In this edition...

Will & Alex's plans for Rewilding 45 acres of the Tillingbourne Valley

The origins of The Garbage Gangs - and how to join!

An idea - "When I, I Will, So that!"

Rewilding of the Netley Mill Thames Water Site

Some of you may have already read about the exciting plans being proposed by Gomshall and Shere residents Will Esplen and Alex Mackinnon to rewild the Thames Water fields between Gomshall and Shere.

Inspired by time spent observing nature on the land during the lock downs, Will made contact with Thames Water to propose the idea - which could not have been more positively received!

Over the last year or so, this has involved discussion with Thames Water that has already led to them bringing in expert ecologists to explore the opportunities.

Will and Alex (with local volunteers) have already planted 350 mixed hedge saplings, some bird-friendly fruiting trees, and a wildflower meadow that was an amazing success last summer...

Future phases are in the planning, with the overall vision that the fields become a wildlife haven, while retaining passively managed access - thus becoming a valuable asset to the local community and wildlife.

The opportunity for wildlife corridors and parcels of land that are managed for nature, is widely seen as a great way of supporting migrating species and linking habitats to reduce the isolation of wildlife populations.

For humans too, the benefits are many. From mental health associated with spending time connecting with nature, to the fulfilment of being part of a community group with a shared purpose....

this is the vision that Will, Alex and Thames Water are developing, and will be welcoming wider community involvement in!

On Friday 3rd February between 10am to 1pm (next Friday!) there is a wonderful opportunity to become part of this journey by joining in with more hedgerow planting of 5000 mixed hedge saplings!

You don't require experience and actually NO Digging is involved - but you will need to bring a spade! Planting involves cutting a grove with the spade to insert the sapling and pressing back the ground. Work will be in pairs and supported by the team from Thames Water. You can do as little or as much as you wish!

Should this be of interest to you, please call or message Will on 07776 161270. Likewise if you can't make this event but are interested for the future involvement, please message Will!

Will & Thames Water will be making an introduction to start at 10am.

Tim's Back... to the Future

If you are wondering where this is going, so were many of us just over a year ago when Shere local and school teacher, Tim Morgan was spotted hobbling around the village nearly every afternoon in evident pain with an old Sainsbury bag and a litter picker- "what on earth are you doing Tim - you have just had major back surgery" was the typical response!

I think we concluded that his doctor's advice to exercise was behind this sole crusade to clear up an awful lot of extra lockdown litter that could maybe have been expected as the village become a must-go destination for coffee, ice cream and to feed the ducks!

After a week or two of watching our friend in pain bending over to pick up rubbish, friends and neighbours decided it was plain wrong to just watch on!

And so formed the first Shere Garbage Gang, connecting a small number of local people on Whatsapp with regular litter picks around Shere and toward Gomshall and Albury. The A25 is a task on its own!

Now nearly 18 months on, four new litter-picking groups are active and growing, and by best count total 70 local people... including amazing Lenka from Wotton that pulled over on the A25 to join on the spot!

It can't be denied that a Sunday morning of litter picking isn't for everyone... but for those of us that feel the satisfaction of filling giant bags of rubbish and speculating its origins - it is clearly worth it!

For wildlife and the wider community, the benefits are obvious.

Should you wish to join "the gang" or indeed set one up with our full support - we would love to hear from you!

You can contact Tim directly via the Shere Garbage Gang or connect with others using the links below...

Changing Our Habits for the Benefit of Our Planet!

T.E Team member, Suz Rogers works in the field of human behavioural change and offers an idea that we love - "When I, I Will, So that!"

As an example, Suz explained- "When I return home, I will put my glasses in their case on the table, so that I can find them when I next need them!"

Apparently successful so far!

A planet-friendly example could be...

"When I leave the house, I will take my water bottle so that I don't need to buy a drink in a plastic bottle!"

We hope you may wish to share your ideas and successes with this habit changer on our social media channels, or by email!

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