Geology
Geology is very important in defining the character of the Surrey Hills. Because the surface geology is incredibly varied and complex, so too are the landscape and the habitats, plants and insects that makes a visit to this area such a fascinating experience.
Surrey has never been a county of rich farmland. Some of the most unproductive soils, however, make the best and most varied wildlife habitats. Such areas were usually never intensively farmed and the conditions are better for the plants and wildflowers that thrive in these conditions. The Greensand Hills, for example, first formed around 120 million years ago, provided poor, sandy soils that were best used for grazing cattle and pigs. This management produced open heaths.
The relationship between geology, land use and landscape is repeated time and time again. The chalk of the North Downs, laid down over the Greensand deposits when the area was a sea, provided ideal soils most frequently used for grazing and, again, an open rolling landscape developed, especially rich in flora. The Downs provide conditions for plants that enjoy alkaline conditions, whilst the Greensand is ideal for acid-loving plants.
Geology also affects the character of local buildings. Locally distinctive buildings are constructed of materials that reflect the underlying rock types. This could be brick and clay tiles from the Weald, which was also good for growing timber, sandstone from the Greensand Hills and flint from the chalk.
