roots down walls down
Have you heard the latest?
If you have been reading the online version of The Parishioner magazine during the covid crisis, you may remember this Parishioner cover some months ago. A lot has happened since we last printed a Parishioner and popped it through all your doors! Here’s an update for anyone who missed it. Tim Jones is our contact within the “Save our Spaces” team and shares the latest news with us:
Continue reading “Ash Ranges Update”By Pat Scott
The Ash & Ash Vale Community Street Team are a friendly group of volunteers from the local community that go out and talk to young people and anyone else they meet on their patrols. Their objective is to break down barriers between different age groups in the Parish.
Traditionally, public safety has been the domain of law enforcement. When crime and Anti-social Behaviour occurs, we tend to look to law enforcement for reduction strategies. However, increasingly over the past few years, research has shown that you can’t have sustained, long term reductions in violence and crime without engaging residents in the public safety process. That’s to say that you can’t have “public safety” without the “public”.
Our Teams of Volunteers go on pre-arranged Outings in pairs around Ash and Ash Vale and act as a service to the community, bridging the gap between the generations and offering mainly young people the chance to chat and simply talk to someone who will listen.
Since starting over 12 years ago, the Street Team have 18 volunteers of various ages. The Team originally received funding from Surrey County Council, allowing them to buy uniforms and back packs which carry hot drinks in the winter and cold drinks in the summer. Members of the team live in the local area, and are well known within the Community with their logo marked hi-viz jackets, fleeces and backpacks.
Pat Scott, who Chairs the group, said:
“We try to go to places where young people gather. We want to let them know that not all people over the age of 40 are about to collect their pension, and similarly let older people know that not everyone under the age of 25 is ‘up to no good’ even in small groups.”
Often, we just listen to people who feel they cannot talk to their parents or teachers for whatever reason, Pat said. “Young people can get very pressurised at school and worry about exams etc., and it can really help to just have an outsider to talk to.” or signpost local events of interest.
Helping the elderly is also important. “On one occasion, a Team met an older lady who was frightened about crossing the park in the dark because she had seen some youths there,” The Team offered their help. “We went with her, and the youths actually turned around and said “good night” to us. It made the lady feel that they are not all bad after all.”
Can you spare an hour or two a month? Or perhaps you are looking for something different to do, meeting new people and making new friends whilst also taking a little exercise, then why not join us?
If you would like to go out on a ‘taster session’ to see if this could be something you would enjoy please contact Pat (Scott) on scott.lpd@outlook.com.
Picnic & Play in the Holidays
12:00 -14:00
Wednesdays in August
Outside in the garden at
The Chapel, Wharf Rd, GU12 5AY
Come and join us for a picnic, a chat and a play in the Chapel garden.
Please text Alex to book 07730 609446
Booking is essential so we can manage numbers
& cater for your picnic lunch.
Chapel Arts Monthly Makes—Debi Retallick
Debi is continuing to run the monthly make on Zoom but hoping to return to face to face sessions at the Chapel from September…..
May’s monthly make was a Bird sculpture; one of the participants has caught the making bug and is now on her 9th Bird sculpture; she’s even teaching her friends to make them!
June Monthly Make: Join Debi for the next monthly make to do some wire work, creating your own dragonfly: 4pm on Tuesday 1st June 2021.
Continue reading “Chapel Project News”
There’s lots and lots going on – have a look!
St Paul’s Tongham: Support for the Community
We have been offering support for the local community in a number of ways during lockdown. We had always collected for the Farnham Foodbank, but we have also been supporting local families in need as we have heard about needs and through the school. We have been amazed at the donations both of food and of money, and it has made a real difference.
We were also involved in coordinating a response in lockdowns and have helped with prescriptions, moving bins and a number of other needs for our neighbours.
We would love to look at this moving forward – watch this space!
Contact: Revd Claire clairefholt@hotmail.com
St Peter’s Ash: Care and Share Shelf
The current pandemic has been a difficult time for many people. We all want to help. Outside St. Peter’s church we have a Care and Share shelf where anyone can take food that they need or leave something to help a neighbour.
If you would like to donate, tinned and packaged food, long life milk, tea and coffee are very popular. We try to put out enough to make a decent meal. It is topped up daily. Items can be placed on the shelf or left at the Rectory door. Contact: Barbara Rose 07761808727
Fun, food and friendship at St Mary’s and The Chapel
Aren’t we lucky that Revd Neil is amazing with food? Not only has he served socially distanced teas in the vicarage garden, and pop-up take-away pancakes from the shed when regulations allowed it, but now he has built a huge pizza oven in the vicarage garden, turning outdoor meetings into a festival of flavour!
Look out for kids in the kitchen too! During the winter, Neil teamed up with Anna and Charlie to do ‘St Mary’s junior bake-off’ & stories on Zoom with some of the kids. It was huge fun, messy at times, and they even had a dance-off while their creations were in the oven. The learning has definitely stuck—one of our 9yo girls remembered the recipe by heart and made an extra batch of cakes the next morning! (Ed.—Quick, put her name down on the church coffee rota!) Now that school is back, it’s over to Alex and the Chapel Kids toddler group who are busy planting up the Chapel garden with incredible edibles. Watch this space — they are literally growing their own fruit snacks!
Now it’s getting serious: Our very own vicar is running the Chapel Project Cooking School! Fareshare and Tesco (who give us a lot of our ‘on its last date’ fresh items for the local food parcels) have created a community chefs cooking school project. We jumped at the chance to join in and now have 15 families & community cooks signed up to zoom in and cook along, learning about nutrition, kitchen skills and producing some very scrummy dinners. We love the recipes Jamie Oliver has lined up for us, and it’s a lot of fun. Cooking along at home is fab, because everyone can see how to do things in their own kitchen. Ever wondered how to create a rainbow chilli, fry fabulous fishcakes or learn some nifty knife skills? We have been doing just that!
A huge thank you from all of us to Neil, and we can’t close without thanking Vicki Fox, an amazing local chef who has been instrumental in sourcing quality ingredients, making up doorstep delivery kits for those who need them, and building our confidence with variations and top tips on the Zoom sessions too.
Bon Appetit! Contact: Rev Neil: revneil@me.com / Alex: 07730 609446
Congratulations! Community Heroes Award for The Ash, Ash Vale & Ash Green Coronavirus Support Group
We have some seriously amazing people involved in the local Ash, Ash Vale & Ash Green Coronavirus Support Group. They are simply the best, and guess what? The Mayor of Guildford has recognised the team with a Community Heroes award! Congratulations go to everyone involved and especially Carla Morson who leads the group.
During lockdown, the team took on delivering care calls, prescriptions and shopping to people having to isolate or shield. St Mary’s also joined forces with the COVID Group to create a local Food Parcels Project, delivering food to those struggling under the financial impacts of the pandemic. The recipients are from all walks of life, and our delivery list is everchanging, as people’s circumstances change in the wake of the covid crisis. As we write this there are 32 families on the list this week. (If you’re struggling and need a food parcel you can call or text 07843 489796 or 07730 609446)
The COVID group is still going strong, helping local people and bringing the community together. It’s not too late to join in! Contact us to get involved.
We are always grateful for donations too., either store cupboard food and toiletries or donations via ‘give a little’ to help buy store cupboard items and toiletries: The donations link for online giving is: https://bit.ly/33LT1SA Thank you for your support.
Contact: 07843 489796
What’s on at St Mary’s, Vale Rd, Ash Vale,
Sundays 10am –Join St Mary’s for our weekly Church Service. All are welcome, both on Zoom and in person. Wednesday Evensong is back too, please contact the office for the latest rules and timings. Contact: Parishoffice@ash-vale.org.uk
Mondays 11am: Coffee Chat Zoom Join fellow parents and carers for informal coffee chat and friendship. (Term time only) Zoom ID: 520 880 119 / Password: Grownups Contact Alex: 07730 609446
Tuesdays 10am: Babies at St Mary’s Support Group We are open Tuesdays 10am-11am in term time for parents and carers with babies under 12mths. Booking is essential. Come and join us! Contact Alex: 07730 6094446
Thursday Café Once cafés are allowed to reopen we will be risk-assessing and reopening. Contact us for details. parishoffice@ash-vale.org.uk
Sat 26th June: 7:30pm: Poetry Night & Book Launch: Chapel Poetry Group are launching their latest collection, and celebrating the winners of the “Mirror Mind” Poetry Competition. Join us on Zoom or in person at St Mary’s to hear some of the winning poems and celebrate with us! St Mary’s Church, 26th June, 7:30pm. Contact Alex: 07730 609446 for tickets, zoom links and copies of the book!
August: Summer Café: Fridays in the holidays at St Mary’s—keep an eye on the notices for details. Sign up to receive the weekly news parishoffice@ash-vale.org.uk
Summer Fair! 10th July 12-3pm Sneakin’ Suspicion are booked for an ‘end of COVID’ Gig – and the Wood Street & St Mary’s Team are cooking up a bit of a festival! See inside back cover for details.
Donations for St Mary’s: https://givealittle.co/campaigns/47eb21e6-c2b0-4a23-a526-8d13fd24fa56 Thank you!
The Chapel Project, Wharf Rd, Ash Vale
Chapel Arts Monthly Makes: Artists in Residence Debi & Jono Retallick host a ‘monthly make’ fundraising workshop for The Chapel, teaching all kinds of art and craft techniques. Email Debi for event details, Zoom links, and to book your place on the workshops: (&See page 26) Contact debiretallick@googlemail.com
Tue 1 June 4pm: Dragonflies
Tue 6 July 4pm: Painting with fibres
Chapel Kids Baby & Toddler Group: Wednesdays 11:30am: Garden Praise Chapel Kids toddler group ages 0-4yrs at The Chapel in Wharf Road GU12 3AY (term time only, text us to book) Contact Alex: 07730 609446
Chapel Poetry Group Workshops: Join the group on WhatsApp for chat with like minded creative writers, and join us on Zoom for a monthly poetry workshop. (Hopefully in person once regulations lift). Contact Alex: 07730 609446
Chapel Craft Group: Join us on Wednesdays in term time 8-10pm at The Chapel on Wharf Rd. Bring along your latest craft project and have a natter and a cuppa as we craft. We have been zooming but aim to be back at the Chapel as soon as regulations allow. Contact 07730 609446
Chapel Filmshare: Your local fortnightly Filmshare is starting back in September! If you enjoy tea, coffee and cakes and appreciate films you’re welcome to join us fortnightly at the Chapel from 7.30pm. To sign up to our e-mail newsletter contact: Dick Elsey at richard.elsey45@gmail.com or on 01252 694314.
Donations for The Chapel : https://givealittle.co/campaigns/8d80cd98-df9f-494e-9808-b8898744146f Thank you!
St Paul’s Church, Poyle Rd, Tongham:
Baby Plus :
· Mondays 4-4.30pm. Toddler Storytime – stories, actions and songs
· Tuesdays 2.30-4pm Mum Plus— friendship and facilitated discussions
· Wednesdays 4-4.30pm. Toddler Storytime
· Thursdays 10.30am-12. Baby Plus – Informal chat session for mums, with some singing and action songs for the little ones.
Baby Plus Contact: CommunityWorker@stpaulstongham.org.uk Or via the Church office: 01252 783081
Messy Church at St Paul’s :
· 17th June (pack with Facebook live introduction)
· 15th July (format tbc)
Keep an eye on Facebook / Website
Open Church Event:
Keep an eye on Facebook & the website for our “Open Church” for reflection, a grand opening of the ramp, and an outside event for the community (or we might combine this into one big 3-in-1 event!)
Web.: https://www.stpaulstongham.org.uk/
St Peter’s Church, Ash
27th June St Peter’s Day: Outdoor (weather permitting) service in the St Peter’s Centre garden, followed by a bring-your-own picnic lunch in the Rectory Garden.
St Peter’s Craft Evenings: At St Peters we have a regular craft evening which will relaunch in September. It’s a free of charge group which meets at 7pm on the 3rd Monday of each month. It’s a creative session where people bring along whatever craft project they have underway. We have some painting, card making, jewellery making and lots of keen knitters! Refreshments are offered as well as an evening of friendship. All ages welcome. For confirmation of the relaunch please check our website Web saint-peters-ash.org.uk
Holy Angels, Ash
Youth Group: Our first face to face Youth meeting will be on Sat 29th May. Rounders and picnic on the field behind Holy Angels Church. 2-5pm – praying for the weather and no further lock downs!!! If you’d like to join our groups please get in touch.
Gloria: gloria.benson14@gmail.com
All events listed above are subject to change, due to Covid-19 safety rules. Please keep in touch!
St. Peter’s Meadow and Wildlife Area
In an effort to give nature a helping hand an area of grass behind St. Peter’s Centre is being made more wildlife friendly.
The Rainbows Group that meets at the Centre made a wonderful bug house, and we have bee-friendly plants, bird roosts and a bird feeder. We have sown wild flower seeds and made a log pile and a compost bin.
Work in progress!
Contact: Barbara Rose 07761808727
The Chapel Project, Ash Vale: Going Greener
We are very lucky to have Revd Gina Hoff co-leading the Chapel Project, and she brings lots of wisdom with her as the Green Christian UK Chaplain.
The Chapel has made some eco-friendly changes, starting with where we spend our money! We buy fair trade tea, coffee and other supplies, and over lockdown have switched our gas and electric to Bulb, where we now get 100% green electric and carbon-offset gas (other suppliers are available of course!) The Chapel Kids group are in on the act as well, planting a mini ‘food forest’ in the garden and learning all about plants, pollinators and permaculture gardening. Our friend Mel W has been very busy setting up a seed swap station at The Chapel as well, so you won’t even need to buy seeds to start planting things at home, and anyone with spare seeds can pop them in the seed swap for local people to use. We will be restarting our monthly “Chapel Greens Coffee Chat” soon; pop in and say hello!
Contact: Alex 07730 609446
Facebook Link for seeds swap: https://www.facebook.com/groups/777731219796739
St Mary’s, Ash Vale: Eco Church Update
St Mary’s have a superb Eco Champion in Lesley, and she has been instrumental in helping us to earn our La Rocha Eco Church Bronze Award recently. Lots of people in our church family are environmentally conscious and help out with recycling, gardening and trying to be good stewards of church resources. We are looking at greener transport next. Watch this space for bike parking and electric cars!
Another passion at St Mary’s is food, and we can’t stand seeing it go to waste. We have joined the Foodiverse with Fareshare Go and the local Co-Op Foodshare, (joint project with the local Covid support Group) to save ‘on its last date’ food from landfill and make it part of the local food parcels project—more of that on page 24/25
Contact: Parish Office 07863 311165
St Paul’s Tongham: Charity Recycling Hub, come and join in!
The team at St Paul’s have done amazing work to set up a recycling project to support local charities. Please keep an eye on the website for the next event, and in the meantime have a look at the list below for what you can save to recycle. Thank you for your support!
Contact: clairefholt@hotmail.com
St Mary’s, Vale Road, Ash Vale (Church of England)
Sundays 10am Communion Service
Wednesdays Zoom Evensong 8pm
Monthly Messy Church 4pm: 27 Jun, 18 Jul (book a Messy Church table on 07730 609446)
Continue reading “Local Church Services & Contact Details Summer 2021”
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who took part in the Sheep Trail! We had a lovely time and we hope you did too. 💕🐑 The trail is now closed, but let us know which was your favourite sheep, we have a little prize for them! 🙂 text 07730609446
Can you find all these sheep? Why not see if you can find them all this half term? We have also hidden 17 sheep in the Parishioner Magazine, you can pick up a paper copy of it at St Mary’s.
Keep them coming – If you’ve got a sheep on display, send us it’s name and location and we will add them to the trail. 07730 609446. The more the merrier, we have all half term to enjoy the hunt for the lost sheep!
Share your photos online with the hashtag #AshValeSheepTrail and tell us who’s your favourite, or why not comment here?
Stay safe and have fun everyone!
#AshValeSheepTrail #LostSheepTrail #LoveWhereWeLive #AshVale #Ash #AshGreen #HalfTermFun #SociallyDistancedFun #LoveYourNeighbours #Community
Hello and Happy New Year!
Butterflies Pre-school has re opened. We are open Monday – Friday, with longer days running on Monday’s and Wednesday’s. We are Ofsted registered and accept all funding.
When the UK Government announced another Lockdown, though Pre-schools and Nurseries were to remain open, it left us initially feeling a little confused. However, it didn’t take us too long to carry out our own Risk Assessments, put a few extra measures in place and open safely after the Christmas holidays.
We opened Butterflies as a brand new Pre-school back in November 2019, then in March 2020 at 5 months old, we sadly closed our doors as everyone went into lockdown across the world.
In June we re opened and followed strict guidelines from Early Years and the Government, as well as our own extra measures to support infection control. Many children returned and thankfully we kept Covid 19 free for the entire time that we were open, with just one of our families contracting the virus over Christmas.
Throughout 2020, despite the Pandemic and closure, we managed to successfully grow our team and attending children and we hope this can continue. We run independently from the Community Hall side of St Mary’s Church and follow the Early Years Curriculum. With an outstanding Early Years team, all highly qualified with many years of experience, they continually demonstrate commitment and dedication to providing the best and safest environment we can for our children.
It is a blessing to see how resilient and happy our Butterflies children are as they enjoy playing and learning through play in their Pre-school.
With the new highly contagious variant of the virus spreading around, our infection control safety measures have been updated and implemented, safety continues to be one of our top priorities. We understand it is a worrying time for many and are happy to share all the practices we have in place, should you be interested in learning more about our Pre-school. We currently have just a few spaces left on a few days, if you are interested we would love to hear from you. For further information, please feel free to contact Natalie Andrews on 07881807337 or by email Butterfliespreschool19@gmail.com
We wish everyone in our community to remain safe and pray that all our lives can resume some normality in the not too distant future, after this challenging time.
Best wishes to all
Natalie Andrews – Owner of Butterflies Pre-school
Rebecca Hitchman – Senior Manager
Daniella Jaconelli- Manager
Kat Corbyn – Deputy Manager
Indi Dhami – Deputy Manager