Author Archives: Lesley Crofts

Our bird walk at Bookham Commons

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What a fantastic walk we had ambling along with bird enthusiast, Chris Burchell.  We started watching buzzards hovering gracefully over the car park and learnt so much from Chris about some of our common woodland species.  We paid a visit to the lakes, originally installed by the monks of Chertsey Abbey to provide fish for food, and now the home of 9 Canadian goslings as well as a number of mallard and a coot.

However the best was yet to come.  Chris led us towards the area called “the Plains” where we were incrediby lucky to hear a nightingale singing strongly.  A fantastic experience – there are only 50 pairs in Surrey and the nightingales only re-appeared at Bookham 3 days ago afgter an estimated 7 year absence. Yet this was not the end.  After a heavy shower Chris spotted a lesser whitethroat which is also extremely rare and which the whole group were able to watch through binoculars.

All in all a wonderful morning and many many thanks to Chris for giving up his time and sharing his great expertise.

Gordon Jackson

Visit To Brookwood Cemetery to celebrate Surrey Day

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Surrey Hills Society members spent a fascinating afternoon at Brookwood Cemetery on Saturday 1st May as part of the Surrey Day celebrations.

 

Although not in the Surrey Hills, Brookwood Cemetery is a hidden gem hidden in the countryside just outside Woking. It is the largest necropolis in western Europe and has many listed mausoleums and statues. It is also a Grade 1 Listed arboretum and is a wonderful place to walk through.

 

The Brookwood Cemetery Society was formed in April 1992. It works to promote the wider interest in the cemetery which the Society believes should be a site of national importance.  Moreover, the site has the potential to become a World Heritage Site. The Society seeks to ensure the long term future of Brookwood Cemetery.  It assists with maintenance, clearance and restoration work and it helps relatives locate graves within the site.  It also works to ensure the cemetery remains a valuable haven for flora and fauna.

Left to right Volunteer Co ordinator for Brookwood Cemetery Society volunteers , Kim Lowe, outgoing High Sheriff, Shahid Azeem, Mel from BBC Radio Surrey and our Chairman Gordon Jackson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were also joined by the outgoing High Sheriff, Shahid Azeem, a British-Pakistani entrepreneur, who left school without a single curricular qualification and went on to run a football club. He was appointed High Sheriff for Surrey for 2020 – a direct servant to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It is an esteemed position that dates back more than 1000 years and there are only 45 High Sheriffs, out of a national population of more than 70 million. Shahid Azeem is the first male of Pakistani origin ever to hold the Royally-appointed title of High Sheriff.

Shahid Azeem arrived in Britain in 1969 as a 9 years old son of a migrant from the city of MatoreThesilKahuta in Pakistan. He was expelled from school at the age of 12, faced bullying and racism but joined a computer system company to make an independent living. He started selling fish and chips at a local ship. His father worked at British Rail as a porter and family lived in a 2 bedroom house shared with others in Guildford.  A determined Shahid Azeem went on from doing menial jobs to building a multi-million pound IT business.

Shahid Azeem loved football in his youth and started playing for local teams. He went on to become chairman of National League outfit Aldershot Town.He has also recently been appointed as an independent Director of Woking Necropolis and Mausoleum Limited.

Shahid spoke to our members about his time as High Sheriff during this challenging year . He spoke of the real community spirit he witnessed during Lockdown and hoped it would continue post the pandemic.

 

Thanks to our Vice President Chris for organising a very enjoyable visit with tea and cakes afterwards.

Bluebells at Staffhurst Woods

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It was great to be out and about again with all our members again.  This month our free walk on the first Sunday of the month was to Staffhurst Wood to enjoy the incredible bluebell display.  This site managed by Surrey County Council is home to one of the best displays of bluebells in Surrey. We walked for over an hour and everywhere we looked was just a carpet of blue. Incredible that this woodland wonderland was clear felled in the 1930s and then used as a munitions dump and Canadian camp during WW2.

 

The small fields amongst the woodlands were clearings made some 700 years ago, called ‘assarts’  The area has been managed to try and restore some of the original character of the area which is now home to over 200 plant species and 288 species of moths. Due to several ponds on the area the woods are also a haven for amphibians.

 

                         Chris Howard

 

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There was no trouble being socially distanced and observing the rule of 6 yesterday as 50 Surrey Hills Society members were able to enjoy a private visit to Dunsborough Park.  The sunshine was a bonus and highlighted the fabulous display of colour from the tremenous variety of tulips.  We thought we would share a few photographs with you.

It’s always nice to receive feedback from our members and we have already had an email to say “Seeing an outstanding display of tulips, and your friendly faces was a real tonic. Thank you so much.”

The Countryside Code in the Surrey Hills AONB

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Dear Members

Please see below a link to a video that Defra published on social media over the weekend of our local farmer, Paula Matthews talking about how to enjoy visiting the Surrey Hills responsibly.

Paula says “The Countryside Code gives help and advice to plan for a safe and enjoyable visit to the Countryside, whilst remembering that it’s a place of work; growing food for us all to eat and providing habitats and quiet areas to protect and enrich wildlife and biodiversity in the Surrey Hills”.  Click here to watch the video.

Exploring the River Wey around Godalming

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Our first Sunday morning walk of the month to explore the River Wey on Sunday 11 April proved so popular our leaders kindly arranged an afternoon walk as well!  In our socially distanced groups, over 30 people were able to enjoy an easy walk around the outskirts of Godalming along the river and concluding at Broadwater Lake in sunshine one moment and snow the next.

Our walk leaders, Sall, Gordon, Chris, Ken and Jeff were thrilled to receive a lovely message from one of our members, Ann Austin who has kindly allowed us to share this with you.  We’ve added some photographs taken by Ken and Gordon that help to illustrate Ann’s message.

“What a splendid afternoon – Gentle Walk beside river/canal (Geese and goslings amongst other things and Farncombe Boats ready to be used again).  Heathland/ Woodland / Common land /Parkland /plus a tiny bit of the outskirts of Godalming (interesting listed building (Old cider house) and the river lock.

Weather sunny (touch of cloud and a couple of mini snow flurries to add interest!)

Great refreshment van on concluding the walk (Coffee and a Fresh Toasted Waffle with sugar and cinnamon)   – Yum

Very good leaders as always (I had the privilege of Gordon Jackson ! )

BUT best of all, the chance to meet other people and have a chat as we walked – after some very difficult months it was wonderful to feel “normal” again.

Thank you Surrey Hills Society – you pulled out all the stops to make this a very enjoyable afternoon and I am very grateful. May there be many more such great outings later this year.

Regards – Ann Austin”                            

 

   Walk organised by Sall Baring, Events Chairman

Surrey Hills Society “Road Map”

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Following the release of the UK Government’s COVID-19 four-step plan to ease lockdown in England, we thought you may like to see our timetable for the next few months.

 

 

As you know we are currently in national lockdown. We must all avoid non-essential travel and stay local. We can walk outdoors once a day as part of our daily exercise and we hope you have been able to enjoy your local area – especially now with all the spring flowers in bloom and blossom on the trees.

As you are all aware our events are currently suspended.   However, from 29 March we can organise outdoor gatherings under the Governments Rule of 6. We are hoping to have a garden visit on the 7 April followed by a free walk on 11 April.  Our Events Committee will be meeting shortly to start planning many more events as lockdown eases.

From 12 April outdoor areas at hospitality venues e.g. cafés, restaurants, bars, pubs can reopen so we hope to be able to incorporate these into our events. With the availability of refreshments and toilet facilities, we are busy making plans for interesting events.

Not before 17 May

Gatherings of up to 30 people outdoors is now allowed.   Indoors, the Rule of 6 or 2 households will apply and therefore SHS are not holding any indoor events until this rule is lifted.

All our events will be subject to compliance with COVID-Secure guidance and we will take reasonable steps to limit the risk of transmission.  In accordance with our usual SHS procedures, we will complete a risk assessment for each event and ensure that those attending do not mix beyond what is permitted by the social contact limits.

With all our events and especially those at the upper limit of 30 people, we will be advising people to continue to keep their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble.

From 21 June the Government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact.  Hooray!

We look forward to seeing you all again in April and in the meantime please stay safe.

Please keep an eye on the website for future events and, bearing in mind the limitations on numbers, if you are interested in a published event please book early to avoid disappointment.  If the event is full do please email info@surreyhillssociety.com to go on the waiting list.

Nature Recovery petition

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Larger Moths Decline over the last 50 Years

Our Chairman, Gordon Jackson, was very interested to read the latest information regarding our British moths and we thought we’d share this with you.

               

Butterfly Conversation have launched a new report entitled State of Britain’s Larger Moths.  It shows a worrying 33% decline in the population of larger moths over the last 50 years.  You can read the report here.

You may be interested in the attached petition which urges the government to enshrine their nature recovery targets in law and so be held accountable for them. Find out more here.

 

           Surrey Hills Society