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Heathland Project

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For details of heathland management work taking place this summer, or to see photos from Heath Week 2008, visit our Heathland news and events page.

Surrey Heathland Project

Lowland heath is a globally rare and unique habitat supporting a variety of specialised plants and animals. Two hundred years ago heathland covered most of West Surrey. Urban development, forestry and neglect have resulted in loss of the habitat such that less than a fifth of the original heathland remains.

To redress this loss, in December 1989 the Heathland Project was set up to protect and enhance lowland heathland in Surrey. Work included practical land management, providing advice, working with local communities and the re-introduction of grazing to some heathland sites.

Ash ranges in Autumn

Most of the practical work, including managing the grazing programme, was done by Project staff and volunteers, with the occasional use of contractors for larger jobs. For more detail on the work we do and historical facts, see Heathland Project reference section.

In 2002, the Surrey Heathland Project began 'Surrey's Last Wilderness'. This is part of 'Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage', a national programme that was run by English Nature with substantial funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It set out to tackle the enormous challenges facing this rare habitat and has been a major mechanism for meeting national biodiversity targets on heathland.