On the 13th of June employees from Atkins and Pick Everard, teamed up to spend an afternoon volunteering with Surrey Hills Society (SHS) across Banstead Downs.  The group of volunteers spent the afternoon, working out in the sun to support the Banstead Common Conservators (BCC) with the maintenance of the Downs, pulling back invasive species across the land.

Specifically the team supported with the removal of Canadian Goldenrod, an invasive species that had taken over vast swathes of the fields across the downs, causing other indigenous flora to die back. The reduction in biodiversity across the Downs was threatening the existence of some of the local wildlife, such as the Small Blue butterfly, due to the change in their natural habitat.

Our team of volunteers split into three groups to tackle the land and with the support of the team from SHS and BCC, were successfully able to pull back the majority of the Goldenrod! We all left feeling incredibly satisfied with the day’s work but, also with a much greater understanding of the history of this local area as well as the natural wild flora and fauna that complete it.

Working with the two charities, SHS and BCC was the clear highlight for all involved. It was incredibly rewarding to work with such a knowledgeable team and broaden our understanding of the local environment and importance of its conservation for the direct wildlife involved.

Thank you so much to Christa Emmett for supporting with the organisation of this day, as well as the wider team for sharing all of their expertise with us!

The team would also like to make an honourable mention of Indi the dog, who provided much needed motivation and encouragement to the teams throughout the afternoon!

“It was great not only to be able to learn more about the flora on my doorstep but to do so while contributing to the conservation of this beautiful natural grassland. I will definitely keep an eye out for other conservation opportunities or a guided walk with Surrey Hills Society. I have however checked out a local wildlife site nearby and rather than viewing it as a “patch of grassland” used my new skills to pick out knapweed, rattle and birdsfoot trefoil!”

Sarah Horrocks, Head of Air Quality and Emissions on volunteering with Surrey Hills.

Alice Bettis Marsh, Atkins Epsom

On Friday 9 June 2023 16 people were split into two groups – one group went into Chaldon Church to listen to a talk given by Ted Howard whilst the other group went to visit the adjacent 14th Century Chaldon Court owned by Mrs Madeline Hutchins.  The groups then swapped over before having tea and cakes.

Ray Jessop, who helped organise this event, took photographs throughout the visit and is happy to share them here.

The picture on the west wall of the church is famous as the earliest known English wall painting – it dates from about 1200 and is without equal in any other part of Europe. It is thought to have been painted by a travelling artist-monk with an extensive knowledge of Greek ecclesiastical art.

Madeline Hutchins then gave an illustrated talk on the history of her home, the 14th century Chaldon Court.  Madeline told us how she has carefully restored Chaldon Court to retain its historic features.  As the sun was shining we were able to enjoy tea and delicious cakes in the garden.

We have already had one member contact us to say “Thanks to the society for arranging today and for making todays outing very special.  I had a great time”.

Thanks go to Stella, Ray and Joyce for organising this event and to Ray for the phographs.

During the afternoon of 7th June, Surrey Hills Society was delighted to be awarded the ‘Working in Partnership with Communities’ award by Surrey Choices as part of their Celebrating Success Awards Ceremony at Denbies.

The award recognised the strong partnership working and commitment that the Surrey Hills Society and Surrey Hills National Landscape have towards working with the Surrey Choices Growth Team over the last 18 months.

Surrey Choices provides a range of support services which are dedicated to improving the independence, confidence and life skills of disabled people, autistic people and those with other support needs, whatever their age, in the local community.

In particular, the Surrey Choices Growth Team provides its customers with fantastic opportunities to gain conservation, access, and gardening work experience. Customers are offered training and support to carry out practical gardening and conservation tasks which help preserve the Surrey countryside and public spaces.

The Growth Team have contributed enormously to conservation and access projects across the Surrey Hills managing habitats and access for people and nature. They are now recognised as Surrey Hills Conservation Volunteers and have engaged in hedge planting, tree popping, scrub clearance, tree planting, Himalayan balsam pulling, dead hedging as well as contributing to the new Yew Tree boardwalk at Newlands Corner.

The team are trained to use strimmers and other machines, which many of our volunteers are not trained use so the contribution they make is invaluable and a great asset to the management of the Surrey Hills.

The Society has absolutely loved working with the Growth Team and getting to know individual members more closely.

We are honoured to have won the award and look forward to continuing working together on future projects across the Surrey Hills.

Christa Emmett and Gordon Jackson

In early June a group of some fifty of us were lucky enough to take part in Surrey Hills Conservation Day at Cross Farm in Shackleford organised by Christa Emmett Surrey Hills Society Project and Volunteer Co-ordinator.

Members of the SHS along with local families and friends with ages from three years upwards found there were plenty of activities to enjoy.

It was particularly rewarding seeing how the younger visitors including those in their teens were interested in all aspects of conservation, actively participated in the various activities, and were willing to ask questions.

Angus Stovold, whose family have owned and farmed at Cross Farm for over 80 years, is passionate about conserving the Surrey Hills and a great advocate of environmental farming. On a tractor ride around the farm, he not only pointed out stunning countryside views but engaged us all by explaining the importance of the extensive planting of hedgerows and trees, avoidance of any pesticide and leaving wild-flower meadows.

We also learnt a lot about bats from the Surrey Bat Group and about hedgehogs and how to attract them safely into gardens by an ecologist from Kingston University.

Many of the younger group enjoyed making bird feeders and finding a variety of insects by sweeping the meadow with large nets. Bug Life, the Invertebrate Conservation Trust, highlighted the decline in insects and what can be done to save them.
Finally on a nature walk through the fields while we spotted only a couple of butterflies because of the strong wind we saw grasshoppers and ladybirds along with a variety of birds including swallows, swifts and red kites.

On arrival we were given a “Five Senses Nature Scavenger Hunt” to tick off, but with so many other activities I am not too sure how many were completed.

It proved to be a very enjoyable and productive day; I am sure everyone of us came away having learnt something new.

We are grateful to all volunteers who gave up their time to make it such a success.

Susie Turner

On Wednesday 17th May 2023 we worked with the Community Investment and
Engagement Team of Surrey County Council at Woodcote Farm in West Horsley.

Read the whole story here.

To help all of our members, we are introducing a system whereby every walk will be categorised as either Easy, Moderate or Challenging.  The details of these categories are set out below.   

Easy 

A sedate walk at a relaxed pace with frequent stops and no steep inclines. The walk is normally  between 2 and 3 miles.  There may be stiles to negotiate.

Moderate

A medium walk with a constant but reasonably comfortable pace.  You should expect sections of different inclines and some steep hills.  There may be a few short stops at points of interest but otherwise it will be at a unbroken steady tempo.  The walk will be around 4 to 5 miles.

Challenging

A reasonably demanding walk, for people who are fairly fit/brisk walkers.  The pace will be around 2 to 3 miles per hour and the terrain may be difficult.  There may not be any stops incorporated into the walk.  The length of walk would normally be around 6 miles or more.

All walk leaders will know the walk they have organised and they are responsible for all attendees.  If they feel that you may not be capable of keeping up with the pace they need to set in order to complete the walk within the time allocated, they will be at liberty to refuse you to join the group as this may affect the enjoyment of the other attendees and could prove to be dangerous.  Please be aware of your own personal fitness to avoid disappointment.

Gordon Jackson, Chairman

As the nice weather arrives for the Easter holidays, the entire series of our North Downs Way walk is now available on BBC Sounds. The link below takes you to the 4 episodes and you can also link to the individual days on socials.

Click here to listen.

Chris Howard

On Tuesday 21st March, a group of 22 society members made a visit to Bletchingley and some of the surrounding area. We formed two groups so that numbers were more manageable with one group doing a walk in the morning, and the other a tour of the village, and in the afternoon, after lunch in the Red Lion, we swapped over.

Mr. David Martin of The Bletchingley Conservation and Historical Society kindly took us around the village giving us plenty of interesting and historical information.

The walks were led by Victoria Gregory, also of the Bletchingley Conservation and Historical Society. She took on the task of walking us to the outer lying places. Thus providing the opportunity to stumble across some other interesting buildings. The house at Place Farm formed the gatehouse of Bletchingley Palace; a great Tudor house, which Anne of Cleves occupied after her marriage to Henry VIII, was annulled. Also, to the north can be found Brewer Street Farm (15th century) and the Old Rectory (1786).

The existence of the village can be traced back as far as Saxon times and was subsequently mentioned in the Domesday book. It is still possible to find signs of this long history today; parts of the Church date back to 1100 with considerable enlargements in the 13th century. This long history means that it is still possible to see several buildings that date back to around 1500 in the High Street area.

David was able to tell us a lot about the church while we were in there, before our walk up the High Street.

In 1225 there is mention of Bletchingley as a borough. In the Middle Ages a borough was created either by the King or one of the Lords as a potentially profitable element in the development of their estates. It appears that after the 14th century Bletchingley began to lose its importance as a borough, perhaps losing out to the market town of Reigate. However, at one point it managed to achieve the status of a rotten borough !! Parliamentary elections were held in what is now the Whyte Harte Hotel.

This was a very interesting, informative and enjoyable visit, so next time you are in the area we recommend that you stop and have a wander.

Joyce and Ray Jessop