Ash Vale

Geography

Ash Vale's extent is on two sides clearly demarcated, by the river to the west and at a few locks' higher elevation by the parallel Basingstoke Canal to the east – across these boundaries are, respectively, Aldershot Garrison (Military Town) and the large Surrey Heath MoD, mostly UK Army, ranges and training areas. The latter is a co-managed County Wildlife Site, for instance Ash Ranges at 2439 acres and Pirbright Ranges at 2765 acres, with various access days and parts (see the Wildlife's Trust website). The type of soil of the east, the heath is very acidic, sandy and loamy which makes up just 1.9% of English soil and 0.2% of Welsh soil, which gives rise to pines and coniferous landscapes, such as pioneered at Wentworth and Foxhills estate and is good for biodiversity.

Two branch railway lines cross in the middle of the village without forming a junction. In the north of the village are Ash Vale railway station and North Camp railway station, on the London-Aldershot-Alton Line and the Reading-Guildford-Gatwick Line respectively. In addition, trains run through Ash Vale from Guildford to Ascot via Aldershot. The village owes its development to the garrison and to the railways.

Environment

Air pollution is very low, with no Air Quality Management Areas in this borough or that immediately adjoining, Rushmoor. Drainage is good, the whole area draining westward by the valley of the upper Blackwater. In eastern parts distant ordnance fire can be heard from Ash ranges and occasional light aircraft on various tracks over the village take off from Farnborough Airport approximately three miles west.

History

See History of Ash, Surrey.

Economy and amenities

Although Ash Vale was a small semi-military community of the post-war era, the village is now largely a commuter settlement, relying on the half-hourly 40-minute railway connection to Waterloo (there are also local services). While 417 employed residents worked at/from home in 2001, the remaining 1306 commuted, of whom 682 responded they commuted less than 5 km.

Holly Lodge (Primary) School is next to Carrington Park, which has playground facilities and a route between nearby North Camp Station and Mytchett lake and Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre on the Basingstoke Canal. The canal's towpath runs through the village.

Parks and Nature reserves in Ash Vale

• Carrington Recreation Ground, off Lysons Avenue
• Snaky Lane Local Nature Reserve, off Stratford Road
• Avondale Park, Avondale
• Lakeside Park, Lakeside Road
• Park off Hawker Road, Old Farm Place Estate
• Park off Beaufort Road, Old Farm Place Estate
• Park off Old Farm Place, Old Farm Place Estate

South of the village are:

• Lakeside Park nature reserve
• Willow Park Fishery
• Ash Parish Allotments

Youth outreach

The Normandy Youth Centre serves the area by sponsoring community-based programs targeting youth in the area for the purpose of increasing exposure to educational opportunities and building a stronger community.

Notable residents

• Ethel Caterham, supercentenarian, Britain's oldest ever person, and the oldest person in the world as of April 30th 2025.
• Samuel Franklin Cody, the first man to achieve powered heavier-than-air flight in Britain.
• Darren and Martin Bicknell, professional cricketers.

References

1. [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Key Statistics: Population; Quick Statistics: Economic indicators] {{Webarchive. link. (11 February 2003 . ([[2011 United Kingdom census). 2011 census]] and [[2001 United Kingdom census. 2001 census]]) Retrieved 27 February 2015.
2. "Surrey Wildlife Trust: Ash Ranges".
3. [http://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes Cranfield University National Soil Resources Institute]
4. [http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/aqma/maps Defra – Air] Retrieved 19 March 2015.
5. "Parishes: Ash ", in ''[[Victoria County History. A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3]]'', ed. H E Malden (London, 1911), pp. 340–344 available online at [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/surrey/vol3/pp340-344 British History – The University of Portsmouth and Others] Accessed 14 March 2015.
6. [http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2080377_award_for_mother_who_transformed_her_village ''Award for Mother Who Transformed Her Village''] {{webarchive. link. (24 October 2010 ; 18 October 2010 article; at [[Get Surrey]] News; retrieved 30 January 2013.)
7. Hinchliffe, Ben. (2025-04-07). "World's Second-Oldest Person, Ethel Caterham, 115, Becomes UK’s Oldest Person Ever".
8. SCC. (2025-05-01). "British woman, 115, becomes world's oldest person".
9. Ash Parish Council. "Ash Parish Maps- Local Interest". Ash Parish Council.