.
2. WSCT next meeting – 18th June.
Masterplan: It was noted that the procurement process has been delayed
due to a change in the Regulations. Stephen and Faye (our
representatives on the WSCT) will query progress.
KAA and future Red Gra area: The imminent loss of KAA will mean a
huge reduction in income. WSCT would like to retain the tarmac which was
installed for the school purposes. There was discussion around potential
uses – for hire for parking of large vehicles for filming etc in the area;
Sunday farm market; site for ecology centre; accommodation for park
ranger; etc.
Green hoarding at LCS: as the works are going to take 2 years proposal
to invite designs to go on hoarding as happened with HS2 works hoarding.
Park Lodge: removal of the building as beyond repair. This is a rich area
of biodiversity and rewilding of the site could be an opportunity. Liaise with
Kate McVay of IdVerde.
Forest School: There was discussion around the current user and other
models eg Chiswick Park. Could be combined with an ecology centre.
3. Date for FoWWS Annual General Meeting 2025 – 18th
September 2025 at 6.30pm. Smita will check availability and
book the Brookfields Hall in Eynham Road. Friends please Save the
Date.
4. Arrangements for the Dog Show on Sunday 27 July are progressing well.
Public Liability insurance up to £5m cover is in place. There was
discussion around whether appropriate to have a bouncy castle. Agreed
we will try it this year and monitor. There will be other children’s activities.
There will be hay bales which will later be donated to Pony Centre and
tables and chairs from the Council. Gazebos will be organised as before.
There will be cakes, Pimms and some ice cream and food vans.5. 6. There was a wide ranging discussion around the other items on the
Agenda including the very successful Nature Day last month and plans for
the next one – with a suggested date of 19th October, the Ecology Centre,
LET, playground improvement plans, topics to share with Friends and
recruitment of Friends.
AOB – monitoring of emails read sent out to Friends Perhaps a more
engaging Newsletter style communication would be more effective. The
trustees will ask for a meeting with LBHF officers, Id Verde and the WSCT
manager for Autumn.
Date of Next Trustee meeting: 22 September 2025.