The committee meets regularly, and every spring we hold an Annual General Meeting. Membership is open to everyone who shares our concern to maintain the area and ensure that it survives for the enjoyment of future generations. See HERE for a copy of our Constitution.

The Committee

Glenys Law (Chair)
Paul Secher (Secretary)
(Treasurer – vacancy)
Ros Abrams
Jane Bywaters
Jeff Duckett
Rob Jackson
John Larkin
Jacky Wedgwood

Membership secretary: Alys Elphick

CREOS Annual General Meeting

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 21 May 2026 at 145 Park Road, London N8

26 Members were present.

1. Apologies for absence: Emma Parker
2. Presentation by guest speaker, Cindy Blaney, Senior Ranger – Highgate Wood: ‘What I have learned about bats and their ecology in and around Highgate Wood since 1992’. Glenys Law [Chair] welcomed members to the AGM and had great pleasure in introducing our guest speaker, Cindy Blaney.  Cindy gave a fascinating and well illustrated talk – which included handing round a stuffed bat for inspection!  Cindy introduced her audience to the main species of bat to be found in Highgate Wood and around Hampstead Heath.  These included:
   • Common Pipistrelle: the most common and frequently spotted bat in the Wood
   • Soprano Pipistrelle: often found foraging around woodland edges
   • Nathusius’s Pipistrelle: a migratory species, occasionally observed in the Wood
   • Noctule: a large bat with a swift, direct flight pattern, happy to make use of bat boxes in the Wood
   • Leisler’s Bat: a rare and fascinating species, previously recorded in the area
   • Natterer’s Bat: known for its hovering flight, often recorded in the Wood’s ‘Bat Alley’ and bat bricks
   • Daubenton’s Bat: with its preference for hunting over water but is known to roost in local tunnel structures
   • Brown Long-eared Bat: often recorded in the Highgate Tunnels and adjacent wooded areas

   Cindy’s presentation was followed by a number of questions from members and a short discussion.  Glenys thanked Cindy warmly for such a comprehensive and entertaining talk and presented Cindy with two bottles of wine as a token of appreciation from CREOS.  Cindy was warmly applauded.

3. Minutes of the last AGM, 12 May 2025: were approved as an accurate record. There were no questions.
4. Reports of the honorary officers:were presented by the Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. All reports had been previously circulated to all members, by email.
   Chair’s report by Glenys Law can be found here>>.
5. Election/re-election of honorary officers: Glenys Law was re-elected Chair; Paul Secher was re-elected Secretary; Glenys thanked Sarah Martin [in absentia] for her diligent service as Treasurer during the past year.  Sarah had brought the accounts up to date as of the end of our financial year [31 March] and had presented her report and accounts accordingly.  The CREOS finances are healthy for current requirements.
6. Election/re-election of committee members: All members presently serving on the management committee were re-elected, namely: Rob Jackson; Jeff Duckett; Jane Bywaters; Ros Abrams; Jacky Wedgwood and John Larkin.
7. AOB:
   There were a number of questions and short discussions, which included the following:Shepherd Cot’s attitude and approach to the Georgians’ planning application for the installation of a roof over padel courts.Potential impact of the results of the recently held Local Elections.

   Future of the Highgate Wood School Playing Field – little has happened since our last AGM.  Further developments awaited.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 9.27pm and was followed by convivial socialising and discussion.

Recent Chair’s Reports