Apex Wildlife and Leisure Park
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Wild Flower Meadow
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Why do you come to Apex Leisure Park?
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Friends of Apex Park Improvements Group (API)
The Friends Of Apex Park have recently become a fully constituted group to enable them to apply for grants for future developments in the park.
Anyone wishing to join the group may contact the chairman by e-mail.
Councillor Mrs Joyce Beard - ohbejoyful2003@yahoo.co.uk
Information on Apex Park is also to be found on the web-site
http;//mysite.freeserve.com/HistoricalHighbridge page 3.
The next meeting of the API Group is to be held on Wednesday 19th September 2012 at the 'Ranger's Office ' off the main car park in Apex Park at 3 p.m. The AGM was held on 16th May at 2.30 p.m.
Matters discussed by the group include management of the park, problems caused by loose dogs on the cycle path, early closing of the public toilet facility and other items raised by individual members.
The Officers give an update on matters concerning the group and the park.
The possibility of installing a water fountain has been investigated also a bridge across one of the lakes.
Information boards have been installed at the toilet block and there will be some at the three major entrances to the park i.e. Marine Drive, off the coastal path and by the play area.
Apex Park covers approx. 42 acres of land previously owned by Colthurst manufacturers of bricks tiles and pipes. The ponds are man-made and since 1974 the area has been managed by Sedgemoor District Council.
The planting of shrubs and spring bulbs has been done by volunteers from King Alfred School, St Johns Junior School, Beechfield School, the Opportunity Play group and the Pepperall Resource Centre on a yearly basis. The first planting took place on the hill in front of the BMX track but when the first cycle path (Lakeside Track) was completed planting of bulbs has been on either side of that path.
A Green Flag Award was applied for but the park failed to make the grade until 2007,since that date the park has been awarded a new flag each year.. In August 2012 the 6th flag was erected.
Although there are a number of recepticles for dog-owners to deposit their dog waste - not all are responsible about this matter and the park is spoilt for would -be picknickers and walkers as well as children.
Two official cycle paths cover two sides of the park - but again there are irresponsible cyclists who insist on using the grass and other paths - one upgraded and designated for the use of wheelchair users.
There is a BMX track for use of BMX riders and a skateboard park for skateboarders as well as the two cycle paths.
Arrangements have been made for ice-creams and cold drinks to be sold in the park on a conssesional basis.
Parking is free in the area near the toilet block off Marine Drive - the nearest toilets from Tyler Way end are at Bank Street Car Park.
A boating event is held by the Boating Club annually in August.
Fishing events also take place in the park.
Other events are Arts displays, Play Day workshops and a Father Christmas Grotto. |
As it once was
In Kelly's Directory of 1927 Apex Brick and Tile Company Limited is listed.
Colthurst and Symons was a firm making tiles,bricks and drain pipes and twenty men were employed there in the 1960's - digging clay.
There were three kilns for firing the finished articles.
The firm had their own branch railway siding off the Highbridge to Burnham railway line (now forming part of the main cycle path (LAKESIDE TRACK) from Marine Drive to Tyler Way.
An annual excursion train took the staff of Colthurst and Symons for outings to Portsmouth.
Young lads went fishing in the clay pits and wild duck nested in the reeds.
All this changed when the railway line closed in 1965 and the man-made pits became home to swans and mallards as well as various fish which were introduced.
The site was acquired by Burnham Urban District Council in the late 1960s. In 1971 the site was cleared and landscaped into its present form and in 1972 drainage works were carried out. The entire area became a water park for public use and was given the name 'Apex' after the brick and tile company that had once occupied the site.
In 1974 yhe whole area was taken over by Sedgemoor District Council.and in the 1980s toilets were built in at the request of the Distrct Councillor for Highbridge - Mrs Joyce Beard. She also led the request for a cycle path.
In 1999 at a community meeting held in the Highbridge Community Centre a group of six people volunteered to stand on an Apex Committee. Cllr. Mrs Beard was asked to lead this group which saw the tarmaccing of the car park, a higher path put in round the lake as the lower one was continually flooded, shrubs and bulbs planted and the cycle path opened. With no funds or money this group met first in the UK Online Centre, then Morland Hall, Pepperall Resource Centre, and the Gospel Centre.
In 2001 it was suggested that the Improvements group - previously referred to as the API group should become constituted as 'Friends of Apex Park'. This group has had extra seating and picnic benches put in the park, the high path improved to take wheelchairs, a skateboard park put in, the play area improved another cycle path put in as well as annual bulb planting in various parts of the park. They also got information boards and other notice boards erected and two wooden swan seats.
A concessionaire was found to provide tea and cake for park users. Work shops are held and a Father Christmas Grotto in the office space behind the toilet block. This had been used as a store for the Beach Warden for many years but is now a very useful asset for 'the firends' as they now have a proper base to work from.
The next meeting of The Firends will be on Wednesday 19th September at 3 p.m. in the 'office'.
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Constitution
Friends of Apex Park Improvements Group - Constitution
Adopted on Wednesday 24th May 2006
The name of the group is Friends of Apex Park Improvements Group called 'the Friends' in this constitution.
Aim: To provide opportunities for community members to improve and promote the use of, awareness of and care of facilities within Apex Wildlife and Leisure Park in order to make the park a welcoming, safe and enjoyable environment for all.
Objectives : To work in partnership with Sedgemoor District Council and or other interested parties, to help manage and generally look after the Apex Park in a manner that will enhance its value to the community.
To make changes which will be of benefit to visitors to the park and to the flora and fauna living in it.
To make special efforts to encourage children from the local schools and other youth groups to take an interest in the park; to help them understand its value in the environment and to the community and to show them ways in which management can enhance this, in the belief that they may continue the work of 'The Friends' in future.
To raise awareness and profile of the park.
To influence and adopt the District Council's Management Plan for the park and help achieve its aims and objectives.
To further the objectives the Committee may exercise the following powers:
Set up a bank account in the name of the 'Friends'
Raise funds and receive contributions, donations and otherwise, provided that the group does not undertake any permanent trading activity.
Produce leaflets/posters/website to publicise the groups activities.
Hold regular meetings.
Pay necessary expences involved in the running of the 'Friends;.
Membership : Membership of the 'Friends' shall be open to any person who has an interest in the preservation and enhancement of the Apex Leisure and Wildlife Park.
Committee Members (Officers) - The Group shall elect a committee consisting of not less than 4 members. They shall be elcted to serve for 1 year. From amonst the Committee a chairperson, a secretary, treasurer and marketing officer will be elected. Names for the committee will be put forward either by the process of nominating and seconding, or by people volunteering to stand. A vote (if necessary) will be taken by a show of hands, or in the case of sensitive issues, by a ballot (conducted the and then) at the Annual General Meeting. Other members may be appointed to hold/undertake particular responsibilities within the group e.g. fund-raising etc.
Meetings: Friends of Apex Park Improvements Group Meetings will be held on a 6-8 weekly basis.
Finances: (a) Any money raised shall be used to further the aims of the 'Friends' and for no other purpose.
(b) A Bank Account will be opened in the name of the' Friends' at the National Westminster Bank in Burnham on Sea.
(c) The committee shall decide the signatories to any account set up in the name of the group (two out of three signatories to sign any cheque).
(d) A simple written note of the 'Friend' financial position will from time to time be produced and available a meetings of the committee.
(e) No member shall derive any financial benefit from the 'Friends', except for payment of reasonable expenses.
(f) No money will be paid out in the name of the 'Friends' without a receipt being presented.
Annual General Meeting: An AGM of the group shall be held every year. All members shall be notified not less than 14 days before the meeting and an agenda will be circulated. The business of the AGM will be :
To receive the Chairman's report of the previous years activities.
To receive the Treasurer's report and the audited accounts.
To elect committee Members for the following year.
To conduct any other business that the Committee may see fit to include.
The quorum of the committee members at the AGM should be 3.
Amemndments to the Constitution:
If amendments to the Constitution are necessary, members will be informed in writing and given the opportunity to consider and vote on the amendments. The amendments will only be made if there is a two-thirds majority vote of all members.
Dossolution: If two-thirds of 'the Friends' think that the Organisation should be closed down, the Committee should call a Special Meeting open to all members to discuss and vote on this. 14 days notice should be given, and the purpose of the meeting should be publicised. Any decision will be reached by a majority vote.
If the decision reached is to dissolve 'the Friends' then the Committee should donate the assets (money, equipment, etc,) provided that any remain after payment of all debts and liabilities. Such assets shall not be given or distributed among the members, but shall be given to another legally constitued organisation with similar conservation objectives as 'The Friends'. |
Green flag award
The friends of Apex Park improvements group are delighted to report that the Green Flag first awarded to the Park in 2007. was given it's 6th flag in 2012. This was erected in the park on Wednesday 1st August at the commencement of National Play Day.
This flag is now displayed at the entrance off Marine Drive.
The group volunteers are aiming to form a rota to enable the information office to be open on a regular basis. Several training sessions have been held on health and safety matters relating to this issue and some members are having second thoughts about volunteering for this duty.
A rare goosewas spotted on the lake - November 2007. - see www.burnham-on-sea.com/
The Chairman of the Group is at the office most Wednesday afternoons. |
Wild Flower Meadow
Some years ago a wild flower area was created but this proved not to be a success. We were told that the ground was too fertile and the grass that grew overtook the flowers.
A grant of £9,000 has been given from 'Breathing Places' 2007 and the first part of work was done in October 2007. The old grass was cleared and baled and ground prepared. A sack of Yellow Rattle seeds was scattered over the area by children from Beechfield Infant School and St. Johns VC Junior School.
It is planned to have the children back in spring 2008 to plant plugs of wild flowers - once the yellow rattle has dealt with the grass problem.
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