Surrey is home to some of our nation’s oldest trees – many are over one thousand years old! To celebrate these trees, we are creating a special Children’s Book with children’s author Lucy Reynolds, children’s illustrator Katie Hickey, and a group of budding book creators from a local primary school.

You also have the chance to be part of this exciting project! We are asking children all across Surrey to help us design the endpapers that will go inside the cover of the book. Read on to find out more about how to be involved…

What is this competition?

We are running a children’s design competition to help create the endpapers for The Thousand Year Tree children’s book, which is being created to celebrate Surrey’s ancient trees.

This book will be distributed to schools and libraries in Surrey and is being developed as a creative collaboration between Lucy Reynolds, author; Katie Hickey, illustrator; the Surrey Hills Society; the Guildford Book Festival; Surrey County Council; and Weyfield Primary Academy, Guildford.

What are endpapers?

Endpapers are the pages that are glued inside the front and back covers of a book. These are often beautifully designed and are a very important part of the overall look and feel of a book.

Here are some examples:

Who can take part in the competition?

Any child living in Surrey aged between 4 and 11.

Are there any age categories?

There are two age categories for the competition:
● Key Stage 1 (age 4 to 7)
● Key Stage 2 (age 7 to 11)

What is the competition brief?

We would like you to design the endpapers for The Thousand Year Tree children’s book.

You can use any medium you wish – paint, pencils, chalk, oils, pastels

You can include textures from nature if you wish, such as rubbings or collage.

We will be looking for designs that are:

● Botanical
● Beautiful
● Informative
● Themed around trees
● Themed around nature
● Themed around the passing of time or seasons

When is the deadline?

Wednesday 4th September 2024

How do I apply?

● Collect an application form from your local library or download here
● Create your design using the template, keeping within the border
● Add your name, age and contact details to the form
● Return your completed application to your local library in Surrey.

What is the prize?

We will have a first, second and third prize for each age group. Prizes include book bundles and bookshop tokens.

The overall winner of the competition will have their design printed within the endpapers of The Thousand Year Tree book.

How will I know if I have won?

Please ensure that you have provided a grown ups’ email for each application. Winners and runners up will be notified by email by the middle of October. If you haven’t heard from us by then, please do assume that you have not been lucky this time, but thank you very much for taking part!

Will I get my design back?

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to return competition entries. If your design is very precious to you, please do photocopy it before you submit it.

Who do I contact for help?

For any questions, please contact info@surreyhillssociety.org  For full competition terms and conditions, please click here

PROJECT OFFICER – GROWING TOGETHER: INCLUSION AND CONSERVATION IN THE SURREY HILLS

Reporting to (post) Project and Volunteer Manager
Hours of work Full time preferred, 37.5 hours per week. Please note we will consider applications for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Location: Surrey Hills Estate Office – Warren Farm Barns, Dorking, RH5 6DG, site visits across the Surrey Hills National Landscape, wider Surrey County and working from home
Salary £28,000 pro rata

About the Surrey Hills Society:

The Surrey Hills Society is an independent charity promoting the positive enjoyment and conservation of the Surrey Hills National Landscape for those who live, work in, or visit the area. The Society encourages people to explore and learn about the special qualities and distinctiveness of the area through walks, talks, events, practical conservation, and volunteering.

The Role:
An 18-month employment contract with the Surrey Hills Society (reviewed after a probationary period of 3 months) to deliver The National Lottery Heritage Funded Project ‘Growing Together: Diversity and Inclusion in the Surrey Hills’.

About the project:
The project will be based in the Surrey Hills National Landscape. The ability to enjoy and appreciate our protected landscapes has been a fundamental part of our lives since the conception of the National Parks and Countryside Access Act in 1949. However, it is apparent that they are disproportionately enjoyed by certain sectors of the community, leaving inequalities in access and a lack of confidence in using the natural environment. We need to deliver better outcomes for communities facing these inequalities.
This project aims to increase opportunities for inclusivity in the countryside by working with three primary target groups. These are Surrey Choices, supporting adults with learning disabilities, Surrey Coalition of Disabled people which represents and supports Disabled People, and Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF) which represents more than 60 multi-ethnic community groups in Surrey.
The first two months of the project will be spent facilitating workshops with our target groups to build relationships, trust and co-create the activity programme. Through a year-long programme of co-designed nature-based activities, we wish to increase confidence in the countryside, build outdoor and conservation skills and provide greater opportunities for people to learn about the landscape. Over the course of a year, we hope to engage with 100 participants and run 4-5 activity sessions per month. This will involve working closely with participants from each of our target groups and their partner organisations, as well as a wide-variety of site-managers, conservation organisations and farmers and landowners. Through greater representation, and empowering communities, this project aims to create a legacy for diversity and inclusion in the Surrey Hills going forward, ensuring that heritage features such as the Surrey Hills National Landscape can be accessed and enjoyed by all.

Key areas of work:
To work with the Project and Volunteer Manager on leading and managing the planning, delivery, and evaluation of ‘Growing Together: Inclusion and Diversity in the Surrey Hills’ in close collaboration with the Surrey Hills Society Team and a Project Steering Group.

This includes:

• • Building trust and relationships with partner organisations and acting as a point of contact for project participants and partners.
  • Facilitating taster and workshop sessions to assist with the planning of a co-designed nature-based and conservation volunteering activity programme.
  • Organisation and delivery of the co-designed activity programme, considering access needs and requirements, as well as feedback throughout project. This includes, identifying appropriate sites, transport, and activities and overall coordination throughout.
  • Bringing partners such as existing volunteer networks, site-managers, and conservation organisations together to deliver activities as well as build relationships with project participants.
  • Facilitate feedback and surveys in partnership with Surrey University’s Environmental Psychology department, to monitor project progress and evaluate project outcomes. This includes project reporting and story capture on a variety of platforms.
  • Coordinating with local landowners and site-managers to identify opportunities to work together to deliver conservation and access projects.
  • Assisting with the delivery of practical conservation tasks including, incorporating participant sessions into community volunteering open days, corporate team building days and community group events
  • Working closely with the Surrey Hills Board and Surrey Hills Arts to deliver the project aims as well as assisting with Surrey Hills-wide events, including an annual symposium at Surrey University.
  • Working in partnership with other organisations such as Surrey Wildlife Trust and The National Trust to deliver the project outcomes.
  • Promotion of the project including special offers to National Lottery Players.
  • Co-creating digital assets to promote greater representation to communities.

Person Specification:

Essential:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Empathy and understanding of the value of diversity and integration.
• The ability to build effective relationships and trust.
• Open mindedness and a recognition of the barriers that certain members of the community face.
• A passion for the environment, UK wildlife and the countryside.
• Confidence in leading groups of people.
• Good organisational and IT skills and the ability to think on your feet/be resourceful.
• The ability to self-motivate and manage your own calendar.
• The ability to work as part of a team and in partnership with others, including with those who work within other organisations.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to the role.
• Clean UK driving licence and access to a car.
• Subject to DBS check.

Desirable:

• Relevant experience in relation to conservation and the environment.
• Knowledge of the local area and local communities.
• Background of working with minority groups.
• First Aid trained.
• Knowledge of social media.

Job Outcomes/Opportunities:

Experience of working within a charitable organisation and as part of a National Landscape.
Experience working with a wide range of people, including those with different requirements and abilities.
Opportunity for networking with various Surrey based organisations which may help with future employability and career prospects.
Training courses (subject to availability) which may include First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Disability Awareness, and Volunteer management.
Practical work experience including assisting and leading with practical conservation tasks.
Development of time management, organisational and interpersonal skills.
Extensive experience of event planning, including the management of tools, logistics, creation of risk assessments and delivery.
Excellent opportunity to make a marked difference on the diversity of visitor and volunteer profiles in the Surrey Hills.

Job Information:
The contract will be for a duration of 18 months. Standard working hours will be from 9am-5:30pm. Normal working hours will be Monday-Friday, but you will be required to work weekends when the project requires. Due to the nature of the target audience some activity sessions will have to be at weekends and occasionally during the evening. The appointed candidate is expected to fully participate in all activities offered to them, but any additional working will be accounted for through time off in lieu (TOIL).
The successful candidate will be based out of the Surrey Hills Estate Office, which is located at Warren Farm Barns, Headley Lane, Mickleham Dorking, RH5 6DG. However, you will also be expected to travel to a wide variety of sites across the area as well as work from home.
You will be entitled to 25 days holiday (pro rata if less than 37.5 hours per week) plus bank holidays. Travel expenses will be agreed and paid for. You will also be entitled to a pension once the probationary period has passed.
You must have a full UK driving licence and have access to a car to reach different sites and occasionally transport equipment.
Salary: £28,000 pro rata.

Application Process:
Please submit your CV as well as the completed application form on why you are interested in this particular role and how your experience shows you are suitable for the post. Please submit this via email to chairshs@gmail.com.
Following applications, there will be an interview process to understand further why you would like the role and why you think you would be suitable.
Closing date: Friday 19th April.

Equal Opportunities
We are committed to having an inclusive and diverse organisation and encourage applications from those with backgrounds, which may be underrepresented in our sector, including people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities.

Acknowledgement statement:

Growing Together is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to fund a Project Officer to support this project and to create a legacy for diversity and inclusion in the Surrey Hills going forward, ensuring that heritage features such as the Surrey Hills National Landscape can be accessed and enjoyed by all.

About the heritage fund statement:

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Last weekend 6th Woking Rangers, Guides and Brownies along with parents joined forces with Surrey Hills Society to plant 1800 plants in a new mixed native hedgerow for farmer Jim, in the Surrey Hills.

‘What an incredible experience, a great Sunday morning out in the fresh air, amazing to be part of something that will be there for years to come’.

‘Lots of happy faces, with a very well organised event, we achieved more that we thought’.

The feedback from the girls and parents who felt such pride and a phenomenal sense of success , with the girls buzzing from the experience.

Hedgerows are such an important part of our ecosystems and to be able to volunteer a Sunday morning to such an important activity: increasing connectivity for wildlife; providing a future home and assisting with carbon capture are all so vital.

GirlGuiding World Thinking Day for Girl Guides and Scouts around the world is the 22nd February, our founders birthday. It is a time to think about each other as a world movement and the important issues we all face. The theme this year is ‘Our World, Our Thriving Future.’

At 6th Woking we had a extremely incredible experience learning what we can do to build a better future along with understanding what we can do in support and be part of a better environmentally sustainable world by taking small steps but very important ones for our planet.

We are enormously indebted to Surrey Hills for giving us this opportunity and we would highly recommend whatever age you are to support local communities and farmers to take these small steps for a better future for us all.

‘A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her’.

Article written by 6th Woking Leader – Julie Laidlaw.

Surrey Hills Society lead – Christa Emmett, Project and Volunteer Coordinator