End of Year Report 2024
This has been another successful year for The Watercress Way. Using a grant from Watercress and Winterbourne we ran a series of events around the River Arle and recruited new volunteers. Our Treasurer, Julie Fullstone, stood down and we recruited Barry Preedy as our new Treasurer. We launched the Bird Song Trail with 14 roundels along the route linking to appropriate bird song for each location.
If you are interested in helping us or joining in any activities, please sign up for our newsletters by becoming a Friend of the Way.
We rely totally on donations and grants. Please see our Donate page for more information on how you can help.
Our 8 trustees continued to be actively involved in a series of projects.
Emma Banks led the Watercress and Winterbourne project which involved a series of successful walks and talks.
We recruited Barry Preedy to be our Treasurer. Julie Fullstone stood down for personal reasons following a valued stint in keeping all our accounts in order.
The trustees have continued to meet monthly, mostly in person, but as needed via Zoom.
We have done regular monitoring and maintenance of the route.
This year we held our AGM in June at the Bush in Ovington and were delighted to be joined by two new volunteers.
Activities:
A series of guided walks as part of the Watercress and Winterbourne project including Bird Song, Heritage and Bat walks and wildlife photography sessions.
Regularly updated the website and social media. Quarterly newsletters sent to our Friends of the Line.
Maintained the Wonston bridge site and improved the route through Sutton Scotney
Helped maintain the railway paths and improve the ecology. We assisted the Worthys Conservation Volunteer group on habitat improvements at Worthy Down Platforms
Trustee Stephen Jeffery produced a calendar of The Watercress Way for sale in local shops and online. Profits going to the charity
Designed and Installed a Bird Song trail which linked to the calls of 14 different birds which can be found along the Watercress Way.
Worked with Itchen Valley Parish Council on their plans for Couch Green Recreation Ground to incorporate a wheelchair ramp to the flat mile in Martyr Worthy to be built in 2025
Plans for 2025
Develop and run a programme of activities from April to October based on the Dawn to Dusk Day and the successful events from the Watercress and Winterbourne project.
Publish a pocket size guidebook.
Liaise with Itchen Valley Parish Council to build a wheelchair ramp at Martyr Worthy. This will be part of their plans to revamp the playing field at Couch Green. This will help to make the flat mile section Access For All.
Advertise the Watercress Way by supplying leaflets to local outlets and by attendance at the annual Watercress Festival in Alresford. Continue to raise awareness of the trail via social media and the website.
Continue to enhance the biodiversity of the trail through volunteer sessions
Mike Collis and Trustees