Landscape and Biodiversity

Mole Valley contains some of the most attractive landscape in South East England.

It includes important sites for nature conservation, and extensive areas of landscape included within the Surrey Hills National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, AONB).

Surrey Hills Partnership

A consortium of organisations, including us, forms the Surrey Hills Partnership, which promotes the conservation and enhancement of this nationally important landscape.

If you would like to get involved in protecting and promoting the Surrey Hills, you can find further information on the Surrey Hills website.

The current management plan and associated policies can also be viewed on the Surrey Hills website.

4Bs Biodiversity Initiative

The 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative is trying to create a powerful and effective network and partnership to protect, nurture and enhance biodiversity across the landscape in and around the villages of Buckland, Betchworth, Brockham and Box Hill. The network involves residents, land owners, farmers, schools, Parish, Neighbourhood, County and District Councils and Wildlife/Environmental NGOs.

Through a programme of education, research and knowledge sharing activities, the community is learning about nature: through voluntary, collaborative activities the community is helping to protect and enhance existing habitats and create new habitats for wildlife. In this way the whole community is helping nature and contributing to our Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

More information can be found at 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative

Countryside management

The Lower Mole Partnership operates in the North of the district, covering the countryside around Ashtead, Bookham, Fetcham, and Leatherhead.

The Gatwick Greenspace Partnership works across the County boundary, incorporating land in West Sussex and Surrey.

It is hosted by the Sussex Wildlife Trust and supported by us and other participating local authorities. It operates in the south east of Mole Valley as far north as Dorking.

Both projects provide opportunities for volunteers to take practical action to conserve the countryside on their doorstep.

We take a careful approach to the management of our own parks and open spaces and, together with supporting the work of the Woodland Trust at Edolphs Copse Local Nature Reserve, has designated three local nature reserves:

• Ashtead Park Local Nature Reserve
• Inholms Lane Local Nature Reserve
• River Mole Corridor Local Nature Reserve

There are also other environmental designations across the district including:

• Special Areas of Conservation
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• Nature Conservation Sites

More information

For more information email planning@molevalley.gov.uk