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Bramshott Common - Ontario - PaulE (14th Mar 2014 - 09:17:28) Has anybody any idea just how much longer the tree felling is going to take? I walk up there every morning and can hardly believe how many trees have been cut down. The big heavy vehicles employed in the felling are also churning up some of the tracks that now are beginning to be a really unsightly muddy mess. Will the public ever be able to call Ontario their own once more and regain use of the nominated car parking area closed off?

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - liz (14th Mar 2014 - 09:54:09) Why is it that others can be fined substantial amounts for cutting down trees in the 'bird nesting' season but the MoD can do exactly what it likes. Not a surprise I suppose because it can do what it likes - but I can't believe the work is that urgent or even necessary.

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - Dawn Hoskins (14th Mar 2014 - 13:37:38) I have just had a chat about the land management with the ranger. The land is owned by the MOD for military training purposes, however it is part of a land management programme overseen by the [Surrey] wildlife trust and that is a 10 year running programme. The area should be a natural heath land and many of the trees are not indigenous. The wildlife trust generally views that in a heath land such trees are out of place. There is a bit of a rush at the moment to get the work done before the nesting season, so this may be making it look worse, in addiction there has been many trees affected by the wind and weather which have fallen over. If you would like to speak to the warden he is very helpful as far as guidance is concerned. If you are on the made-up path then you are completely safe from any machines and tree felling equipment. For information on where the made up path is etc call 01420 483331. I am sure that a copy of the land management plan will be available from the wildlife trust also.

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - liz (14th Mar 2014 - 14:18:57) A wildlife trust should know that the bird nesting season starts at the beginning of March. According to my calendar that was two weeks ago and the birds in my garden would seem to agree!

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - Dawn Hoskins (14th Mar 2014 - 14:41:44) I'm just passing on the message, so if you would like to speak to the Wildlife Trust Liz, their details are: www.surreywildlifetrust.org Head Office Surrey Wildlife Trust School Lane Pirbright Woking Surrey GU24 0JN Telephone : 01483 795440 Fax : 01483 486505 Email : info@surreywt.org.uk

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - liz (14th Mar 2014 - 16:16:09) Just an observation, Dawn. Not addressed at you.

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - PaulE (14th Mar 2014 - 16:54:56) Thank you for your comments Dawn and I am aware that I and my dogs are safe on the old made up road, but since the Army - or whoever - closed off access to the original car park I and others have to park just outside of the gate - which doesn't help the muddy verges - or go down to the lower area and possibly get my car damaged owing to the state of the surface. Can't win!

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - Dawn Hoskins (15th Mar 2014 - 17:14:09) It is a difficult one as the MOD own the land and are not duty bound to provide anything whatsoever, let alone parking facilities - yet - we have become used to using the area and miss what is not available. Let us hope that when the machines are gone the car-parking [tank turning area] will reopen.

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - claire (16th Mar 2014 - 21:49:28) Some months before the car park was closed to the public the MOD put up notices asking dog walkers to pick up after their dogs as army personnel and young cadets were fed up of crawling around in dog faeces. It was made clear then that if we didn't pick up after our dogs they would look to discouraging walkers (by restricting access to the car park). I would be astounded if they relented now. A number of us local dog walkers did a number of things at the time such as buying poop bags and leaving them available but there was no noticeable improvement in the pick up rates. The car park closure does appear to have had the desired effect as there is a lot less 'heaps' apparent.

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - Jeanette Kirby (17th Mar 2014 - 07:23:39) Claire, I applaud any dog owners who clear up the mess made by their dogs but I am concerned about your statement that some dog owners have purchased poop bags and leave them available! Do you mean the bags of dog poop left hanging from branches in order for the MOD to collect them? Surely responsible dog owners would bag it and bin it at home or in clearly designated dog poo bins.

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - J (17th Mar 2014 - 14:22:05) I imagine it meant EMPTY bags for people to use as and when they need to....incase people happen to 'forget' their own...therefore helping to reduce the mess

Re: Bramshott Common - Ontario - Jeanette (17th Mar 2014 - 15:00:58) Thanks J I was obviously jumping to conclusions given the number of little plastic bags left lying around. It was a great thought but I guess if some dog owners 'forget' the bags then they will probably 'forget' to clear up after the dogs too. Just wanted to say that although it looks a bit of a mess at the moment, the work being carried out is essential to maintain a healthy heathland habitat and it will recover quickly. In a previous life I was involved in heathland management so I speak from experience. Seeing the rich sprawl of purple heather and having good habitats for the ground nesting birds will make it worthwhile.

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