Guardians of the Tarn

The Guardians of Culgaith Tarn are a new Village organisation. It came into being following a Parish Meeting called by the Parish Council last autumn to decide on the future management of the Tarn, a registered Village Green. The majority at the meeting felt the Tarn should move away from Parish Council management to an independent body.

The Guardians of Culgaith Tarn are in the process of preparing a constitution that will enable them to be registered as a Charity. They are committed to ensuring that the Tarn remains, for all time, available for all parishioners to exercise their statutory rights of air and exercise over the Tarn which exist for all registered Village Greens. A draft 4 year plan has been prepared and it is hoped that it will soon be finalised and distributed to Culgaith households. Some work has already been done to increase the Tarn's accessibility, seats have been installed, walkways cut, dangerous barbed wire removed, plant surveys started along with the inevitable Health and Safety assessment.

The Guardians make three public promises:-
• Anyone, whether or not they support our aims are welcome to join us.
• Anyone, whether or not they support our aims are welcome at all of our meetings.
• Anyone, supporter or not, can have copies of all our plans, meeting agendas and minutes.

The Secretary is John Slann, who can be contacted at Elm Tree House, or by phone at 01768-88476, or by e-mail at this address, john.slann@btinternet.com

Our Plans

Year l (2008)

Stop cutting the whole field except for pathways and graduated area into the Tarn. Pathways will be at least 1.5m wide and cut in a permanent pattern, unless ground conditions make it unfeasible and an alternate route would be made.

The uncut area would be left untouched and a plant and grass survey would be made at the end of May and July 08.

Each survey will record the grasses and plants present, and help us determine soil condition and our plant options.

In late August the meadow area will have a hay cut or a cut leaving grass depending on the survey findings.

In addition towards the end of 2008 some logs and planting of wetland plants, seeds, nettles, brambles etc may be recommended.

Year 2 (2009)

Keep pathways maintained and let the meadow area regrow.

In early spring more plants / seeds maybe planted and some areas may have to be weeded and cleared for this to happen.

Again surveys will be taken in May and July to assess the meadows balance and action will be taken in accordance.

Years 3 + 4

Continue to measure the ratio of pastureland grasses to other species to see if the balance is tipping towards a more diverse meadow. If it doesn't or is happening very slowly then additions of yellow rattle and red clover will help as well as sowing more seeds and plants of the species we need.

Again surveys will be carried out and recorded on not just plants and grasses but any wildlife found. This will help us to carry on managing the meadow.

We have prepared a site plan for the whole area - see above:

And here the plans are:

Within the first year
• Erect a sign re Eden D C bylaws of dog walking and to let the residents know it's our green space.
• Obtain funding for continued grass cutting and upkeep of pathways.
• Obtain funding for local seeds and plants that would be planted this coming autumn and spring of 2009.

Within 2 years
• Remove fence and replacement of boundary eg; large rock boulders.
• Add more log and rock structures to increase plant and animal diversity.
• Obtain funding required for plants and seeds. Consider contacting a plant specialist if we encounter problems.
• Construct a small table top information board.

Within 4 years
• Improve disabled access.
• Obtain funding for grass cutting and plants, seeds, and extra help if required for ground maintenance if needed.
• Carry out stone wall work if we find we are responsible for part of the field boundary wall.