Category: Enterprises News

Helping tackle climate change

 

Surrey County Council has committed to facilitate the planting of 1.2 million trees – one for every Surrey resident – by 2030.

We are delighted that they have chosen to plant the very first tree this Saturday (5 October), at the 10th anniversary Surrey Hills Wood Fair in Cranleigh. The oak tree will be planted by Tony Samuels, Chairman of SCC, and Tim Oliver, Leader of SCC.

The tree has been donated by Mary Foryszewski, the Mayor of Waverley.

FREE TREES

Surrey county council, in partnership with Tilhill Forestry, will be giving families who attend the wood fair a free tree to plant when they get home (with advice on how and where to plant it).

Mike Goodman, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, explains how this will help to tackle climate change. By the time it reaches 40 years of age a tree will have absorbed one ton of CO2.

Join us for the 10th Surrey Hills Wood Fair that promises to be bigger and better than ever with a whole host of exciting new additions to the Wood Fair as well as the return of many favourites. If you have never been before, come and experience an exciting day out with all your friends and family, and, if you have, then we look forward to welcoming you again!

The Wood Fair is full of traditional rural charm celebrating all that is ‘Good about Wood’ in the outstanding beautiful Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A Brilliant day out for all the family with masses of free activities, fantastic food and drink from the Surrey Hills, woodland walks, cooking over camp stoves plus.

For a full list of activities and demonstrations click here

Tickets to the Surrey Hills Wood fair

Adult Advance Online ticket (up to 12 noon on Friday 4th October): £7.50 or £10 on the gate or on line after 12 noon on Friday 4th October.

If you are looking for a team building event, corporate away day or a group event with a real difference, there are some fantastic companies offering great experiences and events that will help your teams connect, communicate, collaborate and have fun – all in the stunning natural beauty of the surrey hills countryside.

The Salt Box – Corporate Experiences and Team Away Days

Giving businesses the space to explore new directions and enjoy their team’s success out in the open, beneath the trees.

The award-winning team, based on the Priory Farm estate in South Nutfield, are offering bespoke experiences in a relaxed, natural environment, which can include a combination of open-fire cookery, foraging, natural arts and woodland yoga. Their immersive activities will give you and your team new energy and the space to have conversations that matter.

Find out more

Hedges and Hurdles – traditional skills training

Give your team a digital detox and let them experience a full day in the great outdoors learning some really different skills!

Introduce your teams to the heritage of Surrey with traditional Hedgelaying, Coppicing and Wattle Hurdle Training Courses delivered by 4 times National Hedgelaying Champion Paul Matthews.

Utilising natural materials coppiced locally, create bespoke Wood Craft, Bushcraft and Willow Craft experiences for your team depending on the woodland location of your choice e.g. Birtley Woodland Art’s Space, Bramley; Priory Farm Estate, South Nutfield or Sussex Prairie Gardens, nr Henfield.

Find out more

Albury artisan tasting trail

Treat your team to a day of delicious cheese, wine and gin tasting which will certainly help with team building!.

Starting at the boutique family-owned Albury Organic Vineyard to learn about what goes into wine production and how their hard work has made them the ‘must-have’ wine in many of England’s most luxurious restaurants and hotels.

Next it’s a short walk to the Norbury Park Cheese Company to find out about the history of cheese making before sampling Norbury Park’s range of handmade artisan cheeses in a delicious tasting session.

Then on to the Silent Pool Distillery where you’ll relax as you pause for a sumptuous lunch and enjoy a G&T from a complimentary Copa glass. Learn all about the history behind the success of Silent Pool Gin followed by a talk on the development and creation of distinctive cocktail flavours and combinations

Find out more

Surrey Hills Yurts – Rural activities team building

If you’re looking for team building activities combined with a few nights away, escape to the Surrey Hills luxury yurts for a more relaxed vibe. Experience work in a new way, holding meetings in the middle of a field and relaxing around the fire pit when the stars come out.

Activities include archery, axe throwing, yoga, outdoor cooking lessons, foraging and wild cocktails, willow weaving, walking on fire/glass or team building games. We bring in professional instructors to help you have fun and learn new skills, building the bond between colleagues.

Find out more

We fly Fish – All inclusive fly fishing events

Your dedicated fly fishing professional will plan and deliver an exciting and informative fly fishing group event, taking into account your level of fly fishing experience and what you’d like to learn.

 

Their qualified professional fly fishing coach/guides will work with your group to give you the skills and confidence to enjoy this wonderful sport. Fly fishing immerses you in nature as you tune in to the environment and switch off from the digital deluge ideal for a day out from the office with your colleagues and clients. You become more aware of the natural world when you go fly fishing, learning to observe and understand the behaviour of your target species.

Find out more

Mandira’s Kitchen – a spicy away day!

Take your team on a culinary and spice masterclass. These half day sessions include a spice masterclass and hands on cooking of five authentic Indian dishes followed by a sit down lunch or dinner with a glass of something. Fun and interactive, these prove very popular as team building events or away days.

Mandira’s supper clubs are a delightful mix of theatre and and delicious food, where your team will be taken on a culinary journey into India through 4 wonderful courses inspired from our memories and travels. Each course is served beautifully on Thalis (platters) and comes with an optional wine or cocktail pairing and a story behind the dish. Storytelling sessions can also be included by story teller extraordinaire Seema Anand

Find out more

Exciting new range of events for youths and families combining wild cookery, natural arts and crafts and woodland feasts at Surrey Hills Trade Marked Member The Salt Box

The award-winning The Salt Box have just launched a new range of youth and family workshops taking place during the summer holidays, which will be hosted at their new woodland site on the Priory Farm estate in Nutfield, just outside of Redhill.

From wild cookery courses to woodland feasts combined with natural arts and crafts, there’s a wide range of activities in the diary to keep your young ones entertained this summer.

‘We’re really looking forward to welcoming children and adults alike to our events this summer’, says co-founder Christian Armstrong. ‘Since we started The Salt Box, we’ve wanted to share the immersive world of the great outdoors and encourage everyone to live a life in meaningful contact with nature.’ All of the activities are specifically designed to inspire and re-wild both the young and the old, and are all combined with a woodland feast enjoyed around The Salt Box’s signature shared dining tables beneath the trees.

Learn to cook in the great outdoors

The Salt Box are offering family and teen cookery workshops throughout July and August. From mastering the basic steps of fire lighting to learning how to manage your fires appropriately, at these hands-on classes guests will learn to make a collection of dishes in a relaxed and informative  environment, surrounded by the crackle and pop of fires. All of the dishes covered are designed to be cooked over an open-fire, but are equally as achievable as in a conventional kitchen at home!

‘Through our family cookery workshops, we provide a platform for adults and children to learn alongside one another. We want to let children be children, learning by exploring, facing challenges and experiencing the elements of the seasons’, says co-founder Beckie Wingrove, who started the business with her partner Christian. ‘We wholeheartedly believe that cooking is up there as one of the most valuable skills you can teach a child – not only  providing them with an important life skill, but also helping develop maths and coordination skills – and encouraging
adventurous eating.’

And it’s not just about learning to cook a delicious meal. Exposure to the great outdoors has great potential to be a protective factor for the mental health of our young people and adults, something the founders feel very strongly about. All their events and courses also encourage the coming together of people in a natural environment through a shared love of food, ever-more important with friendship becoming a lost art in our increasingly time-poor, high tech world.

Natural Arts with Surrey Art School

This summer season Surrey Hills Trade Marked  Members The Salt Box and Surrey Art School are  inviting young artists and budding chefs to enjoy a wild morning in the woods at their ‘Rewild your Child’ events. The two Surrey-based businesses are joining forces for a series of drop-off workshops for 6-11 year olds, where the beautiful woodland will inspire some wild creative adventures using our natural environment as inspiration!

There are also a range of family-friendly workshops taking place, including a Natural Inks Workshop and Mindful Mandala creative session, for an afternoon of mindfulness in nature.

Natural Crafts & Woodland Feasts

The Salt Box have also teamed up with fellow local businesses The Girl who Gardens and Hedges and Hurdles, for a range of woodland family feasts combined with natural craft workshops. From learning how to make your very own bug hotels, to willow weaving and making flower crowns, there’s sure to be something to inspire your wild child.

Customer Testimonials

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for our woodland experience last week. Poppy can’t stop telling people about our adventure and loved every second of it, as did I! The whole experience was magical from start to finish and we can’t wait to join you for another workshop soon. The food was delicious, and it was wonderful to see the children enjoying a meal that they had prepared themselves – so proud of their creations. But most of all it was a rare opportunity for me to spend quality time with my daughter away from technology, work pressures and schoolwork. A special day that we will always remember. ” – Lucy and Poppy (Family Wild Things, May 2019)

To find out more, visit https://www.wearethesaltbox.co.uk/family

SHERE CRAFTSMEN AND ALBURY VINEYARD CREATE A 5-STAR HOTEL FOR LUCKY BUGS

 

A giant hotel created by Shere Kitchens for creepy crawlies in Albury Vineyard is probably the most 5-star, luxurious accommodation that any bug, bee or beetle could ever desire.

Children from the Hedgehog cohort at Shere C of E Infant School enthusiastically put the finishing touches to the de-luxe bug hotel at its grand opening on Wednesday June 18.

They inserted hollow bamboo canes and gathered sticks, moss, grass and wood to make a ground-floor nesting site for small animals as well as bugs. There was great excitement when the first creepy crawlies found in the undergrowth were introduced to their new home!

“I love the bug house because we got to help make it,” said one of the boys.

The Bug Hotel was a collaboration between the biodynamic vineyard and the artisan kitchen company. “More than 80% of EU crops rely on a severely declining bug population for pollination,” explained vineyard owner Nick Wenman. “We are delighted to be working with Shere Kitchens to improve the bug population here at Albury and the Bug Hotel is a great way to help educate local school children on the importance of pollinators to the environment. We very much welcome anyone who is interested to come and visit us, enjoy a glass of our organic wine and visit the Bug Hotel.”

“We absolutely loved making the bug hotel for Albury Vineyard,” said Ella Driscoll from Shere Kitchens. “Our new apprentice Tomas Baker created it from wood off-cuts left over from making our bespoke kitchens and he made such beautiful job if it.

“We feel so lucky to work with Nick and the team at Albury as they care so deeply about growing the vines organically, respectfully and environmentally. And it was very special that the children from Shere Infant School came to help us finish it with wood and sticks. Nick made the afternoon really fun and engaging for the children. They drew pictures, took part in a quiz and learned all about the vines, the beehives and the local wildlife and even rolled down the hill!

“Thank you, Year 1! They bought bucket-loads of enthusiasm and asked lots of fantastic questions. They really got into the spirit of the afternoon – making pillows for

 

the bugs with moss, creating crowns from goose-grass, searching for bugs and thinking about how important it is to re-use materials.

 

“Our kitchens celebrate the beauty of wood and now our off-cuts have made a beautiful home for bugs – we’re really pleased to have been able to do something so positive for our environment and community.

 

“Being members of the Surrey Hills Enterprise group is a key driver of our conservation efforts. We feel so lucky to live and work here in this beautiful landscape and it’s wonderful to find ways to help our environment and re-use the materials we work with. We hope the lucky bugs who live there will thrive.”

For more information contact Ella Driscoll at ella@sherekitchens.co.uk

 

80 Businesses from across the Surrey Hills gathered at the stunning Barnett Hill Hotel in Blackheath for the first Surrey Hills Enterprises Annual Celebration and Awards last week.

Jim Glover, High Sheriff of Surrey formally opened the event and congratulated the businesses on their prestigious Trade Mark Surrey Hills accreditation, a mark of local provenance and quality.

Simon Whalley, Chairman of Surrey Hills Enterprises welcomed guests and said, ‘We are delighted to be welcoming and celebrating so many of our extraordinary business Members this evening. The event is a recognition of our local businesses and the contribution they make to the rural economy and the Surrey Hills’.

Surrey Hills Enterprises thanked their Corporate Partners Charles Russell Speechlys, Wilkins Kennedy and Birtley House for their continuing support and welcomed Lexus Guildford, Kier and Gatwick as new supporters.

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director said ‘Surrey Hills is a very special and unique place and we have equally extraordinary and inspiring local Surrey Hills businesses who are producing a fantastic range of local products and services. We congratulate all our Members on their Trade Mark Surrey Hills awards’.

Ann Moriarty, the creator of the original concept said ‘The Trade Mark Surrey Hills promotes the best of what Surrey has to offer and celebrates those organisations who share the values of supporting the local environment’. Ann announced the Gold Awards, made to Surrey Hills Members who have excelled in their collaboration with other businesses, improving environmental sustainability and conserve the Surrey Hills.

The Gold Trade Mark Surrey Hills was awarded to Shere Kitchens and to Clandon Wood Nature Reserve & Natural Burial Ground. The Award recognises their collaboration and active support for Surrey Hills and their joint initiative to plant elm trees at Clandon Wood to connect to two populations of a rare butterfly. The initiative was inspired by their Surrey Hills membership and is an exemplar of businesses with sustainability and collaboration at the core of their business.

The ‘Surrey Hills Young Entrepreneur’ was awarded to 2 talented young people who live in the Surrey Hills and who have developed outstanding skills within their chosen field.

Luke Whatley-Bigg of Photography Possibilities, an outstanding photographer, videographer and qualified drone pilot working at a very high standard has produced a range of Surrey Hills films including the Surrey Hills Wood Fair and is working with other Surrey Hills Members to produce videos of their work.

Jack Kerr of JK Forges is an outstanding Blacksmith who has honed and developed his skills and is producing outstanding pieces of work and taking on commissions. Bringing to life again a traditional country skill Jack has developed an inspiring range of products and has showcased his work and skills at the Surrey Hills Wood Fair.

Inchcape UK’s Lexus Guildford and Surrey Hills Enterprises are delighted to announce their new corporate partnership which was officially launched on Tuesday 22nd January.

The luxury car retailer and community interest company have joined together to drive the next phase of a development which aims to build a thriving rural business community and develop Surrey Hills into one of the top 10 nationally recognised countryside destinations and brands in the UK.

The partnership will also help to promote the ‘Trade Mark Surrey Hills’, recently launched with the support of the Rt Hon Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. It is a mark of local provenance and quality which celebrates those businesses of high quality that reflect and support the distinct and special nature of the Surrey Hills and who share the values of supporting the local environment.

The partnership reflects the key values of Lexus Guildford in supporting the local environment and inspiring its customers to explore the Surrey Hills and enjoy the outdoors. Wendy Preston, General Manager of Lexus Guildford said, ‘Lexus has got the largest range of self-charging hybrid vehicles of any luxury manufacturer and with that in mind we are conscious that as a brand we encourage a positive impact on society as a whole. It’s rewarding to know that our support is helping the local community while promoting the fantastic days out that Surrey Hills offer.’

Surrey Hills Enterprises is the commercial arm of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which was established in 2012 to support and develop the rural economy and to promote, protect and enhance Surrey Hills.

Wendy Varcoe MBE, Executive Director at Surrey Hills Enterprises, said: “We are delighted to be working with Wendy Preston and her team at Lexus Guildford. This is a key partnership enabling us to support rural businesses and local communities. We will be delivering an exciting range of events and festivals to explore and enjoy the fantastic landscape, arts, crafts and local food and drink of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The programme inspires people to be active, explore the outdoors and to support local.”

Inchcape UK is part of Inchcape plc, the leading independent multi-brand Automotive Distributor and Retailer with global scale. For more information on Inchcape, visit www.inchcape.co.uk,

Following Michael Gove’s Key Note Speech at Surrey’s Rural Economy Conference, Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of Surrey Hills Enterprises and Ann Moriarty of KISS The Agency, launched the Trade Mark Surrey Hills to celebrate those businesses of high quality that are stimulating the rural economy but are also reflecting the distinct and special nature of the local environment.

Ann, the creator of the original concept, said’ this is a new accreditation and is a Mark of local provenance and quality designed to promote the very best of what Surrey has to offer and to support those businesses who share the values of supporting the local environment.

9 of Surrey’s outstanding businesses that meet the Trade Mark Surrey Hills criteria were awarded the Trade Mark Certificates by Michael Gove who congratulated each on their outstanding businesses and the contribution that they are making.

The Trade Mark Awardees received their Award from the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

“The Surrey Hills Trade Mark awards play an important role in celebrating the high quality products and services the area is renowned for, and the awardees all deserve our congratulations.”

TRADE MARK AWARDEES
 Simon Taylor – Surrey Hills Butchers
 Sam Goody – Surrey Hills Firewood
 Tim Metson – Coverwood Farm
 Ian McCulloch – Silent Pool Distillery

And our 5 Surrey Hills Vineyards
 Chris White, Denbies Wine Estate
 Nick Wenman, Albury Organic Vineyard
 Mike Wagstaff, Greyfriars Vineyard
 Sibylla Tindale, High Clandon Estate Vineyard
 Mia Wrigley, Chilworth Manor Vineyard

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of Surrey Hills Enterprises said ’The Award celebrates those businesses of high quality that are shining examples in Surrey supporting local products and services and who reflect and support the distinct and special nature of the Surrey Hills and the local environment.

The Trade Mark Surrey Hills is one of a number of initiatives organised by Surrey Hills Enterprises, a Community Interest Company, working to support the rural economy and to promote, protect and enhance the beautiful Surrey Hills.