Our News Spring 2026
From Cassocks to Carrier Bags - some imaginative upcycling
Before -
Our village choir had been looking to repurpose some of their old choir gowns and, lo and behold, look what have we here, they have been turned into give-away bags for the Community Fridge in Guildford when people forget to bring their own bags but want to take away surplus food which has been collected from the supermarkets.
- and After
Toad Patrol Spring 2026 - walking, driving, and on a scooter!
The 2026 toad patrol has now ended and as in previous years it was very weather dependant. Warm and wet evenings brought out the most amphibians keen to get to their breeding ponds. In Woodhill Lane and Madgehole the numbers were a bit down on 2025 and 2024 but up on the number for the three years prior to that, likewise the toad fence. Toads led the count, followed by frogs and newts. People came from all over to help out, young and old, girl guides and D of E students and the locals were always happy to help out. One of our finest even did her patrol on a scooter. Thanks so much to everyone. In Lords Hill the numbers were way down maybe due to a lot upheaval in the woodland nearby, fingers crossed they will return next year. To see our results from previous years go to our Reports page.
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Now people should keep a look out for toadlets leaving the ponds and making their way in life. Let’s hope they choose a place where they don’t need to cross a busy road!
The ToadMobile
Beautiful red toad
22nd February 2026, like in 2025, was a very busy night for the toad patrol
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Pairs in bucket
Big Garden Birdwatch results now in
The table below shows the top ten garden birds recorded this year in the annual Garden Birdwatch run by the RSPB. Over 650,000 people took part this year, recording birds which landed in their gardens over a weekend in January. The House Sparrow took the top spot again as the most frequently spotted bird.​
Detailed results from this year and previous years are on the RSPB website, plus lots of interesting information about our garden birds. Many garden species, even the House Sparrow, are in decline due to loss of habitat or depletion of our insect populations, and for some (eg. Greenfinches) disease is a big problem, but the RSPB website is full of great ideas about how we can help. Do have a look!
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Locally several birds have impressed. A huge tawny owl was spotted in broad daylight sitting on a gate fence on Northcote Lane and there has been a lot of discussion about firecrests and garden warblers. One resident has had pheasants eating out of her hand in her garden. We are all hoping for swifts to visit of course but would also love to see more swallows and house martins. Does anyone have any swallows nesting near them or in their outbuildings?
Shamley Green Moths had a good year in 2025 - but are we still being too tidy in our gardens?
Once again John Portess has provided us with a fantastic account of the moths he has trapped in his garden over the past year, with 38 new species added to the list in 2025. Details on our reports page and Moths in Shamley Green.
John makes this plea for us to help our moth population:
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'The Bungalow garden has thrown up 335 species of moth in less than four years of, by no means intense, trapping. It seems quite a lot for a small garden, doesn’t it? But this is typical of virtually any garden in Shamley Green.
Yet these numbers are in freefall. A 40% decline in the south in 50 years. Are we being too tidy in our gardens? How many times have you raked up some leaves and disturbed a rolled-
up caterpillar.
Many, such as various Underwings and the cryptic Angle Shades
need these overwinter sheltered spots, at the edge of the lawn say, or under the hedge, to survive. Would you mind your garden being a little less tidy?'
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Angle Shades Moth
Phlogophora meticulosa
- could one of these be sheltering at the edge of your lawn?
Big Plastic Count 9th-15th March
The results of the Big plastic count are now in and do not make happy reading Results 2026 (Home Page) | The Big Plastic Count
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Only 16% of plastic is recycled, but recycling is not the answer - recycling cannot keep up with plastic production. Plastic production is still rocketing, set to triple by 2060 with oil and gas companies investing hundreds of billions of dollars in plastic production. In August 2025 the latest round of UN Global Plastics Treaty talks ended, again without an agreement to place limits on plastic production.
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It is not about better waste management - It is about preventing the waste (the plastic) in the first place.
82% of the pieces of plastic packaging recorded were from food and drink. A large proportion of the fruit and veg packaging is soft flexible plastic which is almost impossible to recycle at scale. The supermarkets are not doing nearly enough to reduce the plastic in their shops, despite a lot of pressure on them to do so.
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65% of fruit and veg packaging is incinerated instead of recycled - in fact there is a big increase in incinerating plastic, up from 46%-59%. However, health risks and CO2 emissions from burning plastic are even worse than burning fossil fuels.
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16% is still exported. It is shameful that it is still not illegal for us to send our waste to countries with even poorer recycling infrastructures than ours.
Many people in the village took part in the 7 day count. We are lucky in Shamley Green because we have the wonderful plastic free shop For Earth’s Sake in Upper House Lane (open Wed-Sat) where you can buy a range of goods free from packaging, including cereals, seeds and nuts, pasta, rice, grains and oils, and a whole host of other products and we also have our brilliant village shop where you can buy a range of loose and unpackaged fruit and vegetables.
For more information on previous Big Plastic Counts and ways to reduce plastic etc see our Plastic page
Plastic-free shopping - a huge range of dry foodstuffs as well as washing and cleaning products - bring your own container or use their paper bags.
Shamley Green Woodland Working Party
Spring Cottage Green 14th February
On Valentine's day our Shamley Green Woodland Working Party took to their hand tools and had a go at improving the habitat on Spring Cottage Green. Over recent years parts of this common have become dominated by brambles (and holly). This is of course great for wildlife but, if left unchecked, in our view it would no longer be a green, with all the benefits that a seldom mown wildflower rich habitat can bring, so we cut back a proportion of the brambles, making sure that we left huge margins around the edges.
We also tackled some 'gone bananas' hazel and a few fallen branches near to the footpath and other nearby paths. All the cut wood was left in situ for insects and small mammals and amphibians and invertebrates. Fortunately for us we picked the sunniest morning of the year so far.
Thanks to everyone who took part and in particular to Alison and Katie for the biscuits and coffee. If you would like to take part next time do email us on info@shamleygreenenvironment.co.uk - the morning was a lot of fun and has been much appreciated by locals.
Friends' Litter Pick
In January/February many of us were involved in another Friends' Litter Pick. This takes place over two mornings, around the borders of Shamley Green. As usual we collected a huge haul of rubbish, mainly plastic and glass bottles, aluminium cans and lots of plastic packaging.
Thanks to everyone involved, there were at least 16 of us. We all agreed that whilst it is depressing to see what people leave behind them or throw out of their cars, it is very satisfying to spend a couple of hours removing rubbish in the knowledge that it will no longer be lurking in the undergrowth harming the environment and spoiling our beautiful countryside. We also get the occasional thumbs up or hoots, or offers to help, which are much appreciated. Anyone wanting to help another time please contact us.
This litter pick is not the same as the Village Litter Pick run by SGVA
