Hosted at Minsterley Parish Hall, the Rea Valley Community Wildlife Group shared a round-up of 2024 activities, potential volunteering opportunities and information on walks and events taking place in 2025.
Steve Oates provided a welcome to 25 attendees and spent time acknowledging the passing of previous Committee member and Treasurer Geoff Brown. Geoff was well known and well liked locally and was heavily involved in several projects – in particular, the Pontesford Hill Nest Box Scheme. Geoff’s contributions, passion and knowledge has had a significant impact on people, and he will be sorely missed by many.
The official AGM business saw the nominations and elections of new Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer and the creation of new roles within the committee. The treasurer’s report was adopted, and the retirement of the current secretary acknowledged with a card, gift, and great amount of thanks for support and effort within the last 5 years – especially considering the extra roles of acting Chair as well as Treasurer in the wake of Geoff’s aforementioned passing.
Leo Smith gave a report on the plight of Curlew and Lapwing within the Rea Valley as well as other significant information from the Bird Group. Julian Bromhead and Siobhan Reedy shared nest box information and Kat Edwards-White the willow tit survey results for 2024. Further details of all can be found in the RVCWG Annual Report 2024.
The break provided an opportunity for members to meet each other and share their wildlife stories in the Rea Valley during 2024. £50.36 was also generously donated for refreshments.
After the break Stuart Edmunds, Shropshire Mammal Group, presented a summary of camera trapping pine martins in the Rea Valley area. Stuart shared historic pine martin data for Shropshire and provided information about pine martin sightings in Snailbeach and Pontesford Hill. Stuart asked whether any RVCWG members would like to get involved in volunteering to monitor camera traps within the Rea Valley. He also encouraged RVCWG members to record other mammal sightings, particularly muntjac deer which appear to be increasing within Shropshire.
Rob Rowe presented the results of the Plant Group outings for 2024 and talked about the legacy of Minsterley Meadows, and Julian Livsey shared the RVCWG’s iRecord results for 2024. This and iRecord quarterly reports can be found in full on the website.
A big thank-you to all the presenters for their comprehensive round-up of 2024. Thanks to Stuart Edmunds for kindly showing us the potential for pine martens within the Rea Valley. Thank-you to the committee members that worked to organise the meeting and thank-you for the donations received during the refreshment break.
