October in Ewhurst

As I type the weather is so remarkably mild and long may it last, though the rain seems to have arrived following such a lengthy dry spell. Due to the very mild weather the leaves appear to be changing very late this autumn, however the conkers and acorns seem to be in abundance. Log fires are starting to be lit, and some evenings the distinct smell of the chimney smoke can be smelt around the village – a comforting thought for winter!

LEAP had a busy start to October with a ‘pond clearance morning’ at the village pond next to the church car park. The day dawned bright and sunny, and soon all rain coats and fleeces were discarded as the work commenced! A good turn out meant that huge progress was made on clearing back all the weeds and dead reeds from around the edge of the pond. The long term plan is to clear all the way around the pond, trim back the overhanging willow branches and clear the small drainage ditches running from the pond. This will then encourage more wildlife into the pond and lag irises and lilies could then be introduced, making the pond a very attractive feature in the village centre. This project has the full support of the Parish Council, and very careful consideration has been taken in assessing the site to prevent any disturbance to existing wildlife.

I went along to an excellent open day at the Sayers Croft Centre a few weeks ago. The Sayers Croft Field Centre was built in Ewhurst in 1939 to provide an educational basis for city children to come and learn about the countryside. After a spell of being used as a home to evacuees during WWII it returned to its original purpose of providing a residential centre where children can study the natural environment and wildlife. It really is a fantastic centre with up to 200 children visiting each week throughout the year. There are also a great variety of events for local children to participate in and volunteering opportunitieswww.sayerscrofttrust.org.uk

The next LEAP footpath working party is planned for Saturday 2nd November – a great and invigorating way to spend a couple of hours out in the countryside – thoroughly recommended!

Through the woods

I was encouraged by the waymarking and clearance LEAP recently did with Surrey County Council around Widewoods to walk there from Ewhurst. In fact we have lived in Ewhurst for many years now, but have never walked the footpaths through the Polo field, past Widewoods and on to Walliswood.

Alice and I were very lucky that Friday; we had taken time off work for the walk, the weather was ideal: warm, dry, mostly dull, and occasionally bright. The footpaths were very clear and easy to follow until we came across a fallen foothpath fingerpost, but were not lost for long. This time of year the hedges were bulging with ‘wild food’, although we were in a hurry to get to the Scarlet Arms for lunch! Lots of butterflies followed us around, as well as the usual menagerie of birds. A few weeks ago I spotted a Red Kite high over Ewhurst (has anyone else seen it?) but not that day. We did hear some buzzards peeping though.

The food was excellent (even if Walliswood is outside the parish boundary!) and we did pick a few blackberries for pudding on the way back. It was a wonderful hour each way, aren’t we lucky that Ewhurst is surrounded in all directions by such wonderful countryside?