The Sunday Times names the Surrey Hills as best place to live in the Southeast

The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has been named as the best place to live in the Southeast, according to The Sunday Times newspaper.

Topping the list for the region, the Surrey Hills was chosen for its “gloriously restorative landscape”, “historical villages”, “striking distance of London” and “plethora of village events”. Scooping the top spot in the 2021 ranking, the Surrey Hills AONB saw off runners-up Lewes, Winchester, Petworth and the Isle of Wight, amongst others.

The Sunday Times

Part of The Sunday Times’ ‘Best Places to Live 2021’ roundup, the writers pointed to the many reasons that make living amongst the Surrey Hills highly sought-after:

“Here the wooded hills, flower-rich grasslands and moorlands between Farnham and Dorking offer the perfect picturesque English countryside – and heartwarming pubs – for anyone who isn’t ready to completely cut their ties with the capital… This is the Hollywood version of country life.”

With endless opportunities to explore a diverse landscape of hills and valleys, thick woods, open farmland and intriguing sunken lanes, as well as pretty villages and historic market towns, it is easy to see why the Surrey Hills AONB stands in prime position as the most desirable place to call home in the Southeast.

Whilst the entirety of the Surrey Hills was picked out as taking the top spot, a handful of locations were given special mention by The Sunday Times, including Tilford, Chiddingfold, Abinger Hammer and Friday Street. Newlands Corner was also chosen as a not-to-be-missed site for its ranging views, Agatha Christie connections and proximity to the mysterious Silent Pool.

The Sunday Times

Vice President of the Surrey Hills Society, Christine Howard, was also quoted as part of The Sunday Times’ article, saying:

“What I love most are the trees. It’s such a special landscape. I grew up on English fairy tales. When I’m out walking here I feel like I’m in the land of Tolkein or Beatrix Potter.”

To read more about why the Surrey Hills AONB was chosen as The Sunday Times’ Best Place to Live in the Southeast 2021, visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/surrey-hills-best-place-to-live-southeast-uk-9w8nfwqhw

 

 

Visiting the Surrey Hills as Lockdown Eases

As lockdown measures ease during March and April we are expecting the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to be a popular destination for both locals and visitors. The past year has drawn more people than ever towards our green spaces in an effort to find fresh air for exercise and to reconnect with nature.

Visiting the Surrey HillsThe Government’s roadmap out of lockdown will see measures eased from 29 March, with the relaxation of the ‘Stay at Home’ rule, meaning outdoor gatherings of either 6 people or 2 households will be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside. From 12 April non-essential retail will be able to open including most outdoor attractions and settings and hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors.

These dates also coincide with the Easter break, school holidays and improved weather, all factors that will see a greater volume of visitors head to the Hills for recreation and relaxation.

Heather Kerswell, Chair of the Surrey Hills AONB Board comments;

“As lockdown measures slowly ease over the coming months we expect the Surrey Hills to attract a greater volume of visitors. It is important that those who do come follow the Countryside Code and our guidance to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit. We encourage those who do come to seek out the less well-known areas of the Surrey Hills and keep away from the busy beauty spots where it will be harder to socially distance. Please remember to respect, protect and enjoy the outdoors and where possible support the local business community who very much need our custom as this time”.

Visiting the Surrey HillsWe encourage residents to be tolerant and visitors to be kind as we see an increased enthusiasm for the Surrey Hills over the coming months.

In-line with the newly launched Countryside Code we’ve set out our top tips for visiting this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to ensure the countryside is a safe place for all:

  • We are aware that many visitors who love to walk and cycle will have greatly missed the Surrey Hills landscape, the views and the well-known beauty spots. We advise you to avoid well-known sites such as Box Hill, Leith Hill and the Devil’s Punch Bowl which may become congested and therefore difficult to socially distance. Instead why not visit lesser known areas of the Surrey Hills.
  • Please check before you travel that hospitality, car parks and facilities are open. Some local amenities such as loos may not have reopened yet.
  • Take your litter home, leaving no trace of your visit. This keeps the Surrey Hills a special place for everyone. Please don’t light fires or BBQs unless there is a sign to say they are permitted. It is easy for a fire to get out of control and destroy rare habitats.
  • Respect local wildlife and look after nature by being extra cautious and sticking to footpaths and bridleways so as not to disturb ground nesting birds and other wildlife.
  • Please be aware that our local farms are under great seasonal pressures during this time and we would encourage you to respect their needs by keeping dogs on leads and follow all designated foot paths and bridleways to keep yourselves and farm animals safe.
  • Remember to consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors. Observe social distancing measures to help restrict the spread of the virus and ensure the countryside is a safe place for all.
  • We encourage you to continue supporting local during this time of transition and want to highlight all the wonderful products and services available on our doorstep in the Surrey Hills. Take a look at our list of businesses offering home deliveries, online support and services, gifts and inspiration.
  • We hope that renewed enthusiasm for the Surrey Hills will translate into more people getting involved in caring for nature, wildlife, and the landscape. Remember to Respect, Protect and Enjoy – breathe deep, stride out, and give a cheery heartfelt hello to those you meet along the way!

Chris Howard, Chairman of Visit Surrey comments;

“Visit Surrey is delighted to welcome back our residents and visitors to the many attractions our county has to offer. It will however, be a challenging time for the county’s most popular beauty spots and researching to find some of the Surrey Hills hidden gems may make for a more enjoyable and safer experience. Remember many places, even if they are free, will want you to book in advance. Also, toilets and other facilities will still be limited, so do plan your outings carefully.”

Stephanie Fudge, National Trust General Manager for the Surrey Hills comments;

“We would encourage all visitors to plan outings carefully and to check facilities are fully open. As wildlife emerges from the winter we are seeing large numbers of ground nesting birds across the Surrey Hills from March until early Summer. Their breeding success is critically dependent on not being disturbed and so we would ask that visitors are considerate, to keep to paths and keep their dogs on leads in sensitive areas. By being respectful of wildlife and the local community we can all benefit from an enjoyable visit to the Surrey Hills.”

 

For further information on the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) visit www.surreyhills.org.

 

Walkers in Surrey Hills asked to follow the Countryside Code

The NFU has joined with Surrey Hills AONB in appealing to walkers to keep dogs on a lead around farm animals and follow the countryside code.

Heather Kerswell, Chair of the Surrey Hills AONB Board, said:

“The past year has drawn more people than ever towards our green spaces. As lockdown measures ease over the coming months and the weather improves, we are expecting the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to be a popular destination for both locals and visitors.

The Countryside Code: keep dogs on leads“Please be aware that our local farms are under great seasonal pressures during this time.  Our farmers and land managers need your support by keeping to designated foot paths and bridleways, keeping dogs on leads, being careful not to trample on crops, closing gates and ensuring we all practice the Countryside Code values of ‘Respect – Protect – Enjoy’.

“We ask everyone to act responsibly to ensure the countryside is a safe place for all.”

The NFU’s livestock farmer members are appealing to dog walkers to #takethelead and use a lead when walking in the countryside. The warning comes as 16 million ewes are giving birth to lambs across the UK between now and late spring. All too often sheep, in particular, end up being killed or horribly mutilated by out-of-control pet dogs.

Surrey NFU chairman Richard Keen, who farms sheep, cattle and poultry at Etherley Farm, Ockley, near Dorking, said:

The Countryside Code: Richard Keen“The number of dog attacks on livestock across our region remains high, with distressing consequences for both farmers and dog owners whose pet could be shot if it’s caught in the act. Most attacks are completely preventable, so we are appealing to dog owners to keep their dog on a lead around livestock and check that their properties are dog proof. If chased, pregnant ewes (female sheep) can commonly lose their lambs or die from stress and exhaustion.”

He added: “Our message comes with more and more people out and about walking dogs in the countryside. The vast majority of dog owners behave responsibly, but sadly a minority allow their pets to run freely in fields where farm animals may be grazing. Spring is here and young livestock are particularly vulnerable, so please #takethelead, take extra care and avoid an animal welfare tragedy.”

The NFU reminds people that if chased by cattle, they should release their dog off the lead and get themselves to safety.

These #takethelead messages will be amplified by the NFU on social media this spring and via signs erected by farmers along footpaths. The NFU is also campaigning for the Countryside Code to be taught in primary schools.

For more information, visit www.nfuonline.com.

Off-road impact: 4×4 vehicles causing damage to Surrey Hills

Off Road motorised vehicles are having a major impact on the Surrey Hills. The popularity of these activities through the woods and commons of this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), with new tracks being illegally carved out on private land, has increased during lockdown and creates tension with landowners and leisure users.

Off road damage

The use of off-road, quad bike and 4×4 vehicles is strictly prohibited throughout the AONB, unless on a designated Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT). Damage by illegal off-road vehicles negatively impacts the myriad of species that call the Surrey Hills AONB home.

Recent developments have seen Surrey Police tackle rural crime in the Surrey Hills by seizing un-licensed 4×4 vehicles, handing out warnings and securing prosecutions.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro said: “Enhancing the response to crime in our rural communities remains one of my key priorities. We are lucky in Surrey to have access to wonderful countryside and I am pleased to see such proactive work by the local team in response to the concerns raised by the residents that live locally.

“In the last two years, I’ve supported Surrey Police to establish a dedicated network of rural crime officers across Surrey’s boroughs and I am proud that these individuals are making a real difference in areas where residents may feel the most isolated – preventing crime as well as apprehending those responsible. In the year ahead, I will be supporting Surrey Police to extend this further, with the addition of 10 police officers and 67 operational support staff that will strengthen the overall service of the Force, and additional funding for the rural crime team that is so important.”

Off road damage MicklehamReports of damage caused by off-road vehicles were made earlier this month in Mole Valley, following the discovery of muddy tyre tracks and circular markings throughout The Gallops on Mickleham Downs. This tranquil area managed by the National Trust is regularly frequented by local dog walkers, and forms part of the popular Box Hill Hike trail. Large rutted, muddy tracks were left behind, with grass churned up and damaged, marring the beautiful ranging views across the Downs. The recent wet weather further exacerbated the problem, with sodden ground more readily damaged. Not only does this kind of destruction look unpleasant, it creates highly dangerous conditions for other people using the local routes, including walkers and cyclists.

Councillor Hazel Watson, Chairman of the Surrey Hills Byways Working Group comments,

“It is awful to see this careless destruction of the local area. The grass and woodland of Mickleham Downs is an important haven for wildlife and plant species. Damage caused by off-road vehicles is a major threat to the Surrey Hills AONB and I urge the local community to alert Surrey Police to any antisocial behaviour taking place in our countryside spaces.”

Acting Borough Commander, T/Detective Inspector Wagjiani said: “Off-roading is a nuisance and can cause considerable damage to the beauty of our countryside and woodland areas. Reporting a rural crime such as this is key. While the reporting of one incident might not lead us to the perpetrator, the collective evidence will support us in gaining the intelligence that will help us to identify a suspect. We can then take action.”

Heather Kerswell, Chair of the Surrey Hills AONB Board, says,

“There is mounting concern about the damage being caused to the protected Surrey Hills landscape by an irresponsible minority of off-road drivers. Current lockdown measures have made the Surrey Hills a popular playground for many. I commend Surrey Police for their efforts in this area and call on all our rural communities to work together to combat this serious issue”.

Reports of antisocial crime can be made to Surrey Police via their online reporting tool; https://www.surrey.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb/report-antisocial-behaviour/

For further information on the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) visit www.surreyhills.org.

New Inspiring Views Coming Soon in 2021: Experience Art on the North Downs Way

Two new Surrey Hills Arts Inspiring Views projects are soon set to launch across the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), improving access and celebrating special locations through innovative, sculptural seating – ‘Radius’ at Denbies Hillside, Dorking and ‘Portal’ at the Titsey Estate, Tandridge.

Radius, Denbies Hillside in Dorking

Appearing in April 2021, Radius will be the highlight of a new route created with conservation volunteers on Denbies Hillside, Dorking, connecting to the North Downs Way. The new trail will be accessible to everyone, including those with mobility issues, meaning that all will be able to visit the new sculpture for an uplifting and relaxing experience.

Inspiring Views Radius

Created by artist and designer James Tunnard, the thinking behind Radius’ innovative design is to capture the essence of the undulating landscape in its curving shape, whilst providing a window from which to admire the view. Radius will be crafted from locally-sourced timber and provide sculptural seating for those walking the new route. An extra special element of the design will see Radius engraved with words written by local poets and thoughtful inscriptions from members of the public. Inspired by the natural surroundings, it is hoped that these words will stimulate thoughtful appreciation and reflection.

Following the installation of Radius, there will begin an inspirational learning programme to engage young people through sculpture workshops, walks and nature conservation activities. Young people will make their own temporary outdoor structures and bug houses, whilst exploring and learning about their local landscapes. There will also be poetry readings inspired by the view and local stories will be filmed from the seating area. Guided group outings will take people on a range of walks to experience the artwork, visit local producers and see the stunning Surrey Hills views.

This project is funded by the Interreg France (Channel) England Programme and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. It is supported by Surrey Hills Arts, Denbies Wine Estate, Mole Valley District Council and the North Downs Way.

For more information on Radius, see: https://www.surreyhillsarts.org/permanent-works/radius.

Portal, Titsey Estate in Tandridge

With installation also due to take place in April 2021, the panoramic view at Clarks Lane on the Titsey Estate, Tandridge will be the site of another new Inspiring Views art piece this year. Portal will be situated adjacent to the Surrey Hills’ boundary marker and sit on the North Downs Way, meaning that it will provide a restful spot for those exploring locally. Access to the site is being developed, working jointly with the Titsey Estate and the North Downs Way National Trail, to ensure a seamless experience for visitors.

Inspiring Views Portal

Designed by wood sculptor Philip Walker, Portal will be a sculptural seat from which to make the most of open grassland views south to the High Weald and beyond. The stunning circular artwork will be made of curved English Oak sections, joined using traditional framing techniques, highlighting the incredible view by drawing the eye through the structure as it tapers from the outside inwards. Portal will also feature a curved and intimate bench for seating. The inner face will be textured and tactile, while the outer face will bear carved words inspired by the location.

Once Portal is installed, there will be a learning programme to engage people through sculpture workshops, walks and nature conservation activities. Young people will make their own temporary outdoor artworks, exploring and learning about their local landscape, and there will be a range of guided walks for people to enjoy the artwork, visit local producers and see the beautiful views.

This project is funded by the Interreg France (Channel) England Programme and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. It is supported by Surrey Hills Arts, Titsey Estate and the North Downs Way.

For more information on Portal, visit: https://www.surreyhillsarts.org/permanent-works/portal.

To see other Inspiring Views projects, visit: www.inspiringviews.org.

Surrey Hills Arts is a partnership between Surrey Arts and Surrey Hills AONB.

Tread carefully to respect the Surrey Hills AONB

With the past year having drawn more people than ever towards our green spaces in an effort to find fresh air for exercise and to reconnect with nature, the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is calling on people to remember to tread carefully when walking in the countryside.

Current government Coronavirus guidelines stipulate that outdoor exercise should be taken locally, including when accessing open spaces, and therefore people should not be travelling into the Surrey Hills AONB if it is not within walking distance of their home. Those that do choose to walk in the countryside are being urged to do so mindfully of both the environment and the wildlife that calls the Surrey Hills home.

Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1958 and stretching across the chalk North Downs from Farnham in the west to Oxted in the east, the Surrey Hills AONB encompasses a quarter of the county and houses a diverse variety of wildlife due to the unique combination of woodland, downland and heathland. Key species include ground nesting birds that may not be visible but make homes for their young just out of sight, and potentially underfoot, during the breeding season of February to August.

Staying on marked paths and routes is particularly important when it comes to protecting these vulnerable species as disturbing them may lead to the abandonment of eggs or chicks, meaning that the birds fail to nest, eggs to hatch and chicks may die from lack of food, cold or predation. It is also a criminal offence to disturb wild breeding birds.

It is for this reason that the Surrey Hills AONB is asking walkers to remember to follow marked paths and keep their dogs on a short lead during the bird breeding season. Those that may come across young chicks or distressed adult birds should move away quietly and quickly, even if it might mean going back the way they came.

Mike Coates, RSPB Warden for Farnham and Hazeley Heaths explains:

“It is so important to protect our ground nesting birds and other wildlife. If the birds are disturbed, they can abandon their eggs and chicks. People can really help by staying on paths and keeping dogs on leads where they are asked to. It’s a simple thing, but it can make a big difference!”

Rob Fairbanks, Director of the Surrey Hills AONB, says:

“We are passionate about people accessing the countryside for their health and wellbeing but in these difficult times we need to act with the utmost responsibility and be mindful of our impact on wildlife.  Our farmers and land managers also need our support by keeping to paths, being careful not to trample on crops, closing gates and ensuring we all practice The Countryside Code values of ‘Respect – Protect – Enjoy’.”

The Countryside Code urges people to play their part in looking after local landscapes by:

  • leaving no trace of their visit, including taking litter home with them;
  • ensuring dogs are kept under control;
  • leaving gates as they find them so as to not disturb farm animals;
  • considering the local community when visiting,
  • following signs and keeping to designated paths and bridleways 

    It is a message echoed by The National Trust, which cares for more than 15,000 acres of the Surrey Hills.

    Stephanie Fudge, National Trust General Manager for the Surrey Hills explains,

    “The numbers and diversity of birds is so important for our environment and the food chain. We see large numbers of ground nesting birds across the Surrey Hills from March until early Summer. Their breeding success is critically dependent on not being disturbed and so we would ask that visitors are considerate, to keep to paths and keep their dogs on leads in sensitive areas. Together we can protect and nurture the success of these nesting families.”

    For further information on the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) visit www.surreyhills.org.

Positive steps forward for Surrey Hills “Farm to fork” business

One of the positives to have come out of the pandemic has been the innovation and diversification that many businesses have undergone. Faced with incredible challenges, many Surrey Hills businesses have looked for new opportunities and new avenues to help them grow. In turn, this has led to creating new jobs, increasing awareness of local produce, and maintaining high standards of quality, sustainability and  local provenance.

One such example is Hill House Farm – Awarded the 2020 Gold Trade Mark Surrey Hills.

After 25 years as a hotelier, Ian Jones set up Hill House Farm, with his family in 2018, rearing Gloucester Old Spots Pork and Southdown Lamb using regenerative and natural farming methods. 

By the end of 2019, they had a successful wholesale pork and lamb business as well as a growing and thriving catering and events business using their own produce.

2020 was set to be the year they made their first profit  – with a stretching yet achievable budget they embarked on 2020 full of enthusiasm and excitement. 

Enter COVID 19

By 23rd March 2020 they had lost 95% of their income as lockdown gripped the nation.

Not one to be beaten, they reinvented their business, developing an online store and creating a home delivery service for their pork and lamb.  It has since grown beyond their expectations, they now work with a collection of local growers, farmers, producers and winemakers in Surrey and Sussex to provide over 300 carefully sourced items to around 2300 homes nationwide.

Hill House Farm to open butchers shop at Chessington Garden Centre

As if that was not enough, they have just announced that they will be opening their first butcher’s shop at Chessington Garden Centre, as part of the Centre’s farm shop expansion.

The Farm’s state of the art butchery will be an integral part of the Centre’s new 410sq m farm shop development, which is due to open mid March and it will also feature a delicatessen, cheese counter, charcuterie and a wide range of carefully sourced produce from across the South East of England.

The Farm’s inaugural butchers’ shop will feature its free range, farm reared produce with great provenance, including its renowned Gloucester Old Spot pork, its grass-fed Southdown lamb and
Belted Galloway and Dexter beef. As part of this expansion the Farm will be developing its ‘farm to fork’ offering and is looking to collaborate with other like-minded farms and producers across the
Surrey Hills, who share its ethos and passion for sustainable farming. Being able to expand its offering to feature an extensive range of locally sourced meats is the next natural step for the Farm.

Creating local jobs

To support this new venture, and the continued development of its online and wholesale business, the Farm will be recruiting for at least four new roles, including a butchery manager to run this new retail unit. Hill House Farm are already actively recruiting for these roles in time for the planned opening in March

Ian Jones of Hill House Farm said: “This is an incredibly exciting addition to our ‘farm to fork’ business. We have grown our online offering considerably over the last year, building a loyal following of
customers who love our farm reared pork, lamb and beef. Opening our shop is the next step in our expansion programme and we are really looking forward to working with Jolyon and the team at
Chessington, to introduce our great tasting products with fantastic provenance to a whole new set of customers in the Centre’s development.”

Striking new artwork installed in the Surrey Hills

Striking new artwork ‘Optohedron’ has been installed along the North Downs Way National Trail, a short walk from Newlands Corner in the Surrey Hills. Created by artist Will Nash, this distinct sculptural seat is the latest addition to a Surrey Hills Arts project titled ‘Inspiring Views’, which opens up hidden views, undertakes conservation work, improves access and commissions artists to interpret the views through art.

This installation is a result of a huge amount of local collaboration and has only been made possible by the generous donations received through a crowd funding campaign and support from Surrey Arts and the North Downs Way National Trail. The crowdfunding campaign launched in the summer of 2019 received a huge amount of local and regional support with the target of £8000 achieved in just 12 weeks!

Ali Clarke, Surrey Hills Arts Programme Manager comments; ‘We are so touched that many people were inspired by this project enough to donate and make it happen. Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed.’

Artist Will Nash was commissioned to create the striking sculptural seat, developed from his fascination for geometry and patterns in nature. Created from weathering steel and packed with timber from the surrounding woodland the seat blends into the landscape sympathetically. Concealed within the timber are three spherical kaleidoscopes, one looking up at the branches against the sky, one capturing the tree foliage and one down towards the earth. The artwork has been named ‘Optohedron’ derived from the ancient Greek: optikós, “of seeing” and hédra “raised seat”.

Will Nash comments; “The Optohedron sculpture is inspired by the act of viewing, thinking about seeing as the fundamental interface between the person and the world. Whilst exploring this idea, I investigated optics, the science of light, which took me to an ancient instrument, the kaleidoscope.”

Wildlife conservation work led by volunteers from National charity, Butterfly Conservation undertook work parties to create habitat areas for butterflies to flourish around the new viewpoint. This work is particularly beneficial for the declining Small Blue butterfly. By creating food source and linking patches of habitat across the North Downs helps the species to disperse and increase in number.

Bill Downey, volunteer for Butterfly Conservation comments; “I loved being a part of this project and working with Butterfly Conservation to help this vulnerable species. We’ve been scraping the soil back to the chalk and planting Kidney Vetch, a food source for butterflies and by keeping the scrub down we hope will allow butterflies and other wildlife to thrive”.

Also lending a helping hand with the conservation work are a team from Surrey Choices who have been cutting back vegetation to open up and maintain the views on Newlands Corner.

Surrey Choices work to support individuals of any age and disability, to fulfil their potential, improve independence and confidence and achieve valuable life skills.

Mark Evenden, Surrey Choices Growth Team comments; “The team have really benefited from being part of this project and working together with other members of the community to create a space for everyone to visit. It has given the people we support a chance to be part of a meaningful project that makes a real difference for both members of our community and the wildlife. The customers we support have enjoyed engaging with members of the public while out completing works in the Surrey Hills.”

Michael Baxter, Albury Estate comments; “Having seen the impact of the other inspiring views projects in Surrey, the Albury Estate was delighted to work with Surrey Hills Arts to introduce this innovative seating designed by Will Nash as a focal point to the clearance and restoration of this lost view over the Surrey Hills from Newlands Corner. Ongoing work by volunteers from Butterfly Conservation to promote and secure a habitat suitable for butterflies will ensure this area will be maintained for the future.”
The ‘Inspiring Views’ programme was launched in 2016 with five sculptural seats along the Greensand Way in South West Surrey.

Click here to discover more about Optohedron including its location.

For further information on all the Inspiring Views projects visit; www.inspiringviews.org

 

Surrey MPs support Surrey Hills Boundary Review

Surrey MPs, led by Jonathan Lord MP, are urging Natural England to begin the long-awaited review of the proposed extension to the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Natural England agreed in 2014 to conduct a boundary review and assured the AONB Board that the Surrey Hills review would be started as soon as a review of Suffolk Coast and Heaths had been completed. It has now been completed, but Natural England has not yet confirmed when it will start the Surrey Hills review. And while large areas around the boundary of Surrey Hills AONB have been protected as ‘Areas of Great Landscape Value’ (AGLV) – a local designation which has given a helpful ‘buffer zone’ around the AONB – if Natural England pulls out of the boundary review, all of the AGLVs are in danger of being encroached upon by inappropriate intensification of use or, ultimately, even by development.

The MPs have also written today to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to urge the Secretary of State to give timely approval to the review, which Natural England agreed to over five years ago.

Jonathan Lord, MP for Woking, said: “The Surrey Hills offer some of England’s most beautiful and accessible countryside. Yet the area with full AONB protection, designated in 1958, is actually small and vulnerable. The Surrey Hills AONB and the important surrounding areas desperately need further protections in order to safeguard them for future generations. We look forward to Natural England conducting a boundary review and, hopefully, expanding the AONB boundaries in a sensible and sustainable way.”

Angela Richardson, MP for Guildford, commented: “All six councils involved support this review to extend and protect this beautiful area. Local people and communities have also been pinning their hopes on it for some years, and there will be great disappointment if the review does not start soon.”

Sir Paul Beresford, MP for Mole Valley, added: “Since 1958, it has been recognised that nature needs wide areas and linked corridors; it can’t flourish in mile-wide and fragmented landscapes. Indeed, the recent planning white paper reinforces the importance of coherent AONBs, which will need to have robust and sensible boundaries. The current Surrey Hills boundary is fragile and fragmented, and this review would surely increase its sustainability. I urge Natural England to get on with it.”

Heather Kerswell, Chair of the Surrey Hills AONB Board comments: “The Surrey Hills AONB Board is delighted that Jonathan Lord MP and Claire Coutinho MP and fellow Surrey MPs are writing to Defra in support of extending the Surrey Hills AONB boundary. The Surrey Hills were designated in 1958 but the boundary drawn was incredibly tight and difficult to understand, excluding many beautiful
areas. We want to see the boundaries redrawn to include these beautiful areas and to give them the
protection they deserve. This is very timely as it follows the Prime Minister’s ‘Pledge for Nature’
commitment to increase protected countryside by 400,000 hectares from the present 26% to 30% by
2030 to support the recovery of nature. The extension of the Surrey Hills AONB boundary is an
excellent opportunity to help meet this target”.

Surrey Hills next in line for boundary extension

The Surrey Hills AONB Board are delighted to hear the news today 7 July that fellow AONB, Suffolk Coast & Heaths has had approval from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to extend their current boundary. This extension is great news for all protected landscapes and shines a light on the Surrey Hills which is next in line for a boundary extension.

Howard Davies, Chief Executive of the National Association of AONBs comments;

“It is wonderful to see the Secretary of State announce this extension to the AONB, especially in the 50th anniversary year of its original designation. We look forward to what this now means for other landscapes like the Surrey Hills.”

The Surrey Hills AONB was only the second landscape to be designated in England in 1958, and the boundary has not been reviewed since its original designation. In 2011 Natural England’s Board commissioned a study to review the evidence for a boundary review. Significant parts of the adjacent countryside outside the Surrey Hills AONB had been designated at a local county level as Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV), it was felt by the Surrey Hills Board that the AGLV area was worthy of review and that the areas have sufficient natural beauty to qualify for inclusion in the AONB. A modification to the AONB boundary would extend it by almost 82.5 km2 – an additional 11%. The extension would encompass areas of Downs, Wealden Greensand and Low Weald within and around the locally designated AGLV.

Click here to view map showing additional protection areas to be included in AONB Boundary

In November 2013, Natural England agreed to proceed with a boundary review in the Surrey Hills once the Suffolk Coast and Heaths review had completed.

Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey (pictured) comments;
“The Surrey Hills are hugely important to the wellbeing of millions of people. Yet the protected area, decided in 1958, is unbelievably small and vulnerable.

We need all of this national landscape to be properly protected to safeguard the future of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

We look forward to Natural England expanding the boundaries to sensible and practical limits, hopefully creating linkups with other nearby protected areas.”

Andy Smith, Surrey Director, CPRE The Countryside Charity comments;

“CPRE has long supported the extension of the Surrey Hills AONB boundary to incorporate within the AONB many of the adjacent Areas of Great Landscape Value – and beyond – so we are delighted to hear that the long-awaited AONB boundary review can now go ahead. The certainty of protection that the Surrey Hills AONB currently provides should be extended to the immediately adjacent countryside. Recent events have demonstrated all too clearly that we need to provide proper care and protection for more of Surrey’s countryside and green spaces, to preserve our rural heritage, to promote tranquillity and access to nature, and for the sake of people’s health and well-being.”

Heather Kerswell, Chair of the Surrey Hills AONB Board comments;

“This very positive news from our colleagues at the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB is a step forward in a long process. The Surrey Hills were designated as worthy of national protection in 1958 but the boundary drawn was incredibly tight, difficult to understand or to manage. Many beautiful areas were inexplicably excluded. This makes the Surrey Hills very vulnerable, especially in east Surrey, which is particularly important as it is on daily international display from the M25. We want to see the boundaries redrawn to include these beautiful areas and give them the protection they deserve. We particularly want to see the hills in Tandridge included up to the boundary with Croydon, where we could link to the new London National Nature Reserve of South London Downs. Natural England agreed ten years ago to carry out this review and promised that Surrey Hills would follow on from Suffolk heaths so we look forward to an early start to the review, which we will support in every possible way.”

When Natural England decides to extend the Surrey Hills AONB boundary, a Variation Order will be submitted to the Secretary of State for a final decision, following a period of consultation, and detailed boundary setting.

For further information on the Surrey Hills Boundary Review click here.

Click here to read more about the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB Boundary Review

How will the British landscape look different post Covid-19?

The Coronavirus pandemic is changing the way our country looks and feels. Our communities and neighbourhoods look different now, resurgent community spirit offers hope for a different way forward. Symbols of shared support for our NHS have presented in rainbows in windows, more people are accessing their local green spaces and ideas are bubbling across the country to use this crisis as an opportunity to make life better.

That’s why the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has come together with National Parks, other AONBs , the London National Park City, Culture Declares Emergency and Ordnance Survey to launch the Prize to Transform the Future.

The Prize is a bold and exciting opportunity for optimists to help visualise a hopeful and possible future for the London City Region by sharing ideas to make our lives and landscapes greener, healthier, more beautiful and wilder.

What might the London City Region look like 20 years from now? Now imagine what it could and should look like. What if it was radically greener, healthier, wilder and more beautiful? What would it look like? What would it be like?

The Prize to Transform the Future is a call to artists, architects, cartographers, imagineers, optimists, realists, landscape architects, master planners, conservationists, graphic designers, farmers, film-makers, ecologists, illustrators, geographers, students, politicians, professionals, writers, modellers, pensioners, weavers, idealists and bankers. Anyone in fact.

Dan Raven-Ellison, founder of the London National Park City, said “I hope lots of people will be inspired to rise to this challenge. This may not be a financial prize, but the potential reward is something much greater, deeper and longer lasting than that. We are currently facing a number of urgent wake up calls. Our health, our ecology and our climate are all entwined in states of emergency that threaten our lives and livelihoods. We need bold and positive visions that we can get behind to restore our futures and make life better for ourselves and future generations.”

Rob Fairbanks, the Surrey Hills Director states: “We live in one of the most beautiful and diverse regions in the world with its wonderful landscapes of farmland, woodland, common, heath and downland. We are part of this landscape and dependent on it for our food, water, clean air and well-being. In a time of so much change and anxiety, we hope The Prize can be a powerful opportunity to visualise a healthier future for ourselves in greater harmony with our natural environment.”

Judges include Surrey Hills based artists Ackroyd & Harvey with many more to be announced from across different parts of the region and with different interests.

Heather Ackroyd said “The arts have a tradition of sparking cultural change and ‘speaking differently’: disrupting the status quo and creating emergent space for new ideas to engage people at an imaginative level. Here, the vision to transform the future is all about imaginatively creating those wilder and greener spaces and putting ecology and nature right at the centre of the bigger cultural landscape.”
Discover more about the Prize to Transform the Future by visiting www.prizetotransformthefuture.org and join the conversation.

#PrizeToTransformTheFuture

Buglife’s B-Lines will put a buzz back into Surrey‘s towns and countryside

Buglife with funding from Defra, has launched an ambitious plan to help our bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other pollinating insects. Surrey B-Lines aims to connect the county’s best remaining wildlife sites through targeted wildflower habitat creation, linking the hills to the coast and towns to the countryside.

Buglife has worked with the local authorities and other partners to map out a network of potential wildflower habitat – called B-Lines, and are now inviting farmers, landowners and the public to get involved in creating new pollinator habitat, and practically restoring wildflower-rich grasslands.

Bees and other pollinators are disappearing from our countryside because of a lack of wildflower-rich habitats. Three million hectares, 97%, of the UK’s wildflower-rich grasslands have been lost since the 1930s. Creating pollinator habitat along B-Lines will help wildlife move across our countryside, saving threatened species and making sure that there are plenty of pollinators out there to help us grow crops and pollinate wildflowers.

Surrey is just one of the counties recently mapped leading to the completion of the England B-lines network, enabling Buglife’s vision of a river of wildflowers across the UK to be realised. The next step will be getting wildflower restoration and creation happening across the country.

Catherine Jones from Buglife said “B-Lines provide an exciting opportunity for everyone to support our struggling insect pollinators. By working together to create a network of wildflower-rich habitats, we can support healthy populations of bees and other pollinators enabling them respond to threats such as climate change.”

Rob Fairbanks, Director at Surrey Hills AONB said: “We are delighted to be working with Buglife on this brilliant initiative. There has been a drastic decline in nature over recent decades in the countryside. The B-Lines project will help us to target advice to farmers and landowners to restore our insect and pollinator populations. This is the key to securing nature recovery across the Surrey Hills”.

Andrew Jamieson, project development manager at Surrey Wildlife Trust, said: ‘Buglife’s B-lines mapping is a stroke of genius, providing a map for habitat creation that will become the basis of living green arteries for bees, bugs and butterflies not only in Surrey, but also nationwide.

With people getting closer to nature under lockdown and realising its value to us all, B-lines for Surrey is being launched at the perfect time. We hope it will inspire people across the county to play their own part in creating flapping, buzzing and fluttering networks of insects to bring about abundance and recovery of nature on our doorstep.’

For further information on the project click here.