Template:Courier-OCT-25-10

FANTASTIC RANGE OF EVENTS IN BUSY YEAR FOR THE CVA

More than 40 organisations set up stalls to demonstrate their activities hoping to attract new members at the Claygate Village Association's Get Involved Day. The event, which took place inside and outside the Village Hall, including in the car park, was very well attended, giving everyone a chance to discover a new activity or volunteer for a local organisation.

The day included dances by the Thames Valley Morris Men, who are based in Claygate, and a display by the Esher District Local History Society, curated by Terry Gale.

The CVA thanks everyone who helped to organise the event, including the Parish Council, which paid for the hall hire, and all the participants on the stalls. The village is so lucky to have such a wide range of opportunities in and around Claygate.

OPEN GARDENS

Twelve private gardens took part in the CVA's popular Open Garden Trail in June, some for the first time. The event was first held as part of the CVA's millennium celebrations 25 years ago. Visitors and gardeners reported that they thoroughly enjoyed the trail and the perfect dry and sunny conditions.

Visitors were invited to explore the varied gardens, talking with owners, meeting friends and neighbours and enjoying tea and home-made cakes at some stops.

The trail also included Claygate's two allotment sites, where allotment holders talked about vegetable growing, plus Holy Trinity Church's wild flower garden and the Recreation Ground garden.

The CVA warmly thanks all those who created this pleasurable social event by inviting visitors to share their gardens. Garden owners said that working in their gardens in spring was made more enjoyable with the Open Garden Trail goal to look forward to. And the CVA thanks the garden visitors for their generous donations: the event raised a whopping £1,000 for CVA funds, which is invaluable as it depends entirely on community donations to run its various events The several charities chosen by individual garden owners also benefited from visitors' donations.

The next Open Gardens event will take place in 2027 an as more people are coming forward to take part and op their gardens, the CVA will explore holding a weekend-long event. The Association would love to hear from anyone who might consider opening their garden.

CLAYGATE IN BLOOM

The CVA's annual bring-and-buy plant sale in May raised more than £450, thanks to the large number of lovely plants that were donated by residents.

This year it was decided to change the planting scheme of tubs in The Parade to make them more drought tolerant. And the new regime has been a success -the tubs have required less water despite the hot summer. Cath Boyce did an excellent job in researching suitable plants and the CVA offers its thanks to the team of volunteers who have weeded and watered the tubs throughout the summer.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

The Claygate Christmas lights will be switched on at an event in The Parade on Saturday November 29, starting at 4pm. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate Christmas in our community. There will be music, carol singing, food and drink, community stalls, children's rides and more.

ABOUT THE CVA

Claygate Village Association is a non-political charity that aims to preserve and enhance the village nature of Claygate. For income, it relies on donations, grants and money raised at events. It also relies hugely on volunteers and always welcomes new people and new ideas.

The Association's Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday November 19 at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church Hall. All Claygate residents are automatically members of the CVA and so are urged to go along and have their say about the CVA's work and activities.

After the business of the evening is concluded, there will be a talk: "Blue Hearts and Trees" by Bill Raspin, a local volunteer, who will explain the Blue Heart wildflower verges project (see his article on Page 21). And Dave Page, retired Elmbridge Countryside Estates Officer, will speak about the Claygate Common management programme. Everyone will be warmly welcomed for what promises to be an interesting and informative evening.