FRIENDS OF THE HURTWOOD
Who are ‘Friends of the Hurtwood?
Friends of the Hurtwood (FotH) is a registered UK charity (200053). Its summary objects are
- to provide facilities to the public for healthy open air recreation and to provide and preserve public access to relevant lands, in particular, heathland and woodland in Surrey
- to conserve, protect and improve the environment and history of such lands
- to educate the public in this environment, its history and its conservation, protection and improvement
Control of the charity is vested in a Trust Company whose Directors participate on a voluntary basis.
Land and land use
Following the 1925 Law of Property Act, Deeds of Dedication giving the public free access to the Hurtwood were signed by R A Bray on behalf of the Shere Estate and by the Duke of Northumberlandbody. A local body – the ‘Hurtwood Control’ – was established, its purpose being to counter threats from the motor car, from locals with differing priorities and from fire. Subscriptions were invited to cover costs and the Control laid down basic rules so that everyone could access and enjoy the Hurtwood. In 2010 the Hurtwood Control became a charity and in 2010 became ‘Friends of the Hurtwood’. In 2017 FotH Trustee Company Ltd was formed. Briefly, the Board of the Trust Company have delegated day to day decisions to a Management Committee. The Management Committee meets bi-monthly, and the full Board twice a year. Friends employ only one person – the Hurtwood Ranger, currently Mark Beaumont. Part of the Ranger’s duties includecarrying out administrative and secretarial tasks on behalf of the Trustee. The Ranger has the use of a pick-up, trailer and tractor. When a task requires more resources, the Ranger has sufficient delegated budget to be able to bring in specialist sub-contractors.
What Friends of the Hurtwood do
The Hurtwood is privately owned (at present by eight landowners) and any income from the Hurtwood (forestry, occasional filming etc) is theirs. Friends are responsible, in accordance with Management Agreements with each landowner, for managing public access and protecting and conserving the Hurtwood so that everyone can enjoy the land.
What we do (to the extent that resources allow):
- Employ a full time Ranger.
- Maintain 15 car parks so that people can access the Hurtwood
- Clear and maintain 30 miles of registered footpaths and bridleways and 30 miles of unofficial tracks, so that walkers, horse riders and cyclists can get about the Hurtwood
- Create and preserve wildlife habitats
- Maintain panoramic views from the Hurtwood hills
- Clear and prevent litter and fly tipping
- Maintain firebreaks and take action where there are fires
- Protect three scheduled monuments including the Holmbury Hill Iron Age Hill Fort.
- Encourage children to treasure the countryside.
Budget
We work with maximum efficiency on a tight budget – under £80,000 a year to manage public access to over 2000 acres, including 15 car parks. We employ only one person and none of the Directors or Committee members is paid or receives any allowance.
An important part of our income comes from regular and one-off donations from people who use and love the Hurtwood. In most cases these attract Gift Aid. We encourage regular giving because it means we can offer reliable employment to the Ranger and helps forward planning.
Under the Constitution, regular donors can become Members of the charity, with the right to attend and vote at Annual Meetings and be proposed as a member of our governing body.
We receive some financial support from local councils and community organisations. We have also been fortunate to receive some generous legacies from lovers of the Hurtwood. These are either added to our reserves or put towards capital projects of a lasting nature.
Regrettably only a small percentage of people who use the Hurtwood donate to its upkeep. We are continually working to ensure that people know more about the Hurtwood and how much the Hurtwood needs all our help.
