Something is missing in the world of Narnia. Or at least in the Banstead Wood Narnia Trail, where one of the iconic wood sculptures, Lucy and the Lamp-post, is no longer to be seen near Holly Lane car park.

​It may have been the victim of the weather or a merciful chain saw, or perhaps darker forces are at work. In a case of life spookily imitating art, in the last days of Narnia the magical Lamp-post disappeared in Lantern Waste. This can now be revealed as the Council's compound at Park Farm, where the sculpture  has re-appeared.  But where's Lucy? Suspicion must fall on the evil Ice Queen or a disgruntled dog owner. The Lamp-post was always too high off the ground.

Graham Kenward

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone.

The old carol provides the perfect description of the winter weather that has solidified the Lagoon, with a dusting of snow brightening the bare chalk sides.
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​After the high levels caused by exceptional winter rain, the water has receded to just over knee deep, revealing the surrounding path, the snow bearing no tracks except my own. The ice surface is a tad slushy: ice dancing not recommended.

​A large part of the Bulrush clump was removed last autumn but new shoots have already started to appear closer to the water's edge. Along with the overgrown shallow end and the surrounding wildflower area, there'll be plenty to keep us busy when the lockdown and the weather lifts!

Graham Kenward

The WoodChips today finished the current tree planting programme in the Knoll. Unfortunately, due to illness, we were without our leader (get well soon, Andy), but we managed to finish planting 36 trees across the site before we ended our task, the last one before Christmas. There are 15 new trees (and a rainbow) in the pic above.

As on previous tasks, we formed two teams, one for planting and the other to continue the clearance and burning of more scrub from the site. Big thanks to everyone who helped with both tasks over the last few weeks. And also to the Downlands Trust, for their sponsorship of the trees and planting accessories.

The 36 new trees now planted and protected in the Knoll include Walnut (cell- and pot-grown), Hazel, Crab Apple and a Rowan. We also added protection to some existing young trees, to save them from the attentions of the local wildlife.
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Graham Kenward

According to the familiar saying, the best time to plant trees was 25 years ago: the second best time is now. After years of clearing scrub and old rotten trees from the Knoll, we have begun a programme of new tree planting, kindly supported by a grant from the Downlands Trust.

This area near the Ramblers Rest has also been known as the Nuttery and still has some ancient Walnut specimens, among other fruiting trees. The scrub clearance not only saved the old trees but has resulted in a brilliant resurgence of dormant wildflowers throughout the site.

WoodChip activities are all about teamwork. While some of our volunteers worked on clearing and burning the arisings from our autumn tasks, others began to plant a mix of Walnut and Hazel in the open spaces across the site.

​All the young saplings will be protected by tree guards, stakes and mulch mats for their first years of life. We reckoned this would deter most creatures looking for an easy snack, but this didn't allow for the appetite of our canine colleague Treacle (see pics).

Veronica Beccabunga may sound like an Italian politician's playmate, but is better known as the perfectly respectable Brook Lime, a wildlife-friendly marsh lover now making a home near the Bulrush end.

While engaged in the soothing, if impossible, task of scooping up duckweed, it became clear that we will need to reduce the clump of Bulrush before next year, together with a little selective weeding along the banks, particularly the Buddleia that is putting down its long roots in several places.
Graham Kenward