THE River Wey Trust held its annual ‘Pimms Picnic Party by the River’ at The Old Mill in Bramshott, blessed with sunshine and summer temperatures.

More than 150 adults and children attended the event, hosted by Ian and Janet Airey, which culminated in the highlight of the afternoon – the traditional duck races for juniors and adults on the River Wey.

The fundraising event had an additional attraction of an augmented reality sandbox set up in one of the stables, which attracted a stream of visitors.

Modelled on work by UCA Davis’ Dr Oliver Kreylos, the sandbox is fitted with a sensor and projector which transforms the sand surface into a three-dimensional topographical map.

The process is dynamic, allowing the “landscape” to be changed and structured, showing how that impacts the elevation mapping.

The trust also had an exhibition tent showing activities, historical information about the water meadows and interesting facts about The Old Mill. There are a series of mills along the banks of the Wey all of which played an important part in the local agricultural industry over several centuries.

The Trust was set up in a joint initiative by Hampshire County Council, East Hampshire District Council, Headley Parish Council, Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council and Bramshott and Liphook Preservation Society all of whom nominate Trustees.

The southern branch of the River Wey rises in the hills that surround Haslemere.

For 15 miles it flows first westwards then north in an arc through Hampshire to re-enter Surrey near Frensham.

It is joined by the Alton branch of the Wey at Tilford — the downstream limit of the River Wey Trust’s area of interest.

From Tilford the Wey goes on via Godalming and Guildford to join the Thames at Weybridge and thence to the sea.

• Anyone interested in joining should contact The River Wey Trust, Mallards, Rectory Lane, Bramshott, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7QZ, visit www.riverwey trust.org.uk or email website@river weytrust.org.uk