Woodlands
The Surrey Hills is the most wooded of England's protected landscapes, with almost 50% cover. Many are ancient woodlands that have a special atmosphere and have been worked over the centuries to provide wood for fuel, timber for building and fruit for the table.
There is a huge variety of woods surrounding Dorking. The woods to the north on the London clay are ancient in origin, with ash and oak as the dominant species. They include Great Bookham Common and Ashtead Common, managed for conservation, walking and riding.
The chalky soils of the North Downs support many woodland species.Woods such as Norbury Park contain ash, beech and field maple. Box and yew on the steeper slopes are of European importance for nature conservation.
The acid, free draining soil of the Wealden Greensand, such as those around Abinger and Leith hill, support oak, birch and Scots pine and an extensive network of footpaths and bridleways.
The Low Weald to the south and east of Dorking is one of the most wooded parts of Surrey. Oak and hazel woods are characteristic. A series of beautiful ancient woods owned and managed by the Woodland Trust close to the village of Charlwood are open to the public.
One of the glories of the Surrey Hills woodlands is the carpet of bluebells providing a blue haze in the spring and the many other wildflowers that thrive in woodland conditions.
