Surrey Hills AONB
Encyclopedia
The Surrey Hills is a 422 km² (162.9 sq mi) Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB), located in Surrey
, England
. The AONB was designated in 1958 and covers one quarter of the county of Surrey. The Surrey Hills AONB adjoins the Kent Downs AONB
to the east and the Wealden portion of the former Sussex Downs AONB
(now South Downs National Park
) in the south west.
The highest summit of the Surrey Hills AONB is Leith Hill
near Coldharbour
, at 294 metres (964.6 ft) above sea level, or 314 metres (1,030.2 ft) above when Leith Hill Tower is considered. It is part of the Greensand Ridge
, which traverses the AONB from west to east, and is the highest point in south-east England.
The Surrey Hills area has three long-distance walks running through it. These are the North Downs Way
, the Greensand Way
and the Pilgrims' Way
. Blackheath Common
is also part of this area.
The northern ridge of these hills is predominantly formed by chalk
and the southern ridges are predominantly greensand
. They provide a haven
for many rare
plant
s and insect
s. Parts of the area are owned and managed by the National Trust
, including Ranmore Common
, Leith Hill
and Box Hill.
Chiddingfold Forest
is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI) which lies within the area.
The Surrey Hills AONB is surrounded by an Area of Great Landscape Value (an area designated by Surrey County Council
as being of high visual quality worthy of conservation), which covers a further 8% of the county.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
(AONB), located in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The AONB was designated in 1958 and covers one quarter of the county of Surrey. The Surrey Hills AONB adjoins the Kent Downs AONB
Kent Downs AONB
Kent Downs is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Kent, England . They are the eastern half of the North Downs and stretch from the London/Surrey borders to the White Cliffs of Dover...
to the east and the Wealden portion of the former Sussex Downs AONB
Sussex Downs AONB
Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England was designated in 1966. The designation was revoked in March 2010, together with the neighbouring East Hampshire AONB, upon the establishment of the South Downs National Park ....
(now South Downs National Park
South Downs National Park
The South Downs National Park is England's newest National Park, having become fully operational on 1 April 2011. The park, covering an area of in southern England, stretches for from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne in the east through the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex...
) in the south west.
The highest summit of the Surrey Hills AONB is Leith Hill
Leith Hill
Leith Hill to the south west of Dorking, Surrey, England, reaches above sea level, the highest point on the Greensand Ridge, and is the second highest point in south-east England, after Walbury Hill near Hungerford, West Berkshire, high....
near Coldharbour
Coldharbour, Surrey
Coldharbour is a village in Surrey UK. It is situated on Leith Hill in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Europa Oil & Gas has submitted a planning application to Surrey County Council to explore for oil and gas in Coldharbour....
, at 294 metres (964.6 ft) above sea level, or 314 metres (1,030.2 ft) above when Leith Hill Tower is considered. It is part of the Greensand Ridge
Greensand Ridge
The Greensand Ridge is an extensive, prominent, often heavily wooded, sandstone escarpment and range of hills in south-east England. It runs in a horseshoe shape around the Weald of Surrey, Sussex and Kent. It reaches its highest elevation, , at Leith Hill in Surrey—the second highest point...
, which traverses the AONB from west to east, and is the highest point in south-east England.
The Surrey Hills area has three long-distance walks running through it. These are the North Downs Way
North Downs Way
The North Downs Way is a long-distance path in southern England, opened in 1978. It runs from Farnham to Dover, past Godalming, Guildford, Dorking, Merstham, Otford and Rochester, along the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Kent Downs AONB.East of Boughton Lees, the path splits...
, the Greensand Way
Greensand Way
The Greensand Way is long distance walk of in southeast England, from Haslemere in Surrey to Hamstreet in Kent. It follows the Greensand Ridge along the Surrey Hills and Chart Hills. The route is mostly rural, passing through woods, and alongside fruit orchards and hop farms in Kent and links...
and the Pilgrims' Way
Pilgrims' Way
The Pilgrims' Way is the historic route supposed to have been taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire, England, to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury in Kent...
. Blackheath Common
Blackheath Common
Blackheath Common is an area of of heathland in Surrey, England, near the village of Albury in the borough of Waverley. It is part of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and much of the common is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest...
is also part of this area.
The northern ridge of these hills is predominantly formed by chalk
Chalk
Chalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Calcite is calcium carbonate or CaCO3. It forms under reasonably deep marine conditions from the gradual accumulation of minute calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores....
and the southern ridges are predominantly greensand
Greensand
Greensand or Green sand is either a sand or sandstone, which has a greenish color. This term is specifically applied to shallow marine sediment, that contains noticeable quantities of rounded greenish grains. These grains are called glauconies and consist of a mixture of mixed-layer clay...
. They provide a haven
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
for many rare
Rare
-In music:* Rare , a band from Northern Ireland* Rare , a Serbian alternative rock band from Belgrade* Rare , an album by the progressive rock band Asia* Rare , a compilation album by David Bowie...
plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s and insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. Parts of the area are owned and managed by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, including Ranmore Common
Ranmore Common
Ranmore Common is a village and an area of wooded common land on the North Downs, to the northwest of Dorking in the English county of Surrey. It is located within the civil parish of Wotton and is also within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, Leith Hill
Leith Hill
Leith Hill to the south west of Dorking, Surrey, England, reaches above sea level, the highest point on the Greensand Ridge, and is the second highest point in south-east England, after Walbury Hill near Hungerford, West Berkshire, high....
and Box Hill.
Chiddingfold Forest
Chiddingfold Forest
Chiddingfold Forest is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in south west Surrey and west Sussex, England. It lies near Chiddingfold and Dunsfold. The Forestry Commission owns and/or manages some of woodland in the forest complex of which is designated SSSI...
is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSI) which lies within the area.
The Surrey Hills AONB is surrounded by an Area of Great Landscape Value (an area designated by Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Surrey in England. The council is composed of 80 elected councillors.The council is controlled by the Conservative party.The leader of the council is David Hodge....
as being of high visual quality worthy of conservation), which covers a further 8% of the county.