Thanks to a local resident who spotted it behind a bush the information panel that had been removed has been found. Fortunately the panel was undamaged so with a new backing board we have been able to return it to its rightful position.

Hand rails have been constructed and installed by E&R Meakes of Lane End at the crossing point on Horns lane opposite the public footpath .

Unfortunately crossing the road is still difficult and potentially dangerous due to the bends in the road and the speed of some drivers who use the lane but the hand rails should make this well used footpath a little safer and more accessible.

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The completed handrails have been fully tested….

One of the Information panels has been removed by mindless vandals. Why anyone would want to do this is a mystery as it is of no use to anyone other than the users of the common. We will replace the board but this will be a significant expense that will take funds away from other work that could be done on the common.

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The continuing restrictions due to Covid-19 will once again prevent us from holding our AGM in the normal way. In accordance with the latest advice from the Charity Commission, we have therefore decided to cancel the 2021 AGM. We considered the option of a remote meeting, but on balance decided that this would not be a practical alternative.

We must however continue to follow the rules of the society which include the election of committee members and officers for the coming year and an annual report of our accounts. The AGM is also a time when we ask for new volunteers to join our committee.

Committee membership

There has been one change to the committee since last year. Sophia Hobbs, stood down and one new member, Ian Evans volunteered to take her place. He was therefore co-opted as a new committee member.

Given the current circumstances the existing committee members will be reappointed for a further year.  In addition, to avoid the need for a formal vote, any new volunteers who wish to join this year will be co-opted by the committee.

We know that two members will be leaving this year as they are relocating out of the area, so please let us know if you would be interested in volunteering to replace them and join our committee.

Annual Accounts

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, doorstep collection of subscriptions was suspended.  However, a substantial number of members paid subscriptions and made additional donations by bank transfer. Also thanks to a nomination by Wycombe Wanderers, the Society received a significant donation from The Football Association, .

This covered our annual running costs (primarily the cost of keeping the grass cut and public liability insurance) and as a result the society remains financially heathy.

A report of our accounts has been prepared in the usual way by our treasurer, Phil Stagg. 

We hope you agree with and support our decision to cancel the AGM. Assuming restrictions are removed we will consider holding a GM later in the year. This will be reviewed at our committee meetings, currently being held remotely.

If you have any concerns about our decision to cancel the AGM please let our secretary (secretary@bookercommon.org.uk) and chair (chair@bookercommon.org.uk) know.

Thank you for your continuing support.

On Saturday May 1st as part of the ‘Captain Tom 100’ event and to raise funds for Cure Parkinson’s and the Captain Tom Foundation Sally Harvey will be running and walking 100 laps of the Common, that’s 36 miles.

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If you would like to support Sally with a donation you can do at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SallyHarvey21 and if you would like to join her please do so. Your company will be much appreciated.

Thank you to the large number of volunteers who made our Spring Litter pick such a a great success. Not only were we able to clear the common and woods of litter but we were also able to deal with litter that is increasingly dumped on the margins of Lane End Road and Horns Lane. Your efforts are evident for all to see.

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The large roller which saw many years service on the cricket square has been converted to create a special new bench as a fitting tribute to Trish Choules.

Around this time of year, we would normally be calling upon members to collect the annual subscriptions that keep the society going. However, with the ongoing risk of Covid-19 a doorstep collection would be completely inappropriate. We do however still need funds to continue with our work. This will be particularly important in the coming months once the work by the West Wycombe Estate to remove diseased and damaged trees is complete.

Some members already pay by standing order. Please can we ask those members from whom we normally collect, to use this as an opportunity to do so as well. This can be arranged on line or by contacting your bank. The subscription is just £4.00 per household, although many of you also add a donation to our fighting fund. Any additional donation can be included in the standing order payment.

To make the payment all you will need are the details of the BCWPS account (which are shown below), the date when the payment is to be made (which can be any date but preferably in December or January) and a reference (for example, your house name or number and post code) so that we can identify the payment.

Thank you for your help and continued support. We know that the common has become an important place for many of our members and others to exercise or just spend time in the fresh air during the restrictions. This time next year we hope that some normality will have returned. In the meantime, may I take this opportunity to wish all our members and friends a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Thanks to our small band of volunteers the triangle has been cleared and the cuttings removed to encourage new wild flower growth in the spring.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the litter pick. It was an excellent turn out. Your efforts make a real difference to the common.

A new steel post has been installed to prevent motor vehicles from using the pedestrian access…

Next time you visit the Common enjoy some tasty refreshments thanks to the Memorial Hall volunteers. You can sit in the hall or take it outside on to the common.

Every day except Sunday from 09:00 to 14:00.

Several trees have been felled recently and many more are shortly to be cut down and removed from the woods. 

This work is to remove diseased Ash trees or those that pose a danger and is being carried out by Wessex Woodland Management Ltd on behalf of the West Wycombe Estate 

Once the work is complete, we will look at how the common has been affected and consider how we may be able to support its restoration.

It was a great pleasure to present the 2020 Alan Duggin Memorial Conservation Award to John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance who have been cutting the grass for us for more than 15 years.

The award is normally announced and presented at our AGM but due to the current constraints the presentation was made on the common. The award was accepted by Ian Evans on behalf of the company in front of a small group of local residents who regularly use the common.

With horns lane closed for some road works it was an oportunity for the estst to remove some dangerous and diseased trees. The felled trees will be dealt with in the comming weeks.

We very much hope that by mid-May the need for social distancing restrictions will have reduced significantly but as we cannot be sure, we have decided to cancel our AGM, scheduled for May 18^th.

We must however continue to follow the rules of the society which include the election of committee members and officers for the coming year and an annual report of our accounts. The AGM is also a time when we ask for new volunteers to join our committee.

Committee membership

I am very pleased to advise that the current committee members and officers are all willing to continue.

Given the current circumstances all the existing committee members will therefore be reappointed for a further year.  In addition, to avoid the need for a formal vote, any new volunteers who wish to join this year will be co-opted by the committee.

Annual Accounts

This year, in addition to the membership subscriptions which cover our annual running costs we received two significant donations. In September a donation from Red Kite Community Housing enabled the purchase of hand tools to use during our litter collections and work parties, and in March, thanks to Cllr Brian Pearce, we received a donation from Wycombe District Council to support the maintenance of the Woodland Walk.  We therefore remain financially heathy.

A report of our accounts will be prepared in the usual way by our treasurer, Phil Stagg. 

If you have any concerns about our decision to cancel the AGM please let our secretary (secretary@bookercommon.org.uk) and me (chair@bookercommon.org.uk) know.

Thank you for your continuing support.