Surrey CPRE - The Countryside Charity

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Surrey CPRE - The Countryside Charity

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We are the Surrey Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). We are the only charity whose mission The Green Belt is being weakened.

Green spaces are a lifeline for both people and wildlife, but Surrey’s are under threat. The Green Belt around Surrey has done more than anything else to keep Surrey green and pleasant but the county is under increasing pressure to build more houses, with fields and farmland being offered up for development. CPRE campaigns to protect precious green spaces, for the sake of present and future generations. Surrey’s Green Belt countryside is vital for public health and well-being, for nature and biodiversity, for food-production, and to reduce climate-change. That’s why CPRE plays an active role in the planning process, to ensure that green spaces are not sacrificed unnecessarily. We contribute to public consultations and respond to planning applications that affect the Green Belt.

28/10/2026

Did you know it’s estimated that over 22 million carved pumpkins go to waste annually in the UK alone?

No one wants to spoil the Halloween fun, but when pumpkins are left to rot in landfill, they release methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Make your Halloween pumpkins spooky AND sustainable by using what you can. Pumpkin flesh can be used in so many recipes, from savoury stews and curries, to muffins and other sweet treats.

Once Halloween is over, composting your carved pumpkin is a much more sustainable way to dispose of it.

24/10/2026

What does progress really look like?

New homes, better infrastructure and growing communities all have a role to play in shaping our future. But progress shouldn't be measured only by what we build.

It should also be measured by the things we protect, the decisions we make for the long term and the legacy we leave for future generations.

Because once a landscape is lost to development, we can't always put things back as they were.

Protecting Surrey's countryside isn't about standing in the way of change. It's about making sure change happens thoughtfully, with proper consideration for what makes our county special.

20/10/2026

We never tire of a walk around the Surrey countryside and this is such a beautiful time of year for a stroll in nature. CPRE Surrey Chair, Jennet Eyre, shared these wonderful images of her walk around The Devil’s Punch Bowl in the South-West of the Surrey Hills.

If you’ve not visited before take a walk and explore woodland and heathland rich in history and natural beauty. Enjoy the views over the Surrey Hills while keeping an eye out for Exmoor ponies and grazing livestock. You could also venture a bit further to discover the beautiful scenery at Highcombe Edge and Gibbet Hill.

Have you ever wondered how the Devil’s Punch Bowl got its name though? The legend states that the Devil would jump from hill to hill at the three ‘Devil’s Jumps’ near the village of Churt. This tormented Thor, God of Thunder, who lived at nearby Thor’s Lie (Thursley). When Thor tried to strike the Devil with thunder and lightning, the Devil retaliated by scooping up a handful of earth and hurling it at Thor. The depression that remained is the Devil's Punch Bowl.

If you decide to explore this popular National Trust spot, as well as stunning views, you can find:
🌳 Accessible parking,
🌳 Café
🌳 300m circular route, from the car park to a sandstone viewing platform
🌳 Benches dotted around the property at view points, near slopes and in picnic areas
🌳 A Mountain Trike all-terrain push wheelchair (MTpush – www.mountaintrike.co.uk) can be borrowed free of charge (book in advance).

16/10/2026

For us to have food to eat, we need somewhere to grow it. This World Food Day, we want to think about where our food comes from.

Our wonderful Surrey countryside and farmland gives us stunning views and beautiful places to enjoy the outdoors. But they also play a vital role in producing the food we eat. When we lose farmland to unnecessary development, we risk undermining our ability to grow food locally.

This World Food Day the theme is “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow”. It’s a reminder to think about how we can support local food production while protecting the countryside we all depend on.

14/10/2026

Is there anyone who speaks more passionately or eloquently about the natural world than Sir David Attenborough?

He’s inspired generations to care about the world around us and this quote from him sums up our feelings about the natural world nicely. 💚

12/10/2026

In among the Halloweens, Firework nights and other autumnal events, you might not have seed gathering season marked on your calendar but it’s an important time in the countryside calendar.

The Tree Council’s Seed Gathering Season started on 21st September and runs until 21st October, encouraging you to gather the seeds, nuts and fruits that are scattered across the countryside right now.

The Tree Council have lots of events and resources available throughout the month to help you prepare seeds and nuts for growing or sowing and help to nurture the next generation of trees, shrubs and hedgerows.

Embracing cosy season doesn’t have to mean hibernating. Wrap up warm, take a walk and see what seeds you can find 👀

10/10/2026

Today is World Mental Health Day!

What better way to acknowledge this than to do something great for your mental health… get outside!

The benefits of being outdoors and spending time in nature are well documented. Talking a walk in nature can lower your stress levels, trigger the release of mood regulating serotonin and can help disrupt negative thought patterns. As well as the obvious physical benefits of light, regular exercise.

This year’s theme is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change” (World Federation for Mental Health). Why not invite a friend or loved one to join you for a walk in the Surrey countryside. It’s a great excuse to catch up and check in with someone you care about.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, remember that help is available. Reach out to a friend or contact an organisation that can offer support like Samaritans (116 123) or Mind (0300 123 3393).

09/10/2026

Our friends at Natural England submitted a proposal to extend the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), also known as the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

An AONB designation helps to protect our countryside, conserving our precious green spaces. This is more than acknowledging an area as beautiful, it gives it a formal legal designation.

Receiving a formal AONB designation means that the habitats of the plant and wildlife there will be protected and there will be a management plan in place to ensure the area is maintained and looked after. Importantly, proposals for development that could affect an AONB would face additional scrutiny.

The submitted proposal would extend the Surrey Hills National Landscape by an area of 129 km2, representing an increase in size of 30%. Following the Notice Period, all representations were analysed and four minor deletions were made to the proposal.

The proposal was submitted to the Defra Secretary of State (SoS) who has the final decision on whether to confirm the order, to make changes to the order, or to refuse it. This proposal has received strong public and stakeholder support.

CPRE Surrey continues to give our support to Natural England for this project.

04/10/2026

🐾 Happy World Animal Day!

Today is a little reminder that Surrey’s countryside isn’t just a place for us to enjoy. It’s home to an incredible variety of wildlife, from hedgehogs and hares to barn owls, badgers, butterflies and bees.

Healthy hedgerows, ancient woodland, meadows, ponds and farmland all provide food, shelter and vital routes for wildlife to move, feed and breed.

That’s why protecting our countryside matters. When we protect the places animals depend on, we’re helping to protect Surrey’s wildlife too. 🌿

So, on World Animal Day, take a moment to appreciate the creatures sharing our countryside and keep an eye out for some of them on your next walk.

Here’s to keeping Surrey wild, wonderful and welcoming for all its residents. 🦔🦉🦋

01/10/2026

It might still be a bit unseasonably warm but pumpkin spiced season is officially upon us. The nights are drawing in, a noticeable morning chill is creeping up and autumn colours are starting to appear in the countryside.

Whether you are sad to see summer go or eagerly embracing cosy season, it’s hard to deny how beautiful this time of year is.

Here’s what to look out for on countryside strolls this October:

🍂 Damp October woodland floors are perfect for spotting fungi which comes out in force this time of year. Fallen branches, tree trunks and stumps are ideal habitats for mushrooms to grow. Remember that some mushrooms can be toxic so look, don’t touch.

🍂 How many colours can you spot? As leaves turn from green to red, gold and brown, there’s so many wonderful new colours coming to the countryside this month.

🍂 Watch your head on woodland walks as acorns, conkers and horse chestnuts will be falling from the trees and starting to carpet woodland and park floors.

🍂 Keep you eyes on the skies too as this is the best time of year to spot migrating birds passing as winter birds arrives and sun seekers head south.

🍂 Watch out for wildlife: sleepy bees are flying low at the moment, check leaf piles for hedgehogs before moving or burning and lucky countryside visitors might even spot deer this time of year.

What are you hoping to spot this October?

Address

PO Box 865
Godalming
GU79LH

Website

https://www.cpre.org.uk/surrey/

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