Bourne Conservation Group's Website

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!

Annual Report

The Bourne Conservation Group’s Annual Report for year 2009-2010 can be downloaded here. It has been circulated to all Members and Friends for the AGM on Sunday 5th September.

Memories of The Bourne in the old churchyard

During the week ending Sunday 27th June, a number of churches across the country took part in the "Cherish Your Churchyard" project launched by the charity ‘Caring for God’s Acre’ with the comment "Churchyards are unique and special places. Each one is packed full of interesting natural and built features ranging from the beautiful ancient yew trees to the gravestones telling the stories of past Parish inhabitants ": a definition surely made to fit The Bourne’s Old Churchyard.

The Old Churchyard represents an interesting time capsule covering the hundred years between the building of the first church in 1861 and the last burial in the 1960s. It contains some 700 graves in which individuals from all walks of life and all social levels are buried, including a number of victims of the high levels of infant mortality common in the nineteenth century. For some forty years it has remained largely undisturbed allowing a rich variety of flora and fauna to take hold and flourish. The same period witnessed the rapid development of The Bourne with the coming of the railway in 1849 and the Aldershot Garrison in 1855. While the church was built for a parish of some 600, this had risen to around 2,700 by the time the decision to build the new St Thomas’ church on another site was taken in 1907.

Hourly tours, starting at the lychgate and ending with refreshments in the gazebo, covered the geological features of the area, the biodiversity of the site and the work undertaken by The Bourne Conservation Group to maintain the delicate balance between ‘pleasing decay’ and creating an environment in which plants and creatures may thrive. Reference was made to future plans for the site, including the restoration of more of the monuments and the creation of a small pond. Also included in the tours was an outline of .the history of The Bourne with references to George Sturt’s “Change in the Village” (1912) and “Memoirs of a Surrey Labourer” (1907) as well as the often hilarious anecdotes recorded by the son of the first vicar (Henry Sidebotham) and the daughter of his successor. (Beatrice Griffith).

A number of old photographs were available to help visitors visualise parts of The Bourne and the old church in the nineteenth century. The graves selected included those of:

Fred Grover (Bettesworth in George Sturt’s books) his wife Lucy - both unmarked - and her mother Charlotte Hack
The first vicar the Rev. Thomas Sidebotham and his wife Bertha: their monument having been recently restored. Also a servant at the vicarage – Louisa Mead,
Flt Lt Richard Waghorn AFC, winner of the 1929 international Schneider Trophy Race whose funeral was attended by 1,000 mourners, two Air Vice Marshalls and the RAF Band
Maj-Gen Eric Nares MC, CBE son of the solicitor to Surrey County Council who was awarded the United States Legion of Merit and was Commandant British troops in Berlin after the war,
Patrick Lewis Paget who inherited Brightwell House on his father-in-law’s Rev. Richard Garth’s death. Florence Nightingale was godmother to Patrick and Frances’ daughter
Montague Willbraham Taylor who established Taylor’s Hall, now the local Scout Hut
John Slaght, a Canadian who was billeted jn Farnham, married the local Policeman’s daughter and was awarded the MC before being killed in France in 1918.

During the course of the day there were some fifty visitors, many of whom had their own stories to tell and information we were unaware of. One gentleman in his nineties brought a copy of a photo of himself as a choirboy at the original church. Another said she had witnessed the 1929 Schneider Trophy Race. Visitors found their time in the churchyard interesting and many said they knew the area but had never really known about the old church and its churchyard: their feedback was very encouraging. In some cases visitors were able to fill in their own family records from the burial records we had available.

Noel Moss, Chairman of BCG, said that “Heritage Day exceeded our best expectations, both in terms of the number of visitors and the level of interest shown, and the donations received. We receive a great deal of local support and this will encourage us to complete our project over the next year.”

With a very generous donation by the Overwood Trust, the total money donated towards the restoration of the churchyard amounted to about Ł600, which should enable work to be done on many of the broken monuments. Thanks to all those who made donations and to all those whose enthusiasm and energy made the day so successful – Noel and Edelgard Moss, Martin Angel, Richard Sandars, Karen Redman, Didi Hall, Sheila Musson, Wendy and John Maddox, Jenny Mukerji and Mike Spurrier.

Success for Bourne footpath wardens

The Bourne Conservation Group’s footpath warden scheme has helped re-open one of the paths that are such an attractive feature of the area. The footpath wardens are volunteers who look out for obstructions and litter, reporting incidents to the authorities.

On 22nd March the group reported that there was a major blockage on Footpath 71. This is the delightful footpath known as Boreas Dene that runs from the Tilford road, following the line of the Bourne Valley to emerge on Waverley Lane near Old Compton Lane. A major branch of a 200 year-old beech tree had broken high up and fallen across the footpath. It was not only blocking the right-of-way but also presented a real danger to anyone trying to get through. The report to James Taylor of Surrey County Council's Countryside Service brought a commendably rapid response. An inspection showed that blockage needed the attentions of a skilled tree surgeon. The landowner accepted his responsibility for keeping the right-of-way open and safe for the public and immediately took action to have the obstruction cleared. Thanks to rapid communications about the problem and an effective response by all those concerned, the path is now clear again.

More information about the BCG’s footpath warden scheme can be found here. New volunteers are invited to contact David Todd on 01252 715807.

Historical Project

As we have worked for more than a year in the Old Churchyard we have become more interested in the graves and who lies in them: who was that person, where did he live in The Bourne, what did he do in the community? To try to answer some of these sorts of question for the 700 people buried there we have launched a Historical Project. This is not designed to detract from our practical work but rather to proceed in parallel, building on the records we already have and which have been retyped for us by Janina Terry to whom we are most grateful. Richard Sandars is coodinating the work and a number of willing volunteers are helping with the data collection.

We believe that potentially this exercise may throw light on the early history of The Bourne at a time when it and the Farnham area generally was undergoing major change.

If any members or Friends have information concerning the graves will they please contact Richard Sandars on info@bourneconservation.org.uk

Newsletter New Year 2010

You can read our latest news by downloading our newsletter here

Restoration of The Bourne Old Churchyard moves forward

The Bourne Conservation Group has been awarded funding for its project in The Bourne Old Churchyard by the Orchid Trust Fund managed by the Community Foundation for Surrey.

As well as being a sacred site, The Old Churchyard in Vicarage Hill represents an important part of the history of The Bourne and provides a tranquil place for both people and wildlife. Noting its current run-down condition, after a period of consultation the BCG decided in November 2008 to launch a new project to develop the biodiversity of the site in parallel with restoring its heritage aspects. It was agreed that:

- Work should be carried out in partnership with the site owner, the Vicar of St Thomas-on-The Bourne, the Rev Jonathan Still, and involving parishioners where possible
- The approach adopted by BCG to the Middle Bourne Lane Community Wildlife Garden biodiversity project, which has recently been recognised by several awards, should be used as a model,
- The project fitted well into the evolving strategy of BCG to create or enhance a number of wildlife havens throughout The Bourne with green corridors between them whenever possible

Much work has gone into the site in the past year in clearing invasive plants and overgrown vegetation, as well as recording the wildlife present, with over 200 species now listed. Funding was needed to take the project forward, including professional work on the large trees on site, and purchasing native trees and plants plus materials to achieve the aim of increasing biodiversity. Following discussion with the Community Foundation for Surrey, formal application was made for funds to cover the costs of the biodiversity and environmental aspects of the scheme, and this funding has recently been confirmed.

Noel Moss, Chairman of BCG, said "The Old Churchyard is our largest project to date, and to have these costs underwritten by the Community Foundation for Surrey is further confirmation that we are doing the right things for wildlife and for The Bourne. This good news comes soon after our recent awards for the Middle Bourne Lane Community Wildlife Garden, and is very encouraging for all our volunteers and Friends."

To complete the project, BCG is seeking funding to restore the monuments and graves, and is particularly interested in hearing from family members. Any readers who would like to support this important project to conserve the history of The Bourne are asked to contact David Todd on 01252 715807.

National award for Bourne Community Wildlife Garden

The Middle Bourne Lane Community Wildlife Garden has been awarded first prize of £2000 in the Small Projects category of the Biffaward competition for 2009. Noel Moss, chairman of The Bourne Conservation Group, received the award at a ceremony in the Royal Hall at Harrogate on Thursday 8th October.

Noel Moss holding the award with Mark Fishpool, the judge.

This prestigious award follows soon after the recognition of the garden last month by South East in Bloom (see below).

Eligible because of funding received from the Biffaward scheme and out of over 40 entries nationally, it was short-listed as one of six projects in its category for consideration by an experienced environmental judge. Biffaward is a multi-million pound environment fund, managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, which uses landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services to support a wide range of worthwhile projects throughout the UK.

The award was given because the judge considered the garden is an attractive green space in an urban area into which much thought had been given to creation of habitats, and giving children and others a real chance of observing wildlife. It is also an example to residents in Farnham and elsewhere as to what sorts of things they can do in their own gardens to favour wildlife.

This success marks the end of the main phase of the project started in 2007. At that time it was accepted that the community garden needed something of a facelift and the opportunity was taken to shift the emphasis towards an urban wildlife garden in which residents could relax and enjoy some of the sights and sounds of nature. Gradually, the plan for four ‘garden rooms’ was implemented to balance the needs of visitors to the site and the support of wildlife with the clear intention of attracting new species. Key to this was the construction of a wildlife pond, the introduction of native trees and plants and creating shelter for mammals, birds and invertebrates. The early results were quite dramatic with frogs, dragonflies, damselflies and moths all appearing in the first year. This trend has been reinforced in 2009.

Noel Moss said: “Full credit for this undoubted success story needs to be given to the volunteers of The Bourne Conservation Group who developed and guided the plan but also to neighbours to the site, some of whom have contributed to the garden over many years. Thanks are also due for the help, advice and encouragement given by the Surrey Wildlife Trust and Waverley Countryside Rangers.” Further financial help has been given by Surrey County Council, through Cllr David Munro, and by Farnham Town Council, the owner of the site.

Middle Bourne Lane Community Wildlife Garden wins prestigious award

The Bourne Conservation Group’s transformation of the Community Garden in Middle Bourne Lane has been recognised by the award of a Silver Gilt certificate from South & South East in Bloom, in the Recreation/Small Parks category.

BCG was represented by its Hon Secretary, Dr Stan Cockett, at the ceremony held in Brighton on Wednesday 2 September. He heard the judge’s commendation that "This little garden is a gem, a little bit of everything, and something for everyone seeking a quiet garden in which to relax."

Our efforts began in early 2007 when we resolved to take over the existing, rather run-down garden, working in partnership with local residents and with Farnham Town Council. Helped by funding from the Biffaward scheme, we have shifted the emphasis to community wildlife garden – somewhere quiet that residents can go to get away from the stresses of life and, at the same time, enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of native flora and fauna. The full story can be found here along with some marvellous photos of the wildlife.

BCG Chairman Noel Moss said: “Many volunteers and residents worked long and hard to achieve this result and high marks were scored for ‘Community Involvement’. So, well done all concerned, not only for this award but also for creating a haven for wildlife at a time when many species are under great stress.”

At the same ceremony, Farnham in Bloom received a Silver Gilt award in the Town Centre category.

Stan Cockett receiving the award from Chris Collins, Special Guest Presenter (‘Blue Peter’ Gardener & TV Celebrity)

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.