"What's Going On in Elmbridge?", 9 February 2011

This talk was given by ENHS member David Page, Countryside Estates Officer for Elmbridge Borough Council, who began with some facts and figures about the Elmbridge Countryside Estate and its workforce.  The area involved is some 510 hectares, and includes an assortment of SSSI, LNR, SNCI and ‘Open Spaces’.  There is a workforce of eight, full time.  The team has its own equipment including a tractor, a digger, flail and chipper, with which it carries out site maintenance.

A lot of time is also spent on policing work such as night patrols, on keeping an eye on encroachment along boundaries, and trying to reduce the fly-tipping of rubbish (currently running at around 100 tonnes per annum).  And there is always litter to be picked up.  More positive jobs are the running of public events and volunteer days, and providing signage and interpretation boards.  ‘Outdoor classes’ for schools have been given for about 20,000 children so far.  Liaison with groups such as the Lower Mole Project and the Oxshott Conservators is important, as is supervision of contractors.

Humouring the public is part of the rangers’ job, sometimes difficult, especially when dealing with the more cantankerous dog-walkers.  But the estate cannot be seen as solely for the benefit of wildlife, and even the most awkward of council-taxpayers has to be handled with tact.

Much stir was caused by the recent programme of tree-felling on the Esher commons, but now 22.5 hectares have been completed, and people can start to judge the results.  The process was messy, using gigantic equipment such as a ‘snipper’ and a ‘spinner’ that nipped whole trees off at the base and bore them off.  The trees were chipped and transported to Slough Power Station to make green electricity, then the stumps were mulched to ground level - this material was then scraped up and spread in nearby woodland, leaving the original heathland soil exposed for regeneration.  By public demand, stumps were ground down, but this will actually make the mowing of heather much easier. Grazing was never an option here, and the regenerating heather will need years of intensive maintenance until it is established.

Another recent project has also been controversial: the cleaning out of Black David saw this as a necessary evil, as its condition was declining considerably.  Some 900 lb of fish was removed during the operation, including many common carp, and some monster mirror carp, and there were a good number of rudd, a few gudgeon, and even a 3.5 lb perch.  The carp would have been a serious menace to invertebrates.  The excavation was carried out as sensitively as possible, and areas left where emerald dragonflies were thought to breed.  If they have been lost, it is hoped that they will transfer naturally from Middle Pond.  The banks were built up around the pond to deter dogs from jumping into the pond and causing havoc.  A new area of wetland has been created below the rebuilt dam, where the old swimming huts have been buried under a mound.

At Littleworth Common, a new pond has been created, and 45 species of plant have already been recorded there.  This area was once known as ‘Ditton Marsh’.  In the near future there will be changes at Cowey Sale, when the new Walton Bridge is built.  The council expects to gain an area of wildlife interest as a result.  Nearby, Desborough Island is in line for improvements, maybe cleaning up its public image.

David took us on a photo tour of his sites, starting with the ponds.  All are of interest for their flora or invertebrates - Halfpenny Pond for the starfruit, Chequers Pond for toads and dragonflies, Ash Pond for visiting purple emperor butterflies, Downside Common Pond and the little A3 Pond for great crested newts.

The Esher commons have their special attractions; inevitably David mentioned the 3,000 species of fungus, but the commercial fungus-gatherers are still around in droves.  It was recently discovered that the old wartime water tanks on Esher Common are a historical rarity, maybe needing conservation!  The Ledges is an area of ancient woodland; unfortunately the River Mole is prone to flooding, and the boardwalk gets submerged.  It may need to be rebuilt higher up the bank.

Molesey Heath is developing an interesting flora, and it is essential that it is kept open and free from excessive scrub.

At Fairmile Common, the tarmac area known as the Flying Circle has been removed, and the silver-studded blue butterflies are thriving in the surrounding heather; the best-ever daily total, 215 butterflies, was recorded here last year.  Despite this colony’s isolation, it seems that inbreeding is not currently a problem.  David will be leading a walk here for ENHS on Sunday 19 June, when we will get a chance to marvel at the silver-studded blues!

Dick Alder