Surrey Hills Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) now officially a National Landscape

From this week, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in England and Wales will become National Landscapes, including the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

The new name reflects their national importance; the vital contribution they make to protect the nation from the threats of climate change, nature depletion and the wellbeing crisis, whilst also creating greater understanding and awareness for the work that they do.

The Surrey Hills covers around a quarter of Surrey, the most wooded county in England, and is situated within the London Metropolitan Greenbelt with 1.5 million people living within 10km of the landscape.

Marisa Heath, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Environment said: "We are committed to restoring our natural spaces in Surrey and are already doing so much to help wildlife and eco-systems thrive and sustain biodiversity. Here in Surrey we embrace this national change which we hope reflects a vision to mitigate the effects of climate change."

Read the full press release form the Surrey Hills National Landscape here.

Read the National press release here.