July started well for BCG. Sharp at 8.30am on the lovely morning of Saturday 2nd July, Bryan Snashall’s van pulled up at our Tool Store to be loaded with the considerable pile of gear we needed to set up our stand at The Bourne Show, an event we always enjoy but had not taken place during the pandemic years. We had remembered, however, our well tested drills for a good Show and on arrival at The Green the van was directed to our allocated place by our Pathfinder and in no time at all the setting-up gang commenced the erection of the gazebos. This turned out to be quite tricky because of the gusty wind which, despite the welcome sunshine, went on throughout the day.
Continue reading “A Memorable Month: July 2022”Author: Cameron Sampson
Members and friends of the Bourne Conservation Group are well aware that 2022 marks our 20th anniversary. We are holding an event on Thursday 29th September to celebrate the passing of this milestone and to thank all those who have contributed to our work and achievements. The event is open to anyone from The Bourne and the wider area who is interested in finding out more about the Group and in the talk to be given by our distinguished guest speaker.
Continue reading “Celebration event for Group’s 20th anniversary”This article was kindly included by The Bourne Parish in its recent Quarterly Newsletter, published for the Jubilee weekend.
Members of the Church congregation may be aware of The Bourne Conservation Group (BCG) because of the work of its volunteers in the Old Churchyard. The Group’s 20th anniversary in 2022 is a good opportunity to celebrate all its other work and activities in the local area.
Continue reading “20 years of the Bourne Conservation Group”The recent period of good weather accompanied by some welcome showers has brought on the early summer plants so that the flower beds and roadside verges are looking great. They are helping to provide a fitting backdrop to the happy mood in our nation at this time. The memory of Covid is fast receding and we are all uplifted by being able to join with HM The Queen in celebrating the remarkable achievement of 70 years on the throne in her Platinum Jubilee. It is indeed a joyful period when we can for a time forget serious problems at home and abroad.
Continue reading “A Joyful Season”The beginning of spring this year was stormy but, apart from the few really rough nights, our teams were out for the whole month of March toad watching along Boundary Road in Rowledge. The number of toads was up from the previous year but there were very few frogs and no newts this time. The watchers all did a wonderful job and are warmly thanked for their time and enthusiasm.
Continue reading “Spring 2022 in The Bourne”The following article by our partner the Farnham Biodiversity Group appeared in the Farnham Herald issue of 11th March 2022.
After the recent storms in February, there are signs of spring in the Farnham area. An annual harbinger of spring is the dark-edged bee fly (Bombylius major). This large furry fly is commonly seen on sunny days in gardens in March, hovering noisily in front of spring flowers using its long proboscis to suck up the nectar. It is an important springtime pollinator of both fruit trees and garden flowers. Some people are scared by them, mistaking their long proboscis as a sting; actually, they are totally harmless to us and should be welcomed in the garden and on the allotment. They are frequent visitors to a great variety of flowers, be they white (apple, blackthorn, plum, viburnum), yellow (colt’s foot, dandelion, primrose, celandine) or blue/purple (bluebells, bugle, green alkanet, and germander speedwell).
Continue reading “The bee fly is a true sprite of springtime”The Bourne needs you. Here is the poster we are using in suitable places to attract new active members, who are greatly needed. We are also stepping up our use of social media. The time commitment is flexible – please share with your friends and others who may want to help preserve the environment and character of our area.
2022 is now well under way and it is good to report that our Group has made a very good start for which the foundations were well and truly laid in the last weeks of the previous year. The work then included re-lining the leaking pond in the Middle Bourne Lane Garden and carrying out a major overhaul of the raised bed at Lower Bourne Crossroads. The pond site is looking good as it is full to the brim and surrounded by the fresh turf while, at the Crossroads, the crocuses are flowering and the newly planted alliums and tulips in the raised bed are already visible.
Continue reading “When the storms came to The Bourne”This article appeared in the Farnham Herald of 14 January 2022
Eleni Knox carrying a bundle of cuttings.
The Bourne Conservation Group made a good start to the New Year by carrying out clearance operations in Burnt Hill Wood on behalf of the Borough Council. Parts of this attractive green space had become overgrown in places by gorse, holly and laurel which was impeding access for walkers and joggers. The volunteers therefore opened up the pathways in such a way as to enhance the natural habitat for lower storey plants such as heather and bilberry which will provide substance for wildlife in the spring.
Continue reading “A busy start to big year for Bourne’s volunteers”The Bourne Conservation Group wishes all residents of The Bourne, and particularly our members and friends, a joyful and peaceful Christmas, followed by a happy and successful New Year.
Your Committee is very grateful to all who have supported us this year, which has seen us continue to maintain and improve the sites and public footpaths for which we have taken responsibility. Some of our work has been recorded on the website.
At a time when many have been confined to the local area by the continuing pandemic, we have all been aware of the significance of our environment and appreciation of our workhas been expressed by many who use the public spaces and footpaths of our area. We are always mindful of the needs of wildlife in all its forms.
The year 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Group, and announcements will be made about how this is to be marked. We will use the opportunity to renew our appeals for new volunteers to assist in our work. We are gratified by the number of young people who wish to volunteer with us for their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; we need to match their enthusiasm with some new members who will be able to continue the work after the students have moved on.
Once again, we wish you a very merry Christmas.