The third recipient of a Green Mole Forum greening grant cheque was Fetcham Community Garden, who received £150 to put towards fruit trees, seeds, peat-free compost, equipment and wildlife boxes.

Pictured are some of the members, who celebrated the projects first anniversary on Saturday 5th November. As well as a birthday cake and homemade pumpkin soup, prizes were awarded to those who'd helped out, young and old, over the past year.

Leatherhead Community Garden, now based at West Hill School, will be holding a working party from 9am to 3pm this Saturday (5th November). See their events page for full details (along with information on The Chickens' First Birthday! event, on Saturday 12th).

On the same day, to celebrate a successful year's trial and the news that the Parish Church Council have approved its continued existence, the Bothy Garden Project (AKA Fetcham Community Garden) at St Mary's church will be holding a social/open hour, from 11am to noon.

The second recipient of a Green Mole Forum grant was Polesden Lacey Infant School, of Great Bookham, who will purchase solar kits to educate pupils about an energy source that will no doubt feature highly in their lives.

Pictured is Rosie Keedy, head teacher, accepting their £250 cheque from Anne Brewer, secretary of the GMF, after her recent presentation to Transition Bookham.

Mrs Keedy talked at length, and with great passion, about the numerous 'greening' activities (often suggested by pupils themselves, who have their own 'green team') undertaken at the award-winning Eco-School.

Initiatives range from awards for clean plates and floors at lunchtime (reducing food waste, whilst keeping the caretaker happy) and walking to school, to class Christmas cards (often made from re-used materials) rather than lots of individual ones, to toy-swaps, and litter-picks in the community.

Pupils grow fruit and veg (used in the school kitchen), in raised beds and a plastic bottle greenhouse, helped by composting and rain water collection. They picked blackberries in September for 'Crumble Rumble', where, along with local apples, they made themselves crumble for desert.

Green issues have proven to be a great motivator, with improved grades and enthusiasm, and work well within the curriculum, such as looking at food miles (geography). The only down side is that, upon moving on from Polesden, pupils find that these activites don't exist in their new schools.

The Green Mole Forum would like to help co-ordinate a greater exchange of ideas, and information on initiatives, amongst local schools. Our hope is to hold an event, perhaps in conjunction with the Effingham Learning Partnership, with Mrs Keedy passing on her experiences of gaining 'Green Flag' status. Do contact us if you'd like to take part.

Earlier this year the Green Mole Forum contacted a number of local organisations and schools, offering grants to help advance any 'greening' projects they might be considering or undertaking.

First to respond was The Leatherhead Residents' Association's Environmental Committee, who submitted a successful proposal to provide berry plants for Leatherhead Community Garden.

RHS Wisley's Rebecca Bevan, team leader for fruit and vegetables, inspected the site at West Hill School with the Community Garden Committee. After testing the soil she recommended preparation start now, but planting in March, when the ground begins to warm.

Pictured is Cheryl Allen, of the LRA, receiving their cheque for £250 from GMF treasurer Colin Brewer. Rebecca Bevan said that the money should go a long way toward filling the garden's fruit cage.

For Transition Bookham's Wednesday 19th October monthly open meeting, Rosie Keedy, head of Polesden Lacey Infant School, will be speaking about her award-winning eco-school, and how she’s encouraging future generations to care for their planet. This will be followed by free refreshments (donations gratefully received) and then discussion.

As usual, the meeting will be held in the St Nicolas Pastoral Centre, Bookham, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. The Centre is at the rear of St Nicolas' churchyard, with access behind the clock tower, or beside 'Heads Up' barbers in Church Road.

Transition's Ashtead and Dorking are both holding Apple Days, a chance to celebrate the bumper harvest and make fresh pressed juice.

Transition Ashtead's event is on Saturday 15th October, at Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 10am to 4pm, whilst Transition Dorking's event is on Saturday 22 October, in front of Barclays Bank on the High Street, from 9am to 2pm, see the links for full details.

There are over 7,500 varieties of apple worldwide, which means you could eat an apple a day for more than 19 years, and never eat the same kind twice!

On Saturday 1st October, Transition Bookham will be paying a visit to Compost Works in Fetcham. If you'd like to join them, from 10.30am, please send them an email so they have an idea of numbers.

It has been proposed that, from April 2012, Surrey County Council should cease to host the Lower Mole Project, the Downlands Project and the Heathland Project. This means they'd no longer employ project staff, provide HR and IT support, payroll services or insurance.

It's suggested they could be hosted by charitable trusts, although this has not been researched. An enormous amount of work is done throughout Surrey by project volunteers, and it will be a serious loss should these groups cease to exist.

There are grave concerns that this important decision will be taken by only 2 people, one an elected member and one an officer. Please consider signing the petition (Deadline 2nd June), asking the council to carry out a proper investigation.

Fitting in nicely with Transition Bookham's recent Gardening for Bees meeting and May's bee training events, Transition Ashtead's open meeting, at 8pm on Monday 9th May, is a talk by local bee keeper Andrew Barnett.

Andrew will share his passion for honey bees, and will explain all about keeping them, and their importance for pollination and the environment. He's kept bees for over 8 years, as a member of Epsom Bee Keepers Association, and has lots of stories to tell, many very funny, about his experiences.

Caroline Cardew-Smith, Transition Ashtead's secretary, will also be on hand to answer any questions about becoming a 'bee host', as she's had one of Andrew's hives in her garden for the last two years. There will also be local 'Barnett Wood Lane Honey' for sale!

Ashtead Village Club (104 The Street, Ashtead KT21 1AW. Opposite the bus stop) have kindly offered their upstairs area for the meeting. Don't forget to get yourself a drink at the bar downstairs first!

As part of the government's review of 'red tape', the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 Section 23, which governs the provision of allotments, is at risk.

The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners is asking everyone to comment, so as to ensure the act stays in place. You can find out more on their website, the public only have until April 25th left to respond.