Author Archives: royer
The Sculpture Park, Churt
Surrey has an enchanting 10 acre garden of woodland, lakes, streams and walkways, hidden in a narrow valley and home to a many wild birds as well as a residential flock of doves. And 850 magnificent sculptures are displayed throughout … Continue reading
North Warnborough to Greywell Tunnel, along the Basingstoke Canal
The Basingstoke Canal has many beautiful stretches, but to my mind the most delightful and interesting is the short westernmost section between North Warnborough and the Greywell Tunnel … my wife and I’s first outing with our two-week old daughter, … Continue reading
Farnham Heath Nature Reserve (RSPB)
Isn’t it wonderful there are lots of places in Surrey where wildlife habitats are being preserved! And wonderful too there are “wild” places like Farnham Heath Nature Reserve where we’re welcome to roam and see nature. We’re lucky we still … Continue reading
St Ann’s Hill
St Ann’s Hill is a wooded public park and nature reserve on a gravel-capped knoll overlooking the Thames Valley. It’s very popular with dog walkers – most people you meet will be accompanied by at least one canine friend! The … Continue reading
All aboard The Watercress Line
Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. It’s been shown to counteract loneliness, boredom and anxiety. When sharing nostalgic memories we feel closer and happier. That’s probably why a visit to a preserved steam railway is such an enjoyable experienc e when … Continue reading
Chobham Water Meadows
You’re lucky to live in west Surrey here if you love nature! The heathlands and commons in the area are acclaimed for their biodiversity and the rare species which inhabit them. The most important is Chobham Common: the largest National … Continue reading
Count your blessings
(My regular ‘Personal View’ piece for Goldsworth News – the magazine for Goldsworth Park – published in the Jan/Feb 2018 issue) Have you spotted the guy in Goldsworth Park with a blue wheelchair, sometimes riding, sometimes (painstakingly) pushing? If you … Continue reading
The Dole: recording punk in Peterborough
In 1977-8, when punk was THE thing, I engineered and produced a couple of Punk Rock singles by bands from Peterborough where I then lived. I’d had no communications with either band for 36 years or so. Then late in … Continue reading
Take time to notice
(One of my regular ‘Personal View’ pieces published in Goldsworth News – the magazine for Goldsworth Park.) Are your earliest childhood recollections like mine? Watching ever-changing cloud patterns, soaring skylarks and swooping swifts. Busy bees. Garden birds pecking. Chattering ducks. … Continue reading
Let’s say “hello”
(One of my regular ‘Personal View’ pieces for Goldsworth News – the magazine for Goldsworth Park. I adapted it to use as my regular weekly leisure article in the Woking News & Mail.) I’m going to make an effort to … Continue reading