News from ACORN

At the recent ACORN AGM Chairman Linda Clapham presented Karl Griffiths with a pair of ACORN commemorative mugs to mark his retirement as volunteer warden of the Glebe Meadows. Karl took over from the late John Rogers in 2010 and has been a stalwart of ACORN working parties ever since. However, now in his mid eighties he has decided to retire. Many of the volunteers are seniors and thanks to them the local countryside has been kept accessible over the years. The group was publically launched in 1993 at a meeting at the Mallard Pub. Vic Williams one of the founder members, now 87, was also in attendance.

Geoff Page joint acting chairman in his winding up report said “The committee have not got any younger during the years and it’s fast approaching that those that have soldiered on will no longer be able to do so. Over the years we have seen many come and go, and many fond memories especially of those that that have passed away in the last couple of years. ” He added “I know both Katie and Brian Juffs, who celebrated their Diamond Wedding earlier this year would dearly like to stand down from the committee as well, but have agreed to carry on so the group remains quorate and does not have to be wound up. It is strange in our environmentally aware world with the Greta Thunberg’s and the Extinction Rebellions carrying on we can’t get younger people to step up and take on the good work that ACORN has done locally. There is still much to do” . The evening was held at the Arlesey Social Club and was followed by a buffet. The committee remains as follows: Linda Clapham and Geoff Page were re-elected as joint chairmen. Mick Jackson was re-elected as the treasurer. He was unable to attend as he was running his 28th marathon in Dublin and sent in a written summary [well done on both counts Mick]. Katie and Brian Juffs were also elected (as mentioned previously). Tony Kirchin has taken on the role of Warden to the Glebe Meadows and Andrew Knight keeps up the interest on the ACORN FaceBook page (400 followers). He runs a photo of the month competition with the winning photo chosen by members and used in an annual calendar.

Because of the aging volunteers many of the physical activities have got fewer recently but a small team still looks after the Nature Reserves. The footpaths were not up to their usual standard, bear in mind CBC employ a contractor to cut them twice a year, but a younger member (that’s anyone under 70) stepped up to the plate and did a thorough job on one neglected path just using a scythe. Another new member is going on a LANTRA training course so that they can use a strimmer in the future. The group was one of the first to sign up to becoming a Parish Paths Partner in 1993 with the local authority.

The group will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023 and has achieved quite a lot in that time. Firstly, by purchasing and saving the Glebe Meadows, part of the heritage of the local countryside; the creation of the Hicca Way Footpath along the length of the River Hiz together with a printed guide; the installation of an easy accessible footpath to the River Hiz from Mill Lane; designed and published a set of free local circular walks guides (now out of print); have organised a lot of hedge and shrub planting with the Arlesey Plants Project partnership at the Town Council’s playing field, The Green and Woodland Chase. They have also worked with local farmers to help enhance their fields under the country stewardship scheme. Etonbury Wood was a significant one which was part of an EU farming diversification scheme. With a sound constitution the group has raised well in excess of £120,000 in grants to undertake much of this work. It has not all been hard work and members have been on many field trips to other places of natural interest. On one occasion they went in search of the Great Raft Spider at Lopham and Redgrave Fen in Suffolk.

If you care about the decline in the green spaces around the village then it is only £7 for a household membership or £5 for a single person to join ACORN. Most of all the group needs active younger members (anyone under 70!!) to continue the ACORN legacy.

Karl pictured left with Linda Claham