Wallington Village Community Association

The planned Environmental events for the next few months are as follows:-

Sunday 22 January - Further coppicing will take place on the river bank in North Wallington. Volunteers should meet outside Riverdale Cottages opposite the Horse Field at the junction with Standard Way at 10.00am They should wear gloves and suitable footwear and, if possible, bring a hand saw. PLEASE NOTE: This job is not suitable for children.

19 February - More coppicing in North Wallington

March/April - The "Pallant" project (now cancelled, see below)

On Sunday 16 October work on reducing the height of the oak trees on the triangle of land behind the houses on the river side of Wallington Shore Road was completed.. Professionally qualified workers did the work on the trees and the work was overseen by the tree expert from Hampshire Highways

On Sunday 20 November over 300 native specimen trees supplied by the Woodland Trust  were planted on the bund on the Wallington Way side of the river. A group of about a dozen volunteers worked hard on this ambitious project which it is envisaged will, over a period of time, provide a natural noise barrier and screen from traffic in Wallington Way and the Delme roundabout. It is proposed to plant the remaining trees on the river bank to the rear of  the Wallington Shore Road houses and at the junction of North Wallington and Standard Way.

On Sunday 16 December a small working party began the task of coppicing the hazel on the river bank in the vicinity of Riverdale Cottages in North Wallington. These trees had not been touched for many years and dealing with one tree took the whole of the morning. The work will continue in January and February and more help will be required.

The workforce for future events will be increased by the addition of young first-time offenders from the Catch 22 organisation which provides reparation opportunities for youngsters. WVCA is delighted to renew its partnership with this excellent body.

WVCA is aware that most of the environmental projects taken on so far have been concentrated in the north of the village around the river bank and Water Meadow. It had been proposed, with the approval and help of local residents, to refurbish the path between Greenbanks Gardens and Pallant Gardens. This proposal has been rejected by a number of residents on the grounds that it could become a popular walk way for non-residents who would park in the road and use the path as a short cut to work.