Productive Year For The Friends Of Chitty’s Common

Published on: 30 Dec, 2019
Updated on: 30 Dec, 2019

Volunteers who come together to help look after Chitty’s Common at Rydes Hill, Guildford, have enjoyed the past year in which they have achieved much more than expected.

The “mud larks” were having fun and enjoyment working on the new pond at the December work party. It is going to have an island in the middle (Clive’s Island).

The Friends of Chitty’s Common group meets once a month, working closely with Surrey Wildlife Trust. Among the work they have undertaken, one pond has been cleared and another is “starting to look good”, although there is “one still yet to find,” said Sue Day, one of the group’s organisers.

Sue said that in December more cutting back in the meadow area was achieved, while adding about the lost pond: “We have always known it was there, from local residents who were familiar with it in the past. Unfortunately due to lack of maintenance, it has now disappeared from view.

“The January and February work parties will prioritise on cutting back and finding this elusive pond.”

A glimpse of the “lost pond” on Chitty’s Common.

On two occasions over the past year students from the University of Surrey also came along and helped out.

And the group achieved a Silver Guilt Award from Guildford In Bloom for Best Site for Nature Conservation.

The group now has a Facebook page volunteers can join, thanks to volunteer Chris Burchell. Click here to go to it.

And an Instagram account, click here.

Sue Day and fellow group organiser Pauline Searle thank everyone who has helped at the work parties during 2019.

More volunteers are always welcome.

Dates for the first four months of 2020 are: Sundays, January 19, February 16, March 1, and April 5.

Meet on the common, off Rydes Hill Road, at 10am. Tea and coffee provided!

You can be covered by Surrey Wildlife Trust’s insurance while working on the common. Click here to sign up.

Chitty’s Common is is a mix of boggy woodland, scrub, small pools and grassland. In the past (1970s) it had breeding nightingales and various warblers.