Hi everyone,
Topics this newsletter, with a strong nature theme, are:-
- 5 new trees planted by Coldharbour Lane
- Threat to Trees & Wildlife in Pyrford
- Nature Notes March
- Botanical Place Shop Survey
- Photo Id required to vote in person on 4th May
- Community Meal Free Trial
- Dumping waste on Pyrford Common
5 New Trees planted top of Coldharbour Lane
Pyrford Forum would like to thank Woking Borough Council for agreeing to install 5 new trees on Surrey County Council owned land between Hacketts Lane & Coldharbour Lane as well thanking their agents Serco for planting the trees. This is the first step to creating a small memorial garden on this land.
Unfortunately, during the site visit the lovely oak tree was identified as possibly being diseased. After an arboricultural review, organised by Woking Borough Council, the tree was deemed to be dangerous to the public and was taken down. Below is a are picture of the fallen trunk.
Threat to trees & wildlife in Pyrford
You may have read in the national press recently about the sensitivity of tree felling in places like Sheffield, & Plymouth.
Well, on 6th March, a local resident was concerned to see heavy machinery operating among the trees in Randall’s Field (Arbor Centre side of Upshott Lane). These trees are subject to a 2014 Tree Preservation Order, but this Order allows dead trees/deadwood to be removed sensitively and only after approval by the WBC Tree Officer.
Immediate contact was made with the landowner Burhill Estates and the relevant authorities were also informed. Burhill Estates stopped the work immediately.
Inspection indicated that the existing badger setts had been extensively disturbed, including in two cases heavy tracked machinery driving straight over and, apart from the marked dead trees, some live trees, mainly young ones, had also been chopped down or simply driven over.
The Forum is aware that after a tree fell onto Upshott Lane last year, local residents were concerned about the dead trees, mainly elms, falling again onto Upshott Lane and had contacted Surrey County Council.
The Forum is very concerned about the possible mid to long-term damage to the badgers, the healthy trees and habitat lost and the impact on the ecology of the surrounding area and has written to Burhill estates expressing the Forum’s concerns.
Burhill Estates arranged a meeting on the windy afternoon of 13th March which local wildlife experts, Cllr Peter Graves and Pyrford Forum Chair attended. Ironically one of the dead trees did lose a branch and fell onto Upshott Lane.
The recent PNF Nature Surveys showing the known badger setts in/around Randall’s field and Aviary Field were shared with Burhill Estates.
A more ecologically sensitive way forward has been agreed such that they will:-
- Move brush away from badger setts to create further habitat for reptiles/insects and ground nesting birds.
- Any movement or further clearance of dead wood would be done with manual or quiet electrical hand tools.
- Accept an offer for training of their staff from a local badger expert
Nature Notes (March)
Tree’s and hedgerows are now starting to show signs of life with bud’s appearing and spring flowers everywhere including primroses & daffodils as well as the last of the snowdrops. The trees are in bud and the hedgerows are full of colour as the Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Sallow, Hazel & Crab Apple all blossom.
Early butterflies such as the Brimstone are emerging together with Bumblebees and Ladybirds.
Coots are mating and nesting along the River Wey & Canal as well as the many ponds. Watch out for their frequent fighting to maintain territories or secure a mate.
Also mating are the amphibians with frogspawn in ponds everywhere and toads returning from winter hibernation to inhabit their summer aquatic environment.
Summer migrants are starting to arrive including Skylarks, Chiff-chaff’s, House Martins and Swallows.
Nest building is starting everywhere…
Badger cubs will soon start to emerge for the first time to venture above-ground.
Things to do:-
- Put out nuts & seeds and water for birds especially if the ground is frozen.
- Hedgehogs should now be coming out of hibernation if it’s been a cold winter.
- Why not check your boundaries and where possible create an access point for a hedgehog highway. All that’s required is a small hole 13cm x 13cm in a wall or fence to enable hedgehogs to move between garden to forage etc.
- Make or buy a hedgehog house to put in your garden. Get yours from Woking & District Men’s Shed on wadmshed@gmail.com
- Prune hedges & Trees. Last chance before the nesting season starts in April.
Put up nest boxes. Get yours from Woking & District Men’s Shed on wadmshed@gmail.com
Botanical Place Possible Shop Survey
At the RA AGM on the 6th March, there was a discussion about what shops Retirement Villages Group (RVG) were proposing.
RVG mentioned they have a short survey online where you can have your say. The link is https://forms.office.com/e/xALmutdiCv. The survey will give RVG an idea of Resident’s wishes but they are not guaranteeing these shops will come, as retailers will have to want to be in the new development.
Voting in May 2023 Elections – PHOTO ID REQUIRED
Residents in Woking borough will NEED to show PHOTOGRAPHIC ID to vote in person at this year’s local election on Thursday 4 May 2023.
The new national requirement, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act (link is external), was passed last year and comes into effect for the first time this May. To help residents to prepare in advance, Woking Borough Council is asking residents to check if they already have accepted forms of photo ID. These include:
- a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport
- a UK, EEA or Commonwealth driver's licence
- some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card.
The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
Any resident who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply online for free photographic ID, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. Alternatively, they can contact the council’s elections team to request a paper application form or apply in person at the Civic Offices by making an appointment.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
If you can’t visit a polling station, you can also request a postal ballot. Click here find out the details.
The deadline for new postal vote applications and changing or cancelling existing postal or postal proxy vote arrangements, is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April 2023.
Woking Community meals offer two-day free trial
Woking’s community meals service is currently offering a free two day trial for potential new clients to experience the hassle-free meals and sample the food on offer.
Details can be found at https://www.woking.gov.uk/news/community-meals-offer-two-day-free-trial
Dumping waste on Pyrford Common
Walking on Pyrford Common the other day I came across the notice below:-
The point is well made that garden waste can change the biodiversity of the common.
Pyrford Common was acquired by the Horsell Common Preservation Society (HCPS) in 2006.
On the HCPS website they describe it as
" an area of woodland with some old specimens of oak and sweet chestnut in amongst the silver birch and tall Scots pines. The under storey of holly is quite thick in places. You can hear the songs of many different birds in this varied woodland."
Regards,
Andy Grimshaw
PNF Chairman
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