Agenda item

The Chairman introduced Richard Everett, Chief Forester of The Crown Estate, to the meeting. There would be a representative in attendance at these meetings to provide an update.

The following updates were received:

• Unauthorised use of electric motorbikes continued to be a significant issue in the forest. However, it had been quieter of late due to the weather. There appeared to be around 5 or 6 regulars which The Crown Estate were aware of and roughly where they were coming from.

The Crown Estate were working in partnership with Thames Valley Police to tackle this issue. There had been two patrols undertaken by the Police, following familiarisation visits with the wardens. This was a positive step towards removal of unauthorised users and improving the site for use by other users.

• The Ramblers route signs were due to go in fairly soon. This would be alongside the resigning of the cycle trail network, which was being updated. There would be new interpretation boards and mapping which would mainly cater for the cycle trail infrastructure, but also had a wider forest mapping element for a number of different users.

• A sharing the space event was taking place at Windsor Great Park on the 6th of April, 10am-2pm just inside Black Nest Gate at Windsor Great Park on the grass area. So far there was the British Horse Society, Battersea Dogs Trust, Windsor Cycle Hub and the Thames Basin Heaths Rangers coming along to talk to the public. The aim of the event is to educate different park users and user groups about how to behave around horses, how to manage dogs, how cyclists should behave, all those sorts of things.

• They were working on project in the park to improve communications with dog owners and promote responsible dog ownership. There would be a designated space on the website which would be ready in the coming few weeks. They would also be some information commercial dog walking on the estate.

• They were also working quite closely with the Thames Basin Heaths wardens who had supplied some of their leaflets and publications, which highlighted behaviours of visitors in heathland areas. For example, the importance of staying on paths during the ground nesting bird season.

Rob advised that the Council had a leaflet on SANGs/Public Open Space which would provide for the event. Richard explained that they already had access to this leaflet.

A forum member gave their thanks for the signs at Swinley Forest, as it would be safer for people who didn't know what way to go, what were the cycle paths, what were footpaths etc.

A question was raised regarding the car park just off Swinley Rd.
It had an area set aside for horse riders to aid in moving the horse riders from Swinley Forest to Swinley Park. Attendees were advised that it was not used a lot because of the need for horse boxes to get there.

The point was raised regarding users no longer being able to easily walk through Blaines Farm. It was fenced off and the path around the side was a little obscure and muddy. It used to be a straight forward path to walk through the centre of Blaines Farm. It was queried if there was anything that could be done to improve this circular walk. Richard advised that they could look into some improved drainage and some better directions on it.

(Action: Richard)

Attendees agreed how the land was a great asset to Bracknell Forest. The Team was thanked for all the work that they did as it was really appreciated by users.