Countryside strategy

How should we care for our countryside?

Residents can help shape plans for Surrey County Council’s (SCC) countryside sites for the next 25 years. The plans will form a strategy which will outline how the council will care for the countryside and protect it for future generations.

The strategy is being developed with Surrey Wildlife Trust which manages the sites; and runs alongside a programme to make the countryside self-funding, so improvements can continue to be made without reliance on SCC funding.

Residents can share their views until 3 December 2018 by visiting the SCC website, or by calling 03456 009 009 or texting 07860 053465 for a printed questionnaire.

How should we care for our countryside?

Residents can help shape plans for Surrey County Council’s (SCC) countryside sites for the next 25 years. The plans will form a strategy which will outline how the council will care for the countryside and protect it for future generations.

SCC owns or manages 10,000 acres of the county’s countryside which is open for the public to visit. These include Ockham Common in the north of the county, Norbury Park in the south, Chobham Common in the west and Staffhurst Wood in the east.

Lots of residents use these sites for recreation, health and wellbeing, but they’re also places where people work and live. Additionally, the sites are beautiful landscapes which provide vital habitats for wildlife. We need to ensure that the balance of this usage is maintained.

The strategy is being developed with Surrey Wildlife Trust which manages the sites. It will run alongside a programme to make the countryside self-funding, so improvements can continue to be made without reliance on SCC funding.

The views of residents are vital to help shape this strategy, responses will be taken into account and considered by SCC’s cabinet in early 2019. Residents can share their views until 3 December 2018 by visiting the SCC website, or by calling 03456 009 009 or texting 07860 053465 for a printed questionnaire.