The Highwood Management Conference is scheduled to consider updates on the council's countryside services, including work at Southlake Reservoir and Bulmershe Park. The meeting will also review the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy and the conference's terms of reference.

Countryside Service Report

The conference is scheduled to receive an annual update from the Countryside Service, which will include information on management tasks and volunteer involvement. The report details ongoing work at Southlake Reservoir including a 10-year inspection and implementation of flood survey works. The assessment indicates that the reservoir is not compliant with Environment Agency regulations for a category A dam, identifying a need for an additional spillway facility to manage water safely during major flooding incidents. The report notes that quotes for the design of this spillway have been requested, with a deadline of 2034 for its implementation.

Additionally, the report highlights concerns regarding vegetation on the dam, which requires a Vegetation Management Plan. The objective is to transform the dam from a woodland area to open parkland by retaining mature trees and replacing dense undergrowth with low-frequency grass. The report states that prior to any works, an engagement process with residents and site users will be undertaken, likely in the autumn.

General management tasks are also outlined, including footpath maintenance, litter picking, and addressing fly-tipping incidents. The report mentions that Countryside Service staff and volunteers have undertaken significant tree work for health and safety reasons, and responded to incidents of illegal camping. The removal of water soldiers and cleaning of the lily pond at Southlake are also noted.

Volunteer involvement is detailed, with the Friends group continuing to support the Countryside Service through site patrols and reporting issues. The report also quantishes the volunteering time invested by the Southlake Angling Club, including bailiffing and water quality monitoring.

Future plans for the winter include rhododendron and laurel control, scrub removal from Heathland Glade, and continued work with the Southlake Angling Society. The first phase of works proposed in the Reservoir report, including resident consultation, is also scheduled. The handover of the Bulmershe Pond area to the authority is still pending.

Bulmershe Park Update

An update on activities at Bulmershe Park is scheduled for consideration. This update is expected to cover the maintenance carried out by Woodley Town Council, including grass cutting, litter bin emptying, and bench upkeep. Earley Town Council's role in maintaining the park's trees will also be detailed, along with the invoicing arrangements between the two town councils for grass cutting. The report is also expected to mention tree planting carried out by Wokingham Borough Council in recent years.

Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy

The meeting is scheduled to consider an update on the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. This strategy is a spatial plan aimed at recovering nature across England, with Berkshire's version developed in collaboration with various stakeholders including landowners, public bodies, community groups, and the public. The report is expected to outline agreed priorities and measures for nature recovery, alongside computer modelling used to create a local Habitat Map. These maps are intended to guide the achievement of nature recovery aims and link to delivery mechanisms such as Biodiversity Net Gain¹ and other funding opportunities. The proposed wildlife corridor adjacent to Southlake is noted as a potential opportunity within the strategy.

Terms of Reference

The conference is scheduled to review its Terms of Reference and consider potential changes to its remit. The report is expected to highlight that Wokingham Borough Council is the freehold owner of Highwood and Bulmershe Park. It will also outline Woodley Town Council's responsibility for managing Bulmershe Park, with costs shared with Earley Town Council. The report is expected to note that Wokingham Borough Council cannot dispose of Bulmershe Park without the agreement of Woodley Town Council and Earley Town Council. The current arrangement for the Highwood Management Conference to meet annually is also expected to be discussed, along with a suggestion to seek agreement from the three councils for Southlake to be included within the Conference's remit. The report may also propose that the Conference meet twice per annum, in the Spring and Autumn, from 2026 onwards.