Farnham Heath RSPB Reserve

About

Farnham Heath, part of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Entrance to the Reserve is free and the Reserve is open at all times. Visitors may use the facilities at the Rural Life Centre. Toilets are available everyday, however check the Opening Times of the Rural Life centre to find out when the Cafe is open.

Work started in 2001 and since then the Reserve has undergone vast restoration work to return it to heathland from once dense conifer plantation. By clearing the dense rows of conifers, the land is being returned to its historic state where wildlife can flourish. As a result of this work purple heather and yellow flowering gorse has emerged, and rare heathland wildlife such as nightjar, tree pipit, woodlark, Dartford warbler, silver-studded blue butterfly and adder have returned. Sand lizards and field cricket have been re-introduced and surveys show that their numbers are increasing. Wooded areas of the Reserve have wonderful displays of bluebells in spring and an amazing variety of fungi in the autumn. The Reserve also has well maintained paths for access with walking trails.
 

Heathland is a rare habitat, we ask that visitors help us to protect this sensitive environment. Please keep dogs on leads. Please do not risk starting a fire, the habitat is naturally dry and flammable. Please enjoy the landscape and leave it as you find it and take litter and food waste home.
If you enjoy nature and being outdoors, we are always looking for volunteers to help us look after the Reserves, please contact us for details.
Entry is free to the Reserves but maintenance and management is not, so we welcome donations and information of any issues visitors may come across. Visit the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk  for ways to support our work.