FRIENDS OF HEADLEY HEATH

Programme of Events for 2008

Welcome to the first newsletter for 2008.

News from the Heath

Spring is nearly upon us with fresh growth and early flowers like the Violets on Chalk Slope in flower. The birds are starting their spring courtship and the males are beginning to sing well and the first nests are being constructed.

Since the last newsletter the three Highland cattle that have been at Burford Meadow on the Box Hill site had to be moved back to Headley in a hurry when the field flooded. A group of staff and volunteers put up the pen Dean Wood Heath in a couple of hours and the cattle were moved in by lunchtime. Initial results from the weed wiping of young Birch carried out last Autumn look very promising and the NT now need to decide how to remove all the dead wood. It is too early to see how successful the Bracken spraying on Middle Hill has been.

The permanent fencing of the heath is still awaiting a decision by DEFRA and the latest promise is April for a decision. Vandalism of the electric fencing particularly on Purley Plain pen continues. The fence is regularly cleanly cut with a sharp tool. Repairs waste a considerable amount of staff time. If you have any information on how this is happening please speak to any member of staff or leave an anonymous message on the office answering machine during the evening 01306 885502.

Since the last newsletter you will probably have seen the new surface on the main car park to which the friends made a contribution. Your committee also have purchased and installed a television in The Dairy at Warren Farm for the use of the long-term volunteers living there who give so much to the heath. Prior to this they only had a small borrowed portable set.

Legacy

As we told you in the last newsletter The Friends of Headley Heath have been left a considerable sum of money in the will of Mrs Pat Bowden who lived for many years in a property backing onto the heath on the southern boundary. We still do not know the total amount of the bequest but the solicitors acting for Mrs Bowden's estate say that it should be finalised soon. As soon as the money arrives we will be in contact with the executors to see if they know of any particular interests Mrs Bowden had which could influence how some of the money is spent. Your committee have a few ideas that may be suitable and this will be discussed with The National Trust.

Friday Work Party

Work has continued on Friday mornings throughout the winter working mainly on the area to the South of The Pyramids along Aspen Track and up through the dense Gorse to The Main Fire Break. Two mornings have been spent away from the heath when we have helped the staff burn up a large amount of cut material on Juniper Top and also help was given with splitting up and stacking wood from the Mickleham Oak ready for the distribution day. As the bird nesting season has started scrub clearance will now have to end and the volunteers are going to do some work in the Sweet Chestnut coppice area protecting the stools fro deer damage.

The volunteer group is always looking for more members. If you are interested just come along to the main car park at about 9 15 on a Friday morning and join us for the morning with no commitment to come again if you do not like it. Full training is given please wear sensible working clothes. Age or physical ability is not a problem we can find a job suitable for you.

Spring and Early Summer Walks

20th April, Tree Folklore, Headley 2pm
3rd May, Reptiles, Box Hill 9 30am
10th May, Spring Birds, Headley 9am
18th May, Spring Walk, Box Hill 10 30am
8th June, Flowers, Headley 2pm
15th June, Orchids, Box Hill 10am
28th June, Glow Worms, Headley 10pm

All walks must now be booked through the North Downs Office on 01372 220644. This year there will be a charge for everyone including NT members. Headley walks start in the main car park at Headley and Box Hill walks in front of the shop at Box Hill.

To raise awareness of The Friends and hopefully to recruit new members and raise funds we are having a tent on the play area all day on April 20th with displays and sales tables for plants and bric a brac. If you would like to help on the day or have some spare plants or small items we could sell please contact us or bring them on the day. If this is successful we plan to have the same arrangement on other walk days throughout the summer.

Electronic Transmission of the Newsletter

To save money on paper and postage you could receive this newsletter by E-mail. If you are prepared to do this please let us know with your E-Mail address.

Some names on the map.

Some of you may not know how some of the areas on the heath got their names so here is the explanation for some of them.

Purley Plain. This was named for the boys of Purley Boys School who spent many hours clearing the burnt debris after a very bad fire in 1956.

Camp Albert. In the 1950's a mock prisoner of war camp was built here to film Albert RN.