Category Winners

Thursley - Southern England

The village of Thursley in Surrey is situated south west of Guildford and has a population of approximately 750. It is a very strong, caring community where villagers of all ages and backgrounds happily integrate through a host of well-publicised activities and interest groups.

There are three key focal points of community life in Thursley – the public house, the village hall and the church. Villagers with high levels of energy and enthusiasm ensure that the community spirit remains strong in Thursley and that it will continue to remain so in the future. A small selection of the broad range of community events and activities which have taken place in the village over the last few months include three flower shows, a harvest supper and a bonfire with firework display.

The village’s public house, which had been closed for a number of years, was re-opened in 2004 following a campaign by a consortium of villagers. Whilst it remains a commercial venture, the pub is now the venue for a number of community activities and, in its first 12 months, has hosted a number of fun days as well as several themed evenings.

Thursley is particularly successful at dealing with environmental issues. The village is surrounded by common land and attracts many birdwatchers, walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers. Some parishioners are voluntary wardens on Thursley Common, looking out for fires in dry spells and reporting fallen trees, whilst others volunteer to clear gorse from the village’s footpaths. The parish council is also currently considering new litter bins for the village’s recreation ground in order to encourage recycling and to educate younger visitors on litter issues. In general, because of village’s surroundings, Thursley’s children naturally learn about the environment from an early age. The policy and practice of conservation in Thursley is a part of everyday life.