Get involved with Heath Week 2024
Heath Week runs from Monday 29 July to Sunday 4 August. It is a great opportunity to learn more about Surrey's rare heathland habitat and take part in free events. These events are organised by the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership (TBHP) and supported by local partners, including:
- Surrey County Council
- Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
- Horsell Common Preservation Society
- The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
- Surrey Heathland Partnership
What are heathlands?
Heath Week shines a light on an incredibly rare wildlife habitat. Rarer even than the rainforest!
Heathlands are wide open landscapes dominated by low-growing shrubs, such as gorse, heather and the heathland grasses that give it its name. Heathland has only a few trees and no herbaceous plants.
Our heaths are home to some amazing wildlife.
Nocturnal birds come all the way from Africa to breed in this habitat. Heathlands are also inhabited by all six species of reptile native to the UK and rare butterflies you won't see anywhere else.
Sadly, in the last 200 years, we have lost roughly 84% of heathland nationally. This makes the remaining fragments super-special. For more information on heathland, please see our Surrey Heathlands web pages.
Free events
For Heath Week 2024, TBHP have organised a wide variety of events for all ages. Why not..
- Join an adventurous treasure hunt, solving nature-themed clues to win a prize?
- Explore the beauty of butterflies on a guided tour with someone to help you identify the different species?
- Get up close and personal with the heathland's native creatures with the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust?
Please see below a taster of the activities available across Surrey. Please do join in the fun, try something new, and learn a little about why our local heathlands are so special.
Nightjar Walk Monday 29 July 8pm to 10pm Whitmoor Common
Butterflies & Other Things with Wings Tuesday 30 July 10am to 3pm Chobham Common
Pirbright Safari Tuesday 30 July 10.30am to 12.30pm Pirbright
Sensory Scavenger Hunt Wednesday 31 July 11am to 3pm Horsell Common
Reptile & Amphibian Roadshow Thursday 1 August 11am to 3pm Ockham Common
Treasure Hunt Saturday 3 August 10am to 2pm Caesar's Camp Farnham
Details of all events can be found on the Heath Week webpages.
More from countryside news
- The story of Surrey’s ancient trees
- A tree's journey by young creators
- A day in the life of... a Countryside Estate Officer
- Final Opportunity To Have Your Say On Surrey’s Rights of Way
- Funding secured for more tree planting in Surrey
- Dog walking etiquette in Surrey’s countryside
- Free family event heralds wildly exciting plan for nature
- Iconic Box Hill steps refurbished to encourage sustainable access
- A day in the life of John from the Basingstoke Canal
- Inspiring young minds to celebrate Surrey’s ancient trees
- Over 36,000 new trees for Surrey
- Look out for Asian Hornets this Summer
- Ash Dieback disease in Norbury Park
- Changes to the Basingstoke Canal Authority and Canal Centre
- Tree planting season success
- Surrey launches new dog walkers code of conduct
- Residents invited to have their say on improving Surrey’s paths
- Filming in Surrey's Countryside
- A day in the life of a Tree Planting Project Support Officer
- 40 years of countryside management in action
- A day in the life of a countryside ranger apprentice
- Welcoming the flock to Brockham Limeworks
- Cattle arrive at Tice's Meadow
- GPS grazing collars for moo-ving Surrey cows
- Local authorities to protect much loved nature reserve
- Helping Chessington’s Giraffes to eat their greens!
- New facilities rejuvenate Newlands Corner
