Letters to the editor

Above: Get in touch with Surrey Life

Every month, we at Surrey Life get inundated with letters from readers and Surrey organisations looking to raise awareness for the issues they are tackling. Obviously we can only fit so many within the pages of the magazine each month and so from now on, anything that we can't fit in the mag will go here...  

Write to us at Surrey Life, Holmesdale House, 46 Croydon Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0NH or email us, here

Since we ran a feature on Surrey’s parakeets in our March issue (read Surrey’s parakeets – The great escape, here) there has been a great debate concerning our colourful neighbours.

So, what do you think? Are they a pest, a nuisance or a welcome splash of colour to the English skies? Get in touch with us by email or write to the usual address. Below are just a few of the correspondence we’ve already received on the matter…

Do you believe in the tooth fairy...

Hi there, It’s a really strange one with the parakeets. I swear that I had never seen one until I read your feature and yet now I get a flash of green shooting past my window every evening at work as the birds make their way back to roost. Perhaps they are a little like Santa and the Tooth Fairy, they are there if you believe in them! Yours, Humphrey Ekhart

A dusk delight

Dear Editor,   Thank you for the article about these Parakeets in your March issue and why these delightful and comical aliens are so much now part of our indigenous bird population.   Being a resident of Cheam they have been visiting my garden for the last 5 years - in ones or up to 12 at time. To see their "walking" antics through the bare branches to access the feeders is a delight. They can clear the pigeons off these immediately! The flashes of yellow, green and blue feathers on these dull cold days, or caught in brittle sunlight, is a visual pleasure. They are not a threat to our wild life, more a welcome addition; they even join the starlings at the top of my Poplar trees for the dusk chorus! Each month your Magazine is a feast of information - keep up the good work please. Sincerely, John Harrison

Grave concerns

Good evening, I’m very concerned for the British wildlife. We constantly hear about the dips in indigenous species and I fail to see how the two can remain unrelated. I’m sure that all the various aspects are being considered but I’ll be amazed if a cull doesn’t become necessary. They seem to be multiplying like mice in the Bushy Park area. Hannah Granger

And, it isn’t just in Surrey that the birds have been causing a stir. We’ve heard from further afield as well…

One flew over the border

Hi, At least two hundred parakeets came into my neighbour’s garden last night.  Squeaking and squawking.  What a noise, but so nice to see.  I have seen them down by the water in Wraysbury but never here in Ashford. I think they are lovely and brighten up the bird population but what about our British birds are they endangered by them at all? Regards, Marilyn Witt

Calling Surrey’s rural communities

I am writing to alert your readers to a wonderful opportunity. Surrey County Council is calling on farmers, growers, foresters and rural communities to bid for more than £2 million of funding. Over the next six years, the money will be made available for rural projects that will enhance the economy and life in Surrey's countryside.

The aim is to sustain and improve our farms and woodland, develop and promote local produce, encourage rural tourism, and secure sustainable futures for rural businesses and communities.

Surrey's countryside is beautiful and we want to make sure it stays that way. That is why I would urge people who are running all sorts of rural projects to bid for funding. This is a substantial amount of money and I'm sure it could give a lot of help to a lot of projects.

To apply for the funding, go to www.surreyhillsleaderbid.org.uk where you will find the latest information and guidance.

David Harmer, Executive Member for Environment, Surrey County Council

Africa comes to Cobham

I would like to draw readers’ attention to a fundraising event on October 17 at the Hilton Hotel in Cobham.

At this enlightening evening, we will be raising money to bring clean water and a community resource centre to a remote village in South West Uganda.

The event will be hosted by Ugandan supermodel and actress Mirembe Campbell whilst our guest speaker will be prominent Surrey businessman Shahid Azeem from Channel 4’s Millionaires’ Mission.

The music will be provided by Charles Kyazze’s Ugandan dance group and each guest will be presented with an African gift bag

Tickets for this wonderful evening are £75 each and include a welcome drink, a three-course meal, wine and coffee.

For further details, visit lethemhelpthemselves.com or contact Ann McCarthy on 01932 562757 or 07867513588.

I hope you will be able to join us.

Ida Horner
Managing director
Ethnic Supplies

A diamond opportunity

Join with us and celebrate Marie Curie Cancer Care’s 60th anniversary at the Diamond Hope Ball, to be held at the Copthorne Hotel, Effingham Park, Copthorne, on October 4, 2008, and also raise funds for our nursing service.

The evening will comprise of a welcome reception, followed by a lovely three course dinner. You will be able to take part in our raffle or bid on some of our fantastic auction prizes. Then dance the night away, accompanied by the exciting Co-Stars seven piece band, which will include a trio of lady saxophonists, until 1am.

Overnight accommodation will be available at the hotel, and this will be a great opportunity to enjoy this fantastic night with family or friends.

Marie Curie provides care, free of charge, for terminally ill people suffering from cancer and other illnesses. However, the demand for our services increases each year and for every family we help, there is another that we can’t.

To purchase tickets or for information, please contact the Surrey Fundraising office on 01883 832643 or ros.hooper@mariecurie.org.uk.

Ros Hooper
Area Fundraising Manager - Surrey

GET IN TOUCH
If you want to get in contact with Surrey Life about anything you have read in the magazine or with an issue you want to bring to our attention, send us an email, log on to the Surrey Life forum or write to us at Surrey Life, Holmesdale House, 46 Croydon Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0NH.