Surrey Hills AONB
| Surrey Hills | |
|---|---|
| Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | |
 |
|
| Country | England |
| County | Surrey |
| Location | south-east England |
| Area | 422 km2 (163 sq mi) |
| Highest point | |
| - location | Leith Hill |
| - elevation | 294 m (965 ft) |
| Biomes | Agricultural land (42.0%), Woodland (38.9%), Scrub heathland (3.3%), Chalk grassland (0.6%) |
| Geology | North Downs, Greensand Ridge |
| Plant | Bracken, Bramble |
| Animal | Adder, Deer, Fox, Jay, Magpie, Whinchat, Woodlark |
| Website : Surrey Hills AONB | |
The Surrey Hills is a 422 km2 (163 sq mi) Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), located in Surrey, England.[1] The AONB was designated in 1958 and covers one quarter of the county of Surrey.[2] The Surrey Hills AONB adjoins the Kent Downs AONB to the east and the Wealden portion of the former Sussex Downs AONB (now South Downs National Park) in the south west.
The highest summit of the Surrey Hills AONB is Leith Hill near Coldharbour, at 294 metres (965 ft) above sea level, or 314 metres (1,030 ft) above when Leith Hill Tower is considered. It is part of the Greensand Ridge, which traverses the AONB from west to east, and is the highest point in south-east England.
The Surrey Hills area has three long-distance walks running through it. These are the North Downs Way, the Greensand Way and the Pilgrims' Way. Blackheath Common is also part of this area.
The northern ridge of these hills is predominantly formed by chalk separated by the Vale of Holmesdale that continues into Kent from the southern ridges - predominantly greensand. They provide a haven for many rare plants and insects. Parts of the area are owned and managed by the National Trust, including Ranmore Common, Leith Hill and Box Hill.
Chiddingfold Forest is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which lies within the area.
The Surrey Hills AONB is surrounded by an Area of Great Landscape Value (an area designated by Surrey County Council as being of high visual quality worthy of conservation), which covers a further 8% of the county.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Findlater G (2009). "The State of the Surrey Hills AONB". Surrey Hills AONB. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ McKernan P (2007). "The cultural heritage of woodlands in the Surrey Hills AONB". The cultural heritage of woodlands in the South East. Forestry Commission. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ Rob Fairbanks (2008). "Area of Great Landscape Value Designation". Surrey Hills AONB. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 51°12′N 0°30′W / 51.2°N 0.5°W
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