Surrey is one of England’s most affluent counties, with many people living here, and working in nearby London. Perhaps more money has more clout, as it remains one of the most wooded areas of our country, with peaceful villages and rolling countryside.
Always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe.
The Surrey Hills
The Surrey Hills are a National Landscape (the new name for ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, so they thankfully now have more protection.
Box Hill offers quiet footpaths and panoramic views. And Leith Hill (the highest point in south east England) is topped by a tower, where on clear days, you can see as far as London. Wildflowers and rare beetles thrive in these chalky grasslands.
Wisley Gardens
RHS Garden Wisley stands out as one of England’s flagship gardens. Stretching over 240 acres, it’s a haven for gardeners and those who love nature, and need a slow morning walk among trees and flowers.
Silent Pools and Hidden Springs
Near Albury, the Silent Pool is a legendary spring-fed pond surrounded by trees and bluebell woods. A nature trail circles the pool and leads to nearby Sherbourne Pond. You’ll spot kingfishers, ducks, and the occasional deer.
Thursley National Nature Reserve
Thursley is one of Britain’s rarest lowland heaths, home to sundews, dragonflies, and rare lizards. Wooden boardwalks lead you through bog pools and open heath. Bring binoculars for a chance to spot Dartford warblers, nightjars, or even adders basking in the sun.
The Chalk Ridges of North Downs Way
The North Downs Way National Trail slices across Surrey from Farnham to Oxted. Walkers and cyclists enjoy this long-distance path for its shifting views, chalk cliffs, and stretches through protected downs.
Dotted along the way are old churches, country pubs, and picnic sites with sweeping views of patchwork fields. In summer, butterflies dance across the wildflowers.
A Sandy Beach (in Surrey?)
Frensham Common covers 922 acres of dry and wet heath, woods, scrub and pond, and is a protected site for local birds, insects and reptiles. Often called ‘Surrey’s secret beach’, this is miles from the sea, but resembles a seaside resort.
Frensham Little Pond is owned by the National Trust. This is reserved for wildlife, so no swimming allowed (for people or dogs). Barbecues and inflatable boats/rings are not permitted.
A Safe Haven for English Wildlife
The British Wildlife Centre is a haven for fox, deer, owls and otters, along with pine martens and red squirrels. Pine martens are natural predators of grey squirrels, and rewilding is one idea to save red squirrels. Read how to help both red and grey squirrels.
It also is providing protected colonies for other endangered species like dormice and water voles, by using protected areas (rather than killing everything in site).
Surrey’s True Food Co-op (community values)
Surprisingly for an affluent county, Surrey houses one of England’s most innovative food co-operatives (not the same as Co-op supermarket, this is a non-profit supermarket alternative).
True Food Co-op is an organic zero waste supermarket that sells refillable items, run by and for the local community. Members pay £1 to get shares, so can order special requests. A few paid staff run the shop.
The Rootie Box of leftover fresh produce is sold at a flat rate of £1 per kilo, to reduce food waste.
