Present: Audrey Davies, John Knox, Annette Dobb, Margaret Collier, Maureen Parker,

Vincent Duff

Annette said she had heard from the Business Manager that our bank account has been passed and will be in operation next week. Annette to email Mo as soon as the account number is known so that this can be put in Helsby to Hand for December if possible.

John reported that he had not heard anything back from Vale Royal as yet.

John has been in touch with Mike Wellman and Ralph Oultram (Councillor for the Environment) at Cheshire County Council — they cant help us with purchase money but could help with maintenance, fencing etc but not insurance. Help with fencing would get the insurance costs down.

A man from the National Trust has been nominated to send a report to the Acquisition Board for nomination that they accept Harmers Wood as a gift if The Friends of Harmers Wood Trust can purchase it. We would have to find out if this would mean handing over the wood and then having no more expenses regarding it and also if Cholmondley would be in agreement to us giving it away. It could also depend on whether the grants available would still be available if we were to go up this path.

John had asked the National Trust and Woodland Trust about getting a valuation but we have heard nothing yet. One of us to contact Vale Royal or Nigel Griffiths, (Frodsham Town Council).

John also to ask Mike Hall, M.P. for his support in writing to Vale Royal as he promised in his letter of 7^th November 2005.

Audrey had read the conditions from the Hanson Trust pack, which was sent to Mo last week, and they want �100 to join Entrust before we can apply for funding. This would be for larger amounts, which we presume we could apply for as Mo had sent them a letter stating the facts and that was the pack that they sent back. There is also another pack which Annette had downloaded from the internet which was for smaller sums and you didn’t have to pay the �100.00 to join Entrust.

Audrey to phone Clair Mennin of the Mersey Forest Trust and The Cheshire & Warrington Tourist Board.

We have so far been pledged �128. from the Parish Council. �25o. from the Helsby Village Association an undisclosed amount by someone waiting for us to become a charity as we will get more that way and they can claim it back from income tax and another �50. Since the meeting ended Mo has had a telephone conversation with Claire Benson who is planning to move back to the house in Hill Road North and would like to make a contribution. She has pledged �200 and will try and make it more next year.

Annette is following up the next step to becoming a charity.

Vincent said he would ask his daughter’s friend about doing the conveyancing for us, hopefully, at a reasonable charge.

Margaret’s husband had made a box for small change collection in the Post Office and Mo had made a cover for it with our details on it.