Surrey and South London Downs

A group of volunteers from Surrey Countryside Partnerships works together in the Downlands, Lower Mole, and Surrey Heathland areas. They are engaged in various conservation tasks, such as habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring, contributing to the health and beauty of these diverse landscapes.

Surrey and South London Downs

Lead Organisation

Surrey Countryside Partnerships (Surrey County Council)

Partner Organisations

  • Tandridge District Council
  • Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
  • London Borough of Sutton
  • London Borough of Croydon
  • Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
  • Mole Valley District Council

Project Description

Surrey Countryside Partnerships provides a shared countryside management service for the core funding partners, which includes volunteer task programmes and a conservation grazing service.

We work on publicly and privately owned land across the North Downs from Dorking to Tatsfield and up into the urban fringe of south London, including the South London Downs NNR.

Project Location

Current project area covers Mole Valley District north of the A25, Reigate and Banstead Borough and Tandridge Borough north of M25, and all of Epsom and Ewell Borough, London Borough of Sutton and London Borough of Croydon.

Contribution to Big Chalk

Since the Surrey based Countryside Management Projects were set up, we have looked across borders and land ownerships to make links between habitats.

We have a small staff team and a large volunteer team supporting us, contributing more than 23,000 volunteer hours last year.

We manage chalk downland on several privately owned sites, as well as on land owned by our local authority partners, the City of London Corporation and Surrey Wildlife Trust.

We have many years of experience of implementing management schemes.

The Big Chalk vision matches our ambition and gives us the opportunity to share our experience and raise the profile of our work.

Read more
By Surrey Countryside Partnerships
30 August 2024

Other partner projects

The Adonis blue (Polyommatus bellargus) is a small butterfly, with males displaying vivid sky-blue wings and females brown with orange spots. Both sexes have pale brown undersides with black spots. They thrive in chalk grasslands, often seen on low plants like horseshoe vetch.

Saving the Blues

The Isle of Wight’s chalk grasslands will be enhanced to support five blue butterfly species, including Adonis and Chalk Hill Blues, by 2025.

Find out more
Corn Bunting sitting at the top of a tree singing. A corn bunting (Emberiza calandra) is a stocky, brownish-gray bird with streaked plumage, often blending into its grassy or agricultural surroundings. It has a thick, conical bill and a slightly larger head relative to its body. The bird’s song is a distinctive, jangling "metallic rattle" sound, often delivered from a perch like a fence post or wire. Corn buntings are commonly seen in open farmland, particularly in fields of grain, where they feed on seeds and insects.

Farmers of the South Dorset Ridgeway

Landowners and farmers restoring key habitats for species like Barn Owl and Corn Bunting, improving water quality, and creating a nature recovery map.

Find out more
A volunteer cleans a chalk stream in Chalgrove, carefully removing debris and maintaining the natural flow. The clear, sparkling water reflects the surrounding greenery as the volunteer works to preserve the stream’s health and support local wildlife.

River Thame Chalk Steam Strategy

New strategy for River Thame’s chalk streams focuses on habitat restoration, fish passage, and reintroducing species like brown trout and water vole.

Find out more