Over 35 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 grassland habitat found on the scarp and dip slopes of the North Downs. We work seasonally on many different countryside sites in north east Surrey and adjoining parts of Croydon and Sutton, which we help to manage for our local authority partners and for private land owners. A lot of the sites are Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) and/or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
Countryside volunteering opportunities and conservation grazing
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.
Why not check out our varied programme of seasonal countryside volunteering tasks on offer throughout the year? Also have a look at our Surrey Countryside Partnerships Facebook page to see what our great conservation crews get involved with. Other useful information about countryside volunteering with us is available on our Surrey Countryside Partnerships homepage.
Volunteering in the glorious local countryside is great for happiness, health and habitat. Why not come and join in with our friendly conservation crew soon.
The Downlands Partnership also runs an extensive conservation grazing programme across its Partnership area and beyond. The grazing service is run from Surrey County Council owned private farm Old Lodge Farm near Carshalton. Find out more about our Grazing service and all our animals on our Downlands Partnership - Grazing webpage, Downlands Partnership Grazing on Facebook and @downygrazers Instagram.