Welcome to Knaphill Village
The Knaphillian - Knaphill's No.1 Community Website
Introduction...
Conservation is a major part of Knaphill life and indeed its very survival. As more green belt is 'raped' by developers often with the support of local government we invite you to visit what's left of our natural village habitat.
Basingstoke Canal
The Basingstoke Canal can be found in Southern England between the village of Greywell in Hampshire and Woodham in Surrey. It was built between 1788 and 1794 and is 32 miles long with 29 locks. After many years of restoration it's now fully navigable, and connects to the River Wey Navigation, which in turn joins the River Thames. Approximately half of the canal is owned by Hampshire County Council and the other half by Surrey County Council. The "Basingstoke Canal Authority" (part of Hampshire County Council's "Countryside Service") undertake the management of the whole canal. Their offices and visitor centre are located at the Canal Centre, Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett,
Website: Basingstoke Canal
Surrey Wildlife Trust
Surrey Wildlife Trust is a registered charity formed in 1959. Although they are an independent organisation they are one of 47 partners in the Wildlife Trusts, the largest organisation working exclusively in the UK on all aspects of nature conservation.
They currently manage 80 nature reserves covering over 4,000 hectares of Surrey’s countryside. As well as managing their own reserves they also manage land under access agreements with private landowners.
In May 2002, the trust formed a unique partnership with Surrey County Council and assumed management responsibilities for their entire Countryside Estate. They also have a grazing agreement with the Ministry of Defence to graze Ash Ranges, which covers a further 3,200 hectares of land. In May 2007 Mole Valley District Council awarded Surrey Wildlife Trust the management of five of their open spaces; Glory Wood, Deepdene Terrace, The Nower, Ashtead Park and Inholms Claypit.
As an organisation they have 85 members of staff working from a number of locations in Surrey. Surrey Wildlife Trust is divided in to 5 departments: Conservation, Countryside Management, Education, Finance, Marketing and Fundraising.
Their Headquarters are based at Pirbright. They have a Countryside Team based at a depot in East Horsley and they also have a sawmill in Norbury Park operating under the name 'Norbury Park Wood Products'.
Their education service operates from three centres at: Nower Wood, leatherhead; Bay Pond, Godstone and Littlefield Common, near Guildford. Over 7,500 students visit these centres annually.
Surrey Wildlife Trust needs your support to help them with their work for nature conservation and the environment.
Website: The Surrey Wildlife Trust
The Woodland Trust
The Barley Mow Woods is situated between Barley Mow Lane and Barrs Lane in Knaphill. It is with Green belt land and subject to a Tree Preservation Order. Barley Mow Wood, extending to just over 10 hectares, is an important green space in a large residential area. Indeed, it has been described as a "Green Lung" of Woking.
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Barley Mow Woods is a secondary woodland of a diverse character with an interesting range of tree species (48 in total) due in part to the land being situated within the grounds of a former plant nursery. The woodland structure is predominantly high forest of beech and oak with other species such as birch, hornbeam and hazel. Within the mix are small blocks of planted conifers such as yew and Wellingtonia and remnants of formal planted avenues. There are two meadows in the north, which contain a mixture of relatively common grassland species. The site is level and the impermeable clay soils provide some difficult walking conditions in the winter months with standing water in some areas.
This woodland was purchased in 1992 following a very successful local fund raising appeal as it was then under threat of becoming a site for travelling people. There is a good network of paths for visitors and car-parking is available next to the wood at Waterers Park sports ground.
Outside the boundaries of the wood the land is mainly housing to the south and east, and grazed fields with nursery growing to the north and west.
The Woodland Trust states that the wood will be allowed to continue developing semi-natural conditions with a mainly high forest structure. This is likely to be achieved without the need for silvicultural intervention. The woodland will contain mainly native tree species (plus sycamore) with occasional specimen exotics, such as Wellingtonia, for public interest. The woodland will contain no invasive exotic plant species. 2 small glades will be managed to conserve the semi-natural grassland habitat and these will have a good quality woodland edge habitat around their periphery.
Barley Mow will continue to be free and open for public access and the Trust will ensure that safety risks to the public are minimised as far as possible. The wood will continue to be a welcoming place for visitors and will offer a variety of short local walks. The wood will also offer a variety of experiences for the visitor including canopy woodland, open grassland and wide sunny paths.
Website: The Woodland Trust
Have Your Say.....
We firmly believe that ALL residents should have the opportunity to have their say about the issues that affect their village. Here you can voice your opinion in contrast to what local councillors and business developers may think. Have Your say - The Knaphill Village Forum
