Sanderstead to Whyteleafe Countryside Area (SWCA)
The Sanderstead to Whyteleafe Countryside Area (SWCA) lies on the border of Purley and Whyteleafe forming part of the North Downs. This beautiful 200 acre area includes chalk grassland, fields, woodland and scrub.
Downlands Partnership Countryside Project Officer Sarah Clifford is the dedicated warden for the SWCA and works extensively with conservation volunteers of all ages and local schools and scout/cub groups, to pro-actively restore and manage the special habitats.
The SWCA is home to many rare chalk grassland species, birds including skylarks, and dormice; Sarah has a dormice handling licence and monitors the dormice on site as part of the National Dormice Monitoring Scheme.
SWCA partnership
We (Surrey County Council) host the SWCA partnership within the Downlands Partnership team and its core funding partners are the London Borough of Croydon, Tandridge District Council and the John Whitgift Foundation. The partners all work collaboratively to aim to restore the downland by actively managing the area, with the vital support of volunteers from the local communities.
The SWCA partnership management aims are:
- To restore and manage the downland by selective scrub control, mowing and grazing
- To restore arable fields to grassland and to encourage the survival of uncommon arable 'weeds'
- To manage existing hedgerows and to plant new ones
- To encourage public access and community involvement and to provide environmental education
SWCA conservation volunteering sessions on Mondays
Sarah runs her popular weekly practical conservation volunteering task days at the SWCA on Mondays.
Please call Sarah on 01737 737306 (please note this is our new depot telephone number from April 2025) or email: downlands@surreycc.gov.uk to find out more about her great SWCA conservation crew and to let her know in advance if you would like to join in on any Monday sessions. She can then advise on the meeting point and specific task details for your chosen Monday date.
The Downlands Partnership conservation crew also support Sarah with additional seasonal task sessions at the SWCA throughout the year.
Corporate team countryside volunteering offer at the SWCA
Corporate group employee volunteering days can sometimes be offered by special arrangement at the SWCA and corporate sponsorship of the conservation work at the SWCA is greatly welcomed. Bespoke SWCA team conservation volunteering sessions are usually offered on Tuesdays or smaller staff groups with up to 4 attendees can sometimes join in on the Monday scheduled sessions, subject to task. The autumn and winter seasons are the best time to join in as a group, especially for larger numbers, as the main task is scrub clearing which is the ideal countryside volunteering activity for staff team challenges.
Please get in touch to further discuss the best, available seasonal task options for your specific group size and requirements. A copy of our Surrey Countryside Partnerships corporate volunteering brochure, which fully details our corporate team countryside volunteering offer including our financial contribution rates for groups of five or more attendees, is available by email request and is provided when a group enquiry is made.
SWCA proud to be part of the South London Downs National Nature Reserve
In July 2019, the London Borough of Croydon area of the SWCA became part of The South London Downs National Nature Reserve (NNR), which was excellent news for the SWCA partnership. Having designated South London Downs NNR status in this urban fringe area of Croydon, neighbouring Surrey, is very special and highlights how important the SWCA is for biodiversity and wildlife.
