Minutes of EGM Held 8/5/26

Harston Residents Group

Extraordinary Meeting on 8th May 2026 at 8.00pm

At Harston Pavilion

Present. HR JR CA IR BW FP CP PA DA DC JC RT FR JN  

Apologies. RPG CCS RD PN TW HF GM DF

Informal meeting chaired by CA & HR.

Called at short notice to include discussion of recent activity at Button End.

All welcomed and members of current admin group who run HRG introduced themselves and their roles.

Minutes of previous meeting.

Approved.

Constitution.

Preparation for discussing the Constitution at the next HRG meeting:

  • Membership of group should include chair, treasurer etc. Will be discussed at next week’s meeting.

By electing members there is agreement for HRG to act on behalf of the village.

  • Aims and purpose of group will be reviewed.
  • Meeting will be advertised 3 weeks ahead and minutes sent to relevant people.
  • The Newsletter is a means of circulating information. 370 people have signed up for it.
  • Meetings are held online as necessary.
  • Constitution doesn’t need changing but will be reviewed at next meeting.
  • Committee membership will be voted on at next meeting.

Finances

Currently, HRG has a balance of £2,2061, £900 paid to solicitors for Button End work.

Last year’s actions

  • Greener Harston activities.
  • EWR publicity and information
  • Litter picks

Button End.

Current situation:

  • The Neighbourhood Plan states that the land at Button End is safeguarded for wildlife and as amenity for Harston residents, who have free access to it. Volunteers have cleared the area of rubbish and litter.
  • On 15 Feb 2026 it was discovered that the Button End business company had fenced off an area next to their unit, and by 29 March had fenced off the whole 2.7 hectares of woodland preventing access to all local users.
  • Nature Reserve Action Group (NRAG), then a week later Solicitors sent the Button End business company a letter requesting the activity to stop.
  • Residents have been asked to write about their use of the area in last 20 years.   (Update 11/08/26: Flyers have been delivered to residents with details of how to obtain an Evidence Form to complete)

Responses will go to CCC and must include the locations where respondents live.

  • Harston is applying for the area to have protected VG status to protect it from further development. Agreed HR will collate evidence and send in application.
  • The Forestry Commission has contacted sent the Button End business company to tell them to stop felling the trees. Further action could lead to prosecution. NRAG applied for a Tree Protection Order for the whole wood.
  • The Wildlife Trust has visited the area.
  • Cambs County Council will be asked to approve the application for VG Status.
  • CCcouncillor (LD-H) also suggested a constituted community group could take over the land should crown estates be willing to hand it over.
  • Can we create a group that meets the requirements for taking possession of the land for the benefit of the community? Currently it’s safeguarded as an informal open space.

HRG is a constituted group, it just lacks a permanent Chair. There are some members who are considering/willing to take on ownership of the land.

  • It is possible for the area to be maintained by a volunteer group. Work needed currently to ensure it safe for people to visit.
  • Harston Wood is on Harston Parish Council agenda. HPC won’t add anything to agenda unless a councillor endorses it.

Action taken at meeting:

All present voted that, should the land be offered to HRG, we would be happy to take over management of it.

Agreed ok for HR to put the Village Green application in for HRG.

Ref. Open Space Society may be a source of relevant information.

Actions arising:

  • Residents are urged to fill in an Evidence Form or contact HRG in other ways about how they have used the wood for recreation.
  • Log what use residents have made of the wood in the past 20 years and submit within the next week, if possible, to make a list of personal accounts. Log where author lived to show local connection.

Residents can complete an evidence form detailing where, when, why they went into the wood. (See flyer for more details)

  • Write to MP. S. Cambridgeshire has very few open spaces, which is one of the reasons why the Button End open space, and what residents are trying to do to preserve it, is so important. See article (Cambridge Independent. May 6-12 2026) where The National Trust has warned that Cambridgeshire has one of the lowest proportions of land designated for nature in the UK and is one of the least wooded counties.

JN