Common Knowledge

Found Jewelry

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:53:20 +0100

Graeme has found a silver and diamond cross

Working Party Dates

admin — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:42:11 +0100

Keith Bowden has published the working party schedule for 2008-9

http://www.horsellcommon.co.uk/volunteerworkpartieshc.htm

Blue Watch, Green Fingers

admin — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:11:29 +0100

The fire brigade turned out on an unusual training session today, they watered the grass that's been seeded into the grasscrete lattice of the new car park at Monument Road. Green shoots are clearly visible, thanks Neil and Blue Watch at Woking Fire Station.

The Common July

admin — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:48:45 +0100

The July edition of our newsletter is available as a pdf.

TheCommon

Flower Display

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:31:24 +0100

I measure my year passing by things I regularly like to see on the common, from Nighjars to
leaf fall. One of the lesser known displays is the carpet of bog asphodel in Danewell Gutter
and they are full bloom.

When I see this plant later in the season in the upland moors and the highlands it looks
beautiful enough as a smattering across the moor but here it's almost garish, carpeting the
ground and just as pretty close up. An upbeat note to end on!

Young Stroat Lane

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:18:33 +0100

The bridleway from the common over Young Stroat Bridge to the island and then Chertsey Road adjacent to Fairoaks Aerodrome was only formally recognised in about 1970 It runs over a piece of agricultural land that was a land swap in 1959. As such it has only been lightly surfaced. Being alongside the Bourne the water table is near the surface during the winter and some of Bridleway 2 has become very muddy. In co operation with Surrey County Council, the highway authority responsible for maintaining a right of way, and with approval from WBC, HCPS has engaged a contractor to do some improvements. You'll have to forgive the poor quality of my photo, my hands must have been shaking.

I decided to take a leaf from the previous road makers on the common and enhance it a bit. We have quite a few instances of raised tracks across the common, noticeable at grasslands opposite Viggory Lane, where the footpath has gradually migrated south of the original raised track. Traditionally the track was raised by taking soil from either side, to form ditches, and then adding this to the crown of the track, to raise it a bit. I've added a bit of strength by incorporating a "pillow" of shingle inside a wrap of geo textile, this should allow water to freely percolate through without mud getting mixed with the stone. As the area was all low lying we've taken some dredging spoil from alongside the Bourne to make a 150mm cover. We know we may have to add some stone or woodchip as a wear course but will wait and see how the 100m raised track fairs over the coming winter.

One of the reasons I'm keen on this type of approach is that the soil surface remains more natural and less urbanised than other approaches.

I'm expecting comments both good and bad!

Pouring Concrete

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:59:02 +0100

We've had a lot of activity on the common this week, the big project is the new car park in Monument road. We were keen this car park should be maintenance free and as low an impact on the surroundings as possible. Now concrete isn't particularly environmentally friendly but this is a reinforced concrete lattice, so the whole area is not concrete. It is also porous and this caused a bit of debate but with advice from Natural England we plumped for a sub base material that wasn't going to significantly leach alkali metal ions onto adjacent acid heath soil, there was a large cost implication but in the absence of good data we agreed the normal sub base used locally, limestone type one MOT, wasn't worth the risk even though our granite sub base came from further afield.

Today Biker contractors poured the half of the concrete grid.

Nightjar Walk

admin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:15:54 +0100

Friday June 20th at 8.30 pm.

Experienced RSPB member Simon Lumsden led 10 enthusisasts to the areas North of the Sandy track in weather that was constantly threatening to rain but we were lucky and had our first sighting of nightjar in flight whilst it was still quite light. In total we identified at least three males churring and saw a pair courting with the male calling in flight. Some of the better equipped were able to see one male churring from a tree some 75 metres away.

On the walk in Simon was able to point out a Dartford Warbler and and a Stonechat, during the walk back we saw, and some heard, a woodcock.

Definitely a satisfying and successfull outing, Thankyou Simon!

Protective Fencing

admin — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:31:04 +0100

Today several members of committee plus Graeme and Mike from Anthony's rapidly set up the Heras fencing around the new car park, this is both for the safety of the public whilst work is in progress and to protect the new surface as it sets.

Keith and I stayed on and raked off the loose organic material that had accumulated on the site since it was cleared

Setting Out

admin — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:03:33 +0100

We're still slowly making progress with the new car park in Monument Road.

Here is a picture of Lee setting out the car park by simple triangulation with tapes, today.

We hope to have the bellmouth for the entrance installed mid June.

Next job to sweep the cones and debris ready for the sub base!

May Fayre

Keith — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:36:16 +0100

We had a successful day on Wheatsheaf Green, even being able to entertain the mayor and mayoress at our stand.

Penny and Keith and his wife Nicole enrolled both full members and new volunteers for next season's working parties on Horsell Common.

Ben Wood, who we hosted on our stand, vied for custom too, with his campaign to make Horsell nonbiodegradable plastic bag free. In addition to his range of jute bags. He was also showing two different types of compostable bag, one corn starch and one of modified polythene, which to a lay person looked no different from the plastic bags that we are used to from supermarket check outs.

Heath Week Walk

admin — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:14:32 +0100

Thursday 29 May: 2pm – 3.30pm.
Meet at Six Crossroads car park

Summer Stroll on Horsell Common

Enjoy an afternoon wander exploring Horsell Common with Mike Coates from
the RSPB. Find out how heaths came about, and how they are looked after
today. Dogs on leads please. Further information: 01252 795632.

Heath Week

admin — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:40:49 +0100

HEATH WEEK 2008

A week of fun activities for all the family on Surrey’s heaths

24 May – 1 June

At the end of May Surrey’s heaths start to flourish with purple heather blossom and

buzz with wildlife including butterflies, dragonflies, moths and rare birds. Heath Week

has been organised to encourage everyone to get out and enjoy Surrey’s rare and

often over-looked landscape. Events include guided walks exploring some of the

county’s wildest areas where you can listen out for the eerie sound of the nightjar at

dusk. There will be a chance to meet cattle grazing heaths for conservation, and you

can keep the kids entertained handling lizards and snakes, hunting for bugs, and

discovering moths coming out to feed after dark.

There are events to suit a range of ages and different interests, so whether you are a

budding wildlife photographer, have an interest in archaeology or natural history, or

just love being out in the countryside, there will be something for you. Heath Week

runs from Saturday 24 May to Sunday 1 June, coinciding with many schools’ summer

half term.

“Lowland heaths have been disappearing at an alarming rate in England and

mainland Europe over the last 200 years, but in Surrey we’re working hard to protect

the remarkable areas that remain,” said Dr Rob McGibbon, manager of the Surrey

Heathland Project. “Our heaths are a real asset. They are a refuge for rare and

fascinating wildlife including sand lizards, woodlarks and tiger beetles. They also

provide a distinctive and often beautiful landscape for people to enjoy.”

Events are taking place on many of the heaths around the county, from the large

National Nature Reserves at Thursley and Chobham Common, to the smaller or

lesser-known heaths including Horsell Common, Reigate Heath and Whitmoor

Common. The week includes events run by the Surrey Heathland Project and a wide

range of partners including the Surrey Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Natural England.

For the full programme of events including times and contact details, visit the Surrey

Heathland Project website: www.surreyheathlandproject.org.uk

or call 020 8541 9149.

The Surrey Heathland Project carries out work to restore and manage heathland in

Surrey and part of Berkshire, with support and funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund

and partners including the RSPB, Natural England and Surrey County Council.

Globally, lowland heathland is now more rare than rainforest. The UK holds 20% of

the world’s lowland heathland and an important proportion of this is in Surrey.

However, since 1800 over four fifths of Surrey’s heathland has been lost. Surrey’s

heaths are home to locally rare species such as the silver-studded blue butterfly and

nightjar, and nationally rare species including the sand lizard and woodlark.

If you would like more information, please contact Christina Smith, Surrey Heathland

Project Officer:

Tel: 020 8541 9149

Fax: 01483 579740

Email: christina.smith@surreycc.gov.uk

Web: www.surreyheathlandproject.org.uk

Address: Surrey Heathland Project, 42 Portsmouth Road, Guildford GU2 4DZ

Shaggy Moos

admin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:28:09 +0000

GRAZING CATTLE ON GRASSLANDS COMMON

Once again, as part of our management of lowland heathland, we are introducing cattle on
to Grasslands Common between the months of April and September. The cattle we are
using this year are 6 Highland Steers or Longhorns. (They are also known as Shaggy Moos
in their native Scotland!)

Highlands are known as a hardy breed (most likely due to the rugged nature of their native
Scottish Highlands) and eat plants that other cattle avoid, which makes them ideal for
conservation grazing of heathland and removing unwanted saplings and scrub.

The animals are unlikely to pay too much attention to visitors, but please do observe the
countryside code and be cautious whenever they are nearby. Walk around the cattle, not
through them.

Annual General Meeting

admin — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:59:21 +0000

The AGM will be held on 24th of April 2008

Draft Financial Report

admin — Fri, 11 May 2007 08:17:10 +0100

A copy of the financial report as submitted to the AGM is available online:

http://www.horsellcommon.org.uk/HCPSreport.html

Crowfoot in flower

admin — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:24:05 +0000

It has been confirmed that the Three Lobed Water Crowfoot has been found in the Warren Pond. This plant is almost certainly the rare hybrid variety, Bill pugh has taken some pictures.
Picture1
Picture2

Warren Pond

John — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:38:14 +0000

Here's a photo taken from a 56' mastcam on 15th November, showing the Autumn colours and Bill standing in front of a much-improved pond since the recent works have been undertaken there.

Can you identify this scene?

admin — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 17:42:10 +0100

We have received a request, from the Surrey Heathland Project, to identify this scene. Have you any ideas? Beware the image is large to keep the detail.

The Warren Pond story in pictures

admin — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 19:49:09 +0100

Have a look in the photo section to see a pictorial sequence of work to enhance Warren Pond to encourage a rare member of the buttercup family.