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 opportunities on Mondays and selected Sundays
Sarah runs her popular practical conservation volunteering task days at the SWCA on Mondays and also on some selected, seasonal Sundays throughout the year.
Please note that this spring season during April to June 2024, there will be no Sunday practical conservation volunteering sessions being held at the SWCA.
Please call Sarah on 01883 341140 or email: downlands@surreycc.gov.uk to find out more about her 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 tasks at the SWCA throughout the year. This season they will be joining Sarah on site for two task weeks on 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23 May, when the crew will be carrying out fence replacement work and targeted small scrub clearance at the Dobbin.
Sarah also provides fun and informative family environmental education events and seasonal exploration walks in partnership at the SWCA, principally during the summer months. These will be advertised on this page in due course.
Bespoke corporate team countryside volunteering sessions at the SWCA
Corporate group employee volunteering days are 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 up to 6 attendees can sometimes join in on the Monday scheduled sessions as well.
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 kindly note that during April and May, peak bird nesting season, we have very limited task sessions on offer that are suitable for corporate groups, so please aim for getting involved from June onwards now please.
Please get in touch to further discuss the best seasonal task options for your specific group size and requirements.
A copy of our Surrey Countryside Partnerships Corporate Employee Volunteering brochure, which fully details our corporate team volunteering offer, is available by email request and is provided when a group enquiry is made.
Local corporate partner sponsorship of the SWCA by Park and Bailey
The SWCA partnership is very pleased and grateful to have Park and Bailey, estate and letting agents (through Caterham-on-the-Hill branch) as their main corporate partner.
Park and Bailey have been providing significant corporate sponsorship since 2014 for the SWCA through the Downlands Trust, the registered charity partner of the Downlands Partnership, and their generous monthly donations are regularly put to great use to purchase items such as volunteer supplies, tools and equipment and environmental education materials. We greatly appreciate this ongoing local corporate support.
SWCA proud to be part of the South London Downs NNR
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.
