Peter Stewart

And of the heathland that remains in Surrey... 25% has been lost to scrub. And that means that the heathland in Surrey is increasingly rare, very valuable habitat. And Reigate Heath itself is the largest example in East Surrey. It's a SSSI site, Site of Special Scientific Interest. And it's been that since 1955 because of its heathland habitats. and also the rarity of many plants.

And of the heathland that remains in Surrey... 25% has been lost to scrub. And that means that the heathland in Surrey is increasingly rare, very valuable habitat. And Reigate Heath itself is the largest example in East Surrey. It's a SSSI site, Site of Special Scientific Interest. And it's been that since 1955 because of its heathland habitats. and also the rarity of many plants.

And several different kinds of habitats can be found here. You think of it all as one large mass of heathland, but actually lowland heath, dry acid grassland, and recent secondary woodland, all of which support their own special characteristics and species as well.

And several different kinds of habitats can be found here. You think of it all as one large mass of heathland, but actually lowland heath, dry acid grassland, and recent secondary woodland, all of which support their own special characteristics and species as well.

If you know where to look, wildflowers that you could find in the Heathland area of Reigate Heath, harebells, and also the pretty rare dwarf gorse as well. And the wooded areas have typical species that you already know, bluebells, wood anemones, in the springtime of course. and various fungi later on in the year as well.

If you know where to look, wildflowers that you could find in the Heathland area of Reigate Heath, harebells, and also the pretty rare dwarf gorse as well. And the wooded areas have typical species that you already know, bluebells, wood anemones, in the springtime of course. and various fungi later on in the year as well.

Three native species of heather can be found on the heath today, the common heather, the bell heather, and the cross-leaved heather as well. And until recently, the areas that those species cover were becoming increasingly small because of a growing pressure on them from...

Three native species of heather can be found on the heath today, the common heather, the bell heather, and the cross-leaved heather as well. And until recently, the areas that those species cover were becoming increasingly small because of a growing pressure on them from...

overgrazing back in the past and also that meant that the number of trees and scrubland on the heath increased and that meant that the heather couldn't compete because there was less light coming through to them lower to the ground of course so to protect the heather closer to the ground and some of those other

overgrazing back in the past and also that meant that the number of trees and scrubland on the heath increased and that meant that the heather couldn't compete because there was less light coming through to them lower to the ground of course so to protect the heather closer to the ground and some of those other

grasses and so on I had to cut back all of this stuff which is it smells nice and it looks quite nice but all this kind of bracken has to be cut back and some of the invasive tree species as well have to be cut down controlled cut back to stop the heath reverting to scrub and thick woodland

grasses and so on I had to cut back all of this stuff which is it smells nice and it looks quite nice but all this kind of bracken has to be cut back and some of the invasive tree species as well have to be cut down controlled cut back to stop the heath reverting to scrub and thick woodland

That's all done by Reigate Area Conservation volunteers and also staff and volunteers with the golf club as well. Clearing the scrub, clearing the bracken to increase the amount of heather at ground level. Another part of the heath is the alder woodland. And near the eastern side, there are some marshy meadows as well.

That's all done by Reigate Area Conservation volunteers and also staff and volunteers with the golf club as well. Clearing the scrub, clearing the bracken to increase the amount of heather at ground level. Another part of the heath is the alder woodland. And near the eastern side, there are some marshy meadows as well.

They're the only examples of marshy meadows in Surrey that haven't been destroyed by modern agriculture. And those marshy areas support Yorkshire fog grass and sharp-flowered rush grass and meadow-sweet grass and wild angelica and marsh marigold. They've got some fantastic names, haven't they? There's also a large colony of southern marsh orchid on Reigate Heath, which I understand is pretty rare.

They're the only examples of marshy meadows in Surrey that haven't been destroyed by modern agriculture. And those marshy areas support Yorkshire fog grass and sharp-flowered rush grass and meadow-sweet grass and wild angelica and marsh marigold. They've got some fantastic names, haven't they? There's also a large colony of southern marsh orchid on Reigate Heath, which I understand is pretty rare.

And there's also a stream. Do you know the stream that runs along the eastern side of Reigate Heath? Rare breeding ground and feeding ground for birds. Kingfisher, heron, you can see over there as well. Over recent years, the water table has fallen significantly. in the Rygate Heath area.

And there's also a stream. Do you know the stream that runs along the eastern side of Reigate Heath? Rare breeding ground and feeding ground for birds. Kingfisher, heron, you can see over there as well. Over recent years, the water table has fallen significantly. in the Rygate Heath area.

And most affected by that drop are the areas of Alder Carr that I just mentioned, that Alder woodland, because Alder is a tree that really loves wet conditions. The Alder trees are still here. The dry conditions mean that many other species have gone though. You can see how the

And most affected by that drop are the areas of Alder Carr that I just mentioned, that Alder woodland, because Alder is a tree that really loves wet conditions. The Alder trees are still here. The dry conditions mean that many other species have gone though. You can see how the