All Poulshot Village Trust Volunteers
Copy:
Insurance File
MIDDLE GREEN AND GREEN LANE POND MAINTENANCE – NOVEMBER 2022
Situation:
1. The Village Trust has received permission from the Parish Council to clear the two ponds on the Green of excess vegetation on Sundays 13 and 20 November and Saturday 26 November 2022. Three days have been made available for the work to allow for poor weather on the first date. The Trust committee will cancel any date if the weather is likely to prevent the work being accomplished safely. If the work is completed early the final day may not be required. The work is being completed under advice obtained by the Trust for a qualified ecologist with a grant from Wessex Water Community Fund – a copy of the draft report is enclosed. (Enclosure 1 attached)
Mission:
2. To remove excess vegetation and invasive weed from Middle Green and Green Lane Ponds safely with the removal of 50% of the vegetation to no lower than 15 cm on the pond banks as this may be housing hibernating newts, other amphibians and invertebrates. A margin will be left to discourage dogs form entering the ponds
Execution:
3. The activity will be carried out in 4 stages: the first will be to publicise the activity and invite volunteers; the second to gather and brief the volunteers that arrive at Green Lane Pond on the tasks to be undertaken; the third to carry out the tasks initially on Green Lane Pond and subsequently, after disinfection, to Middle Green Pond; and the fourth to tidy up and ensure no debris from the work remains on the Green and limits the possible transmission of invasive weed. The details of each stage are in the attached Annex A.
Risks:
4. A risk assessment for the planned activity is at Annex B. A first aid kit will be available on site during the work for very minor injuries only. All injuries should be reported to a Trust Committee Member. In the unfortunate event of an injury beyond very minor, the casualty should be taken to the nearest NHS Minor Injuries Unit (details below) or an ambulance called – all Committee Members will have a mobile phone to call the emergency services if necessary.
Minor Injuries Unit [What3Words: weds.hired.drive]
Chippenham Community Hospital
St Francis Avenue
Chippenham, SN15 2AJ
Emergency Services: Telephone 999
Location of Green Lane/ Middle Green Pond: The Green, Poulshot, Devizes
Green Lane Pond What3words location: jumpy.tastes.grudges
Middle Green Pond What3words location: scarf.epic.lifeboats
Waste Management:
5. Plant matter removed from the ponds will be laid next to the ponds, the invasive weed on plastic sheeting, for 24 hours before being moved to skips for disposal to allow invertebrates to return to the water. Weed cleared from Middle Green Pond will contain New Zealand Pygmy Weed, an invasive species, and extra care must be taken to ensure no fragments are transferred to other watercourses. Disinfection of the tools and shoes will be encouraged. The Trust holds a waste carrier licence but on this occasion will employ a specialist to dispose of silt and vegetation as burning or composting on site is not an option.
Volunteers:
6. Volunteers are asked to gather in the central area of Green Gardens at 10:25am on the dates with a view to starting the briefing at 10:30am. Volunteers are requested to wear clothing suitable for gardening and for the weather forecast for the day and to anticipate up to 2 hours of work. Sturdy shoes are strongly advised as are thornproof gloves. Volunteers testing positive or exhibiting the signs of Covid are kindly asked to stay away. Any volunteer displaying the signs of Covid may be asked to return home. Children under the age of 16 are welcome but must be very closely supervised by their parents at all times. Volunteers will be requested to read this instruction and sign a register accordingly.
Tools:
7. Volunteers are requested to bring buckets and spades to remove silt, clippers and brush cutters to lower 50% of the bankside vegetation and secateurs or tools for cutting vegetation that can enter the water to cut plants, as well as bringing wheelbarrows for transporting the waste. Volunteers with power tools to lower the bankside vegetation will be requested not to lend their tools to other volunteers as it is assumed that owners are competent operators.
Insurance:
8. The Trust is insured for the planned activity, ensuring all volunteers are familiar with this instruction is part of the insurance requirement. All injuries or accidents are to be recorded.