Sing-a-long Down by The Riverbank.
As you may be aware the Cranleigh Civic Society is…continuously ...
This week it accompanied members of the Environment Agency (EA) and Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) on a formal river walk along Cranleigh Waters.
Regular readers of WW will know that we have been highlighting the Society’s concerns about the Cranleigh Waters in Elmbridge Road. (You know, near the dangerous one way Wey and Arun Canal Bridge where motorists regularly play at being Kamikaze pilots! )
Well… it stops flowing, especially during the summer and autumn, and for some time, CCS has been having ongoing discussions with both authorities who, they say, are taking this situation extremely seriously. The river walk was arranged to help identify areas of, low to no flow, obstructions, signs of wildlife, invasive species, as well as gauging the overall depth and width of the river.
It proved to be an extremely useful exercise and the Society wants to thank everyone who took part and looks forward to sharing its report.
But now… it needs help from residents willing to become Volunteer River Wardens? To enable it to continue monitoring the river for pollution, as well as help to improve and protect its biodiversity.
Volunteer River Wardens would be welcomed, and anyone interested in protecting and improving Cranleigh’s local environment should get in touch.
CCS has arranged its first RiverSearch FREE volunteer training day with the help of Surrey Wildlife Trust on 2 September 2016 at Farnham Town Council Offices from 9:30 am to 4:00pm. Numbers are limited to 12 people and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact the CCCS at www.cranleighsociety.org if you would like to reserve a place and for more information.
After the training session volunteers will be assigned a stretch of river (about a 1km ) to carry out a mapping survey (with the landowner’s consent) during which all features and habitats along the river are mapped and photographed and any issues reported.
After this initial mapping survey volunteers will carry out a regular walk over surveys once every 3 months keeping to keep an eye out for any issues as well as recording the wildlife and habitats they come across.
Says the CCS: ” This is an exciting opportunity to get involved and help to protect the river habitat on our own doorstep for the benefit of local people and our local wildlife.”
Keep at it Cranleigh Civic Society – you are doing good!
How typical – river wardens for Cranleigh being trained at Farnham – no doubt park wardens for Farmham will be trained in Cranleigh.
Probably! WW