Surrey has been chosen by Natural England and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for one of six new projects for landscape-scale nature recovery projects.
The project here in Surrey, Heathlands Connections, will see the restoration and connection of rare lowland heathland in the county covering an area of 16,000 hectares.
In total, an area the size of Hertfordshire is set to be dedicated to fast tracking nature recovery by the Government. The multi-partnership collaborative projects covering 176,000 hectares of land across England – from the Tees Estuary to the South Downs – will create improved and better-connected habitats for wildlife and improve public access to nature.
The Heathlands Connections project here in our county, will work to restore, enhance and connect rare lowland heathland habitat within the western section of the Surrey Hills AONB. It will connect the designated sites of Thursley, Hankley and Frensham Commons Special Protected Area with surrounding heathlands, covering an area of 16,000 hectares and creating a mosaic landscape that is rich in habitats for wildlife.
The project will find collaborative solutions to challenges such as wildfire risk, habitat degradation and disturbance to ground nesting birds including the nightjar and Dartford warbler. Sustainable travel options for visitors are being developed, such as walking trails with train, bus and cycle connections to Frensham ponds, enabling local people to get closer to nature.
Improving and connecting existing strongholds for wildlife, creating new habitats and investing in collaborative action for nature at scale will help achieve our pledge to protect 30% of our land and sea for nature by 2030, and create a sustainable future for people and the planet.
This announcement comes ahead of Heath Week, which runs from Monday 24th June to Sunday 30th June.
Pictured, Brentmoor Common in West End
