Dear Members / Residents,
There is no doubt that 2024 has seemed a very quiet year but sometimes quiet is good and enables to focus on some more of the basics! Needless to say, the new boardwalk and pond-dipping platform have survived being flooded several times since October 2023 and are still looking as robust and beautiful as ever!
One small but important postscript to the boardwalk project has been to design and construct a more gradual gradient down to the pond from the main path above. We had a small sum left from our fundraising and again Steve Hull and Nigel Emmerson have done the honours. Nigel has also created two benches using wood from a fallen tree in the Wildlife Area as the seat and also some leftover boardwalk supports as the legs. We have used this precious opportunity to remember our dear friend and Treasurer Julie Emmerson with a small plaque in her memory. It is still so very hard for us all as Julie was such a knowledgeable and vital member of our Management Committee who had environmental facts and details at her fingertips but we feel that she would approve of the chance of sitting, reflecting and enjoying the d elights of the pond and wetland area.
Our work on site never ceases and we continue to be indebted to our hard-working Site Manager, Nigel Emmerson who keeps a very thorough and watchful eye on every aspect of the Wildlife Area. As ever he has been helped by loyal volunteers – mainly this year the small team of staff from Network Rail on their charity days supplemented by local scout groups and a local team of volunteers from Surrey Choices Woking who have done excellent work on many occasions. Roy Coverley, one of our committee members, is often called upon for his more technical skills and there are one or two local residents who help Nigel to keep the green path network mown for our many visitors. During the year, we have been giving some thought to the security provided by the gate at the Bullswater Common entrance and how we can improve the condition of various parts of both the spinal path and the green path which flood in the winter. These are ongoing and intractable problems!
Future Projects:-
Lay front boundary hedge later in 2025
Review the weir at exit to pond
Reset gate at Bullswater Common entrance
Action on parts of spinal path which flood in the winter
Review the green path network and make action plan
Please have a look at our Facebook page ‘Fox Corner Wildlife Area’ which has lots of lovely photos and up to date information. Joanna Plumpton one of our committee members is the admin and kindly looks after the page for us.
This letter also invites you to renew your membership into 2025. The enclosed membership
form shows details of any members listed at your address. As you may recall, our
membership arrangements assume that you wish to continue to be a member unless you
indicate otherwise. If you wish to discontinue your membership, if the information shown is
incorrect or if you wish to add other residents at your address, please make any necessary
amendments and send it back to the Secretary at the address shown below. Your
membership continues to be free.
If you are not presently a member and if you feel that the Wildlife Area is a worthwhile and an important
addition to the Fox Corner environment, why not join. New members of all ages are welcome and as mentioned
above membership is free, please complete the attached form and return to the secretary at the address
shown.
Every year, we are very encouraged to receive donations of all sizes from Association members, the vast majority of which is gift-aided which adds a significant amount through tax reclamation @ 25%. Don’t forget that if you are a UK taxpayer, you only need to sign the Gift Aid declaration when sending your donation – we will process the rest. Donations may also be made online to ‘CAFOnline.org’ or direct to our Bank Account, the details are on the membership form. Thank you for your generosity in 2023 and we send you a heartfelt thank you! Without your support, the Wildlife Area could not continue to exist at the heart of the Fox Corner community and give pleasure to so many.
Another very straightforward way in which you can help us to increase our income is by shopping online through easyfundraising.org.uk. Each time you shop, you can raise money for your chosen charity at no cost to yourself. Participating retailers include Amazon, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, MandS, Ebay etc. All you need do is to register at easyfundraising.org.uk and then log in each time you shop. Search for the Fox Corner Community Wildlife Area in the listing and then shop in the usual way by clicking on the link to access the retailer’s site and make your purchases as normal. The retailers then give us a percentage donation which can mount up and help us financially!
You are invited to come to our AGM on Monday, 7 April at 7.30pm in the Church Room at St Michael’s Church.
The AGM will be followed by a presentation by David Elliott, who is the lead ranger for the
National Trust South Downs West Estate. He will be giving a talk on the re-introduction of Beavers & Water Voles.
With all good wishes and thanks for your support.
Yours sincerely
Catherine Cobley
Chairman