Who We Support
Guildford
Pioneer Project to reduce carbon emissions in East Horsley
The East Horsley Village Hall Management Committee has now successfully completed a pioneering project aimed at reducing both carbon emissions and the cost of utility bills. A ground source heating system has been installed at the Village Hall, located in Kingston Avenue, East Horsley and it is now fully operational.
A total of 10 bore holes, each 107 metres deep, were made at the rear and side of the hall building, creating surprisingly minimal noise impact. Hence regular activities were able to continue within the building. The project was not without other teething problems, and the committee would be able to share the lessons learned with other local organisations who may be thinking of embarking upon a similar project. However, the system is now fully operational and early estimates indicate that each unit of electricity is producing 3 to 4 units of heat (approximately) - This could save the committee as much as £2,000 per year in utility bills.
This success means that the Committee will be able to fully repay the £5,096 which was awarded from the Rake Community Fund, held with the Community Foundation for Surrey, in three equal installments. This will enable the funds to be ’recycled’ and made available to other projects within the county which are aimed at addressing issues such as low carbon communities and resource use
Snaky Lane Wildlife Group
"[This project has] brought the area to life; the local community are now much more engaged and visiting the site far more frequently".
Snaky Lane is a hugely popular local wildlife area at the heart of the densely populated and largely urban Ash Vale area. A Grassroots Grant of £4,500 from the Community Foundation in 2008 enabled this group of committed volunteers to improve their site facilities to introduce cattle and sheep grazing through the winter months and develop an educational nature trail for local school children.
As a result of these improvements each child in the local primary school now visits Snaky Lane as part of their science curriculum, while the Highland cattle and Beulah sheep have become a very popular visitor attraction and are excellent managers of the wildflower meadow. Over 400 adults and children visit during the very successful annual open days held at the site and Merrist Wood students are able to offer many volunteer hours towards management of the site, in exchange for valuable work experience.
The Community Foundation for Surrey is delighted to have been able to support the work of the Snaky Lane Community Wildlife Group with a further grant of £1,920 from the Orchid Environmental Trust Fund in 2011, to build on their success.