Dear Members, As ever the year has flown by and here I am once again to renew your membership into 2018.
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. She can also supply standing order forms if you wish to set up a regular donation which we would greatly appreciate as it makes our forward planning so much easier.
We can look back on 2017 as a productive year helped greatly through our much-valued partnerships with the Pirbright Institute and Network Rail. We are only a small charity and with 14 acres to manage it is sometimes a big challenge for our small team of volunteers with limited financial resources so this help goes a long way. During the year the Pirbright Institute has had a significant reorganisation in which the groundworks have been contracted out so some of this practical help will no longer be possible but we were delighted to be able to purchase at a knock down price some significant pieces of equipment such as a flail mower, a brush cutter and a combi saw which are regularly in use. We still have the practical help of PI staff who come to support our working parties to pull Himalayan Balsam and weed clearing in the pond as part of their local charity effort. In addition, a small trusty band of Network Rail volunteers, led by Nigel Emmerson, has done much good management and practical work - tree felling, bridge repairs, ditch digging, clearance of debris in the Hodge Brook, and hedge trimming. Very much an ongoing list!
Another pleasurable partnership has been continued with the Fox Pub who very generously hosted our summer BBQ for members last August. About 20 members joined us for a tour around the wildlife area and another 40 added to our number as we enjoyed a tasty BBQ at the Fox. We hope to be able to continue this successful event in 2018.
The Management Committee has been delighted to welcome the appointment of two new committee members – Roy Coverly and Peter Morley – who have been working very hard to help us with the Winter Bridge project. Roy has been using his engineering skills as the project manager and Peter has been doing a very successful job as our funding officer to get grants from several sources so that we can now go ahead in 2018. Great news!
But our year has ended on the very saddest of notes in the death of our dear Roy Johnson who along with me, was one of the only 2 remaining founder members of the Association 27 years ago. It would be true to say that without Roy’s influence, persistence and plain hard work, there would not now be a Wildlife Area at Fox Corner. His contribution has been immense both in the many very practical jobs around the site but also in his attention to legal detail e.g. the drafting of the lease with Guildford Borough Council. He was tireless! He also cheered us on our way by bringing chocolate finger biscuits to every meeting! He will be missed in so many ways… We send our condolences to Jackie and our thanks for her forbearance and to his daughter Helen who acted as his devoted email link.
Looking into the future, we will be seeing the replacement of the Winter Bridge (originally sponsored by Roy Johnson in memory of his sister) together with associated tree, bank and path works. We are also considering updating our information boards and looking at tree management work across the site especially in areas where trees and shrubs are becoming too dense.
Finally, it is important to record the wealth of wildlife which is regularly using our wildlife area – kingfishers, slow worms, small fish in the pond, deer, herons, ducks and toads are just some. The Management Committee would like to encourage all our members to join our “Wildlife Watch” to tell us what you have spotted on your visits. Email us via the website – foxcornerwildlife.org.uk – or telephone any of the officers on this newsletter. We would love to hear from you!
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 20% through tax reclamation. Needless to say your continued support and generosity is still very much needed as it costs around £1000 pa to run our Wildlife Area. We were very encouraged by members’ response to my appeal last year. In addition to a very generous individual donation towards the new Winter Bridge, members’ donations were increased so that we were able to achieve our aim of donations covering our outgoings. Thank you! If you are a UK taxpayer, you only need to sign the Gift Aid declaration when sending your donation – we will process the rest.
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, M&S, 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 would soon mount up and transform our finances! Our Treasurer, Julie Emmerson, would be delighted to advise you further – her contact details are at the bottom of this letter.
With all good wishes and thanks for your support.
Yours sincerely
Catherine Cobley
Chairman
NB: Wednesday, 18th April – AGM in the Church Room, St Michael’s Church. We hope to have a speaker and details and an agenda will follow nearer the time