Tandridge is a predominantly rural district with some very high quality landscape features and wildlife rich sites. To help identify and provide protection these areas are categorised by different designations, according to type of feature and the level and nature of its value.
Two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) cross this Council's boundaries; the Surrey Hills that crosses the northern part of the District; and the High Weald that covers the south-eastern most corner. These are special areas which have been designated by the Government for their high quality landscape. They are of the same level of importance as the National Parks.
Each of the AONBs has a unit of core staff, which advises on issues relating to their respective areas and promotes them to the local public. These units are supported by Tandridge and other District Councils within their boundaries.
The Surrey Hills AONB and the High Weald AONB web sites contain a wealth of information on the two AONBs including details of the Management Plans, visitor information, events, walks and images.
To see if your property is in the AONB you can look at the on-line Localview mapping system.
There are eight Sites of Special Scientific Interest that have been designated by English Nature (now Natural England). These sites have been identified because of their nature conservation value. The sites in Tandridge are:
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| Staffhurst Wood | Staffhurst Wood pond | Blindley Heath |
These sites are legally protected, which means that if anyone were to damage the site they could be prosecuted. Most sites do require some level of management such as woodland thinning, or scrub clearance, often one of the most damaging actions is to do nothing at all.
Nature conservation not just for enthusiasts, it is also an integral part of the planning system. It is important for this Council to be aware of sites with the District that are important sites for wildlife, so that they can be afforded the protection and consideration that they deserve. Surrey Wildlife has conducted a survey of the district on behalf of Tandridge Council, which has identified many Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) and potential Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (pSNCI). These are included within the Tandridge District Local Plan. When considering planning applications, which may affect these areas this Council consults the Surrey Wildlife Trust and considers the impact of the proposal on the nature conservation value of the site.
It is not only the central and local governments who can designate areas considered important for nature. Parish Councils, private landowners and local residents can apply to Natural England to have sites considered and designated as Local Nature Reserves (LNR). This allows a management agreement to be set up between the landowner and local council, and gives access to central government funding for such initiatives. There are currently seven LNRs in Tandridge; at Staffhurst Wood, Lingfield Centenary Fields, Lingfield Wildlife Area, Nore Hill Pinnacle at Woldingham, Blindley Heath Common, Blanchmans Farm at Warlingham and Hill Park at Tatsfield.
The District Council is actively involved in the management of Blindley Heath. The site, which is owned by Godstone Parish Council, has been fenced allowing cattle to be grazed. Scrub clearance takes place. Ponds have also been restored. Although much of the site has reverted to woodland the active management is opening up the centre of the site and this is important if its Site of Special Scientific Interest status is to be retained and improved. The public can walk freely over the whole site.
It is important to remember that the countryside around us has gained its character from mans influence, for example the chalk downland was created by farmers who cleared the dominant tree and shrub species to create grazing lands for their live stock. Species of grasses and flowering plants grew in their place, those that grew too close to the ground or that were unpalatable to the sheep were left and flourished. Rabbits have also had an influence. Years of grazing produced the familiar flora and fauna associated with areas along the North Downs. With the recent downturn in farming seen across the UK these rare and important landscapes are at risk. Lack of grazing allows scrub to encroach and take over resulting in a loss of habitat, which can only be slowed or reversed by careful conservation management. Tandridge Council supports the Downlands Countryside Management Project (DCMP), who carry out practical tasks of countryside management in the area. If you would like further information, including about volunteering please go to the Countryside Management website.
Many individual species of plants and animals are legally protected in their own right. Bats, badgers and nesting birds are well known protected species but along side these native snakes, great crested newts and even crayfish are also covered. It is often not just the plant or animal which is protected, but its associated habitat. These individuals and their homes are chosen because of their relative rarity, or because they are threatened by mans influence. This can be by direct encroachment such as cutting down or destroying their natural habitat or indirectly by the introduction of non-native species which become more successful. A full list of protected species can be found attached to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in schedules 1 to 9 on the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs website.
Part of the job of the Planning Department is to identify developments that might have a detrimental effect on designated areas and/or protected species. Depending on the type and level of effect anticipated the Councils development control officers may consult expert groups or bodies for their advice. It may be possible to introduce mitigation measures to limit the impact of a development, for example wildlife protection zones can be created where a development such as housing encroaches on a badger foraging area; or works may have to timed carefully to avoid bat and bird breeding seasons. Some developments may be refused permission if it is considered that the impact on wildlife would be harmful.
Before any development can take place it is important to consider what effect this may have on the surrounding area, and this includes the wildlife which live or feed there. Some species and sites are protected by law and some landscapes are afforded protection by the planning system. Planning seeks to find a balance between economic prosperity and development needs which may be better for the human population of the District, and the protection and enhancement of the area's natural heritage.
For further information on countryside or biodiversity matters nationally, contact Natural England.
