Chairman of Tandridge's charity fund for Blanchman's Farm and Lingfield Local

Every year the Chairman of Tandridge District chooses one or more good causes as the Chairman’s Charities for the year. This year I have chosen two local causes, based in the District; Blanchman’s Farm Local Nature Reserve, Warlingham and Lingfield Nature Reserve, Lingfield.

While the freehold of the two reserves belongs to Tandridge District Council, the land is leased by two groups of volunteers who run and look after the sites, mostly funded by grants and fundraising. To keep these two community assets looking natural and providing habitat for native flora and fauna.

Blanchman’s Farm

Blanchman’s Farm Local Nature Reserve is a 25-acre area of woodland and chalk grassland. In 1991 it was established on land saved from development, that was formerly rough pasture, a rugby pitch and waste ground.

In the early days, costs were minimal, as planting 10,000 new trees was the main activity. Saplings were cheap and grants for such things as a 1.5km disabled trackway were easy to obtain.

While we still have ambitions to create new areas, such as wildflower meadows, butterfly areas and specialist habitat, maintenance issues are having to take priority; such things as coppicing, pruning and felling trees, bridge repairs, path maintenance and flood alleviation, cost thousands of pounds per project.

The current situation is that the reserve has an average income of around £3-4,000 per year and an average spend of more than £7,000. Consequently, the Trust’s reserves have halved in just five years.

We want to get back to creating a first class nature reserve, so please help us.

Lingfield

Lingfield Local Nature Reserve is a mixture of meadows, scrub, hedges, ponds, ditches, planted woodlands, an orchard and a butterfly garden. It is a lovely place to enjoy the views to the North Downs and see wildlife and wildflowers.

Just 25 years ago there were only horse paddocks surrounded by barb wire fences. Every year it gets better as the reserve matures and our programme of habitat enhancement bears fruit. Wildlife and wildflowers continue to increase on the reserves.

All this has been achieved through securing grants and donations as the reserve is entirely self-funding, apart from modest grants for mowing and upkeep.

We are therefore delighted that this much loved and valued reserve has been chosen as one of the Chairman's causes. We have ambitious plans to create more wildlife habitat on the reserves and have an ongoing liability to maintain the extensive hard paths which give disabled access and form the safe route to school through the reserves. Any support you can give us will help us improve this wonderful place for the benefit of the community.

Message from the Chairman

Cllr Jeremy Pursehouse

"My team and I will be running a number of fundraising events throughout the municipal year, ending next May. Most of these will be all ticket events, so I have set up this just giving page for those of you who would like to contribute without committing to a ticket to an event or would like to give a little extra.

"My target is £10,000 from this page."

Nature Reserves