It started with a pond. In 1986, Ann Adey, a resident of Normandy, a village between Guildford and Aldershot, galvanised her neighbours to restore a neglected pond on Normandy Common. In 1990 the project was awarded Pondwatch Community Wildlife Pond of the Year. The surrounding area soon became a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI), followed by the rest of the common in 2014, after Surrey Wildlife Trust wrote a management plan, subsequently updated.
Today, Philippa Mitchell leads Normandy Conservation Volunteers, who manage around 29 hectares of wildlife habitat and recreational areas on the common, along with two other sites in the village.
“As well as the wildlife pond, we have a block of dense western hemlock forest, mixed woodland and grassland,” she explains. “We broadly follow the SWT plans and, while some of the work is beyond us, we do what we can. For example, we manage the rhododendron, try to keep horse rides open, and create glades to encourage more herbaceous plants, such as helleborines.
“We’ve been coppicing and learning to scythe to create a better sward for wildflowers. While we have contractors that mow the football pitch, we try and keep the edges uncut through the summer to create more habitat. We’ve been removing invasive New Zealand pygmyweed from the pond. And we’ve commissioned a woodland management plan to remove a chunk of the western hemlock to encourage greater biodiversity.
“In the summer we’ll be doing basic surveys of wildflowers and butterflies. Anything to get people out here, enjoying the nature on our doorstep.”
Philippa is an environmental educator by profession and, when she became a parish councillor in 2021, one of her aims was to encourage local people to look after the amazing natural resource on their doorstep.
“I went to SWT community workshops and talked to SWT experts and other organisers about how to set up a group, get people involved and tap into the knowledge that’s already here. Eventually we held a village meeting with big maps and the management plan, and decided on our priorities.
“We now have a Saturday morning work party every month with anything from five to 20 volunteers. We're lucky to have some expert botanists and ecologists in the community, including Bill Stanworth, who’s chairman of the Surrey Botanical Society.”
Philippa is also delighted to work with Surrey Choices Growth Team, which offers work experience in gardening, countryside management and horticulture to disabled and neurodivergent people. “They work with us regularly and they’re a lovely bunch of people – super keen, always energetic, and they bring a smile to everyone’s face.
“Getting people to volunteer can be hard, but I think those who come always really enjoy themselves.”
