Over 60 volunteers come together on Epsom Common
2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the first 'countryside management project', based in Surrey, with the establishment of the Lower Mole Countryside Management Project in 1983. To celebrate a volunteer task day was held on Epsom Common on Tuesday 31 October, the first worksite that the Moles worked on. The sun shone on the day which was attended by over 60 volunteers including staff and ex-staff! The Project is now known as The Lower Mole Partnership.
The Lower Mole Project was closely followed by the Downlands Countryside Management Project in 1988 and the Surrey Heathlands Project in 1990. Now the Surrey Countryside Partnerships are hosted by Surrey County Council and core funded by 7 Surrey Boroughs and Districts, plus 3 London Boroughs and the John Whitgift Foundation.
They cover a large area of Surrey and achieve over 23,000 volunteer hours per year. They organise 4 separate area based year round conservation volunteer programmes, plus run a conservation grazing service supported by over 100 volunteer livestock checkers.
Find out more about Surrey's Countryside Partnerships.
More from countryside news
- Discover the new ‘super’ National Nature Reserve in Surrey
- New Surrey Connect shuttle bus service
- Planting our way to a greener future
- Do You See Me? A Trail of Possibility in the Surrey Countryside
- Exploring your way through summer
- Summer Reading Challenge to launch at Newlands Corner
- Countryside Apprenticeships
- Dog walking etiquette in Surrey’s countryside
- Filming in Surrey's Countryside
- The story of Surrey’s ancient trees
- Iconic Box Hill steps refurbished to encourage sustainable access
- Tree planting season success
- Ash Dieback disease in Surrey's Countryside
- Sign up to support tree planting
- GPS grazing collars for moo-ving Surrey cows
- A day in the life of a countryside ranger apprentice
- A day in the life of a Tree Planting Project Support Officer
- Cattle arrive at Tice's Meadow
- A day in the life of A Countryside Estate Officer