In this section we keep you up to date with news from Clandon Wood we think may be of interest or helpful and also details of all the events that are taking place in our pavilion and around the grounds during the year. For our latest nature related news click here to read Phil’s nature blog.
Here are details for the late Summer 2026 to Spring 2027 programme.
If you are interested in taking part or to book your place please email Phil Armshaw, our senior groundsman, at: philip.armshaw@nbuk.org . We have up to 10 places at each event so you will need to book to guarantee a place.
Each volunteer day will meet at 10 am and end at 3pm. You will need to wear clothes suitable for working including boots or wellies and also bring a packed lunch.
August
Fri 28th
Grassland Management in East Orchard
Today we'll be cutting the grass with a mechanical scythe and removing it to compost.
September
Fri 25th
Grassland Management for Snakes and Flowers.
Today we cut the grass by the central hedge. Using survey data from the monitoring squares we did earlier in the year how we cut has been refined so that there is a continuous habitat link across the site. We'll also be topping up our grass snake compost piles.
October
Fri 9th
Grassland Management
We're continuing the vital job of cutting and removing grass to encourage more wildflowers next year.
Fri 23rd
Sitting down on the job
We'll be installing some new benches in key places in the meadows.
November
Fri 6th
Grassland Management
Weather permitting we'll continue to cut and remove grass from the verges of the site. Providing grass snake compost piles and retaining wildlife corridors.
Fri 20th
Willow coppicing and shade dome creation
Today we'll return to the willows and coppice what was regenerated two years ago. We'll have plots of useful materials for all our projects.
December
Fri 4th
Bulb planting
Today we repeat our bulb planting, which made this spring even prettier this year.
Fri 18th
End of year celebration
A chance to reflect on our achievements and plan for 2027 and what we want to learn and do.
January
Fri 8th
West Meadow Orchard Creation
If our tree delivery has been received we'll begin to plant the apples, pears, plums, damsons and cherries. A bountiful harvest in years to come helping pollinators and winter food for thrushes, redwing and fieldfares.
Fri 22nd
East Meadow Orchard Creation
Continuing our work in west meadow well be planting fruit trees in East Meadow. Creating larger orchards will increase this specialist habitat
February
Fri 5th
Hedge laying
Thorn hedges make the most stock proof and provide wonderful nesting habitat, they can be painful to work on. Gloves and first aid kit will be provided.
Fri 19th
Hedge laying and willow work
Today we'll finish off the hedge laying and weave in some beautiful heatherings to make it look wonderful and keep it nice and tight.
March
Fri 5th
Wattle Fencing
For our first session we'll weave around the refuge area opposite our shade dome in West meadow. It will be a great opportunity to see if you remember the 5 rules of weaving wattle.
Fri 19th
Wattle Fencing
With our skills replenished we'll begin the first of the new fences for this winter. There'll be plenty to do if you miss this time.
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Our programme is run by Phil Armshaw, our Senior Groundsman, who has worked with conservation volunteers for 40 years helping people to learn about and get involved in nature conservation projects.
If you want to learn new skills, meet new people and help make Clandon Wood an even better habitat for local flora and fauna then do come along; you will always be welcome.
| 26th April 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 27th April 2026 | 11.00am – 1.00pm | ‘Come To My Funeral’¹ |
| 24th May 2026 | 2.00pm – 4.30pm | Jazz in the meadow⁴ |
| 28th May 2026 | 4.00pm – 7.00pm | Gong bath meditation (With Tania Morrison²) |
| 31st May 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 20th June 2026 | 7.00pm – 9.00pm | Sinatra at sunset⁵ |
| 21st June 2026 | 4.00am – 7.00am | Summer solstice meditation & gong bath (With Tara ³) |
| 21st June 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Father’s Day (Seed packets will be available) |
| 28th June 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 26th July 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 30th Aug 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 27th Sept 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 25th Oct 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 29th Nov 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 11th Dec 2026 | 9.00am – 4.00pm | Last day to order Xmas wreath |
| 13th Dec 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Xmas at Clandon Wood (Music, mince pies and mulled wine) |
| 18th Dec 2026 | 7.00am – 9.00am | Winter solstice gong bath (With Marc Mortiboys) |
| 19th Dec 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Xmas wreath collection day |
| 20th Dec 2026 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Xmas wreath collection day |
¹ With Helen Noble and Simon Ferrar. Free to attend. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/come-to-my-funeral-tickets-1976035007902?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
² Gong bath meditation with Tania Harrison - All proceeds in aid of the Fountain Centre Cancer Support Charity
³ Book direct with Tara by calling 07827 818648. www.taralove.co.uk
Tickets cost £30.
⁴ Tickets £20: Information and booking details for this event can be found here:
https://guildfordfringe.com/events/jazz-in-the-meadow/
⁵ Tickets £30: Information and booking details for this event can be found here: https://guildfordfringe.com/events/sinatraatsunset/
Note: All profits for this event will be donated to Crossroads Care Surrey
Here are details for the Spring to mid-Summer programme.
If you are interested in taking part or to book your place please email Phil Armshaw, our senior groundsman, at: philip.armshaw@nbuk.org . We have up to 10 places at each event so you will need to book to guarantee a place.
Each volunteer day will meet at 10 am and end at 3pm. You will need to wear clothes suitable for working including boots or wellies and also bring a packed lunch.
Please note that the dates for April and May below replace the previously announced dates of 17th April and 1st May 2026.
April
Fri 10th
Veteran tree creation
Clandon has lots of trees but they are all very young. A veteran tree has decay, dead branches, hollows, thick fissured bark, peeling bark, so many places for insects, birds and fungi to call home. This will be a first for Clandon so let's learn together.
Friday 24th
Tree and hedge row mulching
To help our new planting establish lets spread some wood chips that will help suppress weeds and conserve moisture on the drier summer months.
May
Friday 8th
Hedge weeding
Last year we weeded some of the boundary hedge with great success. Let's do some more so another section can grow well.
Friday 22nd
Ragwort pulling
It's that time of year when we have a beautiful walk through the flowery meadow and play spot the ragwort.
June
Friday 5th
Ragwort pulling
A chance to find the plants that hid from us last time
Friday 19th
Hedgerow weeding
Be a hedge hero by removing the competition for water from more of our young hedges
July
Friday 3rd
Ragwort pulling
This should be our last time pulling before the hay harvest.
Friday 17th
West pond island
I'm hoping for warm weather as we make some straw sausages to fix to the island to make it a little larger
Friday 31st
Hay
Our last task before a summer holiday. Taking hay from the orchards to help maintain the wildflowers.
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Our programme is run by Phil Armshaw, our Senior Groundsman, who has worked with conservation volunteers for 40 years helping people to learn about and get involved in nature conservation projects.
If you want to learn new skills, meet new people and help make Clandon Wood an even better habitat for local flora and fauna then do come along; you will always be welcome.
After several years of absence we will have the pleasure of sheep returning to graze the meadows at Clandon Wood. They’ll be on site from 20th January until the end of April at the latest.
Below are answers to some questions you may have:
How will it work? Can I still visit my loved one’s plot?
To manage grazing levels the West meadow will be divided into smaller sections with electric fencing. The meadows will remain open as usual with access to grazed areas through gates being incorporated within the electric fences so that all plots will be accessible at all times. The gates near the car park will be closed but pedestrian access will be via smaller side gates.
Please make sure to close all gates after passing through.
Can I still bring my dog?
Yes, dogs are still welcome but only on short leads.
It’s also vital that all dog faeces is picked up. Even healthy dogs can unknowingly carry parasites such as Toxoplasmosis and Neosporosis which can cause serious illness in sheep.
Why are the meadows being grazed as well as cut?
The simple answer is it benefits wildlife and the wildflowers in our meadows.
Grazing after the hay crop, known as aftermath grazing, removes the regrowth of grasses allowing wildflowers to flourish. You may have noticed how much the grass grew during last year’s warm wet autumn in some places reaching 30 cm tall and becoming very dense.
As the sheep graze their pointed hooves press into the soil improving drainage and creating small pockets of bare ground where wildflower seeds can germinate. In addition their dung provides food for a different community of insects which in turn supports more birds and bats.
Another benefit of grazing is that it will make your loved one’s plot easier to find as the meadow will be nibbled low and neat. Over time the grasses will become finer, wildflowers will increase and the height and density of the meadow will gradually soften restoring a richer and more balanced landscape.
What type of sheep are we using?
Our grazier keeps ‘Romney’ sheep, a hardy, traditional breed often used for conservation grazing. Romney sheep are a sturdy and adaptable English lowland breed being a familiar site on their indigenous areas of the Romney Marsh and lowlands of the South East coast of Kent and Sussex. They are a dual-purpose breed bred for both their wool and meat.
Our Christmas tree will be in the pavilion early next week and we welcome you to come and write a message to your loved one on the paper tags provided and hang it on the tree. There are services most days in the pavilion so please time your visit accordingly, either in the first half of the morning or at the weekends.
On Sunday 7th December come and join us from 11.30am to 2.30pm in the pavilion for Christmas at Clandon to enjoy mince pies, gingerbread men as well as a glass of warming mulled wine and live music from Joe Riley, with some Christmas classics including those of Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé.
Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th December – Come and collect your pre-ordered wreath from the pavilion between 11:30 – 14:30. Please go to the office if a member of staff is not in the pavilion. Please note the last date to order a Christmas wreath is Friday 5th December.
The office will be staffed and the car park open over the Christmas period as follows:
2025
| Wednesday 24th December | 9am - 4pm |
| Thursday 25th December (Office closed - car park open) | 11am -1pm |
| Friday 26th December (Office and car park open) | 11am - 1pm |
| Saturday 27th December | 11am – 3pm |
| Sunday 28th December | 11am – 3pm |
| Monday 29th December | 9am - 4pm |
| Tuesday 30th December | 9am - 4pm |
| Wednesday 31st December | 9am - 4pm |
2026
| Thursday 1st January (Office and car park open) | 11am - 1pm |
| Friday 2nd January | 9am – 4pm |
| Saturday 3rd January | 11am – 3pm |
| Sunday 4th January | 11am – 4pm |
Please note the pedestrian gate is open outside of these hours during which please use the parking bays outside the main gates.
Here is the schedule for our conservation volunteer programme for the late summer through to the end of this year. It takes place, usually weekly, on Fridays starting at 10 am and ending at 3 pm.
Don’t forget you will need to:
If you have not been involved before, the group is open to anyone with an interest in making Clandon Wood an even better habitat for local wildlife and to learn new skills. It’s also a great opportunity to meet new people. If you are interested in joining simply e-mail Phil using the address below.
We have up to 10 places at each event so you will need to book to guarantee your place by emailing Phil Armshaw at: philip.armshaw@nbuk.org
August
Fri 22nd - Grassland Management in West Orchard
Today we'll be cutting the grass with a mechanical scythe and removing it to compost.
Fri 29th - Grassland Management for Snakes and Flowers.
Today we cut the grass by the central hedge. Using survey data from the monitoring squares we did earlier in the year how we cut has been refined so that there is a continuous habitat link across the site. We'll also be topping up our grass snake compost piles.
September
Fri 5th - Grassland Management
We're continuing the vital job of cutting and removing grass to encourage more wildflowers next year.
Fri 19th - Nature Boards
We'll be installing some new signs around site telling visitors about the wildlife on site.
Fri 26th Grassland Management
Weather permitting we'll continue to cut and remove grass from the verges of the site. Providing grass snake compost piles and retaining wildlife corridors.
October
Fri 3rd - Nature Boards
Today we'll install the last of the new information boards.
Fri 10th - Grassland Management
Today we return to grassland management, making Clandon Wood ready for summer 2026.
Fri 17th - Hedgerow Creation
On the steep bank by the working yard a line of young sycamore trees can be layed to create a hedgerow that will benefit wildlife and secure our yard.
Fri 24th - West Meadow Orchard Creation
If our tree delivery has been received we'll begin to plant the apples, pears, plums, damsons and cherries. A bountiful harvest in years to come helping pollinators and winter food for thrushes, redwing and fieldfares.
Fri 31st - East Meadow Orchard Creation
Continuing our work in west meadow well be planting fruit trees in East Meadow. Creating larger orchards will increase this specialist habitat.
November
Fri 7th - Return to West Meadow
It's unlikely that we would have planted all the trees in our first session but this visit should complete planting in West.
Fri 14th - Return to East Meadow.
The orchard extension in east meadow is bigger than west, let's see if we can complete it this week or will another week be needed.
Fri 21st - Hedge laying
Thorn hedges make the most stock proof and provide wonderful nesting habitat, they can be painful to work on. Gloves and first aid kit will be provided.
Fri 28th - Hedge laying
Today we'll finish off the hedge laying and weave in some beautiful heatherings to make it look wonderful and keep it nice and tight.
December
Fri 5th - Wattle Fencing
For our first session we'll return to the fence that we were unable to complete early this year. It will be a great opportunity to see if you remember the 5 rules of weaving wattle.
Fri 12th - Wattle Fencing
With our skills replenished we'll begin the first of the new fences for this winter. There'll be plenty to do if you miss this time.
Fri 19th - Christmas Reflection.
A chance to look back on what we have achieved since August and plan what we'll be doing in 2026. The day might feature a fire and a mince pie.
Our new senior groundsman, Phil, has worked with conservation volunteers for 40 years helping people to learn about and get involved in conservation projects.
If you want to:
Each volunteer day will meet at 10 am and end at 3pm.
You will need to
We have up to 10 places at each event so you will need to book to guarantee your place.
To book your place email Phil: philip.armshaw@nbuk.org
Here is the programme for the first three months of 2025:
January
Fri 31st Hedgerow Weeding
Young hedge plants are easily swamped by other plants, hand weeding will give the young boundary hedge the best start, helping it to grow strong and benefit wildlife.
February
Fri 7th Wattle Fencing
Our last chance to use the coppiced willow before it becomes too dry to weave into beautiful and welcoming fences around the carpark.
Fri 14th Hedges need love too
Come and get hands on with hedging. By nurturing our young hedges with some hand weeding we’ll be ensuring they can grow into good strong hedges.
Fri 21st Fruit tree planting
Successive dry summers have not been kind to our orchard, and we need to replant nine trees. Phil has a history of working in heritage orchards and has selected traditional local varieties from specialist orchard nurseries.
Fri 28th Weed or Wildflower
The bottom of a hedge should be rich in wildflowers, unfortunately for recently planted or layered hedges some vigorous wildflowers can swamp them and are best removed by selective hand weeding.
March
Fri 7th Bird and Bat boxes
The housing crisis is affecting birds and bats too with natural nest sites declining. Building and placing nesting and roosting boxes will help ensure there are plenty of habitats for these winged wonders to rest and breed.
Fri 14th Toad Hall
As amphibians are on the move back to their breeding ponds it is the ideal time to increase the housing stock on land. We’ll be creating some hibernacula (shelters) that once the adult and juvenile frogs, newts and toads leave the water, they will be able to use to stay safe from predators.
Fri 21th Splashes of colour
Arable fields used to be a riot of colour with specialised flowers growing side by side with the crops. The areas that have been cleared of bramble are perfect for sowing with a cornfield annual mix that not only will look great but also prove nectar for insects and seed for birds.
Fri 28st Temporary housing
The migration to and from breeding ponds is a risky time for amphibians as between their winter hibernacula and breeding they can be exposed to predators. We’ll be creating and placing some temporary refuges for them. Later in the year we can see if any have been used.
Our Christmas tree is now in the pavilion. We welcome you to come and write a message to your loved one on the paper tags provided and hang it on the tree. There are services most days in the pavilion so please time your visit accordingly, either in the first half of the morning or at the weekends.
On Sunday 8th December come and join us from 11.30am to 2.30pm in the pavilion for Christmas at Clandon to enjoy mince pies, gingerbread men as well as a glass of warming mulled wine and live music from Rory Connolly.
Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th December – Come and collect your pre-ordered wreath from the pavilion between 11:30 – 14:30. Please go to the office if a member of staff is not in the pavilion.
The office will be staffed and the car park open over the Christmas period, except where indicated, as follows:
2024
| Tuesday 24th December | 9am - 4pm |
| Wednesday 25th December (Office closed - car park open) | 11am -1pm |
| Thursday 26th December | 11am - 1pm |
| Friday 27th December | 9am - 4pm |
| Saturday 28th December | 11am - 3pm |
| Sunday 29th December | 11am - 3pm |
| Monday 30th December | 9am - 4pm |
| Tuesday 31st December | 9am - 4pm |
| Wednesday 1st January 2025 | 11am - 1pm |
Please note the pedestrian gate is open 365 days a year
| 28th April 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 20th May 2024 | 12.00pm – 2.00pm | ‘Come To My Funeral’¹ |
| 26th May 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 16th June 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Father’s Day (Seed packets will be available) |
| 17th June 2024 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Autism Workshop⁵ |
| 21st June 2024 | 4.00am – 5.00am | Summer solstice sunrise quiet reflection¹ |
| 21st June 2024 | 5.30am – 6.30am | Gong bath meditation (With Tara from Holistic Harmony²) |
| 21st June 2024 | 6.00pm – 9.00pm | Shrouded in Silence Art Project Finale (Whistlestop Arts³) |
| 29th June 2024 | 7.00pm – 9.30pm | Sinatra at Sunset (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 30th June 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 4th July 2024 | 7.00pm – 9.00pm | Tabitha Hall Drama Production Details TBC (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 5th July 2024 | 7.00pm – 9.00pm | Tabitha Hall Drama Production Details TBC (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 6th July 2024 | 2.00pm – 3.00pm | It’s a Beautiful Day! Guildford Fringe Childrens Theatre (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 7th July 2024 | 2.00pm – 4.00pm | What You Will - Readings and jazz (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 13th July 2024 | 7.00 pm – 9.00pm | Opera in the Meadow Rogue Opera (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 14th July 2024 | 2.00pm – 4.00pm | Café de Swing – Live music (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 20th July 2024 | 2.00pm – 3.00pm | Through the Looking Glass Guildford Fringe Childrens Theatre (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 20th July 2024 | 7.00pm – 9.00pm | An Evening with Brian Houston Folk rock (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 28th July 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 25th Aug 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 7th Sept 2024 | 9.00am – 5.00pm | Clandon Wood at Surrey Hills Wood Fair (At Cranleigh Showground⁴) |
| 8th Sept 2024 | 9.00am – 5.00pm | Clandon Wood at Surrey Hills Wood Fair (At Cranleigh Showground⁴) |
| 9th Sept 2024 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club⁵ |
| 16th Sept 2024 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club⁵ |
| 23rd Sept 2024 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club⁵ |
| 29th Sept 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 30th Sept 2024 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club⁵ |
| 7th Oct 2024 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club⁵ |
| 14th Oct 2024 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club⁵ |
| 27th Oct 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 24th Nov 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 8th Dec 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Xmas at Clandon Wood with So Sinatra⁶ |
| 14th Dec 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Xmas wreath collection day |
| 15th Dec 2024 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Xmas wreath collection day |
*For details of and tickets for Guildford Fringe Festival events go to: https://guildfordfringefestival.com/whats-on/ Click on ‘Filter by location’ and select Clandon Wood Nature Reserve or call 01483 361101
¹To attend please call Simon Ferrar on 07870 518292 or email – simon.ferrar@nbuk.org
²For the Gong bath meditation tickets can be purchased from Tara by calling 07827 818648 or by e-mail: www.taraholisticharmony.co.uk. Tickets cost £30.
³ To learn more go to www.whistlestoparts.org/shrouded
⁴ To see details of Surrey Hills Wood Fair go to www.surreyhills.org/event/surrey-hills-wood-fair-2024/
⁵ To see details of Brigitte Trust events and for bookings go to www.brigittetrust.org
⁶ For further details and booking please call Clandon Wood on 01483 479614 or e-mail info@clandonwood.com
On Thursday 14th March 2024 we warmly welcomed the Surrey Fire & Rescue Data Team to Clandon Wood on a Corporate Volunteering Day in which they helped with the maintenance and cultivation of our hedges. A photo record of what was a very productive and thankfully dry day is set out below. We would like to thank the team for their hard work and also Christa Emmett, Project and Volunteer Coordinator for Surrey Hills Society who arranged and made this day possible.
A lot of the more recently planted hedge plants known as ‘whips’ needed some care and attention through weeding and replacement of tree guards.
The placement of mulch from our composting pile, here on site, added to the preservation and hopefully, growth of the hedges in years to come. The mulch will act as a barrier to the grasses which tend to outcompete the hedgerow species of Alder, Hawthorn, Hazel etc. and keep moisture in the soil to encourage root development.
According to the Woodland Trust, around 118,000 miles of hedgerows have disappeared since 1950, due largely to intensification of agriculture. The loss has slowed since the 1990s, but neglect, damage and removal remain significant threats. Our aim is to establish stock proof hedging around the perimeter of Clandon Wood and to then link these with surrounding landowners, who in turn link their hedgerows, creating ‘living highways’ for all UK native flora & fauna to thrive.
Our Christmas tree is now in the pavilion. We welcome you to come and write a message to your loved one on the paper tags provided and hang it on the tree. There are services most days in the pavilion so please time your visit accordingly, either in the first half of the morning or at the weekends.
Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th December – Come and collect your pre-ordered wreath from the pavilion between 11:30 – 14:30. Please go to the office if a member of staff is not in the pavilion.
The office will be staffed and the car park open over the Christmas period, except where indicated, as follows:
2023
| Friday 22nd December | 9am-4pm |
| Saturday 23rdth December | 11am-3pm |
| Sunday 24th December | 11am-3pm |
| Monday 25th December (Office closed - car park open) | 11am-1pm |
| Tuesday 26th December | 11am-1pm |
| Wednesday 27th December | 9am-4pm |
| Thursday 28th December | 9am-4pm |
| Friday 29th December | 9am-4pm |
| Saturday 30th December | 11am-3pm |
| 2024 | |
| Sunday 31st December | 11am-3pm |
| Monday 1st January | 11am-1pm |
Please note the pedestrian gate is open 365 days a year
In place of Tea, cake & company this month come and enjoy a glass of mulled wine and mince pies in the warmth of our pavilion as you are serenaded with Christmas classics by ‘So Sinatra’ the legendary tribute act. This is a complementary event with no charge.
All welcome including little ones who will be able to enjoy our traditional gingerbread men.
Tea, cake & company will return as usual on Sunday 28th January 2024.
Sunday 25th June 2023 - 10am to 4pm
FREE ENTRY
Live music and poetry readings:
12.45pm to 1.30pm: Jack Howells-Davies
A rendition of musical theatre classics from musical theatre coach and professional music producer, Jack will warm the hearts of all the family.
1.45pm to 2.30pm: Chris The Postman Poet
Hopefully, Chris’s poems will make you laugh and leave a line or two to take with you.
And he really is a Postman!
2.45pm to 3.45pm: Gavin & his Rock & Roll Band
With a set list of rock and roll hits from the 60s and 70s, this talented three piece band will provide a true anniversary vibe.
Tel: 01483 479614
www.clandonwood.com
In support of our 2023 chosen charity:
Crossroads Care Surrey
www.crossroadscaresurrey.org.uk
| 28th May 2023 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 5th June 2023 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club¹ |
| 12th June 2023 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club¹ |
| 19th June 2023 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club¹ |
| 21st June 2023 | 4.00am – 6.00am | Summer solstice sunrise quiet reflection¹ |
| 21st June 2023 | 6.00am – 8.00am | Gong bath meditation (With Tara from Holistic Harmony²) |
| 24th June 2023 | 4.00am – 6.00am | Sunrise celebration quiet reflection¹ |
| 24th June 2023 | 6.00am – 8.00am | Gong bath meditation (With Tara from Holistic Harmony²) |
| 24th June 2023 | 7.00pm – 9.30pm | Sinatra Under The Stars (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 25th June 2023 | 10.00am – 4.00pm | Clandon Wood ten year anniversary family day celebration |
| 26th June 2023 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club¹ |
| 27th June 2023 | 7.30pm – 9.30pm | Love Letters by A R Gurney The Herald Players (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 28th June 2023 | 7.30pm – 9.30pm | Love Letters by A R Gurney The Herald Players (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 3rd July 2023 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club¹ |
| 7th July 2023 | 7.30pm – 9.15pm | Talking Heads by Alan Bennett The Creaction Theatre Co (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 8th July 2023 | 7.30pm – 9.15pm | Talking Heads by Alan Bennett The Creaction Theatre Co (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 9th July 2023 | 2.00pm – 4.00pm | Café de Swing – Live music (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 13th July 2023 | 7.30pm – 9.30pm | Different Sketches From Deckchairs The Creaction Theatre Co (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 14th July 2023 | 7.30pm – 9.30pm | Different Sketches From Deckchairs The Creaction Theatre Co (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 15th July 2023 | 7.00 pm – 9.00pm | Opera in the meadows Rogue Opera (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 17th July 2023 | 10.00am – 12.00pm | Brigitte Trust Coffin Club¹ |
| 30th July 2023 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 27th Aug 2023 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
*For details of and tickets for Guildford Fringe Festival events go to: https://guildfordfringefestival.com/whats-on/ Click on ‘Filter by location’ and select Clandon Wood Nature Reserve or call 01483 361101
¹To attend please call Simon Ferrar on 07870 518292 or email – simon.ferrar@nbuk.org
²For the Gong bath meditation tickets can be purchased from Tara by calling 07827 818648 or by e-mail: www.taraholisticharmony.co.uk. Tickets cost £25.
We are most proud that Simon Ferrar, Clandon Wood’s Founder was recently invited to give a TEDx Talk on the subject of ‘Sustainable funerals in nature reserves’.
Simon’s informative and enlightening performance was spoken from the heart and with the genuine enthusiasm he exudes for natural burial and the nurturing of a sustainable and beautiful environment.
I you would like to watch what he had to say please click HERE or on the image below.
We are delighted that our marriage and civil partnership ceremony service is now incorporated in the Surrey County Council ‘Ceremonies Guide’. To hold your wedding ceremony in our stunning glass panelled pavilion situated within our beautiful and serene nature reserve in the heart of the Surrey Hills, simply give us a call, e-mail us or pay us a visit.
To learn more about Clandon Wood marriage and civil partnership services click here >>>
And why not watch this short video which captures the joy of a wedding ceremony at Clandon Wood - just click on the image below.
Clandon Wood is delighted to start the new year with a quartet of accolades collected during 2022. Firstly it won the title of national Gold Award Winner in the Natural Burial Ground category in the Cemetery of the Year Awards 2022; the fourth year in a row that Clandon Wood has secured this award.
In addition to this Clandon Wood has also earned its spurs on the environmental front with a trio of awards. These include Guildford in Bloom Gold Award as ‘Best Site for Nature Conservation’ which it also won in 2019 and 2021; a national Green Flag Award for being a well managed green outdoor space; and for the first time the Sustainability Impact Award at The Crest 22 Business Awards.
On receiving this array of awards and accolades as both a leading natural burial ground and as a nature reserve with the highest environmental standards, Simon Ferrar, Clandon Wood’s Founder had the following to say:
“It is a great pleasure to be a recipient of each and every one of these awards which is a good indication we are achieving the levels of service we aim for as a final resting place for those that have passed away and also as a peaceful and serene location for bereaved families and friends to remember their loved ones.”
“Our commitment to Clandon Wood as a nature reserve comprising a mix of indigenous habitats and a protected haven for a multitude of local flora and fauna is also recognised by these awards and lies at the heart of our ethos to provide a sustainable and beautiful environment for the benefit of the bereaved but also as a space to be enjoyed by nature lovers and the local community.”
Our Christmas tree is now in the pavilion. We welcome you to come and write a message to your loved one on the paper tags provided and hang it on the tree. There are services most days in the pavilion so please time your visit accordingly, either in the first half of the morning or at the weekends.
In place of Tea, cake & company on Sunday 18th December from 11.30am – 2.30pm we will be celebrating Christmas with mulled wine and mince pies and gingerbread men for the little ones, as well as the usual tea and coffee.
The office will be staffed and the car park open over the festive period as follows:
| 2022 | |
| Friday 23rd December | 9am-4pm |
| Saturday 24th December | 11am-3pm |
| Sunday 25th December | 11am-1pm |
| Monday 26th December | 11am-1pm |
| Tuesday 27th December | 11am-3pm |
| Wednesday 28th December | 9am-4pm |
| Thursday 29th December | 9am-4pm |
| Friday 30th December | 9am- 4pm |
| Saturday 31st December | 11am-3pm |
| 2023 | |
| Sunday 1st January | 11am- 1pm |
| Monday 2nd January | 11am- 1pm |
Please note the pedestrian gate is open 365 days a year
In this final episode of Simon Ferrar in conversation with Angela Rippon he reflects on the things that make Clandon Wood so special to him and how it has evolved since opening ten years ago to become established and to hold an important place in so many people’s hearts.
If you wish to watch any of the other four episodes now there is a link to each below.
“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.” Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022.
We join the nation in their grief and offer the Royal Family our heartfelt condolences.
On Monday 19th September the office will be closed in observance of the National Bank Holiday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
The car park will be open for visitors from 9am to 4pm.
In this fourth episode of Simon Ferrar in conversation with Angela Rippon he explains through some wonderfully heart-warming stories how it is that Clandon Wood becomes a uniquely special place for so many of the families who have laid a loved one to rest in its beautiful and tranquil grounds.
The final episode in which Simon summarises his personal reflections on Clandon Wood will be uploaded in two weeks time.
If you wish to watch any of the other four episodes now there is a link to each below.
In this third episode of Simon Ferrar in conversation with Angela Rippon he considers the aspect of a funeral as a celebration of a person’s life and concludes this episode by aptly describing a farewell at Clandon Wood as ‘easy on the eye, kind to our hearts and gentle to our world’.
The final two episodes in which Simon recounts some heart-warming stories and then concludes with some personal reflections on Clandon Wood will be uploaded over the next few weeks.
If you wish to watch any of the other four episodes now there is a link to each below.
In this second episode of Simon Ferrar, Clandon Wood’s Founder, in conversation with Angela Rippon he talks about the changing attitudes towards death and how this has led to Clandon Wood now being considered as a mainstream alternative to burial or ash interment in a traditional graveyard.
The remaining three episodes in which Simon considers a celebration of life as a part of a loved one’s passing, his personal reflections on Clandon Wood, and to conclude some heart-warming stories, will be uploaded over the rest of the summer.
If you wish to watch any of the other four episodes now there is a link to each below.
In this first of a series of five short conversations Simon Ferrar, Clandon Wood’s Founder, recently enjoyed with Angela Rippon he discusses in his very open and personable style the purpose of Clandon Wood and its inclusivity as a place for everyone, whatever their belief system be it religious, spiritual or otherwise.
In the coming episodes Simon covers in his very empathic way a range of issues which are both topical and informative including changing attitudes towards death, the celebration of life as a part of a loved one’s passing, through to his personal reflections and some heart-warming stories.
The other four episodes will be uploaded on the Home page during the rest of the summer, but if you wish to watch them now there is a link to each below.
To register as a volunteer for this event please go to the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XLDN9JK
If you have any questions we can of course be contacted by telephone (01483 479614), e-mail (info@clandonwood.com) or by visiting the on-site office.
| 24th April 2022 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 3rd May 2022 | 4.00am | Dawn chorus walk¹ (with Surrey Wildlife Trust) |
| 29th May 2022 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 21st June 2022 | 4.00 am | Summer solstice sunrise quiet reflection¹ |
| 21st June 2022 | 6.00 am – 7.00 am | Gong bath meditation (With Tara from Holistic Harmony²) |
| 26th June 2022 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 2nd July 2022 | 6.30 pm – 9.00pm | Opera in the meadow¹ |
| 3rd July 2022 | 2.30 pm – 4.30pm | Café de Swing – Live music (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 6th July 2022 | 7.30 pm – 9.30pm | Sex is Another Language - Play (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 7th July 2022 | 7.30pm – 9.30pm | Sex is Another Language - Play (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 14th July 2022 | 7.30 pm – 9.30pm | Much Ado About Nothing - Play (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 16th July 2022 | 2.30pm – 3.45pm | The Minotaur – Play (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 23rd July 2022 | 6.00pm – 8.00pm | Jazz in the Meadow – Live music¹ |
| 31st July 2022 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 28th Aug 2022 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 17th Sept 2022 | 2.30pm – 4.00pm | Twelfth Night - Play (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 18th Sept 2022 | 2.30pm – 4.30pm | Twelfth Night - Play (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 25th Sept 2022 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 30th Oct 2022 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 27th Nov 2022 | 11.30am – 2.30pm | Tea, cake & company |
| 18th Dec 2022 | 11.30 am – 2.30 pm | Christmas at Clandon Wood |
*For details of and tickets for Guildford Fringe Festival events go to: https://guildfordfringefestival.com/whats-on/ Click on ‘Filter by location’ and select Clandon Wood Nature Reserve
¹To attend please call Simon Ferrar on 07870 518292 or email – simon.ferrar@nbuk.org
²For the Gong bath meditation tickets can be purchased from Tara by calling 07827 818648 or by e-mail: www.taraholisticharmony.co.uk. Tickets cost £25.
Following the revoking of The Health Protection Regulations 2020 in relation to the coronavirus by the Government on 24th February there are no longer any related mandatory restrictions in place at Clandon Wood.
However, with regards any funeral or memorial service the wearing of face masks and observance of social distancing by those attending can be determined by the individual or family organising each farewell event. We ask that such requests are respected.
We will also continue to clean and sanitise the pavilion and its furniture using electrostatic spraying before and after each funeral or memorial service and hand sanitisers are located in the pavilion and WC facilities for those wishing to use them.
For funeral bookings (burials or ash) and burial or ash plot sales for immediate or future need and to make appointments to select a plot we can be contacted by telephone (01483 479614), e-mail (info@clandonwood.com) or by visiting the on-site office.
We were delighted to have Angela Rippon visit Clandon Wood once again at the beginning of the new year. We had recently been awarded the title of the UK’s Natural Burial Ground of the Year for 2021, which having won the same award for the two previous years represented a hat-trick.
So, on this occasion Angela spent some time in conversation with Simon Ferrar, Clandon Wood’s Founder, to establish exactly what it is that makes Clandon Wood stand out from the crowd to the extent it has collected this national award three years in row.
The result was this short film in which Angela discovers the various reasons and attributes which when combined make Clandon Wood such a special burial ground and nature reserve for all those that either visit or choose the have it as their or a loved one’s final resting place.
We hope you enjoy watching.
The office will be staffed and the car park open over the festive period as follows:
| 2021 | |
| Friday 24th December | 9am-1pm |
| Saturday 25th December | 10am-12pm |
| Sunday 26th December | 11am-3pm |
| Monday 27th December | 11am-3pm |
| Tuesday 28th December | 11am-3pm |
| Wednesday 29th December | 9am-4pm |
| Thursday 30th December | 9am-4pm |
| Friday 31st December | 9am- 4pm |
| 2022 | |
| Saturday 1st January | 11am-3pm |
| Sunday 2nd January | 11am- 3pm |
| Monday 3rd January | 11am- 3pm |
Please note the pedestrian gate is open 365 days a year
Since prehistory, the summer solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures and has been marked by festivals and rituals. Traditionally, in many temperate regions (especially Europe), the summer solstice is seen as the middle of summer and referred to as "midsummer". Today, however, in some countries and calendars it is seen as the beginning of summer.
Join us for a quiet time of calmness, reflection or meditation
Please arrive by 4.00am so that all is quiet and still for sunrise at 4.32am
We are delighted to be able to resume our regular events at Clandon Wood, subject of course to existing Covid-19 restrictions at the time of each event, and dates are listed below:
| 21st June 2021 | 4.00 am | Summer solstice sunrise quiet reflection |
| 27th June 2021 | 11 am – 2 pm | Tea, cake and company CANCELLED due to change in Government Covid rules |
| 9th July 2021 | 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm | Creaction Theatre presents ‘Bombshells’ (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 10th July 2021 | 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm | Opera in the meadows (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 11th July 2021 | 2.00 pm – 4.30 pm | The Hound of the Baskervilles (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 15th July 2021 | 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm | Creaction Theatre presents ‘Bombshells’ (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 18th July 2021 | 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm | Music in the meadows (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 25th July 2021 | 11 am – 2 pm | Tea, cake and company |
| 25th July 2021 | 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm | Twelfth Night (Guildford Fringe Festival*) |
| 29th August 2021 | 11 am – 2 pm | Tea, cake and company |
| 26th Sept 2021 | 11 am – 2 pm | Tea, cake and company |
| 31st Oct 2021 | 11 am – 2 pm | Tea, cake and company |
| 28th Nov 2021 | 11 am – 2 pm | Tea, cake and company |
| 19th Dec 2021 | 11 am – 2 pm | Christmas at Clandon Wood |
*Click on green text ‘Guildford Fringe Festival’ below each event for details of and tickets for that specific event.
Clandon Wood, the country burial & ash interment ground and nature reserve located in West Clandon, near Guildford, is delighted to announce it has won the Gold Award as Best Natural Burial Ground in the UK in the 2020 Cemetery of the Year Awards.
This is the second year in a row it has achieved this prestigious title following similar success in 2019 and the fifth national award as a best natural burial ground with previous awards in 2014 and 2015 (two awards won that year).
The Cemetery of the Year award has been made by The Memorial Awareness Board (MAB) which has been promoting and organising the awards for nearly 20 years.
On receiving this national award Simon Ferrar, Clandon Wood’s founder commented:
“It is a delight to win this award as it truly endorses the concept of Clandon Wood to bring together nature and the cycle of life in a peaceful and tranquil environment where one can be laid to rest whatever your faith, belief or thinking and at the same time to provide an abundant and beautiful nature reserve for all to benefit from.”
Christina Lawson, Operations Manager of Clandon Wood, added:
“It is most heartening for the team at Clandon Wood to have received this award, particularly during the current coronavirus pandemic which has brought a whole range of unique circumstances we have had to adapt to and work around in order to continue to deliver the high levels of service and support we always aim for.
“Being able to take advantage of our beautiful natural setting with outdoor services has made a tremendous difference to many final farewells and has also allowed us to have up to 30 people in attendance, which has been a real blessing for many bereaved families in these very challenging times.”
Philip Potts of the Memorial Awareness Board said;
“The awards are an excellent opportunity to reward hard-working staff and demonstrate the central role Natural Burial Grounds can play in the community. They provide places of peaceful contemplation and beauty, as well as their ecological importance.
“The team at Clandon Wood performed exceptionally throughout the extensive judging period which is focused on Industry Standards, Environmental Issues and Good Practice.”
And here is the coverage we were also delighted to receive in The Woking News and Mail.
With current Government guidelines limiting the number of people allowed to attend a funeral we are pleased to announce the launch of our own live web casting service for funeral services held in the pavilion and also for outdoor graveside services so that family and friends unable to attend a Clandon Wood funeral in person can do so remotely from their own homes.
Simple ‘one click’ access enables funeral services to be easily viewed and heard ‘live’ on our YouTube channel using a PC, tablet or mobile phone. Access is via a unique internet link for each funeral which can be notified in advance by e-mail or text to those who wish to attend remotely. Only those with access to the unique link will be able to view the funeral.
The funeral can be made available as a recording so that, for example, relatives and friends living overseas or those in a residential home who may not be able to view the service when it takes place can do so at a time convenient to them.
To view an example of an outside webcast please click on the image below:
If you are interested in using this service please contact us by calling 01483 479614 or by e-mail at info@clandonwood.com.
Listed below are dates for events taking place at Clandon Wood during the 2020 that may be important or of interest to you:
26th Jan 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
23rd Feb 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
22nd March 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
12th April 2020
10:00 - 12:00
Easter Sunday
26th April 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
24th May 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
30th May 2020
10:00 - 16:00
Bioblitz
21st June 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company and Fathers' Day
2nd July 2020
17:00 - 20:00
Guildford Fringe Production at Clandon Wood
3rd July 2020
17:00 - 20:00
Guildford Fringe Production at Clandon Wood
11th July 2020
17:00 - 20:00
Guildford Fringe Production at Clandon Wood
19th July 2020
12:00 - 16:00
Clandon Wood Family Day & Music in the Meadows (Guildford Fringe)
26th July 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
16th Aug 2020
CLOSED
Due to Prudential London Ride Event
30th Aug 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
27th Sep 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
25th Oct 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
29th Nov 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Tea, Cake & Company
13th Dec 2020
10:30 - 13:00
Christmas at Clandon
Bank Holidays
10:00 - 14:00
Except Easter Sunday
We thought you might enjoy this article written towards the end of last year by Tom Johnson of the Surrey Advertiser which he titles ‘Clandon Wood: The Savoy of Burial Grounds’. This was written following Tom being given a tour of the grounds by our on-site team who explained the ethos that underpins Clandon Wood and why the combination of being a both cemetery and a nature reserve is a very natural and appropriate one.
Click here to view article.
This is now our 5th year supporting the local community within the Guildford Fringe Festival.
Following the sell-out success of these events last year the Creaction Theatre Company will be performing Two One Act Plays by Alan Bennett: ‘A Bed Among The Lentils’ and ‘Say Something Happened’ and Jean McConnell’s series of playlets entitled ‘Deckchairs’. This will be followed by one of our favourite annual events, Music in the Meadows providing a relaxing afternoon of live music performed by young musicians from the Academy of Music in Guildford and other local talented performers. And to bring the Festival at Clandon Wood to a close Shakespeare’s Wanderers will perform a charming new take on Much Ado About Nothing. Details are as follows:
Thursday 4th July – Deckchairs by Jean McConnell - https://guildfordfringefestival.com/sessions/deckchairs-by-jean-mcconnell/
Friday 5th July - Two one act plays by Alan Bennett - https://guildfordfringefestival.com/sessions/alan-bennett-two-one-act-plays/
Thusday 11th July – Two one act plays by Alan Bennett - https://guildfordfringefestival.com/sessions/alan-bennett-two-one-act-plays/
Friday 12th July – Deckchairs by Jean McConnell - https://guildfordfringefestival.com/sessions/deckchairs-by-jean-mcconnell/
Sunday 21st July - Music in the Meadows - https://guildfordfringefestival.com/sessions/music-in-the-meadows/ - Entrance is free for this event
Sunday 28th July – Much Ado About Nothing - https://guildfordfringefestival.com/sessions/much-ado-about-nothing/
Tickets for the plays cost £10.00-£15.00 plus fees and there will be refreshments and a cash bar including beer, wine, sparkling wine and soft drinks. Booking details can be found at : https://guildfordfringefestival.com/box-office/.
Free Entrance Events - We kindly ask for donations at these events in support of The Brigitte Trust - a Dorking based charity that serves all of Surrey offering free emotional support and practical help at home to people and their families facing cancer, MND, MS, heart and lung failure and other life-threatening illness.
Listed below are dates for events taking place at Clandon Wood during the rest of 2019 that may be important or of interest to you:
23rd June 2019
12:00 – 16:00
Summer Fair
30th June 2019
10:30 – 13:00
Tea, Cake and Company
4th July 2019
19:30 – 21:30
Guildford Fringe at Clandon Wood: Deckchairs by Jean McConnell
5th July 2019
19:30 – 21:30
Guildford Fringe at Clandon Wood: Two One Act plays by Alan Bennett
11th July 2019
19:30 – 21:30
Guildford Fringe at Clandon Wood: Two One Act plays by Alan Bennett
12th July 2019
19:30 – 21:30
Guildford Fringe at Clandon Wood: Deckchairs by Jean McConnell
21st July 2019
14:00 – 17:00
Music in the Meadows at Clandon Wood
28th July 2019
10:30 – 13:00
Tea, Cake and Company
28th July 2019
15:00 – 17:00
Guildford Fringe at Clandon Wood: Much Ado About Nothing
4th August 2019
CLOSED
Due to Prudential London Ride Event
25th August 2019
10:30 – 13:00
Tea, Cake and Company
29th September 2019
10:30 – 13:00
Tea, Cake and Company
27th October 2019
10:30 – 13:00
Tea, Cake and Company
24th November 2019
10:30 – 13:00
Tea, Cake and Company
15th December 2019
10:30 – 13:00
Christmas Remembrance
We will be watching the sun rise over the East Meadow on Midsummer’s morn on Friday 21st June. You are very welcome to come and join us at the pavilion at 3.30am ready to greet the sun on the longest day of the year. Bring a flask of coffee!
For those who then wish to refresh themselves with the sounds of a vibrational ‘gong bath’ at 5.30am. Please call Simon Ferrar on 07870 518292 to book a place for the gong bath.
A wonderful afternoon out where adults and children alike will be able to enjoy this haven of nature set in the surrounds of The Surrey Hills.
In celebration of our 7th official anniversary you are invited to our Art & Crafts Open Day - in collaboration with Handpicked for Dorking. Visitors will be able to experience the peace and tranquillity amongst the flora and fauna of Clandon Wood's natural environment and glass pavilion - refreshments will be available with nature tours and selected local businesses offering handmade art and crafts.
Entrance to the event is free, and there is ample parking on site. Join us from 12 - 4pm. Dogs welcome - must be kept on a short lead Live music from Will & Chris - acoustic duo - FORGET THE DJ. A prize draw will also be held in aid of the Brigitte Trust.
Transforming the beautiful glass pavilion at Clandon Wood into an intimate in-the-round performance space, Rogue Opera's cast of six singers and pianist bring you the drama of Bizet's most famous opera, up close and personal.
Set against some of the most recognisable music in opera, this drama is a serious and still-relevant examination of violence, obsession and the struggle of a complex and spirited woman striving for independence and choice in life and love.
Rogue Opera’s fully staged intimate production is sung in French with English surtitles. The cast strip away the pomp and pageantry to present a raw and intimate piece of theatre.
The audience is close enough to experience the blood, sweat and tears and to feel the vibration of every note, Bizet’s thrilling and captivating music is raw, powerful and intimate.
The talented cast and creative team are all professionals with backgrounds including Longborough Festival Opera, Royal Opera House Chorus, English National Opera Chorus, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus and all perform regularly as soloists throughout the UK and Europe.
All profits from the event benefit The Brigitte Trust - a charity which supports people in Surrey at the end of life in their own homes, offering practical and emotional support and respite to carers and family.
There are only 70 seats available for this unique and intimate performance so please book your places as seats are selling fast.
https://rogueopera.co.uk/clandon-wood
Tickets are only £49
3:45 pm - Pavillion opens*
4:15 pm - First half of Carmen
5:30 pm - Interval - Drinks with Brigitte Trustees
6:10 pm - Second half of Carmen
7:00 pm - Opera concludes - bar open until 8:00 pm for Sunset post-show drinks
* Complimentary Tea and Coffee and will be served, with a cash bar available
Come along to our Spring quarterly nature talk on Sunday 29th April starting at 12.00pm, lasting 30 minutes and followed by questions and answers. The talk forms part of April’s Tea, Cake & Company drop-in which takes place between 11.30am and 2.00pm.
The talk will be given by Matt , our groundsman, ecologist and avid nature blogger and will provide an inspiring and intriguing insight into the lives of the surprisingly large number of varieties of moth that make Clandon Wood their home.
Comprising 31 acres of beautiful natural English traditional hay meadowland Clandon Wood, represents nearly 1% of all such meadowland left in the UK and this environment supports an increasingly rare mix and diverse range of wildlife.
Listed below are dates for events taking place at Clandon Wood during the rest of 2018 that may be important or of interest to you:
29th April 2018
11:30 – 14:00
Tea, Cake and Company
29th April 2018
12:00 – 13.00
Wildlife Talk
27th May 2018
11:30 – 14:00
Tea, Cake and Company
18th June 2018
11:30 – 14:30
Fathers' Day; wildflower seeds planting
24th June 2018
11:00 – 16:00
Summer Celebration and 5th Anniversary
29th July 2018
11:30 – 14:00
Tea, Cake and Company
29th July 2018
12:00 – 13.00
Wildlife Talk
26th August 2018
11:30 – 14:00
Tea, Cake and Company
30th September 2018
11:30 – 14:00
Tea, Cake and Company
27th–31st October 2018
All day
Pumpkin Festival
28th October 2018
11:30 – 14:00
Tea, Cake and Company
28th October 2018
12:00 – 13.00
Wildlife Talk
25th November 2018
11:30 – 14:00
Tea, Cake and Company
16th December 2018
11:30 – 14:00
Christmas Remembrance
Over the Easter bank holiday weekend our opening hours are as follows: Good Friday
11am – 3pm
Saturday
11am – 3pm
Easter Sunday
11am – 3pm
Bank Holiday Monday
11am – 3pm
Clandon Wood is offering free indigenous plant plugs for families to plant in the meadows.
No need to bring any gardening tools as all you need to do is make a hole using your thumb.
This will be on a first come first served basis so please come early to avoid any disappointment.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact the office via telephone, email or by popping in to see us.
Come along to our quarterly nature talk on Sunday 28th January starting at 12.00pm, lasting 30 minutes and followed by questions and answers. All welcome whether or not you have a connection with Clandon Wood. The talk forms part of January’s Tea, cake & company drop-in which takes place between 11.30am and 2.00pm.
This quarterly talk will be given by Gareth Hurd, our Head groundsman and ecology expert and will be combined with video clips of Clandon Wood’s wildlife captured over the last year.
Comprising 33 acres of beautiful natural English traditional hay meadowland Clandon Wood represents nearly 1% of all such meadowland left in the UK, an environment which supports an increasingly rare mix and diverse range of wildlife.
Gareth will explain how this type of natural environment is a godsend for fauna, including some rare and unusual species, the contribution the wildlife community makes to the ecological balance of the nature reserve and how our team goes about creating and maintaining an attractive habitat for the many forms of life that choose to make Clandon Wood their home. Gareth’s deep and inspiring knowledge of wildlife and ecology will ensure a captivating talk.
We are pleased to let you know the office will be staffed and the car park will be open during the following hours over the festive season.
| Saturday 23rd December 2017 | 11am-3pm |
| Sunday 24th December 2017 | 11am-2pm |
| Monday 25th December 2017 | 11am-1pm |
| Tuesday 26th December 2017 | 11am-1pm |
| Wednesday 27th December 2017 | 9am-4pm |
| Thursday 28th December 2017 | 9am-4pm |
| Friday 29th December 2017 | 9am-4pm |
| Saturday 30th December 2017 | 11am-3pm |
| Sunday 31st December 2017 | 11am-3pm |
| Monday 1st January 2018 | 11am-1pm |
Please note the pedestrian gate is open 365 days a year
Leif Lidholm, Manager of the Parish Cemeteries in Falkoping, a town in western Sweden about 75 miles from Gothenburg, the second city of Sweden visited Clandon Wood Burial Ground with a study group of thirty people from the Department of Cemeteries and Property Management.
The study tour took the group to a variety of cemeteries all around London. Their areas of interest were the various approaches to burials in the UK from the traditional to the natural burial. There are very few green or natural burial sites in Sweden which meant that Clandon Wood was of particular interest as an award winning burial place.
Christina Lawson, our Manager, who is Swedish, started the tour with a short presentation in the pavilion describing the concept and success of Clandon Wood as both a burial place and a nature reserve.
She was joined by our Head Groundsman, Gareth Hurd who took the group on a tour of our two meadows to view our approach to maintaining them whilst promoting wildlife.
They answered a variety of questions from how we arranged funerals, to the management and care of the site. The group had many questions and was especially interested in the traditional way the meadows were looked after, the continuing care we offer families and advice offered on end of life planning.
Hopefully Leif Lidholm and his group will be able to incorporate what they have learnt in their development plans for new natural burial sites in Sweden.
As Belgium mourns we can again do little but show sympathy to our European neighbours and respect for those who died in the attacks in Brussels.
As part of their study tour of English church yards and burial sites Chief of Department Anna- Karin Helgesson accompanied by her assistant Rebecca Svensson and twenty five other people from the Parish Cemetery Management in Vasteras the sixth largest city in Sweden (which is 60 miles west of Stockholm) visited Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground yesterday .
Clandon Wood Business Manager Simon Ferrar and Senior Groundsman Gareth Hurd conducted a tour around the meadows and facilities and answered the many questions on the visitors’ interests in finding out how an award winning natural burial ground is operated and the practical work caring and maintaining the meadows , horticulture and wildlife as well as the important work of caring for families of the bereaved and advising of end of life planning.
Anna- Karin Helgesson and her compatriots will be taking back our experiences so that they can guide their discussions and decisions on how to care for burial sites and funeral planning in the future in Sweden.
At a burial at Clandon Wood on a very windy day at the end of January, two young children each launched a tagged balloon as part of the ceremony of remembrance of their beloved departed Grandmother.
Just the following day they received a message back from Norway to say that one of the balloons had landed there – a distance of 1100km. So the ceremony was broad cast far and wide in express time!
The Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Nikki Nelson-Smith visited Clandon Wood Natural Burial ground to officially celebrate the award of the Green Flag for this year 2015/2016 and raised the flag on our entrance flagpole.
The award handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy recognizes and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country.
A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.
We are also proud to have won the 2015 Bees Needs Award (supported by DEFRA and the National Pollinator Strategy) for providing food and a home for pollinating insects.
Why not visit Clandon Wood Natural Burial and see for yourself and experience the peace, the fauna and the flora on our Surrey Hills reserve.
On Sunday 12 July 2015 Clandon Wood was fortunate to be invited as one of the ten extraordinary venues to host productions for Guildford Fringe 2015 www.guildfordfringe.com which features diverse music, comedy and drama events throughout the month of July.
The sun was shining all week long leading up to Sunday and then we were threatened with rain for the whole event.
Although cloudy but warm, the rain fortunately gave way to sunshine just at the last minute as our first act began.
Initially deterred by the weather, only a scattering of visitors were actually in place for the 2pm start but when the sun came out more. and more people arrived, laden with picnic baskets, chairs and rugs. Eventually over one hundred people enjoyed the rich annd mellow sounds of our guest performers.
All the musicians played on the deck of our beautiful glass pavilion to the relaxed but enthusiastic audience and everyone commented upon the calm and affable atmostphere.
Performers all gave their time freely for the benefit of the Cherry Trees Respite Care Home for children and young people www.cherry-trees.co.uk who are our neighbours in East Clandon.
A huge thank you to our seven acts who were;
Guitarist and folk singer Majella Yorston- www.majellayorston.co.uk
Guitarist and singer Mike Brown – www.crystalclearfs.com
17 year old saxaphonist Daniel Garel – www.soundcloud.com/daniel-garel
Mike Tuchy
14 year old singer-guitarist Esmee Etwell
17 year old guitarist-song writer Cara Mahon - Youtube Video
Rosie Butler on violin
Our thanks also to www.fireflyvenues.com for supplying the liquid refreshments – the firefly is a licensed musical venue in the heart of Guildford
Our guests were very generous in their participation and their applause. Their donations along with voluntary donations and the proceeds of the raffle raised over £380 on the day for the Cherry Trees Respite Care Home.
On Midsummer Day – Sunday June 21st – Father’s Day we will be watching the sun rise over the East meadow with a special ceremony hosted by Emma Curtis.
You are very welcome to come and join us at the pavilion at 4.15am ready to greet the sun on the longest day of the year. Bring a flask of coffee!!
Later the same day you can come and make flower mandalas and garlands, or write messages of remembrance on paper leaves to hang on an oak bough.
Our lovely face painter Karen will also be joining us, so come along for a lovely reflective and hopefully sunny day on the anniversary of the official opening of Clandon Wood.
excerpt from The Times, 22nd May 2015
“This week I went to a woodland burial ……. at Clandon Wood in Surrey, voted Cemetery of the Year at the Good Funeral awards.
For a start, traditional cemeteries are overflowing: London’s are expected to be full up in 20 years, a deadline I hope to miss. But if you ever attend a burial in a natural setting you won’t want it any other way.
We followed the wicker coffin, which swished the meadow grass as it was pulled on a cart. we scattered rosemary and flowers on the shallow grave, which will soon be covered with plants again. The rirtual felt deeply English: a certain lack of sentiment and the comfort we took , as we cried our tears, in our native soil.
One mourner had a daughter in law my age who was buried there: her children love to come here to pond – dip and climb her tree.
Body sowing is a perfect use of the green belt. Death would protect it : a place to visit and not to destroy.”
It’s official; spring is well and truly on the way. It’s wonderful to see the snowdrops out, the crocuses appearing and that lovely yellow flower, the daffodil making an appearance, together with some slightly warmer days and a few bees gradually emerging.
Of course, the onset of spring also means that Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday, whichever one you refer to, is also almost upon us.
Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday as it is known in the UK and Ireland is traditionally a day to show our love and appreciation to the many and wonderful mother’s around the world. The ancient Greeks and Romans both celebrated Mother’s Day dating back as far as 250BC, so it’s been around for a very long time and not just something invented by florists and card manufacturers.
In the UK and Ireland Mothering Sunday has traditionally been celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent since the 16<sup>th</sup> century. In other countries around the the world such as the USA where they celebrate Mother’s Day as opposed to Mothering Sunday, it takes place on the second Sunday in May. In one or two countries it’s held on International Women’s Day, which is always on the 8<sup>th</sup> March.
Regardless of the date, we all acknowledge that Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday depending on what part of the world you live in is an important day for us all. It can also be a poignant and difficult time for those who have lost their mother’s or in deed for those mothers who have lost their children. In that situation it is likely to be a day for quiet reflection rather than one of a celebration.
Flowers are of course an important symbol associated with Mothering Sunday and this year we are inviting families to come and join us for a bulb – planting spree. We are creating a bulb walkway on site and felt that this special day would make in ideal occasion for us to get started.
We understand how hard these landmark days can sometimes be so come and join us to plant some bulbs and for a cup of tea and a friendly chat. Come and join us from 11am to 3pm. We know how special our mother’s are.
Sometimes it’s hard to find the right words to say at a funeral. Do you read a poem, talk about the person that has died, play a song in their memory? Many funerals include all three and may start with a special poem. If you would like to read a poem which one should you choose and where can you find some inspiration? We hope that the links and poems here will provide you with some help.
Poetry is often read out at funerals and at Clandon Wood, we have heard a variety from the slightly obscure to the more popular. Each one has been chosen with care and it is a lovely way to say goodbye to a loved one or a dear friend. There are many wonderful poems around whatever your faith or beliefs, modern or traditional there is something for everyone. We have provided a small selection for you here including one from our very own Fran Hall whose poem was recently read out at a funeral here. We hope you like it, we think it’s quite special.
If you are searching for further inspiration there are some great websites around that offer suggestions such as Lasting Post and Funeral Helper.
Another brilliant website is the Much Loved Charity, in addition to providing you with ideas for readings and poetry it provides you with the opportunity to create an online tribute to the person you have lost. It’s easy to set up a tribute page and then you can invite friends and family to add photos, words, music even video to the site you have created so that you can share memories and special moments with all who knew the person. It is an entirely free service that provides you with an avenue to express your feelings and can help all of those who have been affected by the loss.
Under a Soft Blanket of Fallen Leaves by Fran Hall
Under a soft blanket of fallen leaves,
safe in the hush of the whispering trees
I have come home.
My time here on earth is now done,
all the noise and the clamour, the joy and the pain,
the powerful life force that drove me onwards
has slipped away into the quiet of eternity,
and I am at peace.
From now on, I will dance through your memories
threading thoughts of love through your heart.
The pain of loss will gradually ease, and the sadness will lift.
the days will be lighter, and the nights not so long,
for I am still here.
When you walk through this place, you will feel me
in the gentle touch of the breeze on your face,
in the sunlight dappling the forest floor,
in the murmur of the branches high above you,
I am all around.
I have returned to the place from whence I came,
to the elements that created me.
The earth that gave me the life I so loved
has now welcomed me back to her,
to be at one with all her beauty.
Here, under my blanket of fallen leaves
I have found my resting place.
I have come home.
Copyright Fran Hall
Afterglow
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun;
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.
Unknown
Do not stand at my grave and weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.
Mary Frye, American poet (1904 – 2004)
He is not lost our dearest love
He is not lost our dearest love,
Nor has he travelled far,
Just stepped inside home’s loveliest room
And left the door ajar.
Anonymous
Death Is Nothing At All
Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped away into the next room,
I am I, and you are you,
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still,
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the same easy way which you always did,
Put no difference into your tone;
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect, without the shadow of a ghost on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was; there is absolutely unbroken continuity,
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am just waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well.
Henry Scott Holland
We will be running a poetry competition in the New Year. If you would like to take part please keep an eye on our website for further details.
What music would you like played at your funeral?
The dilemma of what music to chose for a funeral can often be quite a task for some families. Choosing exactly the right music that you feel is suitable for the person that has died can be tricky, especially if more that one of you is trying to make the choice. Keep it simple. You don’t need anything too complex or indeed too long. If you are choosing a hymn or song for everyone to sing to, make sure it’s something the congregation will know – or if you have the finances or appropriate friends, get a choir to join in.
People often ask, “How much music should we have?” Many choose something for the start, a piece in the middle for quiet reflection, and a piece at the end. At the end of the day it’s your choice but you might also want to consider those who will also be attending the funeral. Aunt Joan, may not know the words to ‘Bat out of Hell,’ by Meatloaf and you may not give two hoots that she doesn’t but if a number of elderly friends and family relatives are attending you might want to consider another option unless you are happy singing it on your own!
Sometimes there are disagreements about what might be deemed appropriate or inappropriate depending on the age of the person that has died and also that of the family members left behind. Unless you are really organised, have booked a funeral plan and written out your last wishes, including your music choices, then it’s the rest of the family who makes that choice. So, if you really hate the very idea that your funeral will start up to the sound of ‘Dancing Queen by ABBA,’ (a perfect choice for some) or ‘The Flight of the Bumblebee,’ by Rimsky Korsakov, (very appropriate for a place like Clandon Wood, positively buzzing with bees this year,) then discuss it with your family first and write it down in your funeral wishes.
Basically anything goes with music. There are no hard and fast rules. At Clandon Wood we hear all sorts of wonderful music played at funerals. ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow, ‘ is a popular choice and we have also heard ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,’ a few times. Live music and choirs are also very welcome and sound wonderful. There are plenty of talented musicians out there who will play and or sing something lovely and it need not cost a fortune. You could probably find someone to play the guitar and sing a favourite song for £75 upwards.
Most places these days will play music at a funeral usually in the form of a CD or transferred to a laptop via a USB memory stick or on a music platform like iTunes. It’s advisable to provide original CD’s as some copied ones will not always play on a system. At Clandon Wood we like to receive the music at least 3 days before hand so that we can check everything works properly and ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day. It’s important to let whoever is playing the music know what order you wish to have everything in. This is often mentioned in an Order of Service.
We also have a projector screen in our glass pavilion and can play slide shows as part of the service. This works better in Power Point format or a file of images together that can be played as a continuous slide show on a laptop. You can also give these to us on a USB memory stick or if you have the technical know how you can send it to us over the Internet via DropBox. Again it’s essential that we receive this at least two or three days in advance to give us time to check everything is working properly.
Fore some useful tips and advice on funeral music check out this great website Final Fling.
Please come and join us on the last Sunday of every month for tea and cakes
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Flora: Our hedges are heavy with blackberries, elderberries, rosehips, and hawthorn berries. By only trimming one side each year Clandon Wood maximizes this bounty.
Foraging Mammals: Bank voles, field vole and wood mice hunt for fallen nuts and insects among the ground leaf litter in the hedgerow and our grassland corridors. Always with one eye skyward to avoid our kestrels.
Farmland & Woodland Birds: Yellowhammers, linnets, and tits feed heavily in the shrubbery, while early winter thrushes like redwings can occasionally start arriving on field margins later in the month. Pheasant, partridge, jackdaws and crows are feeding in large numbers in the cut meadows.
Insects & Butterflies: Comma and speckled wood butterflies bask along the sunny side of our hedgerow. Micro climates make a huge difference at this time of year. Flowering ivy along hedge trees provides a vital late-season nectar source for ivy blossom pollinators such as bees, hoverflies, and ivy moths.
At Clandon Wood we firmly believe that providing an environment for the bereaved is just as important as it is for those who have passed away. In this regard we hold a number of ‘aftercare’ events throughout the year for those left behind.
These include our monthly tea, cake and company drop ins which provide an opportunity for anyone who has been bereaved to be among and talk to others who share the experience of loss.
Held in our beautiful glass pavilion they take place from 11.30am to 2.30pm on the last Sunday of every month.
Simply drop in - whether or not you have a loved one at Clandon Wood, you will always be warmly welcomed with kindness, consideration and company.
