4 minute read
Bookham Residents Ass
Although the monthly BRA Litter Picks have been suspended for the moment, we believe that “Wombling” can continue being part of daily exercise. Many folk have adopted a road, or two, near where they live, and are Wombling there. They pick up any litter on their “patch” whilst keeping a safe distance from others, in order to keep the area looking pleasant. I have grabs that you could use if you would like to be a Wombler too. Just get in touch with me and let me know which road will be on your “patch” It would be wonderful if we could have every road in the Bookhams covered. A huge thank you to all those who are already Wombling. You may well ask what is Wombling? For those unfamiliar with The Wombles they are fictional pointy-nosed, furry creatures created by Elisabeth Beresford and originally appeared in a series of children’s novels from 1968. They live in burrows where they aim to help the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in fun and exciting ways. They had their own BBC TV show and Top Twenty novelty hits. Hence the term “Wombling” has been adopted by many litter picking and recycling groups.
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Margaret Lawson - BRA Litter Pick Co-ordinator litterpick@bookhamresidents.org.uk Alternatively call our message line: 0300 030 9890.
You can find out more on BRA projects and activities on the BRA website which is updated weekly. You can also get in touch via the website and sign up to our occasional e-mail service. www.bookhamresidents.org.uk
Scan the QR code below using your mobile or tablet’s camera to go straight to the BRA website.
THE LEATHERHEAD & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
THE HISTORIC VINEYARDS OF MOLE VALLEY
Wine has been made for centuries from grapes grown in the Mole Valley. The Leatherhead & District Local History Society’s pre-Christmas Miscellany online gathering heard BILL WHITMAN talk about local vineyards including one heroic failure. The Romans produced wines at Cobham and Painshill Park where there is still a vineyard on the north side of the lake. Traces of the original were found on sloping ground leading down from the gatehouse off the Portsmouth Road. The other site is Cock’s Farm at Abinger where excavations have uncovered ordered post-holes, spaced to support vines. In medieval times vines were grown to provide wine mainly for church use. However the market reduced after King Henry II inherited Anjou and imports became easier, while later the monasteries were closed by Henry VIII. In Bookham, on Bagden Lane near Polesden Lacey, we have Phoenice Farm. The name means ‘vineyard’. The fields slope sharply down and face south. In 1964 R. Barrington-Brock published Starting a Vineyard, summarising his experiments growing vines at Oxted to the east along the A25. Some years later the Royal Horticultural Society planted rows of vine varieties experimentally at Wisley. At least four local commercial vineyards exist as well as Painshill. They are dominated of course by Denbies at Dorking, said to be the largest in southern England. High Clandon has a smaller vineyard, planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines in the classic Champagne proportions. The grapes produce a pleasant sparkling English wine. The landscaped site is just south of the A246, near Cherry Trees Children’s Home. Just south of there on the other side of the Down is the Silent Pool beauty spot where another vineyard also produces a sparkling wine and fancy gin. The fourth vineyard is at Thorncroft Farm, Leatherhead. The vines are not immediately obvious as they are tucked away in a coomb above the railway line, just below the path from Bocketts Farm to the water treatment works. There are plantations of elder trees whose flowers are used for elderflower champagne. The producers at Thorncroft Farm tried unsuccessfully to brand their product ‘Elder-Flower Champagne’ but the name is jealously guarded by producers of the real thing. For more information on the L&DLHS go to
www.leatherheadhistory.org
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