We had a lovely time wandering around some of the footpaths earlier this month.  We need to organise a footpath marker working party soon! It is now well into summer, so we can start clearing footpaths again.  Unfortunately I cannot help with the next working party, on Saturday.  Alice will be there and show you the two paths that need some work. They are the paths FP512 and FP363 from Wykehurst Lane to Coneyhurst Lane.

Alice will will be the South end of FP512 at 10am on Saturday (1st July). See the map above for the location. She will have coffee and biscuits for the break.  Please contact us by email beforehand if you need tools (secateurs, shears or loppers) from the club hut, or are willing help wheel them to the meeting place.

All the best
Eddie

We had a great time planting trees, and litter picking, earlier this month.  Thanks to all who came.  We were planning ‘balsam bash’ (pulling out invasive Himalayan Balsam) for June, but the balsams have not grown yet!

Instead, on Saturday morning (3rd June, 10-12am) we will be doing a footpath-marker survey.  We will go around the public footpaths and bridleways checking where markers are missing or need replacing.  I’ll have copies of maps and pencils for you. The footpaths are all very dry, but sturdy footwear is recommended. Maybe we will be replacing the markers for the next working party.

Please meet up at the Village Hall car park at 10am, and at midday we’ll gather again to compare notes and have coffee and biscuits.

The weather looks promising so please come and join us!

Ewhurst LEAP is part of #TheBigHelpOut on the coronation bank holiday! As usual, everybody is welcome. Instead of our usual Saturday morning working party you have a choice of tree planting or litter picking events on Monday morning.

For those who prefer tree planting, we will be planting trees around Ewhurst recreation ground. If enough people turn up we can also fill gaps in the hedge at the Village Hall car park. Please bring spades, and wear wellies if wet!

If you prefer litter picking, we will be removing litter from as much as possible of the Ockley Road just outside Ewhurst. We will supply litter pickers, sacks, sack holders and high-viz vests. Note because it is a main road, children cannot join in with this (but they can plant trees).

For both events please meet at the Village Hall car park at 10am on Monday 8th May. We will finish at midday with coffee, squash and biscuits on the rec.

Dear All,

The footpath FP428 (going North from Ockley Road along Cobbler’s Brook) is looking much better. Thank you to those who helped, especially James and Richard for organising the last few months. It will be April soon, and we cannot easily clear any footpaths without disturbing nesting birds. So we’ll be doing something else…

On 1st April, next Saturday morning at 10am, we will be litter picking on the roads around the village. Please meet at the car park opposite the village hall, where I will have bags, litter pickers and high viz tabards for all of you. We’ll finish at midday, meeting back at the car park to return the equipment.

The village itself and local public footpaths are kept remarkably clean. But not the roads. Those that most need work are the Cranleigh Road, Horsham Lane, Shere Road and Ockley Road. If enough people turn up we could do Somersbury Lane too.

Please only litter pick along the busy roads if you feel confident to do so. If any children join us I suggest they do the rec and cemetery grounds.

We have just received some good news: as well as the regular contribution to our funds from the Parish Council, we have been awarded £400 from the Surrey Climate commission! We will use the extra money for outdoor First Aid training.

Richard Essex, Chairperson of the Surrey Climate Commission, said “Communities play a vital part in tackling the challenge of climate change. Through the small grant fund for sustainability, Surrey County Council and the Surrey Climate Commission are delighted to be helping groups across the county accelerate their excellent work for the environment.”

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday,

All the best,
Eddie

I’d like to wish all readers a very happy New Year. Let’s hope that the pandemic will soon come to an end. Despite the difficulties, Ewhurst LEAP was busy last year:

•  Surveying 40 of the street trees in and around Ewhurst;
•  A very successful litter pick;
•  Making four large wooden planters for the Village Hall – and filling them;
•  The wonderful village Carnival, where we gave out 200 free packets of wildflower seeds;
•  Footpath and pond clearance;
•  Helping the Infant school children planting a hedge.

The committee would like to thank you for all your help.

We have photos of some of these, please look at our Image Gallery to see them.

This year we have lots more ideas for activities. Yesterday we cleared footpath FP440 (well it is now passable, but only single file!) and more footpaths are planned. Much later in the year we will be clearing more of the pond, but this spring we will be planting yellow rattle plant plugs next to it. We hope this will discourage the grass and allow many other wildflowers to grow naturally. We are also doing a litter pick (always a favourite), as well as surveying the public footpaths and bridleways in the parish.

As we do most years the pond by the Village Hall car park had its clear-out over the last couple of Working Party sessions. Because it had very little attention last year we had a lot to do, but still managed a huge amount. Fortunately the weather was good (not too hot, cold or wet) on both Saturdays.

It is important to leave a lot of material in situ for the wildlife, so we can only clear up to one half of the pond itself. Next year we will clear a different section. The surrounds were almost completely cleared, but still leaving a lot ground cover.

All material dragged out of the pond has been left near the edges, to let any creatures crawl back in. We will move this at a later date, when it has dried out a bit and isn’t quite so heavy.

I have some pictures of our efforts below.