1995 to 1999

1995 to 1999

1995

Photograph of notice board, looking north into Jenner's Field

In this year, we erected a notice board near the Vicarage Road entrance (see left) and installed three gates negotiable by wheelchair.

With the help of a group of young volunteers from Germany, we laid the first stretch of path for the disabled. (See here for their picture.)

Vandals burned this down in 2003. (Swine!) We decided not to replace it, as the Centenary Fields' board is nearby. These days, it carries details of both reserves.

Photograph of New Bridge, from Jenner's Field looking north-east

We also opened an entrance in the hedge between Bloomer's and Jenner's Fields, building New Bridge and putting the stream through a culvert.

This entrance allows direct movement between the two fields, something not possible before. It connects to a new stretch of path.

We later widened the bridge to allow mowing machinery to pass over it.

1996

Early in the year, we ran a painting and photographic competition for local children and adults. We also set up the Friends of Lingfield Wildlife Area, an organization of local people interested in the project.

In the summer, the rest of the path around the reserve was given a hard surface. This was mainly financed through the STAR (Strategic Traffic Action in Rural areas) scheme. This was a County Council programme to reduce the effects of car use on country roads.

The Friends and other local people contributed to our activities in National Tree Week that December. In one day, we planted over 700 hedglings (completing the new Bloomer's Hedge), filled in gaps in other hedges, cleared a ditch and removed an unwanted wire fence running across Bloomer's Field.

Later, we cleared more barbed wire from hedges, coppiced the hedge near the Scout Hut and began planting Coldharbour Copse. See here for pictures. We also extended the hard surfacing of paths and planted flowers for the spring.

1997

We began recording the variety and number of species of plants, moths and butterflies, and birds (see the lists here). Our second painting and photographic competition took place that summer, on the theme of butterflies.

In November, we completed planting Coldharbour Copse.

1998

This year we began practical work on our millennial project, a wildlife pond and wetland area in Bloomers Field. Like all our projects it was designed with access for the disadvantaged in mind. This page give details of it.

Photograph of explanatory board, looking north into Jenner's Field

In addition, we erected an explanatory ('interpretative') signboard near the M1 from Vicarage Gate. Here it is, four years later.

That year's winter planting, in very boggy conditions, was of over 200 trees and shrubs around the pond.

1999

The main event of this year, in National Tree Week, was laying 200 yards (180 metres) of hedge, from New Bridge to halfway up Vicarage Hedge (shown right).

This was all done in one November day by members of the South of England Hedgelaying Society. They were helped in this by Friends, who removed and burnt the cuttings. (There are more photographs of the hedgelaying here.)

Meanwhile, other Friends planted a 10-metre length of hedge alongside the pond and wetland.

The newly-laid Vicarage Hedge, looking north towards Centenary Field

That same day, in a small ceremony, we planted two trees - a Beech and a Hornbeam - in memory of Derek Slade, who had died earlier in the year. Derek had grown most of our plants in his back garden, from locally gathered seed and seedlings, and had planted many of them too. We also named after him the small area of new trees near the pond. It is now Derek Slade Spinney.

Here's what we did in 2000 and onwards.