Edition 8 Spring 2011 Chairman’s view Views at Gatton Park, Reigate are always more than happy to investigate and possibly organise a date, just get in touch with our administrator, June Robinson. The Society continues to take an active interest in the challenges and problems facing the Surrey Hills. Details of such planning applications, as per the oil exploration on Leith Hill, can be found on our website. We also continue to take an active interest in the provision of dedicated mountain bike paths to reduce the conflict with others users on footpaths and bridleways. The Society is very grateful to other organisations, particularly the National Trust Exciting times! Your Society is going from strength to strength with a and Surrey Wildlife Trust for the help and fascinating and varied programme of events planned throughout the advice they give us; to Ringway for sponsoring spring and summer. our newsletters and the Surrey Hills Board for their continued support and encouragement. The booking form and details for all the events the organising Parish Council. It gives the We are also grateful to the many volunteers are on the website and many are listed in this parish the opportunity to show off the very who help us man our new gazebo and trailer newsletter. For instance on Saturday 4 June, best of its heritage, history, countryside and at the many events we attend across the Surrey we are going to be private visitors to the community to an audience of like-minded Hills. And finally, our thanks to Loseley House beautiful Busbridge Lakes near Godalming, people. Our recent visit to Brockham was a for their two for one offer to be found on the where we will see one of the country’s largest complete sell out and much enjoyed by all back page. collections of wildfowl. More information on present, as you can read inside. This followed We would welcome many more of you to join this on page 5. a similar successful visit to Shamley Green last our happy band. The visits organised by Parish Council affiliate year. I wonder where we will be going next; members in and around the Surrey Hills are perhaps a parish in Waverley or Tandridge? If Neil Maltby proving very popular both with members and any members have ideas for future visits, we Chairman Our thanks to Glyn Sherratt, Diane Cooper, Chris Howard, Ken Bare, Martin Higgins, Surrey 2012 Group, Busbridge Lakes, Jane Garrett and other members and supporters who have kindly contributed photos and items to this issue. www.surreyhillssociety.org Registered Charity number 1125532 Denbies Estate Local Food Links Denbies mission is to provide delicious food and local products sourced primarily from the south-east region with an emphasis on Surrey produce. Denbies strives at all times to produce including best selling work in partnership with local items such as local eggs from growers and suppliers using free Collaroy Farm, Norbury Blue range and farm assured produce Cheese from Mickleham, Coffee which is ethical and sustainable in Real (ground in Capel), Sue’s keeping with their ethos. Family- Preserves and most recently owned and run in the heart of introduced on the back of the Dorking, Denbies is committed to March Monday initiative, Chalk playing its role in strengthening Hills Bakery. the local economy. Surrey Hills Micro Brewery is Denbies was very pleased to currently relocating to an area support the March Monday within Denbies existing winery initiative, in conjunction with the building, incorporating a visitor Surrey Hills, showcasing local viewing area and tasting platform producers on the wine tours. for a real ‘hands on’ experience. This was a big success and it is Visitors to the estate will now be anticipated that this will become able to enjoy an insight into both an annual event. Visitors to wine and beer production. The the event were both surprised Ultimate Wine Experience, 360° and impressed at the breadth cinema, people-mover through of produce that is produced in the winery and cellar tasting, Surrey. outdoor vineyard train and ‘Grape The Kitchen Garden Farm Shop and Grain Tour’ will be available is a committed purveyor of local throughout the year. Gift Memberships Thank-You Birthday Christmas Well Done Whether or not you are addition, you receive a smart already a Society member, gift card to which you can add if you are short on ideas for your own personal message. presents or wish to mark a special occasion, the Society To buy your Gift Memberships might be able to help. now, please visit our website: www.surreyhillssociety.org We provide Gift Memberships, where you can download a which allow you to gift a year's request form, call us on subscription to the Surrey Hills 01372 220647 Society to anyone you choose or write to us at: Prices are the same as standard Membership, Surrey Hills annual subscriptions - £10 for Society, Warren Farm Barns, single membership or £15 for Headley Lane, Mickleham, family membership – but in Dorking, Surrey RH5 6DG Congratulations Anniversary Registered Charity number 1125532 www.surreyhillssociety.org 2 Olympic Cycling Road Races come to Surrey The eyes of the world will be on 2012 group. This consists of the Surrey Hills on 27, 28 July Surrey County Council and the 2012 when the Olympic Cycling district and borough councils of Road Races come to Surrey, as Guildford, Woking, Mole Valley, one of the opening events of the Elmbridge and Reigate and 2012 Games. Races on the first Banstead, as well as Surrey Police, two days will start and finish in Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, London at The Mall and take in the National Trust and Natural about 130 miles of Surrey roads, England. The group's aim is to passing through a number of the help ensure the event is a success, county’s villages, towns and areas while minimising disruption to of outstanding natural beauty local residents and businesses. A including Walton, Weybridge, detailed traffic management plan LEADER helps again Byfleet, West Horsley, Gomshall, is currently being prepared and Last year, the Society took delivery a set of pictures which we had Dorking, Leatherhead, Oxshott, details of road closures will be of a promotional trailer and developed over recent years but Esher, East and West Molesey, as made public well in advance. gazebo – both of which were part needed a generator and screen to well as lapping Box Hill a number One million spectators are funded by Surrey Hills LEADER make the idea come together. We of times. Discussions and site expected to line the route which grants. Early use of these items at have been successful in obtaining investigations are taking place will provide a huge boost to shows and events indicated that LEADER funding to buy these - at the moment to ensure special Surrey's economy. Excitement we would have a greater impact plus an additional generator so protection of Box Hill and to is high within Surrey as we are if we could add extra attractions that we can provide extra power assess how many visitors the area hosting the opening 2 days of the to keep people interested. One to the trailer or power to both can take without endangering the 2012 Games. suggestion which we have trailer and gazebo when we are chalk-loving species to be found at different events. The coming 425205_SCC_Road_Race_OUTLINES_AW.pdf 1 31/03/2011 17:35 followed up has been to supply there. The London Surrey Cycle Classic is planned for 14 August this year power to the trailer so that we season will see these additions put Public sector organisations in the on the same route to test the can show slide shows and other into use so – thank you LEADER. county have formed the Surrey infrastructure ahead of 2012. moving images. We already had www.surrey2012.info The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas. The funding is being made available through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, and is managed by SEEDA in the South East C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Society Notelets Stay in touch. Say “Thank You” around the county. They are or keep just in case. also available from the Tourist Our Surrey Hills Society Notelets Information Office in Guildford are ideal. Each pack contains High Street at £4.50 per pack. 8 different images to reflect the diversity of the Surrey Hills Alternatively, send a cheque for AONB. £5 (to include P&P) to Notelets, Priced just £4, our notelets are Surrey Hills Society, Warren available at events and from Farm Barns, Headley Lane, our trailer or gazebo as we go Mickleham, Dorking, Surrey, out and promote the Society RH5 6DG. Registered Charity number 1125532 www.surreyhillssociety.org 3 A New Way to Promote Your Society The Society takes its trailer or gazebo to as many events as possible but there are Surrey Hills Wood Fair frequent clashes during the fete season with several local events on the same day. We Last October saw the first Surrey Hills The 2011 Surrey Hills Wood Fair will be a don’t have enough volunteers or equipment Wood Fair at Birtley House, Bramley. Initially three day event! Friday 7th October will to attend them all so have to choose those conceived by a Surrey Hills AONB working be a seminar again followed by two days of which give us the greatest exposure. Since we group as a vehicle to promote wood fuel, it public displays on Saturday 8th and Sunday would also like to have a presence at smaller blossomed into an event celebrating all things 9th.