THE 35th Annual General Meeting of the Castlemorton Common Association was held in December at the Plume of Feathers, and was well attended.

After the Minutes had been read and approved the Chairman reported that the events held during the past year had been very successful, particularly the Millennium Shindig, when although it rained heavily, a good time was enjoyed by everyone attending at what sounded like a Medieval feast of good ale and roasted pigs. The chairman went on to say that members of the committee had visited Minchinhampton Common with Ian Rowat, Director of Malvern Hills Conservators, to look at how cattle grids were being used and heard about the management of that common, which is National Trust Property. Meetings had been held on Coombe Green with local people to talk about issues such as cattle grids and horses, and the Tourism & Leisure Board about the effects of tourism on the common.

The Chairman also reported that some travellers had arrived on the common during the autumn, but thanks to swift action by local people, the MHC and police, their stay had been short lived.

The Treasurer reported that the events held during the year had been financially successful, especially the quiz night which had helped to finance the Shindig. The bank balance is in good shape.

Med Snookes reported on the Tripartite Meeting when concern had been expressed about damage still being caused by horse training on the common. The efficacy of cattle grids had also been discussed as had scrub clearing. It was felt that the Tripartite meetings were valuable and it had been proposed to hold two a year in future.

Item six on the Agenda was election of Chairman, officers and members of the Committee, and as has been the custom in recent years the present Chairman and Committee were re-elected en bloc.

Future events: the only event planned at present is the Social Supper on February 24, though undoubtedly there will be other events during the year.

Any Other Business: Concern was expressed over the poor state of the common due to cattle churning up the ground, much of which could have been caused by feeding on the common in the extremely wet weather experienced this autumn. Several members expressed their views as to what could be done to alleviate the situation, but it was pointed out that it is because cattle are used to graze the common, and are fed on the common, that the SSSI's have occurred. Take away the cattle and other animals and the common will lose the rare flowers and birds that inhabit parts of it, and it will rapidly become overgrown with dense scrub, and thus be unable to be used for any purpose at all.

Ian Rowat showed some vugraphs illustrating the Malvern Heritage Project as it concerned Castlemorton Common. Scrub clearance near the Pink cottage, taking it back to how it had been in the 1960's was shown, and slides of other areas of common and work being done were also shown. The subject of keeping stock on the Hills and the employment of a stock person was also discussed at some length. Many of the proposals were dependant on the outcome of the bid for Millennium Funds, the outcome of which should be known by June 2001.

The Chairman brought the meeting to a close thanking Mr Rowat for his presentation.