Over 30 years of local countryside management work in action
The Downlands Partnership was established in 1988 and provides an urban fringe countryside management service, maintaining and enhancing the local environment for biodiversity, people and wildlife.
The aims of the Downlands Partnership encompass the whole range of countryside management activities relating to landscape, biodiversity, sustainability, access, information and community involvement. The Partnership area contains a variety of habitats and features, but is dominated by the rare chalk downland habitat found on the scarp and dip slopes of the North Downs. Its area of operation covers countryside sites, many being LNRs and/or SSSIs (Local Nature Reserves/Sites of Special Scientific Interest) in NE Surrey and adjoining parts of Croydon and Sutton. The rolling chalk hills and associated valleys give rise to stunning scenery; the sites are managed in partnership with local authorities and private land owners.
Volunteer with us!
A dedicated, enthusiastic group of countryside volunteers vitally support the Partnership service through practical conservation work and new volunteers are always very welcome. The Partnership is also very pleased to welcome corporate groups for volunteering sessions too, from local companies and further afield. Useful information about volunteering with us is available on our Surrey Countryside Partnerships page.
Why not check out the varied programme of volunteer tasks on offer throughout the year? Also have a look at our Downlands Partnership countryside volunteers Facebook page, which features news and photos from our weekly task programme and more.
Volunteering in the glorious local countryside is great for happiness, health and habitat. Come & join our happy conservation crew very soon!
The Downlands Partnership also runs an extensive conservation grazing programme across the Partnership area, and the grazing service is run from Surrey County Council owned private farm Old Lodge Farm near Banstead/Carshalton. The Partnership has its own flock of sheep (breeds: Herdwick, Beulah Speckled Face & Jacob), Sussex cattle and British feral goats, and manages its own lambing season every spring. The animals seasonally rotate graze the chalk downland as part of the long-term countryside management partnership programme. We are very grateful to the volunteers who help us with stock-checking. Find out more about our conservation grazing work by visiting @downygrazers and Downlands grazing on Facebook.