With the weather getting warmer, why not dust off your walking shoes and explore some of the wonderful countryside our borough has to offer? If you prefer company when you walk or want to learn more about some of the areas you’re discovering, our countryside rangers run free guided walks across the borough throughout the year.
Butterflies and bats
If wildlife is your thing, join local conservationist Andy Kaye and our countryside rangers for a walk on the spectacular Stagbury Down where you’ll learn more about the butterflies and other wildlife on this Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Or in the late summer evenings, use echolocation and our bat detectors on the guided bat walks around Priory Park and Earlswood Lakes.
History and heathland
Team up with one of our Countryside Rangers and local archaeologist Peter Harp for a historical insight into Nork Park during a guided walk around this fascinating but often overlooked site. Or why not discover why lowland heather is so important to wildlife during a late summer walk around Reigate Heath.
Wild things
Our Guided Walks and Events programme also features activities run by partner organisations, which are so important in helping us manage our countryside areas. If your children want to build dens, cook over a campfire and spend a day in the woods, Surrey Wildlife Trust has just the thing, running events in Furzefield Wood in the summer and at Halloween.
Download our free Guided Walks and Events programme for full details of other walks and events including dates, meeting times and points. Some of the events run by partner organisations request modest donations.
Time on your hands?
The Downlands Countryside Management Partnership, Gatwick Greenspace Partnership, Reigate Area Conservation Volunteers and Surrey Wildlife Trust all provide valuable support in managing our countryside. Our partners are always looking for volunteers to help in this work. So if you would like to give some time please do get in touch with them – our guide includes their contact details.
Going solo
If you prefer to make your own way on foot around our borough, you may be interested in our self-guided walk leaflets, available on the Walking page of our website.
Happy walking.
