Swan Sanctuary sees Surge in Calls Swan Sanctuary sees Surge in Calls 28

By Monica Chard By Monica Chard

Once lockdown ended and we started tasting Once lockdown ended and we started tasting freedom again, the calls to the Swan SanctuOnce lockdown ended and we started tasting freedom again, the calls to the Swan Sanctufreedom again, the calls to the Swan Sanctuary regarding waterfowl in distress started in ary regarding waterfowl in distress started in ary regarding waterfowl in distress started in earnest. Steve Knight told Shepperton Matters earnest. Steve Knight told Shepperton Matters he has never seen such a volume of calls. Daily reports of birds caught in fishing twine, earnest. Steve Knight told Shepperton Matters he has never seen such a volume of calls. Daily reports of birds caught in fishing twine, he has never seen such a volume of calls. Daisome with their feet bound together, cygnets some with their feet bound together, cygnets ly reports of birds caught in fishing twine, hobbled with twine which would inevitably hobbled with twine which would inevitably some with their feet bound together, cygnets hobbled with twine which would inevitably Dreadful dog attack on swan Dreadful dog attack on swan immense suffering. In addition, it ends up in immense suffering. In addition, it ends up in the food chain, with fish ingesting it. Take it the food chain, with fish ingesting it. Take it home! home! Likewise plastic. We have all seen images of Likewise plastic. We have all seen images of distressed animals and birds on TV, but the distressed animals and birds on TV, but the fact is, it is happening right on our doorstep. fact is, it is happening right on our doorstep. Please take responsibility. Please take responsibility. Another shocker is dog attacks on birds. This Another shocker is dog attacks on birds. This photo says it all. One swan with young was photo says it all. One swan with young was attacked by a dog, leaving her seriously inattacked by a dog, leaving her seriously injured. jured. cut through their legs if for no human intercut through their legs if for no human interLast but no means least is antisocial behaviour Last but no means least is antisocial behaviour vention. And birds with hooks caught in their vention. And birds with hooks caught in their from boat owners. A trip out on the river is a from boat owners. A trip out on the river is a necks! If you fish, or know someone who necks! If you fish, or know someone who wonderful time for a drink or two, but a large wonderful time for a drink or two, but a large does please make sure you dispose of fishing does please make sure you dispose of fishing vessel was seem aiming at speed directly at a vessel was seem aiming at speed directly at a twine sensibly. You may think that your little twine sensibly. You may think that your little large group of waterfowl on the Thames relarge group of waterfowl on the Thames rebit makes no difference, but it really can cause bit makes no difference, but it really can cause cently. That sort of high jinx and drink filled cently. That sort of high jinx and drink filled bravado is simply idiocy! bravado is simply idiocy! cut through their legs if for no human interSo thank goodness for the Swan Sanctuary. Dot Beeson may no longer be with us but her So thank goodness for the Swan Sanctuary. Dot Beeson may no longer be with us but her vention. And birds with hooks caught in their legacy lives on. She made such a contribution legacy lives on. She made such a contribution necks! If you fish, or know someone who to the well being of wild fowl that the City of to the well being of wild fowl that the City of does please make sure you dispose of fishing twine sensibly. You may think that your little London have erected a plaque to her. Please help this fantastic organisation continue with their great work. There are lots of London have erected a plaque to her. Please help this fantastic organisation continue with their great work. There are lots of bit makes no difference, but it really can cause options. The Swan Sanctuary has a wish list options. The Swan Sanctuary has a wish list on Amazon which is easy to find. You could on Amazon which is easy to find. You could sponsor a swan, buy something from the sponsor a swan, buy something from the online shop or you can make a donation. All online shop or you can make a donation. All this is linked through their website: this is linked through their website:

Normally, around this time of the year, we would be contacting our guests to invite them to the annual Christmas Day Lunch at the Greeno Centre Shepperton, however, sadly because of the continuing effects of the virus and distancing rules / regulations etc and for the safety of our guests and volunteers, we regretfully will not be able to arrange this event this year. Even if the Greeno Centre can reopen, it will be under a very different way of working. This decision has not been taken lightly. We are particularly disappointed as this year would have been the 30 th anniversary of the event. We hope to be able to welcome everybody back to Greeno Christmas Day in December 2021. However, to celebrate this 30 year anniversary, we plan to distribute festive gift bags during Christmas week, which will be delivered by volunteers. To support this, we should be grateful to receive monetary donations and volunteers to help with this project.

Ashford Kitchens & Interiors Are Back Doing What They Love Most Ashford Kitchens & Interiors Are Back Doing What They Love Most Like other local independent businesses, owner Stephen Flower and his team had to adapt quickly to cope with the Like other local independent businesses, owner Stephen Flower and his team had to adapt quickly to cope with the unusual circumstances that the Covid-19 Pandemic has brought. With both showrooms now open and having completed unusual circumstances that the Covid-19 Pandemic has brought. With both showrooms now open and having completed an exciting new refit in both the Ashford and Farnham Common showrooms there are some beautiful new displays to an exciting new refit in both the Ashford and Farnham Common showrooms there are some beautiful new displays to come and see. come and see. ‘Our fantastic team set themselves up working from home around family life and we were able to provide remote de‘Our fantastic team set themselves up working from home around family life and we were able to provide remote design consultations. We are now fitting installations of customers that first got in touch during the period that the showsign consultations. We are now fitting installations of customers that first got in touch during the period that the showroom was closed!’ MD Stephen Flower proudly explains. room was closed!’ MD Stephen Flower proudly explains. ‘Our trusted and long-standing suppliers have been incredible, resuming production and distribution quickly and re‘Our trusted and long-standing suppliers have been incredible, resuming production and distribution quickly and responsibly. It is testament to the relationships we have built together that we have been able to get through this unpresponsibly. It is testament to the relationships we have built together that we have been able to get through this unpredictable time and resume installations to our usual high standards.’ dictable time and resume installations to our usual high standards.’ The message from this family business is clear and positive through these stressful and turbulent times - ‘We are open The message from this family business is clear and positive through these stressful and turbulent times - ‘We are open and would love to welcome you back into our showrooms’ says Richard Flower, founder of the business which first and would love to welcome you back into our showrooms opened its doors in 1984. ’ says Richard Flower, founder of the business which first opened its doors in 1984. With the rise in people working from home, they are also seeing an increase in Home Office enquiries, with a fantastic With the rise in people working from home, they are also seeing an increase in Home Office enquiries, with a fantastic choice of styles and the ability to tailor the space to your personal requirements. Fitted Bedroom enquiries are also choice of styles and the ability to tailor the space to your personal requirements. Fitted Bedroom enquiries are also plentiful ‘perhaps we are all valuing our home and personal space more than ever before’. plentiful ‘perhaps we are all valuing our home and personal space more than ever before’. Grace Flower, wife to Stephen ‘We are here when you are ready. We have put procedures in place to keep everyone Grace Flower, wife to Stephen ‘We are here when you are ready. We have put procedures in place to keep everyone safe and comfortable. We love what we do and this period has highlighted just how much we enjoy making a positive safe and comfortable. We love what we do and this period has highlighted just how much we enjoy making a positive difference to the homes and lives of our customers’ We are so glad to be back in the showrooms and we look forward to difference to the homes and lives of our customers welcoming you.’ ’ We are so glad to be back in the showrooms and we look forward to welcoming you.’ Ashford Kitchens & Interiors offer a local, friendly, knowledgeable kitchen, bedroom and home office design service. Ashford Kitchens & Interiors offer a local, friendly, knowledgeable kitchen, bedroom and home office design service. Whether you are after some inspiration for a new home project or would like advice on the latest appliance -they are Whether you are after some inspiration for a new home project or would like advice on the latest appliance ready to help! -they are ready to help! For more information please go to their websitewww.ashfordinteriors.co.uk For more information please go to their websitewww.ashfordinteriors.co.uk If you would like to enquire about a free design consultation or to visit a showroom please call If you would like to enquire about a free design consultation or to visit a showroom please call Farnham Common -01753 642362 Ashford Showroom -01784 245964 Farnham Common -01753 642362 Ashford Showroom -01784 245964