Heath Week

The Thames Basin Heaths Partnership is organisaing a week of fun activities aimed at protecting all local heathland and especially the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area, of which Ash Ranges is an important part. It’ll be the 4^th annual Heath Week since the Thames Basin Heaths team took over, and we’re determined to make it a good one. There’ll be lots going on locally, including wildlife encounters and opportunities to meet the Fire Service, plus lots on social media.

Sarah Bunce (Communications Officer) from the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership explains more.

Saturday 24^th to Friday 30^th July 2021!

Join us in celebrating a precious wilderness that’s home to rare silver-studded blue and grayling butterflies, a dazzling collection of dragonflies and all six species of native reptiles. Discover a world of nocturnal birds, carnivorous plants, super-fast beetles and so much more.

Come and meet the folk that fight the fires! This year we’re teaming up with the Fire & Rescue Services. They’ll be here with fire engines and unimogs to let kids have a seat in the cab and play at being a firefighter! Come along and find out how we can all help to make the countryside a safer place.

There’ll be lots of opportunities to meet wildlife too, with nightjar walks, butterfly safaris and close encounters with reptiles. It’s so true that you don’t have to go abroad to find rare and amazing wildlife, fascinating history and beautiful landscapes. They’re right here on our doorstep. We love sharing it all with you, it’s the highlight of our year, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Please join in by coming along and by spreading the word.

Thames Basin Heaths Partnership

Full programme at www.tbhpartnership.org.uk/heath-week/

Here’s a taster of what’s on offer…

Zoe’s Sensory Scavenger Hunt – Sunday 25th July 2021 – 11am to 2pm – Lightwater Country Park, The Avenue, Lightwater, Surrey GU18 5RG

Heath Week Herbivores – Tuesday 27th July 2021 – 11am to 2pm – Whitmoor Common, Salt Box Road Car Park, Guildford, Surrey GU3 3LH

Heathland’s Smaller Creatures (A Zoom Talk) – Wednesday 28th July 2021 – 7pm – 9pm.

An Insect Walk on Horsell Common – Thursday 29th July 2021 – 2pm – 4pm – Horsell Common, Sandy Track Car Park, Horsell, Surrey GU21 4BZ

Butterflies & Other Things With Wings – Thursday 29th July 2021 – 10am to 3pm – Chobham Common, Staple Hill Car Park, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8TU

Wildfire Roadshow – Thursday 29th July 2021 – 11am to 2pm – Chobham Common, Roundabout Car Park, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8TL

Reptile Roadshow – Friday 30th July 2021 – 11am to 3pm – Ockham Common, Boldermere Car Park on Old Lane, Ockham, Surrey KT11 1NA

Sarah Bunce (Communications Officer) for Thames Basin Heaths Partnership

More at www.tbhpartnership.org.uk.

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thamesbasinheathspartnership

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/TBHPartnership

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/tbhpartnership

Image credits

All images provided, www.tbhpartnership.org.uk & Ash Parish News

PURPLE SPECTACULAR: The image above is of common heather, or ling

The image above is of a Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) butterfly, which is found mainly in heathland where the silvery-blue wings of the males provide a wonderful sight as they fly low over the heather

Cattle Returning to Ash Ranges

The nightjars will arrive back from Africa in May. Their churring ‘song’ sounds nothing like other birds you’ve heard!