Surrey Hills Equestrian Working Group
Notes of meeting held on 30th March 2017 at Warren Farm Barns
Present: Cllr Dave Mir Surrey Hills Board and Mole Valley DC
Daphne Barton Leith Hill resident/rider
Gail Brownrigg Horse Drawn Carriage Drivers/rider; member of SCAF
Brenda Carlisle Leith Hill resident/rider
Jane Garrett Journalist and rider
Maggie Scott Chilworth resident/rider
Tricia Shanks Leith Hill resident/rider
Sarah Rayfield British Horse Society
Colin Sandford British Horse Society
Avril Sleeman British Horse Society
Penny Tyson-Davies British Horse Society
Rob Fairbanks Surrey Hills AONB Director
Pennie King Surrey Hills AONB Working Group Administrator
Action
1. /Introductions/Apologies
1.1 / Apologies were received from Denise Furlonger, James Rooney and Pete MorrisIntroductions: Colin Sandford, British Horse Society.
2.1 / Notes of meeting held on 16th January 2017
These were agreed and will be posted on the Surrey Hills website. / CP
2.2 / Matters Arising
3.3 / Rob confirmed that he had sent a letter to the landlord of the section of footpath we would like to include in our trail asking permission to put the route on our map with a statement saying “this section by permission of the landlord”. A copy of the letter had also been sent to Hendryk Jurk at Guildford Borough Council as they own the other half of the footpath.
3.3 / Jane confirmed that part of the trail on Newlands Corner was over a stony track. Riders are permitted to ride down the side of it but it is currently covered in scrub. It needs someone to clear a track down the side of Water Lane. Rob suggested getting the working party to do this once it has been trained. Perhaps Barry Wildish could strim it and the working party could rake it up. Jane said no aftercare would be needed as the horses would keep the scrub down.
7.1 / Height Barrier at Starveall Car Park: Maggie reported that SCC Horse Riders Working Group had written a letter to Nigel Davenport, Chief Executive of Surrey Wildlife Trust, regarding its concern at the erection of height barriers at the entrance to many of SWT’s car parks. NG’s reply was that “it is necessary to place height barriers in some of SWT’s car parks to reduce the incidences of illegal occupation and fly-tipping, including the dumping of hazardous waste”. It was agreed that we need to engage with SWT and Gail suggested a letter from the Surrey Hills Board might be the way forward. It was pointed out that there are no height barriers on the Hurtwood and they do not have a particular problem with fly-tipping in car parks. Rob reported that he has a meeting planned with Peter Evelyn in May and he could bring the matter up then. It was agreed that this problem needs to be resolved by the time we launch the circular riding trails. Dave said we need a list of car parks that are relevant to this group and all members of the Group were asked to check the accessibility of car parks and report back to Pennie. Colin offered to ask other BHS Access Officers to let Pennie have any relevant information on car parks. Penny T-D stressed that Starveall car park is the most important one as it is a big, safe car park. Penny T-D also said there was a car park in Westcott where you can park 6 or 7 horse boxes but she did not know whether or not it now has a height barrier. It was agreed that any car parks identified as suitable for horse boxes need to have access to a byway. It was suggested that a proposal could be raised at the Surrey Hills Board to recommend that the default position in SWT car parks is not to have height barriers. Avril said she will raise the matter at the next SCAF meeting in April. Dave said we should not do anything further until we have got all the information back on car parks. / ALL
CS
DM
3. / Trail Identification and Mapping: Jane Garrett
3.1 / Jane said she had reservations as to how the trails are mapped on the website as they do not appear in the same format in which she had done them. Rob explained that Caroline is confined to using Google maps on the website which, unlike OS maps, do not show public Rights of Way. It was agreed the way forward was to use Google maps to identify the start of the trails and to attach Jane’s detailed maps which riders can download. Dave thanked Jane for all the work she had put into producing the 6 downloadable trail leaflets. Jane confirmed she will be looking at trails in the South West of the Surrey Hills next, followed by the East.
3.2 / Way markers: The group agreed to Rob’s suggestion that there should be way markers on existing posts on the trails, together with signs in car parks. Maggie said she thought the green horse icon Caroline had used on the map would be excellent as a way marker. Jane and Maggie offered to put the way markers up in due course. / JG/MS
3.3 / Website: Rob showed the group the draft website. Colin asked if all the routes shown on the website are currently passable. It was confirmed that only the ones that are passable are on the website. Colin said Rights of Way has a huge list of outstanding issues but does not have the funding to deal with them. Dave said the only way forward is to deal with them by means of self help. Avril said she would bring the matter up at the next SCAF meeting. Maggie said she thought the website was looking great; it was what the Group had aspired to when it was set up and was now coming to fruition.
3.4 / Fund-raising: Gail suggested the Group could carry out a fund- raising exercise within the horse riding fraternity to raise money to maintain the trails. She suggested a sponsored horse ride and/or a Horseman’s Sunday. Pennie to Agenda for next meeting. All to bring fund-raising ideas to the next meeting. Dave said that if we do manage to raise money this in principle could go into the Surrey Hills Trust Fund and be ring-fenced to the Equestrian Working Group. / PK
ALL
3.5 / Initial thoughts for Horseman’s Sunday:
· This could be held at St Martha’s Church, meeting at St Martha’s for a short service
· Ask Revd Stephanie Sokolowski if she would conduct the service
· Ask Albury Estates if, on this one occasion, riders could ride right up to the top of the hill
· Everyone taking part could receive a green rosette
· People wanting to take part will be asked to pay in advance
· Collecting tins to be available
· Advertising
· Insurance
4. / Launch Event
A launch event to promote the trail leaflets was discussed. Maggie suggested having the maps printed out and laminated to give away as “freebies” at the launch. It was suggested that the leaflets could be put out through local hunts and riding clubs. A poster could be produced and post-cards, with details of the website. These could be displayed in tack shops, feed shops, etc. It was agreed that the launch event cannot be held until all the trails are “rider friendly”. The launch could be advertised through:
· A press release
· BHS magazine
· Surrey magazines, eg Surrey Life
· Pegasus, free horse magazine for the South East
· South East Rider magazine
Rob confirmed that Caroline will lead on PR and social media. / CP
5. / Training
A 4 hour volunteer path warden training session is being held on 21st April 2017 at Wotton Village Hall and is being attended by 12 members of the Equestrian Working Group and 6 members of the Ramblers Association. Refreshments will be provided. / PK
6. / Marketing and Promotion (Caroline Price)
Pennie to put on Agenda for next meeting.
Either Alice Dunsdon (Surrey Union Hunt) or Pippa Funnel could be asked if they would be available for a quick photo shoot or video to promote our horse riding trails. / PK
7. / Next Steps
· Get website up and running and test it
· Order way-markers
· Produce drafts of posters and postcards and circulate to group
8. / Any Other Business
Merchandising: It was agreed this was a possibility for the future.
9. / PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE OF NEXT MEETING
24TH May 2017
14:00 – 16:00
Warren Farm Barns
Circulation:
Cllr David Mir Surrey Hills Board and Mole Valley DC
Rob Fairbanks Surrey Hills AONB Director
Pennie King Surrey Hills AONB Working Group Administrator
Denise Furlonger Surrey Hills AONB Finance Officer
Caroline Price Surrey Hills Marketing Communications Officer
Barry Wildish SCC Rights of Way Volunteer Coordinator for the East
Pete Morris North Downs Way Trail Officer
Daphne Barton Leith Hill resident/rider
Mark Beaumont Hurtwood Ranger
Dan Brown Surrey Hills Carriage Driving
Gail Brownrigg Horse Drawn Carriage Drivers/rider; member of SCAF
Brenda Carlisle Leith Hill resident/rider
Jane Garrett Journalist and rider
Perpetua Kelly Rider/Cranleigh resident
James Rooney Rider/Carriage Driver, Abinger
Maggie Scott Chilworth resident/rider
Tricia Shanks Leith Hill resident/rider
Mark Weston British Horse Society, Director of Access
Sarah Rayfield British Horse Society, Access Field Officer South East
Penny Tyson-Davies British Horse Society, Bridleways Officer for Mole Valley
Hugh Craddock British Horse Society, Surrey Access and Bridleways Officer
Avril Sleeman British Horse Society, Access Officer for Tandridge
Colin Sandford British Horse Society, Access Officer for Guildford