http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.ryemeadows.org.uk en-us Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:39:31 +0000 Rocketspark http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/25687/cutting-the-fields-delayed-another-year/ The picture above is of the field Winter Meadow when it had been cut for haymaking in 2016. Since then it and the other fields of Rye Meadows have been cut annually until some three years ago when the weather intervened and the ground became too soft for the heavy tractor and mower attachment.Last year was a strange year as the fields were in the throes of a change of ownership and the key dates of late September/early October was again missed. We have to avoid the time when there may still be g... Wed, 12 Nov 2025 20:20:53 +0000 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post25687 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/25660/very-sad-news-announcing-the-death-of-allan-mornement/ We have just been advised by Allan's wife, Adrienne, that very sadly, Allan passed away yesterday (5th November).Allan had suffered a bad stroke two weeks ago and sadly yesterday succumbed to his illness.Allan was an early volunteer for Rye Meadows and was for a long time Treasurer of the Friends of Ashtead Rye Meadows Wetlands. In 2016 when the commemoration of the WW1 Centenary Field with Fields in Trust was being planned, it was Allan who painstakingly researched everyone from Ashtead who fel... Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:28:01 +0000 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post25660 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/25637/daphne-burnett-awarded-honorary-membership-of-surrey-wildlife-trust/ Daphne Burnett has always been a dedicated supporter of protecting wildlife and encouraging biodiversity, Having bought the land in Ashtead from the estate of the late Lord Barnby she set about managing and protecting it.In 2011 she decided to set aside 14 acres of land that bridged the Rye Brook and create a Jubilee Wood. She sought the assistance of Surrey Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency and the Woodland Trust and thus began the conservation scheme Ashtead Rye Meadows Wetlands. She enco... Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:24:06 +0000 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post25637 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/25314/surrey-wildlife-trust-say-new-land-aquisition-ensures-future-of-wetland-site/ Surrey Wildlife Trust’s mission to improve and connect more habitats for wildlife in Surrey has received a boost thanks to the acquisition this autumn of 17 acres of land at Ashtead Rye Meadows alongside a generous donation for its ongoing management.The land, acquired from forward-thinking landowner, Daphne Burnett, with a strong desire to deliver a permanent legacy for nature, comprises diverse terrain of mature trees, hedgerows, mixed scrub, ponds, meadows and footpaths. Species that could ... Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:30:27 +0100 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post25314 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/24881/rocketspark/ Rye Meadows switched its web site from a Joomla! based application to Rocketspark some three years ago. Ably assisted by Les Huett who designed the present site we have continued to use the Rocketspark's application.We recently heard that upon the annual renewal, the price would be increasing. We wrote to Rocketspark to enquire how we might be able to reduce costs as we were a very modest not-for-profit organisation. Rocketspark have replied and having looked at out site and our organisation and... Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:22:14 +0100 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post24881 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/22901/volunteering-despite-the-poor-weather/ The last volunteering day was on 8th October and it was one of those days the weatherman says will be "showery". The picture above of a bucolic scene with the volunteers enjoying a coffee and a chat was not representative of the day. The showers were frequent and sometimes heavy. In fact one volunteer using a brushcutter remarked the rain was so heavy on his visor he couldn't see what he was doing!Despite the weather we had a very good turnout and achieved a great deal. We worked in Jack Adams f... Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:41:01 +0100 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post22901 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/22087/easyfundraising/ With Easyfundraising you can donate to our funds without it costing you a penny. Just visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk register and select Rye Meadows as your chosen organisation. Then when you visit any one of the 8,000+ online retailers from the 'big boys' like "Amazon" to the little fish like "Fish Soho" they make a percentage donation to us. It might be pence or pounds. It all depends what you spend. BUT THE DONATION COSTS YOU NOTHING EXTRA. You can even download a free App that reminds you ... Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:05:13 +0100 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post22087 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/21734/volunteers-or-mudlarks/ Volunteering on 9th April turned into an "experience"! Moving chippings to the hedge line as a mulch suddenly became more serious as the tractor and trailer became bogged down in a foot deep morass of mud. After trying for a short time to pull the trailer out with the tractor we abandoned the task for some 'brain  food' - coffee and custard creams!Energy replenished, and with everyone helping, we disconnected the tractor and trailer and managed to get the tractor out by pushing chippings un... Thu, 11 Apr 2024 11:10:39 +0100 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post21734 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/21392/hedge-laying-on-rye-meadows/ The Rye Meadows volunteers have started to lay the hedge alongside Footpath 24. The hedge was planted some years ago and has now matured enough to lay down. Amongst our team we have an experienced hedge layer and he has been instructing us in the art of hedge laying. Slow progress to start with as he had to instruct, manage and do all at the same time, but we hope next volunteering day we will progress a little faster as we become more confident.Next autumn we are looking to lay the hedge a... Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:48:09 +0000 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post21392 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/post/17574/heritage-open-days--2024/ Heritage Open Days are between 6th and 15th September 2024 and Rye Meadows will be open to the public to enjoy from 10am to 4pm. On Sunday 8th September Rye Meadows volunteers will be on hand with their stand on Footpath 596 from Fairholme Crescent next to Centenary Field to give out leaflets and maps, and to explain what they do. There will be an opportunity to buy Rye Meadows mugs and tea towels (£5) and the new book on Rye Meadows - Restoring the Great Marsh (£10). This would be an ide... Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.ryemeadows.org.uk/blog/#post17574