In 1988 Surrey County Council and the Nature Conservancy Council published 'A Strategy for Surrey Heathland'. This stated that Surrey had lost over 85% of its heathland since the late 18th century. Heathland had been a dominant part of the landscape of west Surrey for thousands of years, but was on its way to disappearing.

As a result, in 1989 the Heathland Countryside Management Project (later to become Surrey Heathland Project) was set up to help stop the decline. The project initially carried out practical work with help from committed volunteers, using hand tools to clear scrub and control bracken on hundreds of hectares of heathland. However it became clear that this method could not keep pace with the rolling tide of scrub invasion. To make best use of limited resources, the project increasingly used chainsaw operators and contractors with machinery. Funding Countryside Stewardship and Wildlife Enhancement Schemes supported this.

The project started to use cattle, goats and ponies to graze cleared areas in order to prevent them becoming overgrown again. With some fencing work, this meant many heathland areas could be successfully managed in a traditional way. At the height of the grazing programme, a total of 390 hectares were grazed each year (includes partner organisations).
In 2002 the Surrey Heathland Project began to manage a 5 year programme or heathland restoration work called Surrey's Last Wilderness on behalf of a partnership of 13 organisations. This was part of a large-scale national scheme with £1 million funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Surrey's Last Wilderness far exceeded its targets and achieved over 1,000 hectares of heathland management and restoration, and introduced conservation grazing to manage 900 hectares of heathland.

A major role of the Project is now contract management. The team's first hand knowledge of heathland management helps to ensure work is delivered by contractors to a high standard and at competitive prices. The project works to raise awareness of heathland and promote its value to local communities. Staff give illustrated talks, lead guided walks and organise fun and educational events for families. The Project continues to manage a grazing programme using its own New Forest ponies and cattle belonging to local graziers, and involves volunteers in regular livestock checks. They organise seminars and training courses to circulate information about new techniques across the country and even in Europe. They offer advice to heathland owners and managers, assisting with grant applications and preparing management plans.