Read the Postcards from the Future

75 years is a long time! A great deal has and will change in that time however the Surrey Hills are still the Surrey Hills and the vision of the administrators of 150 years ago continues as it has done for centuries. Hedgerows, open fields and woods, a rolling landscape that has not changed. Still enjoyed, needed, required by a population void of nature for the mental wellbeing.

I am the 10th generation of this family to work the land at Lydling, many more generations if you jump 1 mile to the Elstead farm. The important note to you is that livestock are still a feature of the landscape and food is still an important product. The miles of hedging and trees you have planted have now matured and new projects over the past 75 years have enhanced nature of the farm. Skylarks still sing and sore at Lydling, grey Partridge that you reintroduced  thrive. We now harvest water, collected during the winter and used over the summer.

My dad reminded me about his early memories of visiting the play area on Box Hill and the top of Leith Hill Tower. The path to one was smooth in the pushchair, but the other had so many rocks and roots he had to get out or be bounced out as his parents pulled him backwards from the car park. Now we have so many more smooth paths to walk along, and they have to be, otherwise the autonomous baby buggies would get stick when they grounded, and they don’t have handles for mum or dad to pull on.

Nature lovers can learn more about their surrounding through cameras and microphones in the trees that bring birdsong and wildlife images, cutting out the happy cries of children playing tag nearby that scare off what we’ve come to see.

As we walk between the young drought resistant varieties of oak trees, grown from imported Spanish and French acorns or out to the viewpoint many of the older visitors have personal mobility aids. They can enjoy the Box Hill hike or the Leith Hills Greenway walk and be sure they won’t risk a fall or running out of puff on final slope back to the station or bus. Older cyclists too benefit from e-bikes, tandems and cargobikes adapted for carrying grandchildren that they either own or have hired at the station.

Public transport is more frequent than when I was a child and is full Access-4-ALL. On demand services to the villages, hamlets and places of interest on the Surrey Hills, link with the railway stations and the regular bus network that is as extensive as it was in 1950, with Greenline radial routes too.

I’m surprised how little has changed over 75 years! Government obviously learned the importance of Protected Landscapes and continued to invest in their protection. Thank goodness nature is recovering, globally. Worst case climate change has been avoided and although some species were lost we now have biodiversity gains. Citizen Science, the use of technology and a huge army of volunteers have worked wonders and led to happier and healthier communities. Radical changes in farming policy, including the pioneering rewilding work at Knepp, have all helped to reverse the species loss in this country. Improved collaboration between farmers and landholders such as National Trust, Surrey Wildlife Trust and Surrey County Council has bought back many of the lost hedgerows, wildflower meadows and heathland. The area included within the Surrey Hills National Landscape has increased in spite of housing pressures and is now expected to drive change rather than just promoting or supporting it.

27th June 2099. I remember my mum & dad bringing me here where I was young, we had many picnics from our car. Things are different now, my car is powered by wind, there is no pollution – which would have pleased my mum! I am so grateful that I can bring my children & grandchildren to the place that bought me so much joy as a child. The view from here is protected, the wildlife is abundant & many native species have returned. Farming has really taken off with traditional crops & a return to healthier eating. We have the ability to use our phones as drones, they can fly above trees and really give us a birds eye view. Turtle doves have made a return to our summer skies & what thrills me the most is that red squirrels are now abundant due to habitat management & a decrease in the grey squirrel. Those less mobile are finding it much easier to access the countryside & woodland walks due to the successful launch of hoverpaths which are powered by fallen leaves. Wish you were here. x

Walking through the lush green Forrest on the hunt for the the animal statues hidden about, the noise of the birds calling to each other the swish of wind in the long grass . Stopping to take in the view the multicoloured landscape of greens pinks and blues as the wild flowers come into bloom, heading into the sensory garden with the rich smells of herbs and flowers and the soft grasses and ivy with the bamboo knocking in the wind

The “ride hailed” driverless electric taxi whisked us to our regular walk at Denbies. The ban on privately owned vehicles in 2050 meant that these, drone lorries & cyclists were the only traffic on the A24. We were also pleased to see the River Mole flood management & irrigation scheme had protected the local farms during the Winter. This, combined with the record breaking temperatures last Summer contributed to the 2099 vintage Denbies red wine winning numerous international awards. We walked up to the Radius sculpture overlooking Dorking with stunning views to the South. These have barely changed over the last century because of the Green Belt preservation measures and Surrey’s  forward looking environmental intervention plan. Reintroducing sheep and more Highland Cattle to the hills has controlled the natural habitat and bio-diversity. The drone observation network has significantly reduced “fly tipping” and the robot litter patrols have made littering a thing of the past.

It’s 2100 and I’m stood with my wife and grown-up children on top of the Leith Hill tower admiring the beautiful and thriving natural landscape all around me. It’s a working landscape, just as it’s always been, but one which enriches the spirit of all who visit, whether from near or far away. Our oldest trees are protected and revered through quiet acts of personal worship and we still wonder at how have these incredible organisms survive for centuries battling the elements, giving us a sense of something larger than ourselves, rooting us to our arboreal origins. Soil, the cradle of all terrestrial life, seed and water are sacrosanct. Our treescapes are actively and cyclically managed. Natural processes are embraced whole heartedly. Livestock graze freely and all species are treasured and given space to thrive. A short walk through this place makes the soul sing. People can express themselves freely whilst respecting and celebrating their differences. Kindness reigns supreme.

You will love the change. The woods, always good, now cover most the hillsides, teaming with birds and other wildlife. This creates a wonderful added dimension and sense of space, easily absorbing the increased number of people from all walks of life and backgrounds who come out regularly to enjoy arts, conservation, sports and other events in secluded glades. With the increase in remote working, the number of homes in the area has increased, but they are lovingly designed to blend with the landscape. Farms have reorientated themselves to support wildlife and run cultural and other activities, with well-cared for livestock roaming naturally in mixed wood and pasture. People eat less meat for health, environmental, and cost reasons, but that which they do is better cared for, healthier, and tastes good. Roads are quieter with electric vehicles and woodland buffers. But best of all is the change in values and attitudes – love and appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors is now the norm, and people feel truly connected to the place they live, as well as to each other.

While horses were welcomed in 2024, now there is safe parking provision for those who need to reach this amazing area using horse boxes or trailers. Height barriers are a thing of the past or, where they still exist, there are means for legitimate larger vehicles to open them. There wasn’t too much conflict between users in 2024 but even more now users appreciate others’ right to be enjoying the Surrey Hills and act respectfully around others… putting their dogs on leads or having them under close control when passing cyclists, horse riders or other dog walkers who might not appreciate their beloved dog’s affectionate attention; slowing down to a walk if on horseback to pass those on foot or bike, slowing down and stopping if necessary for those on their bikes. Yes, all those things everyone thought were impossible to resolve have been sorted! Perfect!

The view of the Surrey Hills from our Flying Electric Car is wonderful. The thick canopy of the flourishing woodland below is only pierced by the Redwoods towering above. And look at the crystal waters of the River Mole glittering in the sunlight. Once upon a time the river was full of sewage and dead of life. Now it teems with fish and insects. Ooooh look, can you see those beavers building their dam… and the otters on the riverbank? And look too at the green corridors snaking through the woodland. They were once roads but are now not needed due the change to aerial travel for us all. Nature has reclaimed them and they are now green pathways for wildlife to move through the countryside and for humans to explore. And over there can you see the wildflower meadows leading up to that hilltop bursting with colour, and just to the left the herd of buffalo at the lakeside. We use their milk to make mozzarella you know. Man CAN live in harmony with nature.

The Surrey Hills remains a rural community to be proud of. Agriculture has thrived over the last 75 years in part because we have worked to make farming sustainable. This has involved mentoring and advice on farm profitability but importantly also ensuring that older farmers have succession plans, We have also provided support to our local agricultural college to ensure there is a flow of young farmers to take over from them.

The Surrey Hills are even more accessible with routes that link them directly with where people live. The use of hovering vehicles gives people with limited mobility access, they also reduce the impact on the ground, are silent and use a clean power source and fortunately can only used by people with limited mobility, Some areas under trees and over farms are out of bounds for them. Motor vehicles are not allowed on public rights of way and people are generally encouraged to access the area on foot, horseback or cycle. The landscape is largely as it was in 2024 but is better connected and areas of grassland, heathland and woodland are extensive and link into built up areas. All this has been made possible by landowners, local authorities and the public working together to achieve the same goals. Bringing the landscape to the people is developing a healthier population, who can enjoy nature on their doorstep and are willing to venture further everytime they go out .