Friends of Ewelme Watercress Beds
The Friends act as way for the village to support the upkeep of the Watercress beds which are such a distinguishing feature of Ewelme.
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The Friends support the Management Team which consists of volunteers. Once a year the friends hold a social event which raises funds for the management team.
They also host other events on the site.
The Friends were founded in 1994 by Des Dix. Des lived in a house beside the Watercress Beds. Commercial harvesting of the watercress ceased in 1988 and the site quickly became colonised by weeds and the wooden dams began to disintegrate leading to the beds becoming totally overgrown and an eyesore.
Des gained permission to clear and restore the site, but it soon became apparent that a large team was required for this enormous task. Thus the Friends were formed providing volunteer working parties who over many years restored the beds to their former glory.
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In February 1999, The Friends adopted a formal constitution and the membership today stands at 140 members. The Chiltern Society purchased the site in November 1999.
Please do consider joining the Friends
Friends of Ewelme Watercress Beds Committee:
David Solomon (Chair)
Andrea Powell (Treasurer and Membership Secretary)
Yvonne Solomon (Minutes Secretary and website manager)
Patricia Stevenson
Fliss Hoad