Edition 32 Summer 2019 views eepleas on Sh lants ut p abo ing arn Le Our Special Surrey Hills Back in December 2018, the Sunday Times including Leith Hill, with its famous gothic Victorian artist George Frederick Watts, runs included the Surrey Hills as one of the twenty tower built to raise the hill above 1,000 feet. ever changing workshops and exhibitions. must-visit places for the year ahead. Given it Box Hill, with extensive views and a plethora Elsewhere, Gatton Park, landscaped by was a somewhat exotic list and the Surrey Hills of wildlife, and voted as one of England’s Capability Brown, and ranked as one of his was sandwiched between the Loire Valley and most popular picnicking spots. The Devil’s best designs, offers something for everyone Ethiopia it was truly a ringing endorsement. Punchbowl, where legend leads us to believe to enjoy throughout the year. The Surrey Hills were described as one of it was caused by the Devil pelting Thor with England’s prettiest corners, something Surrey enormous handfuls of earth rather than Hills Society membership has of course erosion caused by spring water. Perhaps less appreciated for years! well known, but just as beautiful, is Thursley The focus of the article was Denbies’ Wine Common, one of the largest surviving Estate, the largest single-estate vineyard in heathlands in Surrey and home to many England. The success of Surrey’s vineyards species of damsel and dragonflies. Near over the past few years is unprecedented; Epsom Downs, the Woodland Trust’s Langley Vale Centenary Forest is a plantation of with the same geology as the Champagne Leith Hill Place region of France, and vastly improved 200,000 broadleaf trees forming a fine tribute marketing, the Surrey Hills vineyards are now to those who lost their lives in WW1. National Trust houses of special interest renowned for producing award winning wines. include the renowned Edwardian country Nearby Chilworth, High Clandon and Albury, retreat, Polesden Lacey, which regularly along with Greyfriars, are all worth a visit, and showcases a range of fascinating exhibitions it’s not just wine that is getting all the glory, and Leith Hill Place, Ralph Vaughan micro-breweries and gin distilleries are also Williams’ childhood home. A special mention expanding fast, the most famous perhaps must go to Clandon Park reopening for part of being Silent Pool. this year to enable visitors to see the progress made since the devastating fire. For leisure, there is so much choice -- ranging from the arts to active sports such as Munstead Wood designed by Edwin off-road cycling or walking & running in the Lutyens for Gertrude Jekyll countryside. Alternatively, for those who like a Equally wonderful are the houses, gardens day at the races we have Epsom Downs and galleries, each with their special area of Racecourse, home to some of the finest flat interest. There are many exquisite Arts and racing including the world-famous Derby. Crafts houses and gardens in the area, This just touches upon why the Surrey Hills New woodland planting at Langley Vale courtesy of Sir Edwin Lutyens & Gertrude is so special. No doubt each reader will be What else draws visitors to our area? Without Jekyll, Voysey and Charles Harrison compiling their own list and wondering why we doubt the stunning and accessible countryside Townsend. Watts Gallery, a legacy of have left out their favourite. www.surreyhillssociety.org Discover and help conserve Hills the natural beauty of the Surrey Registered Charity number 1125532 refine our thoughts about our own action On top of The Devils Jumps near Frensham Chairman’s Views plan for the next three years. I will be writing more about this in our next newsletter. As the Society continues to grow, we recognise the importance of collaborating with others. One other Society visit was to the newly rebuilt Educational Nature Reserve at Nower Wood run by Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT). Only two days later SWT invited me to a Youth Summit, which we partly sponsored, where enthusiastic 16-18 year olds were St Mary the Virgin church at Holmbury St encouraged to come together and “stand up Mary in memory of his wife. for nature” and to devise ways to promote a Within the Surrey Hills family, Surrey Hills greener sustainable future that prioritises the Enterprises, who promote our rural environment. In August we will be having a businesses, are also keen to welcome the guided walk with SWT on Ash Ranges. Society and we are planning a number of Another new venture was a jointly promoted visits with some of their members in the walk with Investec International Music autumn. Also, we are working very closely It has been an incredibly busy few months. Festival on 10th May from Shere to the with Visit Surrey to promote the Surrey Hills I was delighted to accompany members on Saxon Church in Albury, where we enjoyed a whenever we can. a number of walks across the Surrey Hills guided tour and a short musical interlude. including going up to Holmbury Hill from All in all there will be something for everyone We are also collaborating with the Arts and Belmont School and exploring the environs of over the coming months and I wish you a Crafts Movement in Surrey. Our first joint Ewhurst on a wet and windy day, when I was very pleasant summer. event, in Abinger on 13th June, is a study truly amazed how many braved the elements. day at Goddards, designed by Lutyens. Just recently we had a delightful walk near Dates for your Diary Frensham Little Pond. St John’s Seminary in The main focus of the day will be George Wonersh also proved very popular. Edmund Street, an architect who designed Sunday 22nd September, Surrey Hills Challenge and Festival of Sport at In addition to all these excursions, a number Denbies, Dorking of the trustees met with the rest of the Surrey See www.surreyhillschallenge.com Hills family at High Ashurst Outdoor Education Centre for an intensive morning of Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th October, discussion to identify our aims over the Surrey Hills Wood Fair coming year. This included representatives See www.surreyhills.org/events/the- from the Surrey Hills AONB Board, Surrey 2019-surrey-hills-wood-fair Hills Enterprises, Surrey Hills Arts and the Saturday 12th October, Surrey Hills Surrey Hills Trust Fund. Two weeks later we Society AGM at the Evelyn Hall, had a working session of the Society to build Abinger Common on the outcomes of the family away day and St Mary the Virgin, Holmbury St Mary Volunteer Portrait – Peter and Jean Arnold Jean and I have lived on the edge of the through my working life as an industrial physically active which is very important Surrey Hills AONB since we moved to chemist, a charity worker and a Scout as age creeps up on us. We also relish Leatherhead over 34 years ago. We both Leader, to help the Surrey Hills Society. discovering places which are previously worked some distance away and used the Jean has recently started organising unknown to us. Surrey Hills for our weekend walks but after volunteers for the shows in the area which retiring a few years ago we wanted to get to the Society attends, to spread the word know our local AONB better and to give about the Surrey Hills and to recruit something back. As well as volunteering members. Jean worked as a Chartered for the National Trust, we both have roles Accountant for over 30 years, which within the Society. provided her with the administrative skills I have been a member of the Events that she is now utilising for the Society. Committee for 6 years and I organise several We both help man the gazebo at shows, events a year. These can be a fascinating encouraging people to visit and enjoy this way to find out about a particular place in wonderful area and also recruiting new great detail and also challenging to get members to the Society. everything set up for the visit. It is satisfying We enjoy meeting new people at events and to make use of the skills that I have gained shows and it keeps us both mentally and 2 AONB News Each of the videos is produced by Dorking My Surrey Hills based videographer Markus Dell. So far My Surrey Hills is a series of videos focusing we’ve introduced you to Jude Palmer, on people. What those people all have in who loves being outdoors and regularly undertakes her passion of running in the common is the Surrey Hills and the love they Surrey Hills; Michelle Eastell, a Forest have for the area that they live, work in or School leader who is passionate about simply enjoy visiting. woodlands and the benefit they bring both Each month we introduce you to a new physically and mentally; and Michael person and unveil their video. You’ll discover Sowerby, a landscape photographer. a runner, cyclist, artist, volunteer, wild You can view the videos on our My Surrey swimmer, wildlife enthusiast and more… Hills YouTube channel. Video #2, Michelle Eastell Devil's Punch Bowl 70 years of protected landscapes 2019 marks 70 years since the Government transport providers in the South East passed an Act of Parliament to establish (South Western, Southern, Great Western, National Parks and AONBs. To recognise Stagecoach South & East and Metrobus) this the Surrey Hills and South Downs have agreed to support the campaign National Park are leading a campaign to through their on-station marketing and celebrate protected landscapes in the South digital media.