TASK ROUND UP

2010 is the UN's Year of Biodiversity.

It's also the year we will celebrate our 25th birthday, of which more details will follow after the AGM.

So how have we done over the winter & spring, despite all the snow and rain.

BRIDGEHAM WOOD

Our famed Christmas task saw the completion of some 9 years of coppice restoration in this lovely ancient woodland owned by the Swains down in Smallfield. Over the years the Group has specialised in bringing back neglected coppices to a state that they can be taken on by commercial cutters, so viably maintaining this centuries old practice. Bridgeham is no different, and our job is done here, and Ian has undertaken the first 'commercial cut' of the first area we restored. So it was both a celebration of yet another successful year for the Group, but also a sad day. The Christmas task itself was blessed with snow, which challenged many of you to get there. For those that did, we were greeted with a Narnia type scene, not to mention the gourmet spit roast of local South Down lamb & Sussex pork. Crackling to die for this year (apologies to the veggies), our mulled red grape juice bubbling away and a surfit of all kinds of homemade goodies to pig out on. A special thanks to Vicky (Ian's Mum) for all those lovely cakes - one of the many reasons we shall miss working regularly in Bridgeham. Fear not if you think no more coppicing, we have a number of irons in the fire to see where we go in the autumn, but if you know of a wood let us know and we'll evaluate where our resources are best directed to maximise the benefit. One of the sites we could return to, and where we did 11 years of coppicing is Felland Copse, on the south side of Earslwood Common. However, Reigate & Banstead Council inform us that commercial coppicing will start this winter, so we're not needed and at last the good work we did is being followed up on.

NUTFIELD MARSH

We've slowly increased our tasks here over time as this splendid wetland nature reserve for the Surrey Wildlife Trust takes shape (see our website down loads for the leaflet). This is essentially divided into the seasonally flooded grassland of the Moors which was formally opened last May, Spynes Mere lakes, Holmethorpe Lagoons coming as part of the Watercolour housing development, and Mercers West the latest restored mineral site from Sibelco. This winter has seen more flooding than ever, and the waterfowl are benefiting from it. Many of you have splashed your way to the work sites! We've spent alot of our time this winter concentrating of the interface between the Moors and Holmethope lagoons, to marry the two in now the footpath has been diverted. This has involved finishing the job to our/Wildlife Trust standards that Linden Homes contractors have done, felling unwanted pines from the scrub belt, and collecting up loose & floating invasive Crassula. On the Moors, we've burnt up the previous cuts of willow regeneration and cleared the Redhill Brook of any debris both natural and manmade! Earlier we'd concentrated on the typha (greater reedmace) removal from the pools to stop this plant taking over, including what is becoming a regular fixture - a corporate day for Black & Veatch staff, an engineering company in Redhill. We have more typha pulling on the agenda, but the good news is that we're slowly getting it to manageable proportions. Talking of burn up's we did get a visit from the Fire Brigade, when working on Holmethorpe lagoons. Clearly a false or malicious call out, but it had its value. Apart from the Fire Chief assessing our procedures as 'immaculate', it did highlight that we actually needed an exemption certificate to burn under new regulations (that BTCV should have advised us on?). Anyrate we now have the necessary piece of paper that allows us to burn, as well as copies to operate under both Reigate & Banstead & Wildlife Trust certifications! Up at Spynes, we've willow cleared the ephemeral pools, and the winter waterfowl have really appreciated the island work we did last summer, creating loafing and sheltering areas. Sibelco have stripped the 'beach' area of the moss and scraped the sandface to make it more attractive to bare ground species - particularly the six nationally rare solitary bee & wasp species (Hymenoptera) we have here. The frontage hedge on Bletchingley Road has now been completely laid by the Surrey Hedge-laying Society, and the Wildlife Trust have now successfully removed the gypsy horses, having sadly to resort to formal bailiff action and impound them. This should now allow our own grazing and associated works to follow on. We were in action on our toad crossing by Spynes, although with the wintry weather, it was just like turning the clocks back on how crossings used to be. A rush in mid march rather than a long draw out affair starting in January and going on off into mid April. This year 17 of us helped 304 toads across the road, with only 31 splats, which shows the value of the crossing. We also had the privilege of a Surrey Mirror newspaper reporter embedded with us to see how it was done, and then a big piece in the paper on the issue of toads & her experience. Common newts, also put in an appearance but no frogs this year. Our orchard, opposite Chilmead Farm, is not part of the reserve area, but we did some work there over the winter. However a change in personnel at Biffa’s landfill site, who own the orchard, has meant we postponed matters until next winter. However, a number of us enjoyed a crop of traditional local varieties! We also did our annual task on the Inn on the Pond pond in January, keeping this great crested newt breeding waterbody in tip top order. We were treated to refreshing lunchtime soup and after task beer by the pub. Many thanks! Simon is also doing a series of themed guided walks for Inn over the summer & autumn.

REDHILL COMMON

We returned to this popular site over the winter to continue our clearance work around the south side of the ponds, opening it out to light. We received lots of constructive and supportive comments from the public, but unfortunately a persistent complainant to the Council wanted to know how much carbon our activities cutting trees down was putting into the atmosphere, whilst a resident asked Simon exactly the same question from his idling 4x4. Sums up the education and awareness issue still to be tackled in society. The net result was that, having completed our work around the pond, we aborted the next stage and went to Petridgewood Common instead. We know alot of residents were disappointed about this, but we hope to be back in the autumn.

PETRIDGEWOOD COMMON

This is a Reigate & Banstead owned common, and SNCI grassland habitat that is scrubbing up. We've worked here before, and this time we teamed up with Salfords Cricket Club to clear the encroaching tree & scrub cover around the cricket field & club house. Sadly, although we followed the agreed plan with both the cricket club and Council, the cricket club chose to privately complain to the Council that we’d cut too much down and it took quite an effort by Simon to get the Council to tell the cricket club that it was all in accordance with the agreed plan. We hope to be back to carry on in the autumn, but it does highlight the need for a long term management plan for the site. We also had the support of the Grammar School Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) students on one day, and they also brought a Surrey Mirror reporter, so we got yet more media coverage! Our work with the Grammar School is going very well. Essentially we lay on a task a term for them, tailored to meet their needs for the Bronze level. The Grammar School has also seen action with us on Redhill Common, Reigate Heath and the Marsh so far. Three tasks needed, and then if students wish to progress to Silver & Gold, they can join us on our regular tasks. So we've welcomed Daniel, Alex, Ben, Sam, Erin & Jennifer.

PRIORY PARK LAKE

We spent alot of time last summer, planting out the lake as part of Reigate & Banstead's multi million pound park restoration. We did a single maintenance task over the winter, which was much needed as unfortunately the Council has failed to do the regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the robustness of the planting pen netting. Where we used the contractors netting, this has been particularly vulnerable to both deliberate vandalism, as well as weather/waterfowl damage - reflecting our view that it was not fit for purpose in the first place. All our own netting pens have held intact! Much of our planting has nevertheless survived and a particular joy was to see the yellow flowers of marsh marigold in early spring. We'll be returning to complete and top up the planting later in the year. The Council need also to get to grips properly with both the issue of excessive duck feeding and dog worrying of waterfowl. The new signage is to be welcomed but that does need backing with action. Particular thanks to Richard & Eleanor, Reigate & Banstead's new Rangers, who came out with us. We have also received thanks from the Council Portfolio holder and Senior Staff for our work on the lake, with special praise for our winter task when it appears we were one of the few groups in Surrey not to abort due to the weather. Well, what do they expect? We are Reigate Area Conservation Volunteers, with a proud reputation, standards and tradition to observe!

EARLSWOOD LAKES

Like the lake in the Priory we've been replanting the lakes here as part of Reigate & Banstead's initiative on this SNCI and LNR. Working with the Fishing Club, we're created a number of planting pens, and this time with the help of Ian Wright & his Rangers we did a retrieval exercise of plants from Wire Mill lake at New Chapel (having checked for alien species, etc first) and transfer to Earslwood. We may well be repeating this exercise later during 2010.

BUCKLAND POND

Our traditional annual maintenance event on this high profile and picturesque pond saw a splendid turn out with the villagers, combating the excesses of two invasive plants Crassula helmsii and Parrots feather. The latter we are well on the way to exterminating, but the former we are perhaps resigned to being only able to keep under control.

REIGATE HEATH

We should have celebrated 20 years of conservation work on this important SSSI and LNR last November. 20 years in which we have helped turned round the site from a classification of 'unfavourable declining' to 'favourable' management status by Natural England. It is particularly sad therefore that as you all know, Simon resigned from the Steering Group and we suspended our tasks on the Heath in April 2009, following our concerns over clear and persist breaches of the rules & protocol not being addressed, despite raising these repeatedly. We either remained complicit with the breaches or took a stand on them. We've been embarrassed at the amount of public support we've had from all kinds of individuals, but particular thanks must go to both the Reigate Society and the Friends of Reigate Heath, both of whom organisationally share our concerns. At last our concerns are now being addressed, having had to take it to Portfolio holder level. We retain a desire to return to the Heath, and hope that we could be back by the autumn, but we've had promises before and will see whether words translate into actual action. The Heath is an important example of how sometimes, we do have to take what appears to be a negative step in order to secure the longer term benefit. We do regret having to have taken the stance we have, as we always seek to use the systems in place first to secure an outcome. It is when these systems fail or are not being observed that we have to step outside the system and make our stand. The Management Plan for next 5 years is now being prepared and there will be consultation on it over the summer. In our absence, the Council has received a 250 signature petition requesting no more trees are cut down on the Heath. Now where's that 500 signature petition that says heathland needs restoring.....

MEMBERSHIP

Attached is you membership renewal slip. Please do renew and please enrol others. The Group is in a very healthy position, and we'd like to push things to the next level with more members. The fee goes to covering the running cost of the Group, tools repairs...or to bride you Chocolate biscuits on task!! Equally, the more email addresses we have the easier, quicker and cheaper it is to communicate with you all. Printable Membership Form

POSTCODES

You'll note on the task prog that we've now added postcodes to the meeting places at the request of those of you who can't us grid refs or navigate, and have sat navs instead. Mind you whether they're right and will lead you to the local public conveniences, phone box, etc instead.... only you will find out!!!

AGM & NEW COMMITTEE

With our AGM coming up in July, we'd like to expand the membership of our Committee and bring in new blood. So please do think about, if you might be able to help. The emphasis is on doing things not paperwork.

Finally, See you on task!