Date for your diary - Sunday 9 September 2012

Banstead Countryside Day - Sun, Sheep, Strolls and Stalls Galore

We are very proud of our annual family event that we (Downlands Countryside Management Project) organise, in association with the Downlands Trust, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and Heritage Open Days.

The theme of the day is a celebration of our local countryside, history, community and rural/traditional crafts, held in the field by Holly Lane Car Park, Holly Lane, Banstead/Chipstead.

Further details will be posted in due course.

Marion's Guided Walks

The Project runs guided walks throughout the year, see below for details. We also run a comprehensive programme of volunteer tasks. No matter whether you have any experience or can only help on the odd day, you will be very welcome.

These circular walks are for everyone who loves to get out in the fresh air and wants to know more about the history and wildlife of the countryside around them. Marion is a volunteer with both the Downlands Project and Friends of King's Wood. Walks are free but donations are welcome for either organisation.

Friday 24 February: King's Wood Holes and Poles

Learn about coppice managment techniques and pole harvesting on this 2 hour, level walk.  Join Marion at 10.30am where Orchard Road enters the woodland (off Limpsfield Road, B269, Sanderstead).  Bus route 403.  Grid ref: 349 603,

Make the most of your countryside! Phone us on 01737 737700 or 01883 341140 for more information on each walk, or refer to the latest Downlander newsletter which is widely available locally.

Circular Walks

The Downlands Project produces a range of leaflets describing circular walks within its Project area, some of which are listed below. All of the following are available free by sending a large stamped addressed envelope, with the titles of the leaflets you require to the Downlands Project at South East Area Office, Surrey County Council, The Omnibus Building, Lesbourne Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 7JA or email your request to downlands@surreycc.gov.uk.

• Downlands Circular Walk 7 miles or 3 miles
  Beautiful chalk downland scenery in Happy Valley with surrounding woods and farms.
• Woldingham Countryside Walk 6.5 miles or 4.5 miles
  Tranquil, hidden valleys, chalk downland, varied woodlands.
• Banstead Countryside Walk 5 miles
  Varied scenery – Banstead Woods [SSSI], chalk downland, farmland.
• Banstead Woods Nature Trail 2 miles
  Large ancient woodland, a SSSI, varied habitats, ongoing management.
• Sutton Countryside Walk 5 miles
  Farmland, woodland, Woodcote Estate and Smallholdings.
• Oaks Park Nature Trail 2 miles
  Stroll through Oaks Park with meadows and woodland.
• Blanchman's Farm Nature Trail 0.6 mile
  Community wildlife area since 1991, many environmental improvements. Over 10,000 native trees planted in hedges and copses. Meadows. Pond.
• North Downs Ridge Circular Walk, 7 miles Walk through the nationally protected landscape of the Surrey Hills AONB, from Reigate Hill.
• Shabden and Upper Gatton Parks Circular Walk, 7 miles Walk through Surrey's most scenic countryside, starting at Chipstead Meads Recreation Ground.
• Town and Down Circular Walk, 5 miles Takes you across two of Surrey's most historic sites: Nork Park and Banstead Downs, starting at Nork Park car park.
• Millennium Trail, 18 miles A long distance path from Banstead Downs to Horley.
• Dorking to Gomshall - Walk the Chalk, 7 miles  A linear station to station walk, through some of the finest chalk grassland in Surrey.
• Warlingham Village Walks & Warlingham Countryside Walks, various walk lengths.  Leaflets were produced by Warlingham Parish Council with the support of several local people, the Downlands Project and grant funding from the Big Lottery Fund. 

Leaflets, produced by local authorities in the area, are also available free from the Downlands Project.

London Walking Forum

London Outer Orbital Path (LOOP)
A 150 mile (240 km) circular walk through the best of outer London's countryside. This "M25 for walkers" is broken into 24 sections ranging from 3.5-10.5 miles (5.5-15 km), all of which are further sub-divided into shorter sections and conveniently connected to public transport. Each walk is peppered with cafés, pubs and picnic areas and links to other walks.  The section south of the Thames, which is covered by leaflets 1 - 8, is available as a pack from the Downlands Project. Please send a large SAE or email to the Downlands Project as abovementioned.