Transcript Historical Minute Book 1952 to 1965 - Ashdown Forest

[signed] S.J. Marsh Chairman.
A Meeting of the Conservators duly convened and held at The Village Hall, Forest Row, on Wednesday,
December 10th 1952, at 2.30 p.m.
Miss M. Blount M.B.E., Messrs J. Card, J.R. Coulthard, W.D. Gilham, Lt. Commander H.R. Hardy, Messrs. S.J.
Marsh, W. Mitchell, Trevor R. Mountain, J.R. Owen J.P., E.W. Pye, J. Rowe, Mrs. M. Ridley, Messrs. H.A.
Warburton and A.C. Wolfson.
Apologies for absence were received from Mrs. S.M. Looker, Colonel Clarke M.P., and Mr. J.H. Griffin.
1. Minutes. The Minutes of the last meeting of the Board as printed and circulated were taken as read and signed.
2. Matters arising from Minutes. The Clerk reported that the Vice Chairman and the Chairman of the Maresfield
Committee had visited the sites of the saw-benches on the Forest with him. At their request, notice to determine
Messrs. Kirby and Vinton’s Licence had been given and the Ranger had reported that all timber and debris had
been cleared from this site.
A letter had also been written to Mr. C.E. Walter asking him to remove a part of a shed attached to his premises
which it was decided constituted an encroachment. Mr. Walter had not yet complied with the terms of this letter.
3. Rangers’ Reports.
Ranger Day Reports. 7th December 1952.
Golf Course. The Golf Secretary complained of Mr. Porter, Butlers Bank, driving across the Golf Course with his
motor car. I visited Mr. Porter asking him to cease this practice. Timber, Kidd’s Hill Messrs. W. Brown,
Crowborough have hauled timber across the Forest to Kidd’s Hill. On finishing, ruts have now been satisfactorily
filled in. Saw Benches Ford’s Green. I attended a Maresfield Committee meeting that inspected saw benches at
Ford’s Green and Dodd’s Bank. Forest Fires. I have attended and assisted to extinguish Forest fires at Stone Hill,
Kidds Hill and Fairwarp. Work on Forest. I have commenced to cut a fire cordon round trees at Wych Cross and
cleared undergrowth from the war memorial near Green Hall Toll. Forest Rates. I have collected a part of the
Forest rates, making inquiries of changes of ownership and division of properties.
GILBERT DAY,
Forest Ranger.
Ranger Stanton Reports. 18th December 1952.
1. On November 5th I investigated a complaint made by Mrs. Hazeldene of Yards Green, Nutley, concerning the
use of her boundary hedge and surrounding bushes as a latrine. Mrs. Hasledene states that in the summer during
the cricket season and winter during the football season, members of the public who watch matches played Upon
Fords Green Recreational Ground use her hedge as a latrine. 2. On Friday November 7th I attended a meeting of
the Maresfield Committee on a further inspection of the saw benches in Nutley. Kirby and Vinton have now
removed their dumps and have cleaned up the Forest ground used by them. C. Walters of Holly Cottage, Nutley,
has not yet taken down the shed which he had been instructed to remove. 3. Mrs. Hazeldene and Miss Appleby
have complained of the condition of the track that borders their property at Fords Green, Nutley. They say that
Kirby and Vinton use a tractor and trailer and that in wet weather it becomes almost unusable on foot. This is the
sole access to Miss Appleby’s property. 3. Ranger Day and I have started clearing the undergrowth from around the
war memorial that stands on the disused part of the Ladies Golf Course, Forest Row.
D. STANTON.
Ranger.
4. Home Guard and the use of the Forest. The Clerk reported he had received a complaint from Ranger Day that
he had found several cars used by the Home Guard on the Forest and they were more than fifteen yards from the
verge. The Clerk asked the Board if they could give him a ruling on this matter as no doubt the Home Guard would
be using the Forest again in connection with their Training.