Surrey Hills team awarded with the ‘Working in Partnership and Communities’ Award
A huge thank you to Surrey Choices for awarding our Surrey Hills Society and wider team with their ‘Working in Partnership and Communities’ award at Denbies Wine Estate! We have delivered some fantastic projects to help make space for nature with the Surrey Choices Growth Team including dead hedging and tree popping. We look forward to many more projects to come to help enhance and support the species and habitat in the Surrey Hills.
Discover some of the projects we have delivered with the Surrey Choices Growth Team here.
Former Independent Chair of the Surrey Hills Board, Heather Kerswell receives The King’s Award
Congratulations to our former Independent Chair of the Surrey Hills Board, Heather Kerswell for receiving The King’s Award presented at our Board Meeting on the 7th of June by Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, Perdita Hunt OBE. This award reflects Heather’s outstanding achievements and commitment to raising the profile of Surrey including campaigning to secure the review of the AONB boundary for the first time since the Surrey Hills was designated in 1958.
A very productive session for the Surrey Hills Byways working group in Ranmore. Collaboration across Surrey Police, Surrey County Council, local councillors, off-road community groups, the Surrey Hills team and local residents has meant that procedures can be put in place to make steps in eradicating illegal off-road activity in the Surrey Hills countryside. This small minority of people partake in behaviours that cause destruction to habitat, disruption to wildlife and tensions with residents and communities. A special thanks to Surrey County Council for their efforts implementing access measures in the area to create a safer place for people and nature.
Over the past few months, members from the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People have been undertaking accessibility audits across the Surrey Hills to help create a more accessible countryside for all. People with disabilities are 10x less likely to access the countryside than the general population, therefore the projects developed from these audits look to ensure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy and protect our national landscape.
The Surrey Coalition of Disabled People team comments:
โWe have been delighted to work with the Surrey Hills team to ensure that the countryside is accessible for all. In particular, we want to highlight how the Surrey Hills team involved us from the outset of the project. Itโs so important that accessibility is thought through from the beginning of any project. Thanks to the team for working with us, weโre looking forward to many walks, wheels or sitting in the Surrey countryside.โ
The Surrey Coalition recently returned to one of their original access audit sites, Newlands Corner, to experience the improvements made and provide further feedback for future projects. In collaboration with the Surrey Coalition, Surrey Hills team, Albury Estate and Surrey County Council, the easier access trail now provides an improved experience with resurfacing works and the addition of benches.
Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment, Paul Deach comments:
โItโs great to welcome the addition of the new easy access trail at our iconic Newlands Corner site and is something we want to see more of across Surreyโs countryside. We cannot underestimate the value of being outdoors and the great mental and physical benefits it brings, and it is important that our green spaces offer facilities that make them accessible to everyone.โฏ The advice and guidance offered by the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People for this new trail has been invaluable and shows what can be done when we work collaborativelyโ.
There are further projects planned at this site including the addition of a boardwalk made from Albury Estate timber to protect the ancient yew trees, which have suffered from soil compaction. This is enabling visitors to understand the significance of these internationally important trees and feel empowered to protect them. The Surrey Choices Growth Team, who provide outdoor work experience to supported adults, have been hard at work at Newlands Corner conserving and enhancing the enjoyment of the area. Activities have included helping construct the new boardwalk, creating dead hedging to protect the yew trees, and a huge array of conservation works at the viewpoint, much of which facilitated by Surrey Hills Society and funded by the Surrey Hills Access Fund. The team recently were joined by the Adult and Health Select Committee and Mayor of Guildford to see the fantastic habitat restoration and conservation work they have done, which won the Environmental Award at the BBC Make a Difference Awards.
Mette le Jakobsen, Surrey Choices Managing Director said โThe partnership between the Growth Team at Surrey Choices and the Surrey Hills Society is exceptional. We had the delight of seeing some of the work the team have done, restoring grassland, and conserving the woodland. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to admire the ancient yew trees, it was quite inspirational and actually a little bit emotional.โ
These projects come in response to our landscapes being protected for nature and for more people to enjoy and protect it. DEFRA has provided all National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty with an Access for All Fund, of which the Surrey Hills received one of the highest amounts of funding. The Surrey Coalition have helped inform a multitude of access improvement projects across the Surrey Hills, alongside the feedback gathered by over 300 guests at the Surrey Hills Symposium in 2022.
Kathy Atkinson, Chair of the Surrey Hills Board comments:
โIn order to protect the Surrey Hills for the future, and so that everyone can benefit from this amazing landscape, it’s essential for us to be able to work with expert groups such as Surrey Coalition, who can bring their understanding of access issues and work with us to address these. People will only fight to protect and nurture the countryside if they really value it, so supporting access for people to spend time in the Surrey Hills helps to build our army of countryside protectors. And then there is the power of volunteering, as our work with Surrey Choices demonstrates. Doing something practical and useful in an amazing setting . . . it’s good for the volunteers and it helps the natural environment too. We are so grateful for all the work done by our Surrey Choices friends who have been out in good weather and bad!โ
A small group of off-roaders continue to carve out illegal tracks in an area of ancient woodland in the Surrey Hills. In response, off-road user groups, residents and landowners are now united in taking action by reporting this illegal activity to the police to assist them in prosecuting the offenders.
Green Lane Association Director and Surrey local Stuart Boreham said โItโs always infuriating to see the selfish actions of a few damaging the countryside we all love. Driving unsurfaced roads and byways, often called โgreen laningโ, is a hobby enjoyed across the nation by our 5000 members and many others. We see drivers of all ages, races, and backgrounds, able-bodied and less able, peacefully using their vehicles to access the countryside. The Green Lane Association will, as here, always support councils and local groups to promote and enforce safe legal laning for all. I look forward to action being taken against the vandals.โ
Kristina Kenworthy, Chair of the Surrey Hills Byways Working Group said โI am saddened and shocked by the ongoing abuse by a small group of off-road users, inflicting such destruction in the bluebell woods and special landscape of the Surrey Hills. This is not a new issue, but I am pleased to see the collaboration between residents, community groups, local councils and organisations and the Surrey Police to take serious action. A huge thank you to Surrey County Council for all their efforts so far in supporting the mitigation of this issue.โ
Chairman of Mole Valley District Council, Paul Potter, who is a keen motorcyclist and advocate for safe and respectful riding along our green lanes, and Claire Malcomson, member of the Surrey Hills Board and Climate Change Cabinet Member for Mole Valley, with residents and concerned stakeholders have been attending regular meetings in the Ranmore area to try to save our green lanes. Some parts of these ancient byways are beingย destroyedย by what could be just a handful of off roaders breaking the law through trespass, churning up the land and destroying the special woodlands in the Surrey Hills. This creates deep ruts in the tracks that then fill with water and make them impassable.
These meetings have welcomed the support of Surrey Police to help take serious action against this illegal and destructive activity.
Cllr Malcomson said, โWe are so very thankful to the police for taking this seriously and supporting the residents. We want to also thank the Surrey Hills National Landscape for organising and funding the initiative.ย This will then deter the behaviour, supply evidence of who is doing this and identify the culprits. What a team.โ
To report illegal off-road activity, use the live chat function at Home | Surrey Police. If a crime is taking place or there is a threat to life, always call 999.
For further information on the Surrey Hills National Landscape visitย www.surreyhills.org.
Boundary reviews of our nationally protected landscapes do not come around very often; in fact, this is the first time the public has had a chance to influence the boundary of the Surrey Hills since it was first designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1958.
On Tuesday 7 March, Natural England opened their public consultation period of 14 weeks to gather comments from individuals and organisations on a proposed extension to the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Surrey Hills Board met on Wednesday and discussed this fantastic opportunity with thanks to the hard work undertaken by Natural England so far.
Kathy Atkinson, Chair of the Surrey Hills Board said:
โWhether you are a resident or a visitor to the Surrey Hills, you will know just what an incredible landscape this is; we are so close to London yet you can feel a million miles away from urban life when you stand on one of the many viewpoints in the Surrey Hills, take a deep breath and look southwards to the outline of the South Downs, with gorgeous undulating countryside and woodland in between.
By extending the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty we will be protecting it by law for the future, and it could unlock additional resources to help the Surrey Hills thrive, in a way that is good for nature and for people. This is โ literally โ a once in a lifetime opportunity to tell the government how important this area is for all of us, and to ensure as much of it as possible is protected for future generations. I would encourage anyone who cares about this precious natural environment to get involved in the consultation and make their voice count.โ
The proposed new boundary has been developed following an initial public engagement phase which ran from late 2021 into early 2022, during which Natural England received over 2,000 pieces of evidence from residents and community groups to help inform which areas should be considered as an extension to the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the last year Natural England has been evaluating the evidence, as well as undertaking field and desk-based research to create a proposed new boundary and a bigger Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The proposed extension to the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty looks to increase the size of the area by 25%, over 100 square kilometres. Already a quarter of the county of Surrey is nationally protected as the Surrey Hills and the proposed extension would take this figure to over 30% of the total area.
This is a fantastic opportunity to improve the conservation of our natural and cultural heritage, to enhance peopleโs access to the landscapes they love for mental and physical wellbeing, to nurture sustainable economic growth and to protect the unique habitat and species that call this area home.
You can read Natural Englandโs full press release here and find out more from the Surrey Hills here.
Hear from the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People about their reflections on recent access audits they have been involved with in the Surrey Hills. Their members have kindly given up their time to join us at gateway sites such as Newlands Corner, Box Hill and the Devil’s Punchbowl to provide feedback on what projects could be developed out of our Defra Access for All fund.
“Our lovely members and staff have been getting stuck in mud, wheeling around natural play parks, testing out the countryside gates and checking accessibility of the cafes to help the Surrey Hills National Landscape with their work on making the countryside accessible to all. This is supported by government funding to help improve accessibility to National Parks and National Landscapes.ย ย Surrey Coalition of Disabled People have been working with the Surrey Hills team to audit some of the beautiful Surrey Hills countryside such as Box Hill, Devil’s Punchbowl and Newlands Corner to understand what actions and projects would generate the most valuable outcomesโฏfor Disabled People and those with long term health conditions when visiting the countryside.ย ย
The Surrey Hills team are now reviewing the feedback and are developing a plan for the next steps.”
Visit the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People’s website here.
On Wednesday 7 December, The Surrey Hills Board thanked their outgoing Independent Chair, Heather Kerswell, for her fantastic commitment to the Surrey Hills National Landscape. The Board welcomed their new Chair, Kathy Atkinson into her new role.
โIt is a real privilege and a pleasure to have been appointed as the new Independent Chair of The Surrey Hills Board, and I am grateful to Natural England and to all the Board members for placing their confidence in me. I know I have some pretty hefty shoes to fill; Heather Kerswell has been an incredible Chair, taking up the role just before the pandemic, and she has given fantastic support to the Board and to the staff team during a difficult few years.
I cannot think of a more exciting or challenging time to take up the role of Chair. The boundary review currently being led by Natural England is a once in a generation opportunity to engage residents and visitors with the Surrey Hills National Landscape, and I cannot wait to see the proposals for the boundary, and to encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation (due early next year) to finalise these.
Whilst the boundary review is a fantastic opportunity for the Surrey Hills, the challenges facing us are starker than ever. I come from a campaigning background, and I make no apology for that. If we are, collectively, to improve access, restore nature and improve biodiversity, manage our food and energy production (and use) and, in my view, most importantly, arrest climate change, then we are facing the fight of our lives. It is a fightย forย the National Landscape we treasure.
Perhaps we should look back to some of the great social movements of the 20th century for inspirationโฆ the civil rights movement, womenโs equality, even the original National Parks and countryside access movement in the 30s and 40s. These societal shifts were not achieved by administrators, but by visionaries who galvanised communities and mobilised the public in support of a radical change. So, this is our job, and we have no time to waste.โ
Kathy Atkinson, Independent Chair The Surrey Hills Board
About Kathy
Kathy has lived in Guildford for most of her adult life; she has two teenage children and has been Chief Executive of the Safer Tourism Foundation for the last six years. She also holds a non-executive role with Surrey Heartlands NHS Integrated Care Board. For seven years Kathy was Chief Executive of the Campaign for National Parks, and she has also worked for a range of charities including Voluntary Service Overseas.
Heather Kerswell (left) with Kathy Atkinson (right)
The Surrey Hills Symposium 2022 identified that the Surrey Hills is a landscape for all. During the event, the audience engaged in a variety of polls which indicated we should be encouraging more people to enjoy the area, especially from communities traditionally unfamiliar with it.ย The Symposium highlighted how we can all learn how to respect the countryside and care for nature.
On Wednesday 23 November, the Symposium began with a marketplace made up of community groups, partners, and Surrey Hills Enterprises members welcoming guests to the University of Surrey. A thriving marketplace with a common goal; to help make the countryside more accessible to all, ensuring it is protected for people and nature. Guests enjoyed refreshments from Surrey Hills Enterprises memberย Mandiraโs Kitchen.ย Surrey County Council offered sixty free trees for guests to take away and plant in a space near their home. The aim is to plant 1.2 million trees in Surrey, one for every resident, by 2030.
The marketplace was followed by a showcase and debate asking how we can all protect, respect, and enjoy our National Landscape. The event was opened by Professor Max Lu President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, who celebrated the Universityโs launch of the Innovation Exploratorium earlier in the day. These spaces provide visitors the opportunity to explore their research showing the impacts nature has on us, and we can have on nature. This is tightly connected to the launch earlier in the year ofย Surrey Hills Artsโย HABITAT project which is hosted on campus.ย The HABITAT projectย tackles the climate and biodiversity crisis head on by working with local communities to develop and sustain ecological green spaces in urban areas.
Heather Kerswell, Independent Chair of the Surrey Hills Board, showcased some of the collaborative projects undertaken throughout the year helping connect different people with nature. Heather quoted Julian Glover in a review commissioned by the government who said that areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the Surrey Hills were just as important and effective as National Parks; he proposed that they should be renamed National Landscapes and given new purpose in reaching out to everyone in their catchment, not just the people who traditionally use them. Acknowledging this, Defra has awarded the Surrey Hills with an access fund to help provide better access and a higher quality experience to those who have barriers to the landscape.
โGlover challenges us as National Landscapes to reach out to our whole population in everything we do. It is positive to see so much activity undertaken by our Surrey Hills family and partners, but we know that more needs to be done for everyone to be able to Thrive with Nature. How can we open the door wider?โ
Heather Kerswell, Independent Chair of the Surrey Hills National Landscape
A new video was showcased featuring a variety of people enjoying and volunteering in the Surrey Hills. As well as enjoyment and conservation, music and arts are key to reaching new audiences. The Surrey Hills Arts โHarvestโ event connected hundreds of people to the National Trustโs Box Hill viewpoint, gathered round Diana Burchโs art installation โSeeds of Hopeโ, which we brought to the Symposium to form a backdrop to the speakers.
In-person and online guests then heard from four fantastic speakers about their focus and vision towards making the countryside a place for all, who then answered your questions on their subject matter.
Judy Ling Wong โ Hon President, Black Environment Network
โWe love what we enjoy, and we protect what we love. Access to nature lays down the basis for the contribution by everyone to the care and protection of nature.โ
Haroon Mota โ Founder, Active Inclusion Network
โSeeing minorities out in the countryside shouldnโt be strange or a reason to be labelled. Often the biggest barrier is that we havenโt had the outdoors embedded within us from a young age. You canโt be what you canโt see. Community is integral to success and by bringing everybody together, we can find a sense of confidence and belonging in these natural spaces.โ
Stephanie Fudge โ General Manager, National Trust Surrey Hills
โI believe that the countryside is for everyone- it already is. The National Trust sites in the Surrey Hills welcome a huge diversity of people who come by many means of transport. Our job is to welcome everyone and to share understanding of what they are visiting so they want to help protect it for the future. We have already seen that if visitors are asked to help and know why, they willingly step forward and change their behaviour.โ
Ashley Greening โ Intern, Surrey Wildlife Trust
โWe belong to nature; we donโt own it. We can create a countryside for all by caring for nature but taking out the man-made obstacles that limit some people from enjoying and protecting it.โ
This stimulating debate was artistically captured by Veronica Wood, creating a vision of what the future may look like in terms of our access and protection of nature.
Finally, the event concluded with closing remarks from Gordon Jackson, Chair of the Surrey Hills Society. There was a premiere of the new โMaking Space for Natureโ film, a collaboration between the National Trust and Surrey Hills. This film celebrates the 150-year birthday of the composer of the Lark Ascending, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and the fantastic mosaic of habitat that the Surrey Hills landscape offers.
As guests departed the event, they were asked to write down comments on their thoughts towards how we can improve access to nature whilst protecting the landscape. These responses will help support decision making of future project work made possible by Defraโs access fund towards capital improvements towards access to the countryside.
With thanks to the University of Surrey for hosting our event, and all our partners, community groups and Surrey Hills Enterprises members for exhibiting.
Arts Council England and National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty sign landmark Memorandum of Understanding
Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England and Philip Hygate, chair of the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NAAONB), signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding on 23 September. It represents their commitments to working together to nurture new links between arts and cultural organisations, and Englandโs 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).
Working in partnership under this Memorandum of Understanding means both organisations deliver on their own priorities, underpinned by joint ambitions to see more people engaging with culture and landscape, promoting opportunities, prosperity, and wellbeing for rural communities, and contributing to conversations around tackling the climate emergency.
For years, AONB teams around the country have commissioned or partnered on awe-inspiring art installations and activities, and the Memorandum symbolises a step change in their commitment to partnering with culture organisations to develop high-quality, ambitious art that will reach and move people and communities across England.
Surrey Hills Arts is a partnership between Surrey Arts, Surrey County Council and the Surrey Hills National Landscape. It aims to engageย andย inspireย peopleย inย theย outstandingย naturalย landscapeย throughย an imaginative programme across the arts, promoting heritage, health and tourism. Over the past fifteen years, they have delivered innovative landscape projects engaging local communities and developing emerging artists. Surrey Hills Arts is an excellent example to how connecting to the countryside via the arts can create a deep respect and understanding, as well as the promotion of mental wellbeing when in the landscape.
Inspiring view: OptohedronHABITAT and University of SurreyHeathland Artworks at Farnham HeathOrchard PortraitsHarvest at Box Hill
The Board of the Surrey Hills AONB has signaled its commitment to creating greater links with arts organisations by endorsing the AONB Networkโs Art in the Landscape Strategy. We are excited to see how the project develops nationally and locally over the coming years and we will be building greater links with our local cultural organisations.
The signing was hosted by Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership at Samphire Hoe Nature Reserve, as part of AONBโs Salt + EARTH: Festival of Landscape, Seascape and the Environment. The festival saw artists, creatives and scientists explore everything from geography to geology, sounds to sculptures, food to Deep Time. The festival is an exemplar of how when art, science and landscape come together, our understanding is deepened, but more importantly, our enjoyment and curiosity is fired.
Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England said: โThe natural environment has inspired artists and writers through the ages. Today, awareness of our environment feeds our imagination, greatly benefits our wellbeing, and broadens our understanding of the climate challenges we face.
โTodayโs signing represents further ambitions to deepen our appreciation and engagement with Englandโs rural landscapes, and their surrounding communities. Reflected through the Arts Councilโs commitment to environmental responsibility, this Memorandum highlights the important, crucial connection between culture and the landscape.โ
Philip Hygate, chair of the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty said: โEnglandโs 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are deeply committed to working with art and culture organisations. We have seen that when AONB Partnerships and artists come together, the results add up to far more than the sum of their parts, creating experiences that will live long in peopleโs memories. This agreement with Arts Council England provides a framework for us to do more of this invaluable work and enable more people to develop a relationship with the landscapes on their own terms.โ
A video commissioned by Arts Council England and the National Association for AONBs
The Surrey Hills National Landscape are recruiting for a new Chair of their Board.
Main Purpose of the Role
To provide leadership and strategic direction to the Surrey Hills AONB Board and champion the activities of the Surrey Hills family.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
To:
Chair meetings of the AONB Board and sub-groups and to guide the AONB Director on the agenda and approach to meetings.
Provide general advice and guidance to the AONB Director and AONB team to ensure that the AONB Management Plan outcomes and objectives are closely linked to government funding
Champion the interests of the Surrey Hills AONB and gain support for the aims, priorities, and delivery of the AONB Management Plan and the work of the Surrey Hills AONB family.
Foster supportive and inclusive partnerships in support of the work of the AONB, building mutually beneficial relationships with all interested bodies working in the countryside, including partnerships with organisations representing those traditionally excluded from the countryside.
Ensure effective cooperation between the Surrey Hills AONB Board and the constituent members of the Surrey Hills family.
Assist in maintaining a positive relationship with the host local authority, balancing the benefits of integration with the interests of all partners and with the need for the Board and the wider AONB family.
Represent the AONB Board on a variety of networks (local, regional and national); participate in activities of the National Association for AONBs to help champion a more consistent approach across the family of landscape designations.
Continue to play a prominent role in the on-going review of the Surrey Hills AONB Boundary (led by Natural England), as a member of the Management Advisory Group for the project. (It will be important that the incoming Chair has no conflicts of interest in this regard.)
Take an active interest in the work of the AONB Board, including staff members and working groups.
Maintain an understanding of the issues facing the AONB and to undertake such training and seminars as may be necessary.
Fulfil their duties in a manner that is free from political bias and influence
Encourage AONB Board Members to act in the interests of the Surrey Hills AONB and
Work with the wider family of protected landscapes, ensuring that the AONB considers issues and opportunities outside of its boundaries and between other protected landscapes to support nature recovery.
Horsemanโs Sunday returned to the picturesque church of St Martha-on-the-hill for a unique and special event, celebrating horse-riding in the Surrey Hills.
Both horse riders and members of the community on foot gathered at the top of St Marthaโs Hill for a beautiful service led by the new vicar, David Oakden. During the short service, he blessed the horses, and they received a commemorative Surrey Hills rosette.
It was a joy to once again welcome horses and riders to the Horsemanโs service. This is an historic annual event which acknowledges the work of the horse from long before cars took over the roads. It is a rural service and helps to bring the community together, so what better way than to celebrate the horse and welcome so many people, their dogs and of course horses and ponies, who all stood so patiently to receive their blessing?
Reverand David Oakden
Horsemanโs Sunday is embedded in rich history, the first event occurring at Hyde Park in 1967, which still attracts increasing crowds. This was the first Surrey Hills Horsemanโs Sunday since 2019 due to the pandemic, and participants were thrilled to be reunited finally for such a meaningful event. This occasion was especially prominent, as part of the celebration of the Queenโs Platinum Jubilee.
A brilliant congregation of horses and over 50 spectators took part in the service, overlooking the stunning landscape.
I really enjoyed being able to attend the service. Seeing the horses line-up outside the church walls was such a spectacle, and what better setting than in the heart of the Surrey Hills. Horsemanโs Sunday is a fantastic event to celebrate horses, horse riding and community in the Surrey Hills.
Mark, an attendee of the event
Being a local rider, Horsemanโs Sunday brings home how lucky we are to be able to ride in the beautiful Surrey Hills. To be able to ride right up to the top of St Marthaโs Hill for the service, where our faithful horses were honoured and blessed, connected us with all those generations before us. It meant so much for us all, as we looked down on the rolling countryside below, to live in such a lovely part of the world.
Maggie, a horse-rider who took part in the service
Not only does Horsemanโs Sunday celebrate horse-riding in the Surrey Hills, but also looks help enable all our communities to connect with their passion for horses. After the service, a collection was made of kind donations to go towards the running and protection of the historic St Marthaโs Church, and for local charity Big Leaf Foundation. Big Leaf supports displaced young people in providing opportunities and activities to increase their sense of safety, belonging and purpose in their new environment. The Surrey Hills have been working on a variety of projects with Big Leaf during the last few months, including taking part in the Nature Connections programme, to welcome and connect people with nature. The collections made at Horsemanโs Sunday will go towards their equestrian programme which gives displaced young people the chance to spend time with horses- developing skills in communication, coaching, horsemanship and English language.
The Surrey Hills has great pride in the committed equestrian communities that enjoy and help protect the landscape. Later in 2022, the Surrey Hills will be launching a new website which features high quality equestrian routes for all to enjoy. They will also utilise support from their conservation volunteers to help keep the trails safe and protect surrounding habitat.
Visit the webpage here for more information on horse-riding and hacking trails across the Surrey Hills.
