Gritting and snow clearance in Charlwood

Drives, steps and old stone paths in Charlwood and Hookwood, gritted by hand with a light touch.

Gritting in Charlwood needs a lighter hand than most places. It’s an old village with a conservation area dating from 1974, and it has its own stone in the ground. A narrow ridge of Sussex Marble runs through the west of the parish, and the old county history describes a ridge of Paludina limestone lifting the higher ground. Limestone and salt don’t get on. So before any goes down, we ask what your paths are laid in.

Horley, where we’re based, is a short hop round the other side of Gatwick. We cover the village, Hookwood and the scattered houses further out. If the forecast shows ice or snow on the way, we come over, clear on foot, salt only what needs it and let you know it’s finished.

Gritting in Charlwood around old stone and flags

Natural limestone can be marked and weakened by repeated salting, and old flagstones that have stood centuries of weather don’t need extra punishment. The listed causeway through St Nicholas churchyard, laid in Charlwood stone to keep churchgoers out of the mud, shows how long that stone has been underfoot here. If your path or steps are old natural stone, we’ll clear snow early and thoroughly, while it’s loose, and keep salt to the walking line, or leave it off altogether and come back to clear again.

Long drives on wet clay, and frost on the higher ground

Away from the old centre the parish is Wealden clay, and over 40 percent of households live in a detached house. That adds up to a lot of long drives with water lying on them after rain, and a drive that holds water can glaze over in a single clear night. We’d rather salt it before that happens. For a long drive, tell us the line you actually use, gate to front door and front door to car, and we’ll keep that safe instead of salting every inch.

Out west the limestone ridge rises to around 385 feet. Steep entrances and north-facing slopes up there can stay frosty well into the day, so we check them again later.

Gritting in Charlwood: your questions

Anything else, just ring. You’ll speak to the people who do the work.

My cottage path is old flagstones. Will you salt it?

Only if it needs it, and only lightly. On old natural stone we’d rather clear snow promptly and come back if more falls. Tell us when you book and we’ll note it for every visit.

Do you only come out when it snows?

No. Frost is usually the bigger job round here. On clay, a damp drive can turn to glaze on a clear night with no snow in sight, so we come when a frost is forecast as well.

Can you look after the path to a church or hall in the parish?

Yes. We agree the routes at the start of winter, normally the main path, the door and any ramp, then turn up each time the forecast drops below freezing or shows snow, and tell whoever holds the keys it’s done.