Volunteers Making Positive In-roads On Chitty’s Common

Published on: 25 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 28 Jan, 2019

The Friends of Chitty’s Common group is starting to make in-roads into the overgrown meadow area.

The pond on Chitty’s Common begins to take shape once more.

A dried-up pond on the common at Rydes Hill, Guildford, has now been dug out by the volunteers and is starting to take shape, with logs placed along some of the edges to attract and hide the small wildlife.

Autumn work party on Chitty’s Common.

This work took place during September and October, and the group reports even while working, dragonflies were looking to see if they had a new home to lay their eggs.

The January weather was very kind to the volunteers, and there was a good turn-out and the volunteers managed to clear a very overgrown area of brambles and broken branches. On this day, the group also celebrated its first birthday.

Litter picking on Chitty’s Common in January 2019.

Sue Day and Pauline Searle who head up the group say: “All the work we have now achieved could not have been done without the dedication and enthusiasm of all the volunteers that have come out over the past year to our Sunday work parties, so a very big thank you to you all.

Sue Day (centre) with some of the volunteers.

“On the February date, we are planning to have baked beans, sweet potatoes, jacket potatoes and perhaps sausages cooked in the bonfire. Please bring along anything you would like to eat and share. Tea and coffee are always available.

Hard at work helping to clear overgrown parts of Chitty’s Common at Rydes Hill. Thanks to Sue, Fran and Angela for the photographs.

The next dates for 2019, all from 10am: Sundays, February 10, March 3, April 7, May 19.

All ages and abilities welcome, and if you would like to be covered by Surrey Wildlife Trust’s insurance, sign up as one of its volunteers online via the link https://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/support-us/volunteer.

Contact Pauline Searle on 01483 825424, if you would like to find out more about the Friends of Chitty’s Common group.