Management Plan 2014 - 2019 published by www.surreyhills.org Surrey Hills Facts and Figures 1of Landscape to be designated an 2nd AONB in England in 1958 38 40% woodland cover 14% of which is 25% ancient woodland of land in surrey AONBs in 18% of land England & Wales cover designated agricultural 40% land 3 Distinctive Landscape Types 37,000 people live in AONB Woodland Downland Heathland 1.5 million live within 10km 18% Heaths 143 full time and 25% farmers Commons Open Access Land 275 part time farmers Remnant Chalk 1% Grassland 30 million 43% visitor days annually Home to 7 Market Towns Leith Hill the highest point in South East of dwellings 1st England in AONB have 51 a registered parish councils Director in residence 2 Coast Northumberland Northumberland Solway Coast North Pennines Lake District North York Moors Yorkshire Dales Nidderdale Forest of Howardian Bowland Hills Peak Lincolnshire Preface Disrict Wolds The Surrey Hills was one of the first landscapes in the country to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1958. It is now one of 38 AONBs in England 1of Landscape to be designated an Norfolk Coast 2nd AONB in England in 1958 and Wales and has equal status in planningCannock terms to a National Park. The Surrey Hills 38 40% Chase woodland AONB stretches across rural Surrey, covering a quarter of the county. cover Shropshire The Broads The Countryside and RightsHills of Way Act (2000) placed a statutory duty on AONB local 14% authorities to produce and review Management Suffolk Coast Plans that will formulate their policy for the and Heaths Malvern of which is management of the area. This Hills 25% ancient woodland of land in Management Plan has been prepared Dedham surrey Vale AONBs in 18% by the Surrey Hills AONB Board and of land SE Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty England & Wales cover designated adopted by Guildford BoroughWye Cotswolds National Parks agricultural Council, Mole Valley DistrictValley SE Area 40% land National Trails Council, Reigate and Banstead Chilterns Ridgeway Thames 3 Borough Council, Tandridge Path Distinctive District Council, Waverley Mendip North Kent Landscape Wessex Types Borough Council and SurreyHills Downs Downs County Council. Cranborne Surrey HillsNorth Downs Way Exmoor Quantock Chase and 37,000 people live in AONB Woodland Downland Heathland Hills West Wiltshire Downs 1.5 million live within 10km South Downs High Weald North Devon Blackdown South Downs Way Hills New Forest East Devon A3044 18% A30 (T) A30 (T) full time A308 Chichester Harbour Heaths 143 Tamar Dorset 25% farmers StainesA308 and Valley A316 Dartmoor Isle of Wight © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. A320 Open A308 The Countryside Agency 2005. Commons A30 es am Licence No. 100018881 h T Access M3 r e iv Cornwall R A244 Land A3050 M3 A309 A317 A30 A309 A307 South A3050 A317 275 A240 Weybridge A244Esher part time Devon A319 A3(T) farmers A307 A232 A319 A320 Remnant Chalk A240 A245 A30 A3046 A3(T) 1% Grassland A2022 A2022 Camberley A245 Epsom A244 A2022 A322 A24 A331 A249 A325 A324 Woking M25 A247 A23 A320 Leatherhead A322 30 million 43% A244 CaterhamA22 A246 visitor days A3 (T) A217 M25 A25 annually A324 A246 A24 A323 M23 North Downs Way Home to A242 A3100 A25 7 Market Towns A25 Dorking A25 Leith Reigate Redhill Greensand Way A325 GuildfordA31 A22 A23 A331 A2044 Hill A287 A31 A3 (T) A25 A25 North Downs Way A217 the highest A248 Farnham A281 point in A24 A31 M23 South East A325 A3100 A3(T) of dwellings A287 A2044 England A22 in AONB have 1st A217 A29 51 A24 a registered parish councils Director A3(T) A286 Greensand Way Cranleigh in residence A283 Downs Link A281 AGLV North Downs Way A287 Surrey Greensand Way A3(T) Rivers Downs Link A286 A287 Haslemere A283 0 1 2 3 4 5 Miles Note: This map is designed for approximate location purposes only. This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Oce © Crown copyright. Unauthorised 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kilometres reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. (Licence No.100019613) 2007). View across Tatsfield Ministerial Foreword Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are some of our finest landscapes. They are cherished by residents and visitors alike and allow millions of people from all walks of life to understand and connect with nature. I am pleased to see that this Surrey Hills AONB Management Plan demonstrates how the AONB partnerships can continue to protect this precious environment despite the significant challenges it faces. With a changing climate, the increasing demands of a growing population and in difficult economic times, I believe AONB represents just the sort of community driven, collaborative approach needed to ensure our natural environment is maintained for generations to come. AONB Partnerships have been the architects of a landscape- scale approach to land management. This approach is a key feature of the Government’s Natural Environment White Paper and emphasises the need to manage ecosystems in an integrated fashion, linking goals on wildlife, water, soil and landscape, and working at a scale that respects natural systems. The AONB Management Plan makes the important connection between people and nature. I am pleased to hear that local communities have been central to the development of the plan, and will be at the heart of its delivery. From volunteers on nature conservation projects, to businesses working to promote sustainable tourism, it’s great to hear of the enthusiasm and commitment of the local people who hold their AONBs so dear. AONBs are, and will continue to be, landscapes of change. Management Plans such as this are vital in ensuring these changes are for the better. I would like to thank all those who were involved in bringing this Plan together and I wish you every success in bringing it to fruition. Lord de Mauley Minister for Natural Environment and Science 4 The AONB Board congratulates Christine Howard on her Point of Light Award from the Prime Minister Chairman’s Foreword Since I joined the Surrey Hills AONB Board in 2003 as Guildford Borough’s representative, I have witnessed with satisfaction how it has flourished and evolved into the Surrey Hills Family we see today. As a Joint Committee, representing local councils, AONB Boards can struggle to make a difference on the ground. Our AONB Board has parented three important organisations, each with a specific local task at the heart of delivering this Management Plan. The Surrey Hills Society, with its 1000 members, promotes the interest of our local communities in the intrinsic value of their countryside and how better to enjoy and protect it. The Surrey Hills Enterprises Community Interest Company undertakes specific projects designed to promote our local rural economy and preserve our rural heritage. The Surrey Hills Trust Fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation for Surrey, aims to create a permanent source of financial support, not subject to the inevitable pressures on Government funding, which should ensure that the Surrey Hills AONB can play its permanent long term role in safeguarding and promoting our precious natural environment. This Management Plan maps out our ambitions for the Surrey Hills over the next 5 years. It sets out the overarching policies and encourages our Councils to deliver them. As your new Chairman, can I take this opportunity to recognise the contributions made by so many supporters of the Surrey Hills cause. The more aware our local communities are made of the beautiful environment that they enjoy, the more they will support and enhance it and the greater enjoyment they will derive from living in this unique countryside. I thank everyone in the Surrey Hills Family, Councils, landowners, local businesses, Officers, visitors, volunteers and residents for their inspiring contributions to our common cause. David Wright OBE Chairman Surrey Hills AONB Board 5 Undergrounding cables, Thursley NNR Summer Lightening Trail Off Road Policing Executive Summary The Surrey Hills AONB Management Plan sets out the policy framework for the Surrey Hills. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to adopt the plan and public bodies must have a duty of regard to the purposes of AONB designation and the Management Plan policies. Some of the key achievements delivered from the last Management Plan (2009-2014) include: Landscape Conservation and Enhancement • Established a Planning Adviser role in 2009 that has provided AONB advice to planning authorities on over 100 development proposals annually, and sought to influence planning policy at national and local levels. • Led a campaign for the AONB Boundary Review as a means of safeguarding adjacent Areas of Great Landscape Value, and secured Natural England support to develop the evidence base for identifying candidate areas. • Secured nearly £2m of investment in undergrounding power lines in the AONB with UK Power Network Ltd (formerly EDF Energy) and Southern Scottish Electric. • Established the Mountain Bike Working Group to raise awareness and deliver measures that reduce the impact of cycling on the landscape and conflict between users. • Established and supported the Decluttering the Surrey Hills Highway Working Group that has implemented sensitive village schemes and signage. • Established and supported the Off Road Working Group which has monitored the use of off road vehicles and coordinated action between users, landowners and Surrey Police to reduce damage. • Established the Living Landscapes Working Group and supported Surrey Wildlife Trust in developing a Nature Improvement Area (NIA) bid to Defra which has developed into the Capital Downs Landscape Partnership Project now being led by the London Wildlife Trust.