TUNBRI F DG O E S D W N E E L I L

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A N S D N O R U M ST M HALL CO COMMON GROUND cg Registered Charity No. 1013975

COMMON GROUND

Warden’s Report with Steve Budden ooking back over previous and remove the fish, great care and sensitivity to a strong recovery of weed Lreports, I always seem storing them in tanks whilst minimise damage to both this year. This means that we to be complaining about the work took place. However, the fish and the invertebrate will need to carry out further difficulties in getting on with when we started draining, we population of the pond. In weed clearance on a regular work because of poor weather; soon realised that the volume fact, whilst I am sure that basis, but this will be at a obviously, this report is going and density of the weed in the some fish were tangled in the much lower level and will be to start in the same way. pond meant that it would be weed and lost, we only saw far simpler to accomplish and impossible to extract the fish three dead fish throughout cause much less disruption. The incessant rain last year and had to re-think. In the the operation. We finished up caused problems with most end, the only thing we could removing a far greater volume Overall, I am delighted with tasks, not least the de-silting of do was to leave about half the of weed than I expected but the result for the pond and Brighton Lake. We carried out water in the pond and then still left a reasonable amount of course the one positive the work there last October, gradually and slowly start to of both weed and silt in thing I can say about last when we still thought that remove weed, allowing the fish there to repopulate the pond year’s weather, is that it filled there would surely be an end to move away from the work quickly. up again very quickly. On to the rain soon. My main area and giving each bucketful the down-side, a sixteen worries at the time were to do of weed plenty of time to We now have a very much tonne digger and a five tonne with how we would keep the drain back into the pond clearer pond and we have dumper can cause a great deal fish alive whilst the pond was before removal. This obviously given it another hundred years of mess when they have to drained. slowed the whole job down of life; we have probably also work on saturated ground. but the contractors were very released a big flush of nutrients Most of you will have seen the Our plan was to drain the lake professional and worked with into the water and I expect continued on page three >>

No. 59 The Society founded for ‘... the conservation, maintenance, preservation and peaceful enjoyment for the benefit of the Winter 2013 public of the Commons by such means as the Society in consultation with the Conservators for the Commons thinks fit’. Corporate Sponsor birding journal NEWS! by Bettina Cassidy NEWS | NEWS | NEWS | NEWS | NEWS No.15: Great Tit Latin name: Parus major cg Words from the Chairman Size: Small, robin-sized Sound: Numerous, but usually “teacher-teacher” or “tink” nowflakes are falling as I write this. These may be a relief from Sthe dank and dark that has been the norm for what seems like ’m guaranteed to see tits on the paying them a lot more attention an eternity. The wet conditions have been a positive encouragement ICommon, and a lot of them – lately, but you really shouldn’t have blue ones, great ones, coal ones, to read things like that as an incen- to growth on the Commons. The Friends’ work parties, under Steve long-tailed ones and perhaps even tive to go out and admire them. The Budden’s directions, have been applying themselves this winter to a willow or a marsh – but due to Great Tit is a handsome, boldly- judicious clearance on both Commons. One of these sessions was their abundance, tits don’t tend to marked bird, noticeably burlier than directed at meeting feedback from last year’s AGM about opening be something that I pay much at- other tits, and easily identifiable by up a view around a part of the Race Track. tention to. It’s a great shame that its solid black cap, and distinctive familiarity has bred such indiffer- black line down its yellow chest. It’s This years’ AGM will be held on Monday, March 11th at St Paul’s ence, and even more of a pity that one of our most athletic birds, as Church Centre in Road, Rusthall TN4 8RE at 19:30. I it’s only in the face of bad news you’ll know if you’ve ever watched hope you will be able to come along, as your feedback is always that I’ve been its acrobatics around a birdfeeder. welcome, and the meeting is not just routine AGM-type business, forced to Admittedly it can be a hard bird to but also features a talk by the Warden. revise my love, as it enjoys bullying its cuter view. and more popular cousin, the Blue The last time members came together was the lunch in October Tit away from the food...come on, at the Royal Wells. There were 59 of us, so many thanks for your there’s enough for everyone! support – a lunch seems to be preferred to a dinner – and the Royal Wells looked after us all exceptionally well. We also valued the I have to say that I find the Great feedback you gave to the table hosts. Thanks particularly go to Steve Tit’s repertoire of calls very baf- Budden and Professor Michael Holman for their sessions which fling. Its most common call is the prompted lively discussion. Members at the lunch expressed their two-note “teacher-teacher”, but typically a group of Great Tits will broad support for Michael in his Water in the Wells project, subject have 39 calls on top of to the detailed proposals, particularly for a fountain or similar that (each male av- feature on Brighton Lake. Dame Helena Shovelton kindly, and eraging 4 to himself, most ably, dedicated our two oak tree plantings to mark the Jubilee. and the ability to sing them in 3 different I have referred in previous Common Grounds to the work we are tempos, just to add to the doing under the auspices of the Commons Conservators with confusion). I’ve often had to High Partnership to support making the Commons more follow very alien-sounding calls in accessible, especially for school children. Your committee has agreed woods, compelled to find out what to use some of our funds to support this commendable initiative on earth can be making that noise, (up to a maximum of £3,360 as a one-off commitment). We are Recently, airborne to find that nine times out of ten seeking to involve other contributors: charitable, local authority, insects from central it’s a Great Tit, but it’s heartening to community trust and lottery related. As I write, Rusthall Primary Europe have brought know that even the most seasoned a particularly nasty ornithologist can be left flummoxed. School is likely to be the first school to incorporate this initiative strain of Avian Pox to The most compelling theory for the into its curriculum. our shores. Avian Pox causes tu- Great Tit’s large repertoire is that mours to grow around a bird’s eyes the male deliberately uses numerous I welcome your comments on topics appearing in this issue of and beak, making it difficult for calls to fool rivals into thinking his Common Ground or more generally on other points, at any time. the bird to feed. This can affect patch is more populated than it is – Thank you. PS To speed up delivery and reduce costs we are no many species - pigeons, sparrows the more alpha the male, the bigger longer using envelopes for hand delivery of Common Ground. and starlings are particularly sus- his repertoire. ceptible - but the effects are usual- [email protected] and 01892 542862. cg ly mild enough for the population Mercifully the Great Tit is one of to bounce back. Unfortunately, our cannier birds, and its ability to Corporate Sponsor there’s just something about the adapt and thrive means that there poor old Great Tit’s physical are plenty of them. It was one of the makeup, and this particular strain few species to increase its population THE of pox, which means it’s less able in spite of climate changes over the to recover, and the poor birds are last ten years, so despite the Pox, let’s ROYAL suffering very badly. hope there will always be enough Great Tits around to, ahem, fly in WELLS Having found that out, I’ve been the face of extinction. cg HOTEL << continued from front page Terrace Walk, which now damage around the pond, and extends from the garden of course with the unremitting centre to the top of the path SNOW! FUN OR nature of the rain up until that comes up from the rear the end of the year, we have of Brighton Lake. We will NOT SO FUN! had no chance to carry out be carrying out a planting any remedial work. It is still programme to improve by Dee Keating very wet there and in fact, the diversity of tree species eing a busy working Mother flies out of my mouth and both dogs Bof two boys the only way to are sitting beside me looking obedient. the water table is so high that around the clearances of the physically survive is to multi task, grow See I can do this!! there are new springs bubbling last few years and will also be arms like an Octopus and develop out of the ground right next continuing our schedule of the strength of Hulk Hogan himself. As we head back home, my standard Nothing quite brings this all together left arm carrying one year old, my extra to the path around the pond. scalloping the woodland edge better than SNOW!! octopus left arm holding both dogs, Presumably, the ground will adjacent to the roads; this time my right arm pulling aforementioned get the chance to dry out at concentrating on Major York’s When husband headed off to work sledge which now instead of holding some stage this year and my Road. As ever, the late start on the Saturday, after the snow hit I a four year old feels like its holding an thought “Hey! It’s only a bit of snow”! actual tonne of bricks, my hat slipping contractors assure me that it on this work, caused by the With some encouragement from the slowly down over my eyes so that all I will be relatively easy to sort weather, has pushed us into a neighbours and coos of “the boys will can see is about a foot in front of where out these problems then, so I race against time to complete LOVE it” off we went for the dramatic I’m walking! I can still do this I think!! guess that patience is all I can it all before the birds start to inclines covered in powdery Go go Hulk Hogan strength! snow which my four year old advise at the moment. nest. described as “beautiful”.

There has been someMany of you will have seen Now at this point I am feeling improvement in the weather the stories in the press recently supremely smug, look at me, two boys, two dogs and a since the New Year, so we regarding occurrences of dogs sledge in tow, everyone is have been able to get on with being poisoned on Rusthall having a marvellous time, I’m a few tasks. Over on Rusthall Common. The implication so amazingly good at multi Common, we have installed of the story and the rumours tasking!! Boys have had fresh air and I may have gone some way plastic mesh under the soil at going round appeared to be to wearing them out, check! the edge of Harmony Street that this may be through a Dogs are running around like to prevent further damage deliberate campaign. I have nutters, dog walk done, check! I’m now daydreaming of getting from parked cars, put in tried to get more information home, happily making hot posts to stop any further but have been unable to chocolate and putting a joint encroachment, and have also find anything concrete. The in the slow cooker ready for created a new footpath behind local vets have heard all the Husband’s return aka perfect housewife, when suddenly I’m the posts to help pedestrians; rumours too but were unable snapped out of my glow. this work was jointly funded to give any information. In by KCC and the owners of the fact the only definite thing I One year old has decided he has had Always the optimist I say to myself Common, Targetfollow. could discover was that there enough and he’s letting me know this “Well it can’t get any worse”. How by screaming at full pelt, trust me wrong could I be? I feel a jolt and look had been a death of a dog in nothing echoes those screams quite back to see the string on the sledge We have also been cleaning up September following a walk like a snow-covered hilly landscape. has now in fact snapped. In my haste the damage caused by a group on the Common and that The 4 year old has now joined him in to turn round the dummy that was of youths near Common View, his screams but in-between screams imperative to the non-screaming child there had been a suggestion I can vaguely make out “my, aaaaah, has been knocked onto the floor and who felled quite a number of that rat poison was involved. hands, aaaaah are, aaaaah, so, aaaaah, rolled under a heavily snow laden car, trees in the woodland there. cold, aaaaaaaaah!” After a few “Ive so of course it has!! Both children revert We have cleared the fallen This is very sad of course, but been there” looks from fellow parents, back to high pitch screaming. I’m still trees and extended the area it is a very different thing to I decide to pack up quickly before this a good 4 minutes from home. Keep gets even worse and look around to calm and carry on! I ask four year old into a new glade and footpath a deliberate campaign. Since find the dogs to put them back on the if he can carry the sledge to which he linking in from the new that story appeared in the leads. Of course! Dogs seeing me pick replies in-between sobs that he “can’t development at Rusthall Elms. press, I have heard of no other up the leads have decided at this point Mummy as my arms and legs are too occurrences, and things seem to launch themselves as fast as they tired” If only he knew!! So off we go can to the opposite side of their snowy again my standard right arm dragging Also on Rusthall Common, to have calmed down; I would playground. the sledge while my go go gadget right we are just about to clear hate to think of the Common arm holds four year old’s finger (it was hollies from the top of the being considered a no-go Not to be deterred, I find a dummy all I could muster). 101 Steps to expose the large area by pet owners; obviously in my pocket, slightly fluff covered but that will have to be overlooked Finally we get home! Get warm! Get sandstone boulder and the we should all be careful of for now. Up the hill I go carrying said, fed! The screaming stops although my lovely oak there. what our dogs pick up (easier now no longer screaming, one year old ears are still ringing, I feel like I’ve just said than done) but I think and pulling said four year old behind finished ten rounds with Tyson and I Over at Tunbridge Wells, we the Common is as safe as it me on a sledge. Suddenly not feeling vow to never again attempt such an quite so cold anymore! Eventually adventure in the snow It’s just not have completed opening the normally is. In other words; after a few chirpy shout outs to the FUN! cg next section of the second Keep Calm and Carry On. cg hounds the sound of my exorcist voice Brighton Lake Setting the Pace? by Michael Holman rive into Tunbridge the Spa and the Spa Valley Lottery Fund money, group, appropriately named DWells along any of the Railway.’ Once off the train out of action too. Sadly, ‘Water in the Wells’. This major roads and you will be or out of your car, however, our once proud spa-town group is now seeking actively greeted by two impressive you will search in vain for reputation now hangs by to promote the installation signboards. One, white, coherent reminders of our the miserable trickle in the of quality water features at with two brightly coloured spa-town heritage. Pantiles and the frequently entry and other key points in shields, proudly announces non-functioning fountain the town, thereby not only that Most of the streams running in Dunorlan. Through civic making Royal Tunbridge is twinned with . away from the centre have neglect and collective failure, Wells a more attractive The other, brown, directs been diverted, cemented first to formulate and then to place in which to live, tourists’ attention to local over, or contained in culverts. promote a clear vision of our work, stay and play, but also attractions: theatre, museum, In , you will find water and health brand, we endeavouring to inject our library, , no Grom brook, no elegant have become a waterless spa. spa-town brand with a new and the Pantiles complete fountain, no pump house, And what is a spa without lease of life. with the appropriate only the unsavoury looking water? fountain icon. Three of Chalybeate Spring closed, Keeping a close eye on areas the roads – from Frant, its former bubbling flow Last year, very much with designated for development, Eridge and Rusthall – lead reduced to an undrinkable the sense of ‘now or never’, lobbying at the highest directly onto or through the trickle. And if you make it the Royal Tunbridge Wells level and working closely Commons. Arrive by train to Dunorlan, our largest Town Forum, which seeks to with ‘friends’ groups, on a high day or holiday and expanse of water, you will represent the interests of the we have identified some you may be greeted by the most likely find the town’s unparished central area of twenty potential sites in the announcement: ‘Tunbridge one surviving major public town, initiated a campaign unparished areas of town. Wells, Tunbridge Wells. fountain, restored only to put water back in the These include the former Alight here for the Pantiles, recently with Heritage Wells, setting up a working , Commons Conservators. routes and in the middle of Only last year the Freehold an expanse of water, it would Tenants generously provided be an unlikely target for money enabling the warden vandals, but people driving to oversee a major operation past would suddenly take to clear accumulated mud notice of the lake’s existence and weeds, thereby greatly and be made aware that improving the quality of the they were entering Royal water and giving the lake a Tunbridge Wells, founded new lease of life. on water and continuing to live by water and with water. Despite its strategic location, the lake is little known by the Of course, the campaign general citizenry. Compared to ‘Put Water back in the with Dunorlan it is small, Wells’ will be a long-term lacking visual presence. undertaking. Over time it There is no easily accessible will need money, both for footpath along the southern, initial capital outlay and for Eridge Road, side and it can continuing maintenance. only properly be viewed from It will also need a structure the Common itself or from enabling money to be raised the top of a double decker and dispensed. To this end bus. Plans prepared by the we are currently considering architect C.H. Strange at the the establishment of a request of local tradesmen Community Interest in 1922 to transform it Company, with or without into a lake for model yacht a linked charity, which will sailing were never realised, also enable us to direct our and ‘Pope’s Puddle’, ever in attention more widely to the danger of silting up, retained Borough, including Rusthall. by Michael Holman its rural, unkempt, sylvan Brighton Lake Setting the Pace? character. We are looking for supporters where the approved plans of both particularly favoured. who have publicity, fund- Berkeley Homes now detail So favoured are they, in fact, A suitably designed water raising and water feature an attractive cascading water that we have selected them feature, with one or more expertise. People who love feature running from Mount for individual feasibility small spouts rising from to live in Tunbridge Wells, Ephraim to the centre of the studies by a local architect. iron-bearing sandstone who treasure its past and development; the Five Ways, rocks similar in colour to the believe in actively working where TWBC is drawing Of the identified sites, for a rock used as a base for the for its future. People who up plans for an extensive number of reasons Brighton Mount Ephraim panorama, believe that with a little help refurbishment, including, Lake is currently way ahead would admirably preserve from friends, the town can we hope, a water feature; of the others. ‘Pope’s Puddle’ this character. It would also be revitalised, rejuvenated the Calverley Grounds; as it was once known, lies on visually and conceptually link and water be made to flow Grosvenor and Hilbert one of the main routes into up with other rocky features in the Wells once again. So Park, for which a second- town, Eridge (aka Brighton) in and around the town we can hand on to the next stage bid is being prepared Road. It has plenty of water – Wellington Rocks, the generation a town rightly by TWBC for the Heritage on site, being fed by a rich Dunorlan cascade, and the prized for its reputation as Lottery Fund; the former orange Chalybeate spring and Dripping Wells in Grosvenor a place of health, wealth, ABC Cinema site; the is situated on the southern and Hilbert Park. In leisure, resort - and water. Pantiles – of course; and, of edge of the Tunbridge addition, it would continue particular interest to readers Wells Common, one of the the warden’s admirable work, Michael Holman (Chairman, of Common Ground, as they town’s major attractions not only bringing ecological ‘Water in the Wells’) form part of the Commons, for residents and visitors benefit, aerating [email protected] Brighton Lake and the alike. The welfare of the otherwise stagnant water, but triangle of grass at the Commons is supported by also giving the lake a moving Offers of help, creative intersection of Road a lively Friends organisation, vertical dimension. Situated criticism and constructive and Vale Road, which are and actively managed by the off the main pedestrian suggestions all welcome! cg A Friendly

Appealfro m Joh n Ba rber sk not what…(John F. AKennedy’s Inaugural address)

The Friends charity is in a good position. Membership is growing, largely through taking stands at Rusthall Fete and on the Pantiles. The Friends is solvent and able to spend amounts of money in helping the Commons be enjoyed by a wide range of people (e.g. the Kent High Weald Partnership project, this particularly for school children – see elsewhere in this Common Common Vision Ground for more details - benches from Saul Fajerman of the Kent High Weald Partnership and bench refurbishment, dog n spring 2012 the Kent educational resource? actionable points with costing dirt bag dispensers). Our website High Weald Partnership to take the project forward, and Common Ground are areas I What can be done to enhance (KHWP) was approached by the and are now working together of pride for us all. Our work Commons Conservators and the the visitor experience for the on finding funding to put the parties make a visible difference. Friends of Tunbridge Wells and general public? project into action. Rusthall Commons to come up To keep our Charity relevant and with some ideas to help local Using a combination of online These actions include: researching vibrant and expand our work schools use the Commons as surveys, public events and and identifying the design and we need additional, articulate an educational resource and to interviews, KHWP established placement of interpretation and energetic people on your improve the existing information that schools would like to use the panels and trailway markers to Committee. We especially need panels. Commons for outdoor learning minimise visual pollution and practical capability in areas such as but needed training, equipment integrate into existing signage; Twitter, computers, website and It is easy to see how the Commons, and up to date information. It creating a pilot scheme of teacher publicity/marketing (awareness with its rich tapestry of different was also established that the training and educational sessions and membership expansion) natural habitats and fascinating general public would like more on the Commons for a local and project management. If history dating back thousands information on the history and school, and creating a series of you do not see yourself as a of years, could be of enormous biodiversity of the Commons in links from the Friends website to Committee person but feel that benefit to local schools in the the form of improved information make it much easier for people you have these or other skills and teaching of science, geography, panels and walking trails. One of to find out information on the knowledge (e.g. environment history and even citizenship. the most important things that Common. and ecology) or just a passion came out of the feedback received about the Commons that could The Commons are already a well from the general public was that The Friends have very generously help, please let us know. used and much loved local green people would not support any agreed to fund part of the space so before submitting any changes to the Commons that education and schools elements In asking for more active ideas the KHWP wanted to find would detract from its natural of the project with additional participants your Committee out from local people and schools beauty. financial input from KCC does also want to acknowledge if there was any real appetite and Members Funds and other and thank all those who already need for change. In October KHWP presented external funding bodies. The assist us immensely whether it be its finding to the Commons Friends are also writing an in writing for Common Ground, Kent County Councillor James Conservators and it was met Awards For All (a small National delivering it, being involved in Scholes very generously donated with some enthusiasm from Lottery based funding body) our work parties or just paying some money from his Members Councillors from Tunbridge bid to cover the cost of research your membership fees. Fund to the Conservators and Wells Borough Council and into information panels and the they commissioned KHWP to Kent County Council and creation of nature and history Please, if you feel you can help undertake a feasibility study with broad agreement among the trails. further then give John Barber a two main points: Conservators into the overall ring on 01892 542962 or write to aims of the project. It is hoped that if everything him at johnpbarber@btinternet. What can be done to enable local goes to plan we will be able com Similarly, for any general schools to use Tunbridge Wells The Friends and KHWP worked to implement elements of the feedback just give it to John or and Rusthall Commons as an together to create a list of project by next spring. cg any Committee Member. cg by Ian Beavis floraand fauna The Little-known World of Craneflies raneflies are a rather Craneflies are generally Cneglected group of associated with damp insects – including by me habitats, as the larvae of most until a couple of years ago feed on decaying plant or when I started to look at animal matter in or around employed by many small Dicranomyia chorea them more seriously. streams, springs, ponds and insects as it is easier to find more brightly coloured lakes. a mate by joining together in species include Phylidorea a communal display. In the ferruginea which, as its name The commoncolder months such swarms suggests, has an overall rusty autumnal craneflyare likely to belong to one orange colouration including Tipula paludosa is of the ten British species in tinted wings. There are also one of the exceptions the related family of winter- species such as Epiphragma whose ‘leatherjacket’ gnats, while most spring ocellare with eye-spots on larvae feed on the and summer swarms are their wings. Two species of roots of grasses. formed by the true cranefly pond-snouts, craneflies with a Dicranomyia chorea (chorea long ‘beak’, occur around the The Commons with derives from the Greek word ponds on both Commons, their range of small for dance). watercourses and one of them being nationally scarce. Strangest of all is the ponds support a good Among the more distinctive wonderfully named White- diversity of species. members of the group are footed Ghost (Dolichopeza the so-called tiger craneflies albipes) whose males float The craneflieswhich have bright black and Tipula paludosa spookily in their courtship found on the Common yellow or orange bands. This display, dangling their white- Everyone knows the familiar demonstrate the range of is an example of mimicry, tipped legs to catch the light large grey species that swarms sizes found within the group. deterring predators by in deep shade. cg to lighted windows in the Some of them are as large as imitating the warning colours autumn, but in fact there are a medium-sized dragonfly, of bees and wasps. Other over 300 British species flying including the Giant Cranefly at different times throughout Tipula maxima which has the year. Craneflies are related brown-patterned wings to mosquitoes and midges, incorporating an inverted but unlike some of their triangle, and ranks as Britain’s relatives they do not bite. In largest two-winged fly. fact they do not feed at all in the adult state. They share A number of related species a characteristic appearance are almost as big, such as with disproportionately long Tipula vittata with streaked legs which give them a fragile wings and Tipula luna with and ungainly appearance. a white ‘crescent moon’ at its Some call them ‘daddy-long- wing tips. Others are much legs’, but that is a confusing smaller and are likely to be term because it is also applied passed over as some kind to the arachnids known of ‘gnat’. Males of some of as harvestmen or harvest- these form dancing swarms spiders. to attract females, a strategy Tipula maxima Noteworthy Buildings Facing The Common Gibraltar Cottage by Philip Whitbourn he previous issue of in its rocky outcrop setting. right-hand pair. As may be seen scheme came forward, the back TCommon Ground featured from Charles Reynolds’ view being remodelled to form a Jordan House, 68 London At first glance, the distinctive of Gibraltar Rocks in around separate unit named Rocklea. Road, which once served as four gables may suggest a 1900, reproduced here, the The front, sketched here, Humphrey Burrows’ Tunbridge forerunner of the type of right-hand end of the building nevertheless remains much Ware Repository, This time our approach to design sometimes once had a focus is on Gibraltar Cottage, adopted by later 19th century prominent on the Common itself, where architects, such as George conservatory one of Humphrey’s four sons, Devey, in which they sought overlooking William Burrows, also made to arrange matters so that their the . buildings looked as though Common. they had grown organically. Dating from the early part of However, reference to early Sadly, the the 19th century, the design maps of the area seems to property of this cottage orné has been indicate that the two left-hand became ascribed in the government’s gables may well have started in a run- statutory list of buildings of life as outbuildings. Certainly, down state special architectural or historic their tiled roofs are of a steeper by about interest to the noted architect pitch than those of the slate 1970, and Decimus Burton, although roofed pair of gables on the there was even talk of possible as it was and, with St Helena the basis of this attribution right-hand side. Also, the demolition at that time. Among and Belleville, is of particular is at present unclear. Be pierced decorative bargeboards those who campaigned to significance as part of this that as it may, the building of the two left -hand gables are save the building was the late important group of cottages forms a pleasing picturesque of a different pattern from the Lord Evans ofHungershall. orné at the northern apex of composition, nestling as it does scalloped barge boards of the Fortunately, a refurbishment our Common. cg

For up-to-the-minute news and opinion visit: Send your letters to: Common Ground, St Paul’s School www.friendsofthecommons.co.uk House, Langton Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8XD