Rod Thorn, joined by one of the Project’s regular feline visitors

In honour of National Tree Week we met with Rod Thorn, passionate horticulturalist and member of the Elmbridge Tree Wardens. Our team members Karen, Amy, and Tom headed down to Walton Charity’s Tree Canopy Project to learn more about Rod, and what motivates him to plant trees across Elmbridge.

Branching Out

Elmbridge Tree Wardens work across the borough to get trees and hedges planted, alongside surveying and preserving our existing trees—making vital contributions to the area’s biodiversity.

Rod’s interest in the project has a spiritual origin. “My first keen interest in trees was understanding them from a Druidry perspective—trees are obviously important to them. It’s kind of grown within me over the past fifteen years.”

Being part of the Elmbridge Tree Wardens was a way of exploring this passion, whilst also contributing something tangible for present and future generations. “I want our descendants to have trees around them”, Rod says; “the feel of those tall beings” is something which everyone should have the opportunity to experience.

Rod with Karen Heynike, Walton Charity’s Green Spaces Manager

Tree’s Company

During his time with the Tree Wardens, this interest has only grown stronger. Rod is clear on just how essential trees are to all our lives, not least due to climate change. A typical mature tree can absorb a hefty 22kg of carbon dioxide per year. Though, given that each person in the UK leaves a carbon footprint of roughly 10 tonnes in this time, it would take a shocking 450 mature trees to offset the annual emissions of one person.

Frost settles over the Tree Canopy Project’s herb garden

Trees can benefit our wellbeing in other ways, too. They can “provide shade and air conditioning in extreme weather, and potentially even help with flood risk if planted correctly.” As many Elmbridge residents will attest, something as simple as a walk in the woods can help reduce the day’s stress, and even help with anxiety and depression.

Putting Down Roots

On the morning we interviewed Rod, he was hard at work planting the Tree Canopy Project’s newest additions: two wild pear trees.

According to Rod, these wild pear saplings were “grown from seeds taken from a wild pear tree growing by the Royal Cambridge Home in Molesey. It’s an old tree, and wild pears in general are quite rare.”

Easing one of the wild pear saplings into a planting hole

For anyone excited to sample a wild pear, however, you may want to think twice. The grown trees will “produce lovely blossom and... very hard, inedible fruits.” 

Pining For Adventure?

Surrey is England’s most wooded county, and so Elmbridge Tree Wardens are never short of work. Rod has previously participated in a “seed collection event, where we went with volunteers to Esher Commons, collected chestnuts and acorns, and planted them.”

Regular goings-on also include donations from people who may have a potted tree they don’t know what to do with, which are taken to the Warden’s dedicated tree nursery prior to planting.

Given that over 60 different native trees can be found in the UK, does Rod have a personal favourite?

“It changes, but I think at the moment I’m very much a fan of beech trees—they have such lovely leaves in the autumn. I go to a beech forest, and it’s just marvellous.”

To learn more about joining the Elmbridge Tree Wardens, visit https://www.surreytreewardens.org.uk/members/elmbridge/, contact info@surreytreewardens.org.uk or follow them on Facebook.

Interview by Tom Walden, Walton Charity’s Policy and Communications Manager

Our Spotlight Series will feature a different local organisation each time. Each interview will explore shared priorities and start conversations about the differences we can make in our local community

To launch our new Spotlight Series, Amy, our Communications and Events Officer, sat down with Debbie and Julie from Walsingham Care to find out more about their invaluable work in the local community.

Who is Walsingham Care?

Walsingham Care provides financial assistance to individuals or carers over 60, who are living in Elmbridge and are in financial need.

This year, Walsingham Care have directly helped 755 people, a 45% increase from the previous year. They have issued 341 grants and in total have reached 2048 individuals through a mix of direct grants, indirect support, and grants issued to other organisations.

When talking to them, the team's passion for their work was clear. They are keen that the charity reach everyone in the community who could benefit from these services, giving grants to numerous organisations working to alleviate social isolation.

"We know that older people can be harder to reach in the community", Debbie notes, and so she ensures they "support organisations that reach a wide audience of older people, as well as offering both one-off and ongoing support to individuals”.

When giving these grants, Walsingham Care prefer to focus on long-term impact. For Debbie, this mean nurturing "relationships between organisations and ourselves so that we are more than just a sticking plaster of temporary support", and funding "longer term help such as benefit checks, support packages and even care home fees when council support doesn't stretch far enough".

“We were made aware of an older person who was hungry. When we delved deeper, we discovered that his wife had dementia and he was struggling to cope. We stepped in and funded cooking support for the husband and a dementia group for his wife. This provided much needed respite.”

— Case study

Working in partnership

A key example of Walton Charity working closely with Walsingham Care is the Partnership Fund 2024, which alongside Elmbridge Borough Council, is providing grants of up to £5,000 to projects that help vulnerable residents with their health and wellbeing. Any non-profit organisation or community group operating within Elmbridge is eligible to apply, particularly those that work to reduce social isolation.

The close working relationship between Walton Charity and Walsingham Care enables peer-to-peer mentoring to take place. Both charities share the same priority area: to alleviate financial poverty within Elmbridge. For Debbie, this common goal means “a lot of knowledge is shared between us as we all want to help the same people”.

Walton Charity also support Walsingham Care by offering discounted office space in Charities House, as well as providing funding to their organisation.

Changing needs of local people

Debbie and Julie have noticed the needs of local older people changing in the last few years. They have seen the impact of the cost-of-living crisis going “hand-in-hand with the lasting impact of the pandemic on the health of older people”. Debbie outlines this by explaining how in some cases, “a minor illness that wasn’t treated during the pandemic can become more complex, meaning that a person can no longer work”. She describes the knock-on effect this can have on their income, which then impacts the care they can afford.  

Debbie notes the growing demand she’s noticed for community initiatives that get older people “out of their house and into warm places”. Grants from Walsingham Care fund organisations that run these community projects, showing how they can “step in financially to help people get back on their feet and empower them to not have to rely on charity long-term”.

“A 94 year old man was carrying his 95 year old wife up the stairs. Statutory services couldn’t provide a stair lift quickly enough, so we sorted it within a few days. Their safety was the most important thing on our minds.”

— Case Study

Support for unpaid carers

According to Debbie and Julie, “support for unpaid carers goes hand in hand with support for older people”, as grants from Walsingham Care can be used to provide equipment or respite care that not only “helps an individual get their independence back, but also gives their carer independence too”.

“One beneficiary that will always stick in my mind is a person with Parkinson’s and MS who was stuck in an unsuitable chair that tipped him sideways. Funding from Walsingham Care and Walton Charity bought him a specialist chair that could move between rooms, helping him become part of the family again and enabling his carer to go out without worrying.”

— Case study

What motivates you and your team?

To finish the interview, I ask Debbie and Julie why the charity holds such meaning for them. After a brief moment of reflection, they share, "we’re a close team, where everyone can support each other through the emotional side of our work." They build on each other's thoughts, explaining how rewarding it is to witness the positive outcomes that stem from “fostering strong working relationships and implementing efficient results”. Most importantly, they emphasise the profound impact of their efforts and "how the lives of the people we help can transform so quickly”.

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To read more about Walsingham Care, click here.

Interview by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

The Bridge Appeal has raised an incredible £30,104, which will go directly towards keeping the doors of The Bridge open for longer.

Over £15,000 was raised by the public, through corporate partners, fundraising initiatives, and generous individuals. This total was then match funded by Walton Charity.

The highlight of the appeal was the Thames Bridges Trek, which saw a small but mighty team of volunteers and staff walk 25km from Putney Bridge to Tower Bridge, zigzagging across 16 famous London bridges. This incredible team raised over £6,000 in support of The Bridge appeal!

The Bridge is a community hub in the centre of Walton-on-Thames, which is open to working families that are struggling with the rising cost of living. It is a welcoming, non-judgemental place, featuring a shop-without-a-till and access to specialist advice services that aim to provide long-term solutions that lift families from the cycle of poverty.

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone that supported the appeal. Its success is a reflection of the strength of our Elmbridge community and the generosity of local people.

For Elmbridge resident Annabel, The Bridge offered her a “place of calm”, supporting her “through some of the most challenging hours, days, weeks, and months of my life.” Each penny raised will directly impact local families’ lives, meaning your support will ensure that the Bridge can remain a source of comfort for many. To learn more about The Bridge and what we do please visit our webpage here.

Walton Charity is now working to bring the magic of Christmas to more children in Elmbridge. We have partnered with Stripey Stork to launch a Christmas appeal to fundraise for bundles of toys and essential items. You can find out more by clicking on the button below.

Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

We are delighted to see The Bridge, our community hub in the centre of Walton-on-Thames, win the Best Community Impact award in the Walton BID Business Awards!

The awards recognise the best businesses in Walton-on-Thames across nine categories, as voted by over 900 residents.

This award for The Bridge highlights the impact that this project has on local families and our positive reputation amongst the community, which is something we are hugely proud of. The local public have been significant contributors to the success of The Bridge, helping in all sorts of ways from our pre-loved school uniform pop-up shop to donations for The Bridge appeal.

We are also delighted that our fabulous foodbank manager Nina won runner-up for the Employee of the Year award, which recognises her truly tireless work ensuring the Walton & Hersham foodbank reaches everyone who needs it.

And perhaps our biggest achievement is winning ‘Best Dressed Duck’ for Billy, our representative at the Walton Duckathon, held in May.

Thank you to everyone who voted for us!

You can read more about the awards and see the other winners here.

Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

A group of residents from our independent living schemes have been working hard alongside creative practitioner Anna Jones, in collaboration with the RHS, to create an exhibition called ‘The Making of a Modern Day Herbal’.

The exhibition explores the healing powers of plants, gardens, and nature that traditional herbals (botanical encyclopaedias) reveal in the modern day, through the RHS Library and Herbarium collections.

Each of our artists recalled their connection with particular plants and had the chance to make a cyanotype with a cutting of their favourite plant and other prized possessions. One resident chose lavender, as the scent reminds them of happy times. Their object is the last piece of knitting from their mum before she passed away, showing the poignant and emotive effort that went into creating this artwork.

The exhibition also featured information about our historic ties with Wisley Gardens and our awareness of the vital role nature has. Visitors have the chance to put a pin on a map of where their own healing garden is, and these pins are already covering the world.

We are proud to offer our green spaces to the local community, and are deeply aware of the importance that nature can have on wellbeing. We are keen for our allotment projects and other activities run on our green spaces to benefit the community we belong to. Many memories and stories are woven into the natural landscape of Elmbridge, and we want to protect these spaces for the future.

Do you have any stories about plants? Did your grandparents use peppermint to cure your stomachaches? Or lavender on a cut or sting? Let us know!

Check out the exhibition:
Where? Old Laboratory, RHS Garden Wisley, GU23 6QB

When? 7th September 2024 - 26th January 2025

The exhibition is free, but normal garden admission charges apply. Find out more on the RHS Wisley website.

We know education is one of the best routes out of poverty, but often children from low-income families face extra challenges reaching their potential at school.

Cleves School, in partnership with Oatlands School and Manby Lodge Infant School, has been awarded a two-year grant of £57,600 to support their most vulnerable families and strengthen the connection between these families and each of their schools.

The grant will fund part-time Home School Link Worker, Nickie Tewkesbury, who will assist parents and pupils facing challenges that may hinder school attendance. Nickie will dedicate one day a week to each school, providing targeted support to 96 Elmbridge families over the course of the year.

The initiative aims to not only improve school attendance but also enhance educational attainment, which is expected to have a significant positive impact on lifetime earnings.

Nickie Tewkesbury says, "I am really looking forward to working with Cleves, Oatlands and Manby Lodge schools to support the children and their families within the local community. We are very lucky to have a range of local charities and agencies that enable us to support our families in need and I am keen to make connections with these organisations and forge good working relationships that will enhance the school experience for our families."

In addition to this support, all three schools are holders of a Walton Charity Opportunities Fund which supports children and young people from families on a low-income with learning and other enrichment activities. Last year we provided £75,000 to 23 schools through our Opportunities Funds.

Enhancing educational opportunities for Elmbridge children is a key priority for Walton Charity. Recently, we awarded a three-year grant of £15,000 to Three Rivers Academy. This will enable the school to take a group of 36 vulnerable students, aged 11-14, to experience life on Jamie’s Farm.

Jamie’s Farm provides unique residential programmes for vulnerable students at risk of exclusion or struggling with social, emotional, and mental health issues. This support is crucial as suspension and exclusion rates are rising, according to the Department for Education.

Walton Charity supported the first group of student to attend the farm back in 2023.

During their four-night stay, the 12 students immersed themselves in farm life, taking responsibility for chores around the farm and working closely with the animals. Living and working together as an extended family, they cooked their own meals and took turns in small groups to cook for the whole group.

Evaluations have shown how this hands-on experience helps build self-esteem and confidence. For example, one student with additional needs, who had been struggling and receiving sanctions for disruptive behaviour at school, was invited to work with the farm’s sheep dog. The owner noted he was one of the most competent youngsters she had ever seen working with the dog and saw real potential in him for working with dogs and the land. This experience has led the student to consider a career working outdoors. It has also improved his relationships with staff, especially those who accompanied him on the trip.

Following the four-night residential, Jamie’s Farm allocate a professional therapy coordinator to provide both one-on-one and group sessions to support each child. They offer encouragement and visits to help students integrate their new skills into daily life.

There have been many positive outcomes from the recent trip and meaningful relationships have been fostered. We hope this grant will empower the students to improve their behaviour, engagement, and wellbeing, and gain essential life skills.

Last year, Walton Charity awarded £135,000 in grants to local schools to support learning and enrichment activities. Additionally, we provided another £75,000 to 23 schools through our Opportunities Funds, helping to finance clubs, trips, uniforms, food, and mental health support for disadvantaged pupils.

Walton Charity has raised over £10,000* for The Bridge community hub!

What is The Bridge?
At The Bridge, we provide families with access to fresh food, enabling them to prepare nutritious meals. Additionally, we collaborate with our partners to offer a range of support services, including financial advice, debt management, and assistance in finding employment.

What was the Thames Bridges Trek?
On Saturday 14 September, a team of 7, made up of staff, volunteers and trustees, joined 2,500 walkers to trek 25k across the capital with unrivalled views of the skyline & landmarks.

As part of our efforts to raise £10,000 we signed up as a listed charity of the 2024 Ultra Challenge Series Thames Bridges Trek.

Our team started at Putney Bridge before heading towards the city, then had a mid-point rest at The Oval Cricket Ground for snacks and a drink. They then continued the walk to Tower Bridge and the finish line, where they enjoyed an afternoon picnic in Southwark Park.

The total amount raised from the trek so far is…

£6,058

Well done Nina, Suzy, Louise, Jeannette, Vicki, Hayley and Andrea!

Thank you to everyone who donated - you’ve made a huge difference to local families by supporting The Bridge appeal!

Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

We are thrilled to have been chosen as Squire’s Long Ditton’s Charity of the Year! The team at Squires chose us for our work in the local community and will support us in the coming year, raising awareness and money. Across their 16 branches, in 2023 Squire’s raised over £23,000 for local charities, primarily from special fundraising events.

The first of these events was the Plantathon, which involved some of our staff, including CEO Rob Mills, and residents from our independent living schemes heading down to the garden centre to plant autumn containers! We were very busy creating beautiful planters containing hebes, pansies, violas, and daffodil bulbs. Each planter sold for £12, with all proceeds coming to us.

So many planters were purchased that we raised £430! We want to thank everyone who came along and bought a planter, and also to Squire’s Long Ditton for arranging such a fun and well-organised event! All the money raised will help us in our vision of building a thriving Elmbridge community and will fund our efforts to support local people.

We are looking forward to the continuation of this partnership, so watch this space for details of upcoming events!

Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

On Saturday, 10 August, Walton Charity partnered with Stripey Stork to host our first ever pre-loved school uniform pop-up shop.

The event took place at The Bridge, our community hub in the centre of Walton-on-Thames to support local families who are struggling with rising costs.

Local parents will know that the return to school is an expensive time of year, with rapidly growing children needing new school uniform, shoes, PE kit, and stationery. That’s why we transformed all three floors of The Bridge into a temporary school uniform shop, bursting with donations of pre-loved items.

On the day, we provided 46 Elmbridge families and 77 children with high quality, free items of clothing.

The Bridge was transformed into a school uniform shop with clothing of all sizes available

In total, we provided:

• 356 items of clothing and shoes

• Stationery

• Rucksacks

But the pop-up shop was more than just a money saver. Feedback from the families on the day showed how offering a helping hand meant more than just free items of clothing. For some children, it gave them the confidence to feel good about going back to school.

It prevented hundreds of clothing items from ending up in landfill, saving both money and the environment.

Thank you to everyone who donated school uniforms; your generosity has made a real difference to local families. We also extend our gratitude to our friendly and welcoming volunteers for organising and running the event so smoothly. Lastly, a big thank you to all the families who attended our first pre-loved pop-up school uniform event.

“He really wasn’t looking forward to starting school. Now he has his new shoes, he’s walking proudly with them on””

— Family visiting the pop-up event

Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

Adrian’s Silphium is now 8ft tall!

Meet Adrian, one of our dedicated community allotment volunteers.

Adrian has attended the community allotment every week for numerous years, and is also a regular visitor of RHS Wisley. On a visit to Wisley a few years ago, he was inspired by the American prairie beds they had created around the lake of the greenhouse. It was there that Adrian fell in love with the bright yellow flowers of the Silphium, so bought some seeds and took on the challenge of growing his own!

Initially, he had little success, until suddenly one seed turned into a little plant and began to grow. Three years on, those little green shoots have grown to almost 8ft thanks to Adrian’s care and commitment.

Silphium is often known for its ancient species, which is now believed to be extinct. At the time, this species of Silphium was as valuable as gold, and was sung about in Roman poems and songs. Unfortunately, it went extinct in the Roman era due to being overused.

Luckily, Adrian’s species of Silphium has been much more fortunate! His hard work means they are now thriving in our community allotments.

Thank you Adrian!

For more information about how Walton Charity uses its green spaces to provide opportunities like this to grow spectacular plants, or to read more about our fantastic team of volunteers, read here.

Hanna Kerr volunteers at The Bridge as a yoga teacher.

The Bridge is a community hub helping local families from across Elmbridge who are struggling financially but struggle to access government (or other) support. The Bridge thrives thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers. These remarkable individuals ensure the seamless operation of our services, extending a warm welcome to clients and offering support to those facing challenging situations.  
 
Hanna Kerr, a yoga instructor, is one of the volunteers who gives back to our local community by teaching a weekly class at The Bridge.  We recently had the pleasure of discussing her passion for yoga and volunteering. 

How did you get into yoga? How long have you been practising? 

I stumbled into yoga quite accidentally and with some reluctance! My best friend’s mum, a fantastic yoga teacher, always raved about it while I was growing up. After years of hearing about its benefits, I finally decided to give it a try. At 19, I attended my first class and realised that everything she said was true. Since then, I’ve practised on and off. However, my real journey began six years ago when I met an amazing teacher in India. I did my training with her, and ever since, I’ve been deeply immersed in the power of yoga. 

How did your relationship with The Bridge come about? 

I’m passionate about giving back to the community through volunteering. When The Bridge first opened, just over a year ago, I walked in and met Suzy, the manager there. We chatted, and I asked if she would like me to teach. She was delighted, and that’s how it started! 

How often are you at The Bridge? 

I aim to run a class there every week, if my full-time work schedule allows. Fortunately, it usually does! 

What are the benefits of yoga for people going through a difficult time? 

During tough times, prioritising self-care can be challenging and yet it’s vital. We often push ourselves to do more, but we forget to pause and think about our own well-being. Even just 5 minutes of yoga can work wonders. Movement helps release stressful energy that lingers, leaving us feeling irritable or snappy. Breathing exercises calm the nervous system, allowing us to cope better with life’s challenges. Tapping into your breath is a natural way to manage stress and find peace. 

Can anyone practise yoga? 

Absolutely! If you can breathe, you can practice yoga. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to try yoga? 

You don’t need to be super flexible or have 60 minutes to spare. In truth, all you need is your body, your breath, and just 60 seconds. Breathing mindfully can significantly reduce stress levels. Don’t worry about being judged in class either—most of the time, the only one judging you is yourself. As a teacher, I’m thrilled when students show up, and I look forward to guiding them through the practice.  

If you are interested in joining Hanna’s yoga classes at Walton Bowling Club, she is offering the first class free of charge.  Classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6pm. 
Please contact Hanna for full details: hello@hannayoga.co.uk 

Read more about The Bridge here