Friends of Calthorpe Park Inaugural Meeting 19 th October 2011 Alan Oliver & Kit Mitchell

Agenda  Welcome  Objectives of FoCP and the Meeting  History of Calthorpe Park  Potential Activities  Constitution and Fees  Communications and Meeting Schedule  Committee Representation  AOB

Objectives of Friends of Calthorpe Park  To work towards the protection, maintenance and enhancement of Calthorpe Park for the benefit of the local community of Fleet and Church Crookham, in partnership with Fleet Town Council and in compliance with the conveyance of 4 th June 1946 between Lady Calthorpe and Fleet Urban District Council (“the covenant”).  To promote the preservation and maintenance of Calthorpe Park woods and their use as a public amenity.  To generate a greater awareness of the benefits of the park among the community and encourage greater usage and a sense of ownership of the park by the community.

Objectives of the Meeting  To agree the constitution  To start a positive dialogue between park user groups, residents, local public bodies and charitable organisations  To get input on potential activities/developments for the park  To agree current committee until elections in May  To identify expertise in the local community (landscape, wildlife etc)

A Brief History of Calthorpe Park Kit Mitchell

Potential Activities Applying for SINC Status (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation) Why is SINC status important  Over 50% of the UK’s priority habitat identified (by government) under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan lies outside national nature conservation designations. This gives SINCs a vital role in helping to meet UK biodiversity targets by protecting a large part of this very important resource.  SINCs help to buffer and connect natural areas, providing ecological networks and increasing resilience of biodiversity to pressures of land use and climate change.  SINCs contribute to the quality of life and health and wellbeing of the community. They provide attractive countryside and important open space in urban areas. Sites also provide excellent opportunities for recreation and education.

Potential Activities  Improve Access / Cycle Route (Fleet Access Plan)  SINC Status / Nature Trail  Bulb Planting / Sensory Garden (section 106)  Hedgehog Routes / Wildlife encouragement  Landscape Development  Fleet Events Policy Development

Constitution and Fees  Based on other ‘Friends’ groups in Fleet  Augmented to recognise the park covenant.  Fees set to cover incidental expenditure (e.g. domain name, poster encapsulation). Excess funds will be used for park development activities  Major activities/events will be funded independently  AGM in May to approve accounts  All time from members is given free

Communication and Meeting Schedule  Communication on activities and meetings will be through website, members listing and free printed media (Fleet Life)  Annual AGM as a minimum.  Committee meetings on a bi-monthly basis  Social Meetings? (in the park)

Committee Representation  Proposed that current group establishing the FoCP group continue until AGM in 2012  Chair – Alan Oliver  Vice Chair – Kit Mitchell  Treasurer – David Rice  Secretary – Marian Brooks  Looking for at least 4 additional members  Fleet Town Council representative  User Group Lead  Youth Lead  Nature Lead

Thank You  Any Other Business  Next Steps

Tavistock Road stream summer 1965

Tavistock Road June 1967

Dukes Mead February 1969

Un-modernised 18 th century road behind Tavistock Infants School

Calthorpe Park School playing field

Woods near Calthorpe Park School

Backup Slides

FOR the benefit and protection of the Grantor her successors in title and her and their assigns owner or owners of The Settled Estate or any part thereof and so as to bind (so far as possible) the said pieces of land the Council hereby covenant with the Grantor in manner following (that is to say) (1) Forthwith to erect and for ever afterwards to maintain fences on all boundaries of the said lands the material height and design of such fences to be subject to the approval of the Estate Agent of the Grantor but post and rail fences of good quality. shall be considered suitable

(2) That no trade or business shall be carried on upon the said lands (3)That no public or religious meetings or public oratory of any description shall be permitted. or allowed upon the said lands but so nevertheless that religious or military services may be held thereon (4) That no motor racing or motor cycle racing or playing ball or other games with motor cycles or dog racing or horse racing shall be permitted or allowed upon the said lands

(5) That no music or noise of any kind which is produced by mechanical power (other than loudspeakers at religious or military services. or for giving directions at athletic sports) shall be permitted or allowed upon the said lands (6) That no public fairs of any description shall be permitted or allowed on the said lands and that in connection with any private fairs organised by any local or public body and held upon the said lands no strident roundabouts shall be permitted or allowed--

(7) That the said lands shall be used only as a public park and recreation ground for the District of Fleet and Crookham for the quiet and orderly pleasure and recreation of the public and that nothing shell be done or permitted thereon which may be or become a nuisance or annoyance to the Grantor or her successors in title or her or their assigns or her other lessees or tenants or the neighbourhood

OS 1:1250 map - date 1970s or 80s

Calthorpe Park area, about 1800 OS First edition Dorking sheet Survey Oatsheaf crossroads Tavistock infants school Football Club Hitches Lane Canal

All Saints School 1964

Elvetham In 1086 Hugh de Port was holding Elvetham, of the abbey. The manor was confirmed to the abbey by Henry I; the abbot and convent retained the overlordship until the reign of Henry VIII. Before 1166 Elvetham had passed from the Ports to Stephen de Bendeng. Walter de Bendeng, who died in 1232, left an under age son William. William died 1234 and the manor passed to his aunt Maud, wife of Geoffrey Sturmy.

In 1359 Henry Sturmy was granted permission to inclose some land in Elvetham to 'hold to himself and his heirs for ever.' On his death in 1381 the manor passed to his nephew William, with a further licence in 1403 to inclose and inpark land in Elvetham. Sir William Sturmy died in 1426–7, leaving as heirs a daughter Agnes and a grandson John Seymour, son of his daughter Maud. John Seymour inherited Elvetham.

Seymour family sold Elvetham to Sir Robert Reynolds, Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth of England, in Sir Robert Reynolds's daughter Priscilla married Reynolds Calthorpe ( post 1716) after the death of her first husband, Sir Richard Knight.