30th January 2012

Badshot Lea clear up

Blackwater Valley Countryside working in partnership with Farnham Town Council, Surrey Police Intervention Team, the Surrey Youth Justice Service and Hanson Aggregates cleared 2000 litres of rubbish, which was mainly fly tipping, and 54 tyres from a patch of land off Low Lane in Badshot Lea. 

Councillor David Attfield, ward Councillor for Badshot Lea and Weybourne comments: “The piece of land that was cleared adjoins the now non-working Farnham Quarry and will eventually provide access onto the new nature reserve that is being created now that the quarry has reached the end of its working life.  The footpath in question had become overgrown and heavily fly tipped with mainly garden waste and tyres, which made access difficult.” 

Surrey Police Intervention Team and the Surrey Youth Justice service set up community service for a group of disengaged young people, in reparation for damage caused at Farnham Quarry. The young people involved cleared overgrown vegetation, removed the fly tipping and collected the tyres. At a later daye they also made six bird boxes which will be put up in the new nature reserve. 

Merrist Wood Students and the Rushmoor Volunteer Gardening Group (supported by Blooming Marvellous) came to help on a further task of coppicing hazel stools to open a path and encourage re-growth beneficial for wildlife.  The tyres collected will be recycled into planters as part of the Farnham in Bloom project.

Stuart Croft, Countryside Ranger for Blackwater Valley Countryside comments: “This project showed the value of developing the partnership between local organisations to improve Farnham Quarry through actively involving the community.  We look forward to working more on the site in the future.” 

Councillor Julia Potts, lead member for Farnham in Bloom, went onto further comment: “Farnham Town Council is delighted with the outcome, the land looks much tidier and open and we would like to thank Blackwater Valley Countryside for their work in co-ordinating the tasks and working with numerous other organisations, it is a true community project.” 

If you  know of a piece of land that needs tidying or would like to become involved in the Farnham in Bloom campaign contact Cath Sydenham at Farnham Town Council by emailing cath.sydenham(at)remove-this.farnham.gov.uk or telephoning 01252 712667.

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