As in previous years, our Group made a significant contribution
to this annual opening of our heritage, arranged by the Farnham Society.
We were directly involved in two of the many events as
follows:
Thursday 8th September. At the Maltings at 11.30 am: talk by
Noel Moss on “The Story of Farnham’s Water Supply and its Disposal “
This is the result of our previous research as a group on
this subject.
Monday 12th September. Guided Walk starting at 10.30am from
the Bat and Ball pub: “From Bat to Cow via Moths.” Led by David Dearsley, with
a chance en route to see the lovely moths caught by Martin Angel the night
before.
This article was published in the Farnham Herald edition of 15 September 2022.
Join us … and help us build on the past 20 years
As reported in the Herald earlier this year, 2022 marks 20 years since the Bourne Conservation Group (BCG) started work on the footpaths and the green spaces that give The Bourne its distinctive character. Appropriately the name of the Group’s founder, Stan Cockett, is remembered on a seat in Paradise Wood alongside the footpath named after him running from Greenhill Road to Leigh Lane.
The Group’s main milestones and achievements are to be celebrated
at a special event on Thursday 29th September starting at 7.30pm.
The event is open to anyone interested in learning more about the local area
and will be held in the Centenary Rooms of St Thomas-on-The Bourne. There will
be pictorial displays of the work of the Group and the biodiversity of The
Bourne as well as a guest speaker: Bishop Chris Herbert, a distinguished
resident and former Vicar, who will talk on ‘Change in the Village: Life in The
Bourne around 1900’, drawing on the work of local writer George Sturt who lived
in The Bourne. Refreshments will be provided.
As BCG progressed, it took responsibility for improving and
maintaining several sites to promote biodiversity. Its contribution in that
field has included playing a part in the formation of the Farnham Biodiversity
Group. Over the years it has also worked hard for the town in the In Bloom
competition in which outstanding results have been achieved. This year, after
the judging had taken place, the Royal Horticultural Society sent a special
team to visit the town and included in their tour a call at the Middle Bourne
Lane Community Wildlife Garden managed by BCG.
Also, this year the group has been delighted to involve an
unusually large number of Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards students in its work, thus
giving them the opportunity to learn and promote the need to protect
biodiversity.
The students, mainly from Weydon School, bring youthful energy and enthusiasm to BCG’s work – inevitably, they soon move away with each year bringing new requests to join. For BCG to continue to flourish and to provide these opportunities to our young people, more members are sought who will contribute for the longer term. No special knowledge is required; respect for nature and an interest in the area is desirable, along with a willingness to give some time working outdoors.
Martin Angel of BCG demonstrates the results of moth trapping to the visitors from the RHS Will Herbert of BCG (Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award student) talks about biodiversity to distinguished visitors in the Middle Bourne Lane Community Garden. Noel Moss (BCG Chairman) and Cllr Carole Cockburn speak about founder Stan Cockett at the seat in his memory: Paradise Wood 2013
The Bourne Conservation
Group is a group of volunteers, who share a concern for the environment and a
desire to contribute to keeping our area attractive. Founded in 2002, the Group
assists in the maintenance and improvement of local open spaces and
rights-of-way for the benefit of both residents and wildlife. We always welcome
new members. Email: info@bourneconservation.org.uk
July started well for BCG. Sharp at 8.30am on the lovely morning of Saturday 2nd July, Bryan Snashall’s van pulled up at our Tool Store to be loaded with the considerable pile of gear we needed to set up our stand at The Bourne Show, an event we always enjoy but had not taken place during the pandemic years. We had remembered, however, our well tested drills for a good Show and on arrival at The Green the van was directed to our allocated place by our Pathfinder and in no time at all the setting-up gang commenced the erection of the gazebos. This turned out to be quite tricky because of the gusty wind which, despite the welcome sunshine, went on throughout the day.
Members and friends of the Bourne Conservation Group are well aware that 2022 marks our 20th anniversary. We are holding an event on Thursday 29th September to celebrate the passing of this milestone and to thank all those who have contributed to our work and achievements. The event is open to anyone from The Bourne and the wider area who is interested in finding out more about the Group and in the talk to be given by our distinguished guest speaker.
This article was kindly included by The Bourne Parish in its recent Quarterly Newsletter, published for the Jubilee weekend.
Members of the Church congregation may be aware of The Bourne Conservation Group (BCG) because of the work of its volunteers in the Old Churchyard. The Group’s 20th anniversary in 2022 is a good opportunity to celebrate all its other work and activities in the local area.
The recent period of good weather accompanied by some welcome showers has brought on the early summer plants so that the flower beds and roadside verges are looking great. They are helping to provide a fitting backdrop to the happy mood in our nation at this time. The memory of Covid is fast receding and we are all uplifted by being able to join with HM The Queen in celebrating the remarkable achievement of 70 years on the throne in her Platinum Jubilee. It is indeed a joyful period when we can for a time forget serious problems at home and abroad.
The beginning of spring this year was stormy but, apart from the few really rough nights, our teams were out for the whole month of March toad watching along Boundary Road in Rowledge. The number of toads was up from the previous year but there were very few frogs and no newts this time. The watchers all did a wonderful job and are warmly thanked for their time and enthusiasm.
The following article by our partner the Farnham Biodiversity Group appeared in the Farnham Herald issue of 11th March 2022.
After the recent storms in February, there are signs of spring in the Farnham area. An annual harbinger of spring is the dark-edged bee fly (Bombylius major). This large furry fly is commonly seen on sunny days in gardens in March, hovering noisily in front of spring flowers using its long proboscis to suck up the nectar. It is an important springtime pollinator of both fruit trees and garden flowers. Some people are scared by them, mistaking their long proboscis as a sting; actually, they are totally harmless to us and should be welcomed in the garden and on the allotment. They are frequent visitors to a great variety of flowers, be they white (apple, blackthorn, plum, viburnum), yellow (colt’s foot, dandelion, primrose, celandine) or blue/purple (bluebells, bugle, green alkanet, and germander speedwell).
The Bourne needs you. Here is the poster we are using in suitable places to attract new active members, who are greatly needed. We are also stepping up our use of social media. The time commitment is flexible – please share with your friends and others who may want to help preserve the environment and character of our area.
2022 is now well under way and it is good to report that our Group has made a very good start for which the foundations were well and truly laid in the last weeks of the previous year. The work then included re-lining the leaking pond in the Middle Bourne Lane Garden and carrying out a major overhaul of the raised bed at Lower Bourne Crossroads. The pond site is looking good as it is full to the brim and surrounded by the fresh turf while, at the Crossroads, the crocuses are flowering and the newly planted alliums and tulips in the raised bed are already visible.
