TDEG Annual General Meeting 2022

Wednesday 15th June 2022 7.30pm

Fountain Square Church

 

1.Welcome

Lynn (as Chair) welcomed everyone to the AGM.

2. Presentation of the 2021-22 Annual Report

Lynn said that the report had been sent out to all members, and was now on the website.  She said it had been a busy year, and highlighted:

  • The successful launch of the Repair Cafe last month. 
  • The Climate Pathfinders Youth Forum have also been active.
  • The Buying for Good Club is continuing to allow its members to buy food in bulk from an ethical supplier, Lembas in Sheffield, which is then divided up amongst members.  
  • The Plant and Seed swap continues to be very popular.
  • We gave out 600 free trees in March, which were planted by around 60 individuals and families in and around Tideswell, to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee. We hope to be planting more in the autumn.

 

The report was accepted by everyone present.

3. Funding

We receive funding by applying for grants and other sponsorship for our individual projects. Lynn thanked all our funding organisations.  Our accounts are in the black and remain healthy. The full accounts are in the Annual Report 

4. Honorary Officers

Lynn thanked all members of the committee for their work.

Lynn said she was stepping down as chair, after three years.  Andrea nominated Sue as the new chair, seconded (in her absence) by Sheelagh.  We are pleased that Sue has accepted this role.

The Communication Officer role is vacant, owing to the death of Claire in February.  Her very active contribution to the group was greatly valued, and she is much missed.  Andrea nominated Lynn as the new Communication Officer, seconded by Jules, and we are very glad she accepted.

Laura remains as Treasurer, and Deborah remains as Secretary.  

Lynn invited anyone who wanted to become involved in the committee to contact the group, as new people would be very welcome.

Closure of the AGM

 

5. Presentation – In the second part of the meeting, Professor Ian Rotherham, Emeritus Professor at Sheffield Hallam University, spoke on ‘Landscape Through Time – a Story of Dales, Moors and Meadows‘. 

Ian emphasised that landscapes are changing, and never static.  He described how nature is on the cusp of widespread collapse, for which we are responsible, but rewilding could reconnect the fragments.  Some rewilding is happening already – for example, the increase in the number of deer in the Peak District.  He said that there is a lot of variation in the Peak District landscape, and its position geographically on the edge between lowland and high moorland, means that climate change can be seen first here.  Rewilding has to be managed carefully, to allow habitats to spread and to maintain diversity. 

Ian illustrated how landscapes are – and always have been – modified by humans.  There has been a loss of heaths, hay meadows, woodlands, and rivers have dried. We have lost 97% of our hay meadows since our Queen was crowned. We need to put back what we have taken out.  There are some signs of a slow road to recovery – for example in the way that wild flowers (and therefore butterflies and other insects) are beginning to come back on roadside verges.  Ian exhorted us to enjoy nature without taking it for granted, to unleash it, and work with the grain of it, to let it have a chance.

Jules thanked Ian for his inspiring talk, in which he had conveyed his passion and expertise for the subject.

A brief discussion focused on how we might address biodiversity decline in different areas, including local farmland and moorland.

6. Final Announcements

Lynn reminded attendees to collect a free Nature Recovery Pack – provided by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to enable us all to do more for wildlife in our own gardens (and also reminded people to think about joining our TDEG `Going Wild` project for more information about that).

Lynn also mentioned that a group from Derbyshire Against the Cull had attended the meeting in order to chat to people about the campaign against the badger cull being extended to our part of Derbyshire. More information here.

Jules  announced that Sheelagh has been given an award by the Friends of the Earth for her work with Frack Free Misson, for which she was also applauded.

Bill announced a forthcoming event to be organised by our Climate Action Group – hopefully at the end of July. The interactive game, Climate Fresk, enables people to develop an understanding about the causes and effects of climate change on the environment, society and economy. It’s about the science and not the politics.  Further details will be circulated once the date is confirmed.

Finally, Helen thanked Lynn very warmly on behalf of the group for all she has done as Chair over the last three years, and presented her with a card and a bottle of champagne, to applause.

The meeting closed at 9pm.

 

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