The Common The newsletter from the Horsell Common Preservation Society Volume 17 Spring 2020 ic reqd May in McLaren Park We have all seen a lot of changes during these strange and challenging times, normal patterns have altered, and new behaviours adopted, to follow national and local guidance to manage this virus. These changes have naturally affected Horsell Common Preservation Society, our commons and staff. HCPS working closely with other managers of local open spaces and local authorities, closed the car parks in March. Since May 13th the car parks have been re-opened. Please take great care to respect the social distancing rules. With Heather Farm tenants shut down and therefore our income impacted we have unfortunately furloughed Senior Ranger Rachel. We have also taken a decision to postpone our AGM from June to September. We will update you when guidance is clear. We have recently marked significant anniversaries within the Society, our trustees and staff. Read more along with other updates in this issue. We look forward to businesses restarting at Heather Farm and general access returning when conditions allow. Stay well and keep safe! Robin Hoyle – Chairman of HCPS 1 From the Editor What a gift Horsell Common has been for so many of us during the lockdown period and during the glorious Spring weather! The AGM for HCPS was due to happen on June 8th. The Spring newsletter would normally have contained the official notification for the AGM and related material. The AGM will be rescheduled for August or September and all official material and further information will be sent electronically 28 days in advance. Other events have regretfully been cancelled including Canines on the Common and The Lions Run. This issue is celebrating the popular and beautiful Heather Farm and the Wetlands, the Estate Manager’s achievements and loyalty over 30 years and almost 30 years of volunteering by Hannah Lane. We have included many photos which add their own story to the text. Just a word of caution. April and May have been hotter than average, with very little rainfall and some strong winds, resulting in extremely dry conditions on the Common. Consequently, there is a much higher risk of fire and there has already been one fire. Matches and cigarettes carelessly discarded can easily cause a fire. Barbecues are strictly forbidden. It is wonderful that local residents and their dogs and horses can benefit from the open spaces of the Common. Please keep to the footpaths in order to protect this valuable habit, in particular the ground nesting birds. If you would like to become a member of HCPS and help to maintain this wonderful amenity click Join Us. There is a special treat for families by clicking on this link: Heathland Plant Spotter (www.tbhpartnership.org.uk/activities) which gives information about plants and wildlife you can find on Horsell Common with download-able activity sheets. This resource has been provided by the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership, whose main offices are located at Heather Farm. 2 10 Years of Heather Farm It is ten years since Heather Farm was transferred to HCPS and we took possession; therefore it is a significant milestone/anniversary. In 2010 McLaren started the long process of demolishing all the buildings at Heather Farm except the main office/delivery building which we retained. Apart from the buildings, McLaren also had to extract acres of surface concrete and underground concrete which was an enormous job. The resultant huge pile of crushed concrete was then taken by numerous lorries to the new service station being built on the M25 near Cobham. The site was then vacated by McLaren. We employed a company called Land & Water to dig out the lake and transform the site into our wetland reserve. Figure 2 Work in Progress - 2010 Figure 1 In the Beginning Figure 3 Heather Farm - May 2020 Figure 4 The Wetlands - May 2020 3 Paul Rimmer - Celebrating 30 Years Working with HCPS Paul Rimmer was employed as our Estate Manager in 2008 but he has been on the HCPS management committee since 1990. During this time, he has achieved a huge amount. Andrew Halstead wrote the following: “Many congratulations of your 30th anniversary and thank you for all the hard work you have put in over the years. You have made your mark on the HCPS estate and transformed it from what it was 30 years ago. Some highlights include - • The Pegasus tree carving • Introduction of grazing on Grasslands • Restoration to heathland of heavily scrubbed areas, such as The Triangle, with steady progress towards attaining Natural England's ''favourable condition'' status for the SSSI areas • Restoration of Warren Pond on Horsell Birch • Taking on management of Pyrford Common • Devising and planning the Heather Farm wetland area and commercial activities there • Developing the Sites of Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANGs) at Heather Farm and on Woodham Common, including the Bedser Trail • Developing and upgrading the easy access path from the Six Crossroads car park to the Sand Pit. • Organising the restoration of the former Muslim Burial Ground and the Peace Garden.” Paul’s response: “A lovely surprise when I arrived at Heather Farm this morning to be greeted by this delicious cake made by Molly Price from the Heather Farm café to mark my 30th anniversary of managing Horsell Common. Not a solo performance by any means as we have a tremendous group of trustees who give their time voluntarily to look after this special place. I would like to single out David Robbins who has served HCPS for almost as long. Together we have achieved many successful acquisition and management projects including Heather Farm, McLaren Park, Pyrford Common and the restoration of the Muslim Burial Ground. Horsell Common is privately owned by the Society and in the last 30 years has increased in size from 740 acres to 916 acres. Long may it provide a haven of tranquility locally.” Paul led the HCPS team in the development of McLaren Park as a public open space and helped produce the management plan for the park. Figure 5 McLaren Park in May 4 Highlights of the past 30 years Pegasus, Horsell Common’s gift to Woking, was sculpted from a magnificent 250-year old oak which was irretrievably damaged by a tornado in 2007. The famous wood sculptor, Captain Chainsaw, and his team spent a day watching Lipizzaner stallions so that they could make Pegasus strike the most dramatic pose. The Tree Pirates worked on the project for two weeks before handing over the commission in October 2014. The same craftsmen created a new façade for Heather Farm café using the timber of oaks felled of necessity on the common. One large trunk was transformed into a crocodile by a chain saw sculptor. Figure 6 Pegasus on Broomhall Common - Oct 2014 Figure 7 Heather on The Triangle Figure 8 Mimbridge Meadows - Pathways Figure 9 The Bourne Fields - Pathways Figure 10 The Bourne Fields - Boardwalk Top Left: Heather in abundance on the restored area of the Triangle, adjacent to Chobham Road and opposite Heather Farm. Top Right and Bottom: The “SANG” meadows bordering the River Bourne with raised pathways and board walks allowing access for everyone, even when the meadow land is flooded. A haven of peace and beauty for wild flowers, wildlife and dog walkers alike. 5 Figure 11 Belted Galloways Figure 12 The Peace Garden Above left: Belted Galloway cattle on Grasslands during the warmer months. They help to reduce the gorse and grass allowing the young heather to flourish. Above right: The restored Muslim Burial Ground, the Peace Garden Hannah Lane Celebrates 80th Birthday and 30 Years Volunteering Many congratulations to Hannah Lane who celebrated her 80th birthday on January 28th in typical fashion - carrying out conservation work on Horsell Common! Hannah first started volunteering with winter work parties in 1991, one Sunday per month. Once Rachel joined HCPS, Hannah also came to the twice monthly working parties on Tuesdays. A passionate conservationist and wildlife enthusiast, Hannah has been a trustee of HCPS for 9 years. Hannah makes a valuable contribution to the protection of our natural environment and we hope she continues to do so for many years to come. And the cake? Another of Jan Rubin’s masterpieces. Jan made a heart shaped Black Forest Gateau using kirsch, fresh cherries, cream, chocolate ganache topping. Not forgetting the candles! Jan is holding the cake and Hannah is standing to the left of Jan. Figure 13 Happy Birthday, Hannah! 6 The Very Wet Lands of Horsell Common The winter rains have more than compensated for the dry Spring of 2019. The Heather Farm Wetlands lake was overflowing onto the paths and surrounding area and the River Bourne burst its banks on December 22nd and again in mid- February. Figure 14 Flooding in December and February Woodland and heathland characterise Horsell Common but the river, ponds and ditches play a very important role in creating a different habitat for wildlife and plant species and also as drainage for parts of Horsell and Woking. Most of the water drains into the River Bourne, which runs alongside the meadows of Heather Farm. The River Bourne (Addlestone branch) rises to the south west of Bisley on Bisley Common and joins the Mill Bourne east of Chobham. Figure 15 The SANG Meadows and The River Bourne Figure 16 Mill Bourne and Emmetts Mill The Bourne flows past Addlestone and through the grounds of St. George’s College, joins the Chertsey Bourne and flows into the Thames at Shepperton lock. The vegetation alongside the river is quite lush with flowers such as purple loosestrife 7 and yellow toadflax.