Claygate Recreation Ground Trust
March 2025
TRUST EXPLORES TREE SOLUTIONS FOR THE REC
Claygate’s thriving recreation ground is used by many thousands of residents and visitors every year, and is unusual in being run by a group of trustees. The Trust is responsible for keeping the park safe and accessible, as well as for preparing the football and cricket pitches. It manages the Claygate Pavilion and maintains the family garden, the multi-use games area and the woodland.
One serious issue it faces is the scourge of ash dieback. This disease, which is expected to kill more than 80 per cent of the ash trees in the UK, is badly affecting trees in the woodland between the Rec, Foley Road and Claygate Primary School. Ash trees make up nearly three quarters of the wood and all will have to be felled and removed. Native European ash trees have no resistance to this fungus that came from Asia about 30 years ago.
The Trust is exploring options for replanting the woodland. It is eager to hear from residents who have ideas about how it should be done and about fundraising. The aim is to achieve a mix of native planng that will attract wildlife and retain the character of this patch of wilderness.
Elsewhere on the Rec, it is heartening to see the flourishing of the family garden, planted in 2022. It features multiple native species of trees, bushes and flowers and is now well used by the community.
OUTDOOR GYM/TRIM TRAIL
The Trust is sending a fundraising proposal to the National Lottery Fund and is working on another to Elmbridge Borough Council for a grant to build an outdoor gym or trim trail around the Rec. In last year’s resident survey run by the Parish Council, more than 600 people suggested an outdoor gym. Any resident able to make a contribution to fundraising can email amin@crgt.co.uk, or make a donation on its website https://www.claygaterecreationgroundtrust.org.uk/
BIG EVENTS ON THE REC THIS YEAR
- Claygate 5-mile run – July 6
- The Claygate Flower and Village Show – July 12
- Gig on the Rec: “Totally Elton” – July 13, 6pm
These long-standing community favourites are sure to attract big crowds!
October 2024
ASH TREES TO BE REMOVED FROM REC WOODLAND AREA
The woodland area on Claygate Recreation Ground comprises at least 70 per cent ash trees, the majority of which are affected by Ash Dieback disease. Members of the Claygate Recreation Ground Trust are working with tree specialists and Elmbridge Borough Council to decide how best to deal with the problem and ensure public safety.
Ash Dieback is a serious disease, caused by a fungus called Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus. The disease was discovered in 2006, and has devastated the ash tree population all over Europe, spreading rapidly across the continent. It came to the UK via imported trees and chopped wood, with devastating effects. The spores can be blown by the wind over distances of up to 30km.
In most cases the disease kills the tree and it affects trees of all ages. Young trees can be killed in one season and older trees tend to succumb after several seasons of infection. In their weakened state they are often colonised by other pathogens such as honey fungus, accelerating the death of the tree.
Symptoms include black blotches on leaves, necrotic spots on stems and branches, with a grey bark and wood discolouration, dark lesions on the lower trunks, and die-back of shoots and branches.
CRGT trustees are hugely saddened that ultimately, for public safety, all the ash trees in the Rec will have to be removed before they fall. The Trust will be looking at how best to replant the area to replace these graceful and beautiful native trees and best serve the community and local wildlife.
March 2024
TREES AND SOLAR PANELS CREATE A GREENER REC
Nine saplings have been planted on the Recreation Ground by members of the committee that looks after and runs the village park.
They put on wellies and picked up spades to plant five oaks, two flowering cherries and two alders gifted to the Claygate Recreation Ground Trust by Surrey County Council as part of its county-wide tree-planting scheme, which aims to make the county carbon neutral by 2050 and involves planting 1.2m trees – one for every citizen of the county – by 2030.
As stewards of the Rec, the CRGT committee regards strengthening biodiversity as a key responsibility and hopes that these young trees soon take root and become enjoyable features for generations to come.
While we were planting the trees, many people walked past and confirmed how important it is to keep a balance on the Rec between areas to play and relax and habitats for wildlife. One more tree still needs to go in the ground – a willow – which we plan to plant near the Church Road entrance where there is often standing water.
Another way we are helping the environment is through the recent installation of 48 solar panels on the pavilion roof, thanks to a grant we were able to access with the help of the cricket club.
In less than four weeks we have already generated nearly 300kWh of our own electricity, meaning we are less dependent on the grid, bringing down our electricity bills and saving valuable carbon emissions. The panels are supported by a 13.5kWh battery which means we can store energy for when the sun doesn't shine.
