Surrey Hills Society

Surrey Hills Society We encourage people to explore the special qualities & distinctiveness of the area.

Surrey Hills Society is an independent charity promoting positive enjoyment & care of the Surrey Hills National Landscape for those who live, work in, or visit the area.

17/06/2026

Behind every gate is a place of care.

Through Farm for Health, farmers are becoming powerful wellbeing providers, offering something that goes far beyond traditional farming. By opening their doors to structured, purposeful activities, farmers welcome young people and adults experiencing mental health challenges or at risk of social isolation onto their farms. Participants take part in simple, hands-on tasks such as feeding animals, cleaning out barns, planting, tidying, and helping with daily farm routines.

By opening their doors to structured, purposeful activities, farmers are seeing real benefits. Many report a renewed sense of pride in their work, not just for what they produce, but for the difference they are making in people’s lives.

The scheme also provides valuable income diversification, helping support farm sustainability at a time when many rural businesses are under pressure. But the impact is not only financial.

Farmers involved have also reported improved safety and engagement on their farms, alongside a stronger sense of connection to their local community. What begins as hosting activity often becomes something deeper, a shared purpose and a new way of seeing the farm itself.

👉 We are inviting farmers to get involved, open their gates, and join the Farm for Health programme. Get in touch! https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/projects/care-farm-project/

15/06/2026

What a fantastic weekend at the Country Fair at Merrist Wood!

The Surrey Hills Society had a wonderful time meeting visitors, sharing stories about the local landscape, and celebrating everything that makes the Surrey Hills so special.

Our brilliant volunteers were at the heart of it all, chatting with guests, answering questions, and helping little ones discover local Surrey Hills species through fun, interactive play. From hands-on activities to curious conversations, it was a joy to see such enthusiasm for nature and wildlife.

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by and got involved.

If you’d like to be part of our friendly volunteer team and help us continue sharing and protecting the Surrey Hills, we’d love to hear from you: get in touch and join us!

Join us for a special visit to 'Grace & Flavour' Community Garden and 'Plant Passion' in West Horsley, a fascinating dou...
12/06/2026

Join us for a special visit to 'Grace & Flavour' Community Garden and 'Plant Passion' in West Horsley, a fascinating double stop exploring local growing, seasonal flowers, and community-led sustainability in action 🌿🌸

This is a unique chance to go behind the scenes at two very different but equally inspiring local enterprises, meet the people driving them, and discover how they’re reshaping food and flower growing in the Surrey Hills.

📅 1 July 2026, 10:30am – 4:00pm
🧺 Picnic Lunch provided
⏳Info and tickets available on https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/events/grace-and-flavour-and-plants-passion/ (Booking deadline: 24 June)

Please note this is an event that is not suitable for children or dogs.

🐶 Surrey Hills Dog owners & dog walkers wanted!We’re looking for participants to take part in a short focus group about ...
10/06/2026

🐶 Surrey Hills Dog owners & dog walkers wanted!

We’re looking for participants to take part in a short focus group about dog walking habits in the countryside.

📅 June 25th (10am-12pm or 2:30-4:30pm)
📍 Location: Denbies Wine Estate
💷 Thank you: £25 for your time
🍵 Refreshments provided

If you’re interested in taking part, please complete a short form to register your availability: https://surreyhills.org/dog-walking-in-the-surrey-hills-focus-group/?
Spaces are limited, so please share with anyone who might be interested!

🌍 How every day is World Environment Day for usSome of the most important work we do is for a future we may never see.La...
05/06/2026

🌍 How every day is World Environment Day for us

Some of the most important work we do is for a future we may never see.

Last winter, volunteers and partners joined our rangers to plant more than sixty Black Poplars across the Surrey Hills, carefully choosing locations where these remarkable trees will thrive for centuries to come.

Black Poplars are among Britain's rarest native trees. As well as enriching our landscape, they play a vital role in helping manage flooding, supporting biodiversity and building resilience in our countryside as our climate changes.

Planting a tree is an act of optimism. Planting a Black Poplar is a commitment to future generations, creating a legacy of healthier landscapes, richer habitats and stronger communities.

The shade they cast, the wildlife they support and the protection they provide may be enjoyed most by those who come after us. And that's exactly the point.

🌱 Want to be part of the story? Volunteer with us! https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/volunteer-2/

Join us for a special garden visit to The Manor House, Upton Grey 🌿We are delighted to return to one of England’s most r...
03/06/2026

Join us for a special garden visit to The Manor House, Upton Grey 🌿

We are delighted to return to one of England’s most remarkable Arts and Crafts gardens, believed to be the most complete and authentic Gertrude Jekyll-designed garden still in existence.

After an introductory talk from one of the owners, you’ll have time to wander and enjoy the garden using a plant list for guidance.

Dating from the late 15th century, the house was restored in the early 1900s by Charles Home, who commissioned Gertrude Jekyll to design the surrounding five-acre garden. After falling into decline, it was later carefully restored by the current owners using Jekyll’s original plans, creating a stunning and faithful revival.

Highlights include formal herbaceous borders, a rose-covered pergola leading to the Rose Garden, and a wild garden with winding paths, pond, and mature planting, plus a kitchen garden, orchard and nuttery full of seasonal interest.

📅 Date: Wednesday 17 June 2026
⏰ Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
📍 The Manor House, Upton Grey
💷 Cost: £18 members / £25 non-members (includes tea & coffee)
🚫 Not suitable for dogs
🎟 Booking required (deadline: 10 June 2026): https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/events/garden-visit-to-the-manor-house-upton-grey/

Come and experience one of the finest restored historic gardens in the country.

In a landscape full of Surrey Hills organisations, it is a fair question to ask: who are we? The Surrey Hills Society is...
29/05/2026

In a landscape full of Surrey Hills organisations, it is a fair question to ask: who are we?

The Surrey Hills Society is the charity partner of the Surrey Hills National Landscape. We are passionate about activating communities in the Surrey Hills to discover, protect and enhance our wonderful natural landscape.

At our heart is a strong membership and volunteer community, through which we share skills and knowledge, create opportunities, and help people connect more deeply with this special landscape.

We are a hands-on delivery organisation. Our Ranger Service carries out vital conservation, access management, and route work across the Surrey Hills, helping keep paths open, safe, and accessible. Alongside this, we deliver projects such as Farm for Health, connecting people with nature through structured, farm-based activity that supports mental wellbeing and inclusion.

We also engage widely across Surrey through events, walks, talks, and partnerships with other organisations, as well as support for rural producers and local enterprise. In all of this, we act as a connector, bringing together communities, organisations, and the landscape.
Being powered largely by volunteers means most of our income goes directly into delivering work on the ground.

In summary, we are small in structure, but wide in reach. At every level, our focus remains the same: caring for the Surrey Hills and helping more people experience, understand, and value this landscape.

👉 If this resonates with you, join our community as a member or volunteer, we would love to hear from you! https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/about/our-aims/

Join us for a fascinating walk in the Wealden village of Newdigate 🌿Discover the story of this unique “un-nucleated” vil...
26/05/2026

Join us for a fascinating walk in the Wealden village of Newdigate 🌿

Discover the story of this unique “un-nucleated” village with expert guides from the Newdigate Local History Society, as John Callcut and Jane Lilley bring centuries of history to life with their trademark enthusiasm and insight.

We’ll trace the village’s journey from a small scattering of homes into the community it is today, including early settlement sites along Church Lane and Village Street, the evolution of St Peter’s Church, the 350-year-old school and its relocation, and key landmarks such as the Village Hall, Winfield Grove and more.

📅 Date: Thursday 11 June 2026
⏰ Time: 9:30 am arrival for a 10:00 am start, finishing approx. 12:30 pm
📍 Meet at St Peter’s Church, Newdigate
🥾 Mainly paved village paths – suitable for most walkers
🚫 Sorry, not suitable for children or dogs
🎟 Booking required (deadline: 8 June 2026): https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/events/a-walk-round-the-wealden-village-of-newdigate/

Optional coffee available at The Six Bells before we set off ☕

Come and uncover the hidden history of Newdigate with us!

Not a waiting room. Not a clinic. A field, a task, a conversation.For young people who have fallen out of the system or ...
24/05/2026

Not a waiting room. Not a clinic. A field, a task, a conversation.

For young people who have fallen out of the system or are at risk of doing so, Farm for Health offers something different. Structure without pressure, purpose without judgement, and support that does not feel like support.

On the farm, they take part in real, practical work. Feeding animals, cleaning out barns, milking, planting, tidying, and helping farmers with daily tasks. Simple jobs, real responsibility, real outcomes.

It works especially well for teenagers because it removes the pressure of formal settings. There is no sitting and talking face to face unless it happens naturally. Instead, connection builds side by side through doing.

The tasks create quick, visible progress, which helps rebuild confidence. Being outdoors, active, and around animals also reduces anxiety in a way that feels natural rather than forced.

Most importantly, young people are not defined by their struggles. On the farm, they are contributors, part of something real. For many, it is the first time in a while they feel useful, calm, and included.

👉 Find out more about Farm for Health and how it is supporting young people across the Surrey Hills: https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/projects/care-farm-project/

Join us for our FREE Walk of the Month from beautiful Ripley Green 🌿This relaxed 3.5-mile circular walk takes in the tra...
22/05/2026

Join us for our FREE Walk of the Month from beautiful Ripley Green 🌿

This relaxed 3.5-mile circular walk takes in the tranquil shores of Papercourt Lake, the River Wey canal path, Newark Lock and stunning views of the historic ruins of Newark Priory. A perfect chance to enjoy fresh air, local history and great company in the Surrey countryside.

📅 Date: 7 June 2026
⏰ Time: 10:30 am start, finishing around 12:30 pm
🐾 Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome
🥾 Suitable for fit walkers – sturdy footwear recommended
📍 Meet at Ripley Green (GU23 6AN)
🎟 Advance booking required: https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/events/papercourt-lake-and-the-river-wey-ripley/

Come and explore one of Surrey’s hidden gems with us!

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Guilford

Telephone

+447530949302

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