The Association
In recent years, more than 750 households on the estate have subscribed annually to be members of Zebon Copse Residents Association. We ask for a modest membership fee of £2/year/household or £1 for pensioners (which has not changed since ZCRA was founded in the early 1990s). The Committee would be delighted to receive further offers of help in recruiting members and delivering newsletters. See this web site’s contact page to find out how to get in touch or come along to the AGM and have a chat with one of the Committee there.
The Committee
The small committee meets approximately monthly to organise activities and coordinate actions with outside authorities. We are always looking for keen individuals to join the committee to widen coverage of the estate, to broaden the age groups represented, and to increase the range of topics of particular interest to individual committee members. Use the contact page to express an interest and we’ll let you know what would be involved if you joined in.
What We Do
The ZCRA committee aims to:
Estate Maintenance
Ensuring a high standard of routine maintenance around the estate is a continual challenge. Roads, pavements (particularly overhanging vegetation), open spaces, waste bins, trees, paths, lighting, flood defences and the like constantly require minor works. But if no-one reports problems, remedial action is unlikely. We rely on vigilance to report problems. If you see anything that needs attention, please either report the problem yourself or pass details to ZCRA. A useful website is www.fixmystreet.com.
Social
On the social side, ZCRA organises an annual fete which is held around the beginning of July each year in and around the Community Centre. There is always something for all age groups, including a dog show, plus a beer tent and BBQ lunch. If you enjoyed last year’s event, come again and bring your friends and family. If you haven’t been yet, do come along and enjoy the major community event of the year. As always, volunteer helpers are essential to the running of the fete. Please contact us through the contact form if you are interested in helping out.
Publicity
ZCRA publishes newsletters at intervals through the year. Check with this web site, our Twitter feed @ZebonCopse and the noticeboard outside the Spar Shop to keep up to date.
Estate Enhancements
Over the years ZCRA volunteers have planted thousands of spring bulbs around the estate, which make a cheery welcome to visitors and residents every spring.
As part of the Hart Biodiversity plan, ZCRA has supported the planting of wildflowers at locations around the estate.
In 2013, an experimental planting of wild flowers at three locations proved very successful and these have been developed over the past few years, with the latest wildflower beds planted in Spring 2017 along the pathway under the pylons by Londlandes. These have both enhanced the look of the estate and also provided extra habitat for insects and other wildlife.
Also in 2017, ZCRA funded the planting of some new trees to complement the plum and damson trees at the end of Londlandes.
Also in 2013, ZCRA installed a dog-bag dispenser at the end of Londlandes. This has proved very popular: in the first 3 months almost 2000 bags were dispensed, and this rate has been maintained since; happily, very few of them have been seen abandoned in the area. However, some uncollected dog mess is still evident at times, so we continue to seek better cooperation from dog owners to ensure the area is kept clean and pleasant for those working and playing in our public spaces.
Work Parties
Each Spring ZCRA organises an estate-wide litter pick, timed to be done before too much vegetation makes the task too difficult. Volunteers for this are always welcome.
The Hampshire Rangers work together with ZCRA to lead monthly working parties to carry out the planned management programme in the woodland Copse. If you think this might be the kind of activity that you would enjoy, come and give it a try. Gloves and tools are provided (as well as refreshments!) and there are jobs for all abilities and ages. Contact Hampshire Rangers and volunteer to join ‘Friends of Zebon Copse’ so that you get email notification of dates and times. Alternatively, meet at the end of Londlandes on the second Sunday of the month from 10.00.
Work parties run from 10am to 1pm with a break for tea/coffee. It is fun, educational and calorie burning!
Nature Walks
In recent years the ZCRA Committee have organised various nature walks around the Copse. We are fortunate to live in a place where there are lots of wild flowers, fungi, birds, bats and animals on our doorstep.
In order to increase our knowledge and understanding we have invited experts to come to talk and lead these walks.
We have had a representative of the Hampshire Bat Group bring bats to show us and help us to spot them feeding along and near the canal,
and also the Chair of the Hampshire Ornithological Society help us to hear and spot up to 30 bird species in and around the Copse.
Annual General Meeting
Lastly, the ZCRA AGM, open to all members (join at the door), is held around Easter each year to approve the accounts and to guide the committee on topics of concern or interest to members. We invite local Councillors to give updates/answer questions and often invite a speaker to address a topic of interest.
Chris Hall
ZCRA Chair