DOWNLANDS PROJECT NEWS – WINTER 2013
Trees and more trees planted by enthusiastic local Muslim Group!
The Project was very pleased to welcome 85 members from the local region of the Youth Organisation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK to Old Lodge Farm on Sunday 19 January. The Group joyously braved the mud, cold and curious cattle to come and join us to plant around 1,000 treesto provide new hedgerows on two field perimeter fencelinesat the farm. This Muslim Youth Group actively participates in different charitable works; they consider planting trees as a service to humanity like other charity work and they are aiming to plant 10,000 trees this year nationally. They did an excellent job and we look forward to welcoming members of the Groupalong to join usfor othertask days this year.Jazak Allah Khairan (many thanks) from the Project to all the young men and boys for joining us and supporting our work.
More about Old Lodge Farm...
The Project is pleased to be the tenant at 90 acre holding farm Old Lodge Farm (owned by Surrey County Council) situated in the greenbelt area of Sutton at Little Woodcote near Carshalton. Every spring the Project’s lambing season takes place here. The farm is not open to the public, but the Project hosts special open days during the summerand on Sunday 8 June this year we will again belinking in with the annual Open Farm Sunday campaign promoted by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) - . This year’s OFS theme is ‘Celebrating British Farming and Food’ and we plan to have more activities on offer this year to fully showcase our conservation grazing and biodiversity work. Look out for further details on our websites in the next couple of months and we hope to see you there!
Looking to the future, the Project hopes to source funding to develop part of the farm as an educational facility. The farm is a nominated Family Tree Scheme (FTS) planting site and a new native shaw has been planted over the last few years to replace the original conifers, through recent donations and corporate funding from International Tree Foundation (who run FTS).
Environmental Education
Sarah Clifford, the Sanderstead to Whyteleafe Countryside Area (SWCA) Warden, who is part of the Downlands Project team, works extensively with local schools and conservation volunteers to restore the beautiful chalk downland landscape that comprises this special area. Sarah also offers practical conservation volunteering task days on many Mondays and Sundays throughout the year, plus special events including bird box building and badger watching!
Here are Sarah's forthcoming special events; please contacther directon 01883 341140 for further details/to book your place.
Saturday 8 March 2014 - Signs of SpringThis will be a faster paced walk around the Sanderstead to Whyteleafe Countryside Area looking and listening for any sign of Spring. This will be a 1-2 hour walk starting at 11am meeting at Dunmail Drive which is off Honister Heights, Purley.
Saturday 12 April 2014 - A Spring Scavenger Hunt This will be a 1 to 1.5 hour walk around the Sanderstead to Whyteleafe Countryside Area finding and collecting all sorts of treasure that we may come across on our walk. From early spring flowers to shells what will we find. Please meet at Dunmail Drive, off Honister Heights, Purley at 11.00am.
Friday 9 May 2014 - Wildlife Watch at Night This is a special event looking at badgers in the wild. Places are limited and pre-booking with Sarah is essential.
Woodland winner at Little Woodcote
Wehave recently been successful in our bid to Groundwork London and their RE: LEAF Community Grant Scheme (part of the Mayor of London - Trees for a Greener London scheme), to continue woodland restoration at Little Woodcote Wood, located opposite the entrance to Old Lodge Farm. With a guaranteed match funding of up to £1,500 from the Downlands Trust, the grant for £5,000 includes a Community Woodland Pack with 100 tree saplings to plant in the wood. Well done to Project staff Tom Thorn and Carol Yesson for submitting the winning application together and the work will be completed by March 2014.