The North Guildford Food Bank
Who do we serve and where is the Food Bank?
If you shop at Sainsbury’s in Burpham you may have noticed the collection point for The North Guildford Food Bank inside the store. Although we are based at St Clare’s Church in Park Barn, the Food Bank’s clients come from all over the Guildford area including Burpham and Merrow. We cannot provide this service without your generosity; whether that is a donation of a tin of soup, some cereal, nappies or indeed a financial donation through our web-site: northguildfordfoodbank.co.uk
Clients are referred to the Food Bank from many sources including GPs, Guildford Borough Council, Home School Link Workers, Citizens Advice Bureau and Guildford Action. Unemployment is the biggest reason for a referral followed by debt, benefit delay, sickness, cost of living and low income. Clients come to us to receive a generous package tailored to their household that includes food, toiletries, household cleaning products, dog and cat food (if needed) and sanitary items. We also keep additional foodstuffs for clients with specific dietary needs.
Where do our supplies come from?
Help comes from far and wide thankfully. Individuals donate food. Streets come together to raise funds or drop off bags of groceries. Businesses (including Waitrose and Pets at Home where donations can also be made), schools and local clubs also help. Regular donations from Guildford Lions enable us to provide fresh fruit and vegetables. Cash donations mean we can buy and give out milk, cheese, butter and bread as well as fuel vouchers for clients with pre-payment gas or electricity meters. Guildford Borough Council delivers to housebound clients.
Burpham (and Guildford) is blessed with wonderful friends, clubs, churches, schools, businesses and neighbours who all look out for those who find themselves in need. And then we have around 90 incredible volunteers.
What happens to items you leave in the Food Bank donation point in Sainsbury’s?
Each Monday our volunteers pick up the donations, taking the stock to St. Clare’s Church. The new stock is then dated, sorted and put away in our storeroom ready for our volunteer packers.
In preparation for the sessions, our volunteers pack parcels tailoring each to the client’s specific needs and preferences (for example vegetarian, low-sugar, gluten-free and so on) that are forwarded to us by the client’s referrer.
The Food Bank is open each week on Tues (1pm-2pm), Wed (9.30am-10.30am) and Fri (5.30pm-6.30pm). At these times clients collect their parcels and can also spend time in our free café chatting to volunteers. Many clients find themselves isolated and this friendship and support can be just as valuable as the food. It is also an opportunity to tell the clients about other services and help that is available to them from so many different groups in Guildford.
We are sometimes asked about clients’ reactions when they receive their packages. Clients are immensely grateful to our volunteers and of the compassion and generosity of those who have made donations. It is not uncommon for clients to become emotional when they receive their parcels. Some who have benefited from the food bank subsequently find themselves in better circumstances and go on to donate items themselves. It can be difficult to visualise the impact you are having on peoples’ lives when you place your donated items in the collection boxes. Please take it from us that you are doing something very special indeed.
Thank you, Burpham!
Local councillors’ update: September 2023
September & October bi-monthly update from local councillors George Potter and Jane Tyson.
Since our last update we’ve been working hard on local issues and continuing to hold our regular drop-in sessions where people can come to speak to us on the first Saturday of every month at (or outside) Burpham Bowling Club. Please get in touch with us if there are any issues we can help with!
Financial challenges facing Guildford Borough Council
In July the council passed a special budget in order to deal with financial difficulties caused by high inflation and rising interest rates on the council’s borrowing. The result of these financial pressures is that the council will have to make £18 million of savings over the next three years to balance the books, or else face having to effectively declare itself bankrupt. The biggest cause of the problem is high-interest rates, as previous administrations committed to borrowing large amounts of money to fund major capital projects, and the cost of repaying these loans accounts for around 80% of our budget gap. The situation has been made worse by years of government funding cuts.
The new Lib Dem administration has now imposed strict financial controls and set up a dedicated financial taskforce, and we will be looking very carefully at all of the council’s spending, borrowing and properties to find ways to cut costs, raise revenue and sell assets to restore sound and prudent finances. However, while we will have to make difficult decisions, the administration has been very clear that our priority has to be protecting the public services that people rely on, and, wherever possible, we will be looking to deliver services differently rather than just cutting them.
Proposed development for Gosden Hill
Martin Grant Homes have announced their intention to submit a planning application for the Gosden Hill Site on the edge of Burpham. The Burpham Neighbourhood Forum and Burpham Community Association will be organising an event this autumn to inform people about this and other planning issues, but in the meantime the developer has setup a website where you can register to be notified when the public consultation starts on the scheme: GosdenHill.co.uk
North Street application
A new planning application for the North Street re-development scheme has been received by the council and is now open for public comment. We don’t have the space here to give a proper update on it, so we have written a Frequently Asked Questions about the scheme on our website instead: GuildfordLibDems.org.uk/NorthStreetFAQs
Riverside Nature Reserve
Following resident concerns about the quality of work being done on footpaths at the nature reserve, the council has dismissed the contractors who were working on the project. The council has now crushed and relaid the stone footpaths to make them more accessible, and will be adding a gravel layer to provide a smoother finish.
Getting in touch with us
If there are any particular issues you’d like to discuss with us then please email us at george.potter@guildford.gov.uk and jane.tyson@guildford.gov.uk and we will be happy to do all we can to help.
Winning Schools Announced in Guildford Schools in Bloom
Guildford in Bloom held its Schools in Bloom Awards at Edwins Garden Centre in Clandon and Freemantles School walked away with an armful of awards, including a Gold Award for their Garden; Best Interpretation of the Theme (For King and Countryside) and Overall Winner of the 2023 Competition.
The event included a talk from Guildford Beekeepers Association with lots of props and photos which kept the children (and adults) enthralled. Then they had a chance to get their hands dirty by potting up some plants with Edwins Garden Centre staff which they could take home.
Each school won a book and a certificate with the overall winner getting a £50 voucher to spend on school gardening equipment, a visit to their school by the outreach team at RHS Garden Wisley, and a class visit to Guildford Beekeepers.
Judges Shirley West and Caroline Coleman visited 12 schools in total, ranging from nursery and pre-prep through to junior schools and special schools. The aim of Schools in Bloom is to get young children involved in gardening for both education and wellbeing. The children have grown flowers and food and worked to the theme of ‘For King and Countryside’ – this required them to choose 5 out of a list of 10 things to include in the garden to encourage and protect wildlife – from bug hotels to being part of a hedgehog corridor to growing nectar rich plants, as well as decorating for the Kings coronation.
Judges Shirley West and Caroline Coleman said:
“The schools we have judged have been amazing considering how tough it is for them right now. Our twilight session earlier this year brought schools to the competition who had not entered before.
We chose Freemantles School as the overall winner because they surpassed our expectations in every area we asked for. Care for wildlife was outstanding and the vegetables patches were so well watered and looked after as were the flowers.
The input from the teachers with the children just shone out with love for their garden and the icing on the cake was their superb interpretation of the theme.”
Carla and Chloe Lead Assistants, at The HEART at Freemantles – the outdoor learning department said:
“We are thrilled at the news that our school has won Guildford in Bloom. This means so much to our wonderful students. They have worked so hard to create wildlife friendly spaces as well as areas in line with this year’s theme ‘For King and Countryside’. Freemantles is a specialist school for children and young people with Autism. We have 225 students ranging from ages 4-19 who benefit from our outdoor area. Our outdoor space is used in numerous ways from teaching horticulture, growing for our catering sessions and used for wellbeing.”
Paul Spooner, Chairman of Guildford in Bloom said: “The Schools in Bloom awards are a real highlight of our year. Seeing the joy on the children’s faces when they get an award and hearing them talk so enthusiastically about their gardens is heartwarming.
Our Schools Award event is very special thanks to the Guildford Beekeepers Association who engaged the children with a great talk on bees. Of course it wouldn’t happen without the tremendous support we receive from Lee at Edwins Garden Centre – the children love potting up the plants to take home – a very valuable and generous gesture from Edwins that is very much appreciated.
Our thanks to all schools that have taken part and the judges feedback recognises the enthusiasm and efforts of all involved at every school. I would like to thank all involved with GiB and particularly the judges for visiting each school. GiB would not be as successful as it is without the support of sponsors and we would like to thank Chapters Financial and Unigold 2000 Ltd, our Platinum Sponsors, who along with all of our sponsors ensure we can continue to run the School Competition.”
The Schools in Bloom Award in an integral part of Guildford in Bloom and ensures that the love of gardening and caring for wildlife is firmly planted in the future generation.
The main Guildford in Bloom competition has now closed for entries, and judges are already out and about judging everything from front gardens to nature projects – winners of the main competition will be announced in September.
Further information on Guildford in Bloom can be found at www.guildfordinbloom.com
Sight For Surrey Raffle Raises £6,600
Sight For Surrey Centenary Raffle Raises £6,600
The new CEO of Sight for Surrey, Clare Burgess, drew the 22 winning tickets of the charity’s Centenary Raffle, alongside Sight for Surrey’s retiring Chief Executive, Bob Hughes.
The raffle raised £6,600 for the charity that supports people in Surrey with a sight and or hearing loss.
Clare Burgess, previously CEO of Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, took over the reins from Bob Hughes, who led the charity for nearly 10 years. First prize was £250, 2nd prize an afternoon tea at the beautiful Wotton House, Dorking and 3rd prize was a £50 voucher for a delicious Indian meal at Chatora Restaurant – all winners have been contacted with the good news!
Clare Burgess, CEO of Sight for Surrey said, “our Centenary Raffle has raised a significant amount of money for Sight for Surrey, and we thank everyone that has sold tickets to family and friends, or bought tickets themselves. Every penny raised will go towards providing help and support to people in Surrey with a sensory loss.”
Sight for Surrey is a charity that supports people who are blind, vision impaired, Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing in Surrey and celebrated their Centenary in 2022. The charity are looking for schools, clubs and individuals to join them in raising funds for the charity in their 101st year. If you would like to take part in a fundraising challenge then please contact fundraising@sightforsurrey.org.uk
Mother’s Day at Mandira’s Kitchen
Mandira’s Kitchen makes celebrating Mother’s Day deliciously different.
Mothering Sunday falls on 19 March 2023 and families are planning how to spend the day with Mum to thank her for all she does for her family.
Mandira’s Kitchen invites you to a sumptuous Afternoon Tea served on their delightful patio overlooking the Silent Pool or you can order a family feast for 4 people that can be delivered to your door.
The Mother’s Day Family Feast is available as classic or vegetarian and includes some of their favourite Supper Club dishes; crispy samosas, Methi Chicken or Paneer, Jaipur Alu (baby potatoes simmered in spices) and Saffron Pulau – finished with Gulab Jamun and Carrot Halwa. Or choose the Biriyani and Bubbles feast.
For those who want to take Mum on a day out, why not book a slot (spaces limited) on either Saturday 18 or Sunday 19 March to have Afternoon Tea on the MK Patio, overlooking the Silent Pool. Set in the Surrey Hills the surrounding area is a ideal for a family walk after an afternoon tea full of Indian street food treats such as: An MK Cocktail on arrival; spinach and onion pakoras; lamb or vegetable sliders; Coronation Chicken mini pittas; Mini Papri Chaat; Khati Rolls; Spiced Cheese scones with tomato and date chutney; Rose Scones with Cardamon clotted cream; and more.
Full details of the menus can be found on the Mandira’s Kitchen website www.mandiraskitchen.com/collections/mothers-day In addition to the Mother’s Day food you will also find a wide range of gifts and tableware including Chutney sets with serving dishes, Chai tea pot and glasses and many more dishes and tableware to make the perfect gift. MK also has a range of vouchers for cookery lessons, spice tours and general spend on the website.
Mandira Sarkar, owner and founder of Mandira’s Kitchen says: “This Mother’s Day we want people to travel with us to a bygone era – my childhood amongst emerald tea bushes and blazing bougainvillea for the most amazing afternoon tea with an Indian twist. The menu reflects a gentler time and an unhurried pace – in this menu are a few of my favourites which I hope will also become yours and help you celebrate with mum.”
“This Mother’s Day we want people to travel with us to a bygone era – my childhood amongst emerald tea bushes and blazing bougainvillea…”
Of course, Mandira’s Kitchen will cater for any dietary restrictions and you can discuss your individual needs by emailing orders@mandiraskitchen.com
All items can be ordered online from www.mandiraskitchen.com and either collected from Mandira’s Kitchen at The Silent Pool Guildford or delivered to any UK Mainland address by Wednesday 15 March ready to eat over the weekend. All food arrives frozen and can be kept in the fridge for 48 hours or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Dishes can be heated in the microwave in 4 minutes, or in the oven. Full details www.mandiraskitchen.com/collections/mothers-day
‘Knife Angel’ visits Guildford Cathedral
Above: Julie Sommerville, whose son Daniel died after an altercation which led to his death in 2015, has been instrumental in bringing the Knife Angel to Surrey. [Photo by Andy Newbold Photography]
The mother of a young man who fell victim to knife crime in Guildford is welcoming the visit of the Knife Angel – ‘The National Monument Against Violence & Aggression’ to the County of Surrey on the 1st of March.
Julie Sommerville, whose son Daniel died after an altercation which led to his death in 2015, has been instrumental in bringing the Knife Angel to Surrey where it will stand outside Guildford Cathedral throughout March with a series of events planned to raise awareness of the effects of knife crime and domestic violence.
The 27ft (8.2m) tall contemporary sculpture, made up of 100,000 knives, confiscated by Police forces across the UK, was created by the artist Alfie Bradley and the British Ironworks Centre based in Oswestry, Shropshire.
Since 2018, it has been touring the country to highlight knife crime in the United Kingdom and educate young people on the harmful effect violent behaviour can have on their communities. Surrey is considered to be one of the safest places to live in the UK however crime of this type does not respect county boundaries and its thought-provoking message will be a powerful way to remind people that such crimes affect not just the families of victims but also the wider community.
“I am delighted that the UK National Youth Anti-Violence Tour will be coming to Surrey and the centrepiece, the Knife Angel, will be on display at Guildford Cathedral.”
The Very Reverend Dianna Gwilliams
Surrey Police, Detective Superintendent Becky Molyneux said: “We are pleased to be supporting Guildford Cathedral as they host the Knife Angel this March. We’re committed to tackling serious violence and aggression in our communities and this project will help further important conversations, discussing why people become involved in violent crimes. We would encourage the public to continue to drop off their dangerous or unwanted knives and blades at our police front counters across Surrey.”
As well as Surrey Police, the project is being supported by the High Sheriff of Surrey, the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Guildford Borough Council, charities including ‘the Matrix Trust’ and ‘Your Sanctuary’ and pupils from Christ’s College, Guildford who have produced an introductory video.
The Dean of Guildford, The Very Reverend Dianna Gwilliams explains, “I am delighted that the UK National Youth Anti-Violence Tour will be coming to Surrey and the centrepiece, the Knife Angel, will be on display at Guildford Cathedral. We are working with many partners, guided by young people of our community, to provide opportunities to learn more about the effects of aggression and violence among all sections of the community and to address some of the key concerns of the young people in our County, for example Domestic Violence, County Lines, bullying and violence against girls and women. The month of March provides an opportunity to work together to make the communities of Surrey even safer.”
Guildford resident – Julie, mum to three other children said; “Daniel was just 24 when he was taken from us in such a terrible way. It devastated our family and my three other children who still struggle to accept what happened to their brother. He was a caring, loving son, would help anyone, and like all young people his age, had dreams and aspirations. The day he died, Dan was about to move into his own home – one minute we were helping his move his stuff in, the next we were clearing it out.”
Daniel was just 24 when he was taken from us in such a terrible way. It devastated our family and my three other children who still struggle to accept what happened to their brother.
“The incident was an altercation in Guildford, during which if a knife had not been available to be used in the heat of the moment would not have resulted in Daniel’s death. The message I am trying to get across is to not carry weapons – so if situations arise the opportunity is not likely to be fatal leading to families being destroyed – on both sides.”
“The ripple effect of what happened to Dan was obviously big. I’ve met a lot of lovely people as I am with quite a lot of groups mainly on social media, these people have all set up groups because of what happened to their family members and obviously I can relate to them. They all want the same thing, to get awareness out there – you see these sorts of things on the news and a lot of people don’t always take any notice, it is not until something tragic happens to you that you realise the consequences involved. We once took part in a scene in Eastenders – after a storyline involving a knife crime the producers wanted real families to take part in the funeral scene, we even held photos of our loved ones as we were filmed.”
“I went up to see the Knife Angel at the British Ironwork Centre where it was made by Alfie and we, like other families, were invited to include Dan’s name on one of the knives used in the sculpture. At the time they were doing a petition to get the Angel somewhere in London when finished but that did not happen, so it was then decided to tour it around the country. I saw other towns hosting and I wanted it to come to my town, it’s about awareness and education, it’s not just a statue it’s a very visual and powerful statement.”
Julie will bravely be speaking at the launch of the Knife Angel visit at the Cathedral on March 1st and is hoping that parents will be more vigilant and protect their children by talking to them about how removing the opportunity could save their lives. She also hopes that the children themselves will learn from the events put on throughout March and not only think twice about arming themselves when going out but also about not letting violence or aggression generally play a part in their lives.
“I do this because if sharing my story makes someone think twice about carrying a knife with them and if that potentially saves a life then It is worth telling people – I don’t want anyone ever to have to go through what I went through, so in Daniel’s name I want to raise awareness – Dan has not got a voice anymore, so I am his voice”
“I do this because if sharing my story makes someone think twice about carrying a knife with them and if that potentially saves a life then It is worth telling people…”
Julie Sommerville
Thanks to the support so far from local businesses, individuals and organisations, the Knife Angel will take its place in front of the iconic cathedral and can be visited at any time during March.
There will be talks and events centred around the monument, and Charities are being invited to highlight their work alongside it – follow the @kniveangelguildford social media pages to find out how, also to share your photos and comments during March. There is still time to sponsor the visit with a range of benefits included or donate money to help pay for security (the biggest cost), transport and coach trips for schools to attend the various workshops.
For more information and how you can help or donate please contact Nicola Pratt, Head of Development at Guildford Cathedral on 01483 547 884 or visit headofdevelopment@guildford-cathedral.org
Church Office: 01483 547 860
www.guildford-cathedral.org
Burpham Pages: A resource for the whole community
The aim of Burpham Pages has always been to be ‘community focussed’ and with the relaunch of the magazine and its website back in September 2018 (now having surpassed our 100th issue since 2006) we have tried to focus on even more facets of Burpham life, to be as useful as possible to the local community and immediate surrounding areas.
We’ve done this by concentrating on 4 specific sectors of the local community: residents, business, ‘community infrastructure’ and organisations & associations.
For residents we hope Burpham Pages informs and entertains around subjects that concern those living in the village. Whilst remaining politically neutral, providing some news on current issues in and around the area as well as high-lighting local affairs that might affect life locally, such as the roadworks on London Road or the ‘Local Plan’. We also hope that the magazine and the website are a useful resource for those looking for local trades and services via their ads or the online Business Directory or events happening in the area. Obviously, in each case we are reliant on those trades and services placing an ad or the organisers of the events informing us of their plans.
For local businesses the magazine offers an effective conduit by which they can advertise their services to the entire community (through the 3,200 copies we distribute every 2 months) and beyond (via the website). Community magazines have been proved to be one of the most effective mediums for advertising local trades and services as they offer credibility, a resource that is trusted and local people are supportive of local business. We are often asked to recommend local trades and whilst we can’t single out any particular advertiser, we can point enquirers towards the magazine or the online Business Directory (where locals can leave reviews, and we encourage them to, of suppliers that they have used).
‘Community infrastructure’, for us, incorporates Burpham Church, roads and public transport plus facilities to support walking and cycling, our flood defences, the local schools (Burpham Primary School and George Abbot School), medical facilities, sporting, recreation and leisure facilities (e.g. the varied sports clubs using Sutherland Memorial Park) and open spaces (e.g. Sutherland Memorial Park and the Riverside Nature Reserve). These are all an important part of Burpham life and we aim to give them a voice through the magazine and online wherever possible.
And finally, we also aim to highlight the work of the organisations and associations, for example the Burpham Community Association and the Neighbourhood Forum, who do so much to ensure that life in Burpham continues in a way that is beneficial and enjoyable by all that live here.
We do hope you enjoy Burpham Pages and find it useful. Please do engage with us, let us know what you see going on in Burpham, advertise your services and let us know about your events. We are all a part of this community; we all have something offer.
New Year weight-loss tips!
With every new year comes resolutions – one of the most common being to lose weight. So if you’re looking to kick-start your 2019 with a lasting change a Guildford slimming expert is sharing her top tips to make your New Year weight-loss resolutions a reality – and all without giving up your favourite foods!
Nicky Exell who runs a Slimming World group in Guildford and has been a Consultant with Slimming World for 6 years, says: “With the rise of trendy fad diets, people are often seduced by the promise of fast weight losses and take quick-fix routes to lose weight. However, these methods of weight loss aren’t sustainable – after all, who wants to feel hungry all the time or give up their favourite foods indefinitely? Especially when that often means that by February New Year’s resolutions are a distant memory.
There’s no magic pill when it comes to weight loss and the best weight-loss plan is the one you can stick to. Our members lose weight by making small changes to the way they shop, cook and eat and filling up on Free Food – foods that are low in calories but satisfying like pasta, lean meat, fruit, veg, potatoes and more – so they don’t have to go hungry or give up their favourite meals, as well as gradually becoming more active and getting bucketloads of support along the way. They develop healthy habits that they can keep up for life, so they can not only reach their target weight but stay there forever.”
“With the rise of trendy fad diets, people are often seduced by the promise of fast weight losses and take quick-fix routes to lose weight…”
Here are Nicky’s top tips to help you discover a new you this New Year:
1. Make small and simple swaps
A huge misconception about losing weight is that you have to make dramatic changes and survive on lettuce leaves and carrot sticks. However, with Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan, members are encouraged to make small and simple swaps like switching from oil to low-calorie cooking spray and full-fat butter to low-fat spread, and swapping the white bread for wholemeal bread.
2. Plan, plan, plan
Losing weight is much easier when you get in the habit of planning your meals for the week. Pick meals that you know you’ll enjoy, try new dishes to keep things interesting and make a shopping list – it’s impossible to enjoy healthy meals if you don’t have the foods you need to make them in your kitchen!
3. Get support
When you’re losing weight, having a strong support system around you is vital. If you join a Slimming World group your fellow members, who are all on the same journey as you, will celebrate with you and boost your weight loss when you’re doing well, and pick you up if you ever have a more difficult week.
4. Get active
But don’t run before you can walk! If you currently lead a more sedentary lifestyle, and the thought of exercise makes you sweat, don’t let your fears steer you away from getting active – after all, exercise isn’t just about Lycra and aerobic classes. At Slimming World we encourage our members to make simple swaps – from taking the lift and using the car for short journeys to taking the stairs and walking to the shops. Increase your activity levels gradually until you reach the recommended level of 30 minutes five times a week.
5. Track your progress
Having a visual reminder of your long-term goal is a great way to help you stay on track with your weight-loss journey. Not only is it a great way to see the amazing progress you’re making, it’s a good way to keep yourself inspired and committed. Some members recommend using measurement charts and progress pictures to keep them motivated – not only will they remind you why you’re losing weight, they’re fun too!
“There’s no magic pill when it comes to weight loss and the best weight-loss plan is the one you can stick to.”
Contact Nicky Exell on 07399 953818 or email nickyexell.sw@hotmail.com
Community Update – September & October 2023
Celebrating 50 years of the BCA
The BCA was founded in 1973, mainly to ensure that Burpham’s voice was heard with the re-routing of the A3. From that point onwards, we’ve been at the heart of the community – putting our point of view across, often irritating the various local authorities but mainly trying to represent everyone in our lovely community.
When we look back at what we’ve been involved with, from the Sainsbury’s and Weybrook Park developments in 1983 onwards, to the Flood Action Group and Forum in 2013 onwards, it’s clear that the current committee and our predecessors have been keen to get involved in any project.
We’re enormously grateful to everyone in Burpham. When we started working with Burpham Church to offer support to people who were struggling due to the pandemic, we were inundated with offers of help. When we started raising funds for two defibrillators, local businesses, other organisations and residents were quick to contribute. Also, whenever we put out a call for litter-pickers, plenty of you put your hands up. A big thank you to you all!
It was splendid to see so many of you at our Summer Social at the Village Hall on 24th June – lots of familiar faces and plenty of new friends. Special thanks to our Chairman and wine connoisseur, Andy Clapham, who not only gave us some interesting facts about wine but entertained us all with a quiz. And then on to the wine tasting! Did we know our Chardonnay from our Sauvignon Blanc… or our Malbec from our Pinot Noir? Who knew that we had so many wine experts in Burpham?
We think we celebrated the BCA’s 50th in style. Here’s to the next 50 years! Thank you all for your continued support.
Flood Forum Meeting at the Riverside Park
The walk took place on July 14th, led by Angela Richardson MP and attended by members of the BCA Flood Action Group and representatives of Guildford Borough Council (GBC), the Environment Agency and the National Trust.
The previous few weeks had seen little rainfall.
The group saw that the stream which drains the wetland and the overflow from the lake has been partly cleared by GBC. It was mostly dry but heavily silted. It was agreed that it should be cleared out so it will flow properly in wet conditions. This will, however, be dependent on availability of funds within GBC.
It has been suggested that the BCA might be able to organise a volunteer group to assist but this has not so far been accepted by GBC. One observer expressed surprise that GBC seemed reluctant to relinquish control over essential work which they may be unable to fund.
London Road Update
The Sustainable Travel Reference Group was set up to help Surrey County Council (SCC) ensure that stakeholder views are understood and properly considered during the engagement process.
It provides a forum for dialogue between SCC and its stakeholders, at each key stage of the scheme.
It is facilitated by the Consultation Institute, an independent not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to promote good practice in public consultation.
The BCA is represented on this Group as part of the Guildford Residents Association and also as part of the London Road Action Group (LRAG). Other members include residents’ associations, councillors, schools and young people, cyclists, disabled people, businesses and a bus company.
SCC now propose a much less disruptive implementation plan and are trying to improve the design of the scheme. The BCA welcomes these improvements although some safety concerns remain.
The group met twice in July and is in the process of helping to design a public survey which will be conducted during the school summer holidays, so it may still be open when this is published (early September).
Public meetings are planned for September at which the details of the proposed design and implementation plan will be put forward.
It is currently thought that work will commence during summer 2024 and the Burpham section (New Inn Lane roundabout to Boxgrove roundabout) may take about 6 months to complete.
In order to give SCC a true view of public opinion we urge everyone affected or interested to take part in the survey and public meetings.
Details will be provided to BCA members in a newsletter when they are available.
Community Update – November & December 2022
Hedgehogs Rule!
Back in 2020, Sainsburys lodged an application to extend their store which threatened a Local Green Space and its resident hedgehogs, now officially classed as vulnerable mammals. Many local people objected, as did one very well known non-resident, Brian May, co-founder of a hedgehog charity, Amazing Grace. The hedgehogs won the day! We asked Elizabeth Lee to tell us about these enchanting animals.
I am a volunteer for several wildlife charities. I am especially passionate about hedgehogs and trying to help the declining population in Burpham and Merrow. Through my Facebook page ‘Hedgehogs of Burpham and Merrow’, I try to offer advice and assistance to anyone that has hedgehogs in their garden or if they find a hedgehog in need of any help. It is lovely to be able to share local hedgehog stories and to try and make a difference in our community. I would love to hear of any new sightings, as I am aware of hedgehogs on Weybrook Park, especially the Devoil Close area, Gosden Hill, Bushy Hill and Merrow Park. A few remain around the London Road area and in Jacobs Well, but sadly the population mostly seems to have disappeared on Weylea Farm.
To encourage our prickly friends into your garden, there are lots of things that you can do. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and must never be given milk. Plenty of fresh water and meaty cat food in jelly or kitten biscuits, can be a life saver, and will mean that your prickly friend will keep on visiting you.
The key piece of information that I give to people is that hedgehogs are nocturnal, and if out in the day they are likely to be sick or injured. Unfortunately a lot of people do not realise this, so it is always best to call your local wildlife rescue, The Wildlife Aid Foundation in Leatherhead on 01372 360404 for advice. Never try to care for a sick hedgehog yourself as they are extremely complex little creatures.
Other important suggestions would be to make your garden as hedgehog friendly as possible, for example creating hedgehog highways for free roaming between gardens, checking areas before using any garden machinery or before lighting bonfires, creating ramps in ponds, eliminating the use of chemicals and keeping netting off the ground. Making your neighbours aware of the presence of hedgehogs is also very important and indeed also the parks team at the council if they cut back areas locally where they could be nesting. Hedgehogs can have two litters of babies per year, typically of up to six hoglets.
Not all hedgehogs hibernate now, due to climate change, and autumn juveniles need to be of a certain weight to survive the winter. From October, any hoglet under 200 grams needs to go to rescue. Any between 200-400 grams please call your local rescue for advice or feel free to message me through my Facebook page. Any over 400 grams looking healthy, out at night, please help with supplemental feeding. At any weight, if out in the daylight, circling, wobbling, sunbathing, injured or with fly strike (looks like grains of rice) please seek help straight away.
Hedgehogs have faced a huge decline in population over the last sixty years, but together we can work to increase their numbers and make our gardens a safe haven for them. I look forward to seeing any new members on the Facebook page and anyone is welcome to join even if further afield.
Riverside Nature Reserve
When cattle are in the Nature Reserve, the gates have to be closed but there have been problems with access for people using mobility scooters. The first gate installed, on the left of the photo, could not be opened by people on their own thus removing their independence. The new double gates, shown on the right, are intended to overcome this problem. We hope they do… If you use the gates, please let us know how you get on.
Other News
After lengthy correspondence with GBC, we hope that the 2nd defibrillator the BCA bought will soon be installed at Sutherland Memorial Park.
We hope to have a Christmas Social some time in December – drinks, nibbles, a seasonal quiz and a tombola or raffle. At the time of writing (early October) the date isn’t settled so keep an eye out for bulletins or notifications on Nextdoor.