Haslemere Society

updated 3 December 2024

The Haslemere Society exists to protect and enhance Haslemere, nearby villages and the surrounding countryside, by encouraging the interest and support of residents and members.

The Society has a distinguished pedigree with its origins going back to 1884 when Sir Robert Hunter (one of the three co-founders of the National Trust) set up the Haslemere Branch of the Commons Preservation Society, which eventually became the Haslemere Society. The re-introduced Blue Plaque scheme goes from strength to strength. Haslemere is a historic town of great charm. Its setting in wonderful countryside in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and its good transport links make it a much sought after place in which to live. The town is vibrant and cherished and the Society does not resist change, but seeks high standards of appropriate development and the careful planning of amenities and facilities, which are as much a concern for the Society as is conservation.

The Haslemere Society has a substantial membership whose influence is widely respected. The committee appreciates its active involvement and support.
New members are very welcome. You can help to shape Haslemere's future by joining the Society.

Summary of 2025 Diary Dates
Details to follow.

Recent Events held by the Society:

Society visit to the ruins of Waverley Abbey
Home of the first UK Cistercian Order set in beautiful Surrey Countryside partly shadowed by a 500Yr old Yew Tree.

Summer Visit to Blackdown Ridge
Nestled under the Blackdown Ridge is a young winery which hosted members of Haslemere Society for one of two wine tasting sessions in July. Members were treated to 5 varieties of wine.

How to grow, harvest & drink wine delivered by Lucinda.

Jane receiving a historic photo of Haslemere

Summer Party 2024

21st June saw the 2024 Summer Party at the Haslemere Museum with the Brass Band providing the background.
This was also the retirement of Jane Stopford as a Committee member of the Society - details in the Newsletter.

Article: Haslemere Tree Wardens working with Haslemere Society
The five members of the Haslemere Tree Wardens are part of the Surrey Tree Warden group. To hold the Tree Warden Badge training is required from learning tree biology to legal constraints of the position. To adhere to the role, Tree Wardens cannot enter private land, provide any formal advice or tree surgery and definitely not resolve any disputes. A warden can however offer advice and directions to the correct statutory body to assist the tree, or the person.
Haslemere is unique with 48% of the designated Haslemere area as woodland which compares to around 10% nationally and 22% in Surrey. Of this 33% (ie 761 ha) is broadleaf woodland and 15% (346 ha) is coniferous. About 85 ha (8% of the HNP area) is listed on Natural England's Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI).
Trees have a hidden asset of providing Public Wellbeing, economical and social benefits by their very presence, providing they are in the right place.

The Haslemere Tree Wardens can offer service to say the Town Council for auditing & monitoring local trees, noting location, species and importantly health, not just stress but important diseases like Ash Dieback. With ancient woodland and a town with a long history it also has many classified trees which are registered on the Woodland Trust website.

It is important that “the right tree is in the right place”, both for its size, water access, light and impact it will have on the infrastructure, such as roots. Planting a sapling today in the wrong place may cause future issues interrupting adjacent buildings and infrastructure. Tree works next to established trees must follow the recognised British Standard (BS 5837) to protect the unseen roots so the tree wardens can offer advice based on the code of practice. The same applies to overhanging branches, ownership and rights to prune.

However, a Tree Warden cannot intervene in disputes or take any action, merely point people in the right direction.
The local Tree Wardens can be contacted through the STW network

References
Woodland Trust API Tree map https://ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
Waverley Planning [email protected]
STW https://www.surreytreewardens.org.uk/members/haslemere/

Courtesy of STW (May 2024)

WEY HILL FAIRGROUND SITE PROPOSALS
Details on proposals for development of the Fairground Site on Wey Hill. WBC have now formally agreed to press ahead with investigating proposals for a shopping precinct with 32 affordable council flats above it on the site.
The importance of consultation and the Society’s role
In principle, the Society supports development of the site, and we are keeping an open mind about the current proposals. The Society’s Planning Group will form a view once there is sufficient information to do so and may at that point object to or raise concerns about specific planning applications. However, we recognise that members are unlikely to all have the same view about whatever detailed final proposals are made. Our key concern is therefore to ensure that there is meaningful consultation with the community. We will be pressing WBC to provide full information in accessible ways and to offer appropriate channels for people to give their views and raise concerns well ahead of any planning application. We know that our local town councillors are also keen to ensure the local community is properly consulted so we will be working with them where appropriate to try to deliver this.
See Haslemere Society Comments here

Minutes from Haslemere Society AGM's