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Welcome!
Welcome to the Bourne Conservation Group's website. From here we co-ordinate our activities, and provide a way for you to get in touch with us for more information. If you would like to know more about the group, use the menu on the left to look at some details of the group's work so far, and plans for the future. Our volunteers assist in the maintenance and improvement of public open areas and rights-of-way centred on The Bourne, Farnham for the benefit of residents and wildlife. Make a difference! Come and join us! Next work sessions The full list of our work sessions can be found here. Please dress for the weather on the day and bring your gardening gloves. On Sunday 14 June will be our first Balsam Pull of 2009. Please meet at the Spotted Cow pub car park (in Bourne Grove) at 9.45am - and, yes, that's 15 minutes earlier than usual! From there we shall walk a short distance to Redhill House on Tilford Road where we will begin to check the stream for Balsam. Those who took part in a similar session last year will know that this is a quiet and secluded part of The Bourne valley that is very pleasant to work in. However, the remaining Balsam plants there are in difficult positions, often among nettles and other plants. Please wear suitable clothing so that hands and arms are covered, plus possibly a hat. Insect repellent might also be a good idea. Please let the Chairman know if you are able to attend this session. Chairman's update 6 June 2009 Spring 2009 newsletter Click here to read news of our current projects. BCG completes Middle Bourne Lane Community Wildlife Garden project The Bourne Conservation Group has recently completed the implementation
of its project at the Middle Bourne Lane Community Garden. This was funded
by a grant from Biffaward, which has now been paid in full following an
inspection. The background to this project is that the garden, under the general guidance of its owners Farnham Town Council, had been looked after for about 10 years by a few immediate neighbours who deserve thanks for their time and labour. In 2007, in consultation with the local residents, we identified that there were some worrying signs of deterioration in the garden and that it would benefit from a facelift. Accordingly a plan was drawn up to revamp the layout and planting with a view to enhancing its attraction to residents as well as improving wildlife habitats. Once the town council had approved our plans, work on the project could start in earnest, and through the summer of 2007 work concentrated on heavier tasks such as digging the pond. This was not easy because of the instability of the dry sandy subsoil, but by October it was ready for filling. The Biffaward grant was approved early in 2008, when we could implement the planting plan. The key and most expensive feature of this was the acquisition of 10 semi-mature native trees. The trees were followed by about 80 wildlife-friendly plants and shrubs provided by the Town Council. Many other tasks completed in 2008 included constructing the bog garden. A wide range of habitats has been created including a loggery to favour beetles and a hibernaculum to give shelter to mammals and invertebrates. The last stage of the project in early 2009 included installing a number of nesting boxes for different species of birds. Whilst still early days, it is already apparent that biodiversity has been improved. As expected, the pond has contributed most to this with frogs, newts, dragonflies and other species much in evidence. Elsewhere in the garden many other insects, moths, and slow worms have been recorded. The Surrey Wildlife Trust has been interested in the project and they regard this community garden as an excellent example of what can be achieved in an urban environment. They believe it will also help to show residents the sorts of thing they can attempt in their own gardens to assist our native wildlife. Many people from The Bourne Conservation Group and Middle Bourne Lane have worked on this project in the past two years. Others have enjoyed the fruits of this work by visiting the garden and hopefully enjoying its tranquillity and wildlife. We hope that more residents will come forward who are prepared to assist with the garden’s maintenance and continued enhancement. BCG awarded Grassroots Grants funding for three years BCG received some excellent news straight after Christmas 2008: we were successful in our application to the Surrey Community Foundation for a Grassroots Grant to cover our running costs for the next three years. Grassroots Grants is a national programme which will run for three years
(2008-11) to support small, voluntary groups to build stronger, more-active
communities. The programme is funded by the Office of the Third Sector
(OTS) and is being managed nationally by the Community Development Foundation
(CDF). Surrey Community Foundation has been awarded the funding to deliver
the Grassroots Grants programme in Surrey. The specific aim of the Grassroots
Grants programme is to increase immediate grant funding to small voluntary
groups, to enable them to continue or expand their work. Membership The Bourne Conservation Group is always looking for new members. Membership is open to adults with an interest in the natural environment and wildlife of the Bourne and who are prepared to spend a modest amount of time on conservation work. Membership is free. If you are interested, you can download an information leaflet here. For those who are unable, for whatever reason, to be an active volunteer, why not join us as a Friend? Further details are on the ‘Join Us’ page. The Old Churchyard The Bourne Conservation Group has embarked upon an important new project in the Old Churchyard on Vicarage Hill close to The Bourne Hall. Like so many old church yards and cemeteries, it is a pleasing and tranquil site which does provide wildlife habitats. However, it has not been well looked after in recent years and we feel that we can help to improve it for the benefit both of our community and wildlife.
Our planned approach can be found here and our initial clearing of the site over the winter has opened it up and helped show the wonderful of crocuses this year to their best advantage. Our work has been well received, not least by the Vicar and many parishioners. It was also the subject of an article in the Farnham Herald in December 2008. Several new volunteers have joined the Group as a result of this project – they are very welcome. On Palm Sunday, 5 April, many parishioners will start their usual procession from the Old Churchyard to the 10.00am service, in the company of Twinkle the donkey. All BCG members will be welcome, and after the service refreshments will be served in The Lantern of St Thomas Church, where information about the Old Churchyard project will be displayed. Footpath wardens 'We have recently issued a press release about our launch of the Footpath Wardens scheme, which can be found here. Further details are avilable on the Footpath Wardens page of this website here.
Volunteers at work at the Middle Bourne Lane Community Garden (top), and the Group's planting at the Bourne Gateway outside Ridgeway School (bottom). |
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All content © Bourne Conservation Group 2008 |
