On 1^st December 2017, we invited over 130 local businesses to join us at Barossa in Camberley, to help Surrey Wildlife Trust clear an area of pine trees, so that the heathland habit could flourish.

This was our 7^th Winter Pimm’s Networking event and it certainly didn’t disappoint! The sun was shining, people were smiling – and even Santa rolled up his sleeves and got stuck in!

Why this work is important
The land at Barossa is covered in non-indigenous Scots Pine, which is really harmful to the heathland habitat below it. The lowland heath is an extremely rare habitat, that is home to a variety of protected species, that simply cannot survive anywhere else. So the work everyone did on the day was vital.

Guests arrived at 10.30am and had some time to network, while enjoying tea and coffee, courtesy of Wild About Coffee.

After a safety briefing from Surrey Wildlife Trust, everyone set off to find their Christmas tree to chop down and take home.

Lunch was provided by the team at Surrey Markets, and we were lucky enough to have two choices this year! Some delicious Caribbean food from Cookie’s Kitchen and mouth-watering sausages baps from Tillingbourne Trout Farm.

After lunch, we all went back out and worked hard to clear as many trees as we could. We ended up clearing a hectare of pine trees, which is amazing!

Pimm’s O’clock
We ended the day with a cup of warm Winter Pimm’s and the orange ribbon prize draw.

Well done to our lucky winners who received:

• A Spa Day for 2 at Foxhills – courtesy of Surrey Chambers
• 1 year’s Surrey Wildlife Trust membership – courtesy of Surrey Wildlife Trust
• Hedgehog adoption pack – courtesy of Surrey Wildlife Trust
• 2 x 50 minute massages – courtesy of The Massage Company
• Charcuterie Platter-for-2 – courtesy of The Cabin
• Amazon Echo Dot – courtesy of Paul Deach at Surrey Residents Network
• Bottle of Login Gin – courtesy of projectfive

Thank you!
We want to say a huge thank you to Surrey Wildlife Trust, Collectively Camberley, Surrey Markets, Surrey Chambers and Wild About Coffee, for all your support in the lead-up to the event and on the day.

And thank you to everyone who came along and made the day such a success – we couldn’t have done it without you!

Take a look at our video to find out more about the day…