Wealden Heaths in Surrey has been named a National Nature Reserve as part of Natural England’s “King’s Series”.
The reserve is home to a variety of rare species such as nightjars, sand lizards, adders, and natterjack toads. It comprises 2,765 hectares of greenspace including dry and wet heath, acidic grassland, regenerating woodland, and scrubby heath.
This marks the ninth National Nature Reserve to join the scheme, which was launched in May 2023 to celebrate King Charles II’s coronation. It aims to create or extend 25 National Nature Reserves by 2027 in line with the previous government’s focus on nature recovery.
The reserves also contribute to the current government’s environmental plans, with Labour promising to “deliver for nature” in last year’s election manifesto.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh welcomed the new reserve, saying: “Britain is a nation of nature lovers – proud of our iconic landscapes and charismatic wildlife”
“This new reserve offers wonderful opportunities for people to experience the outdoors and spot rare wildlife in a place which has been a source of cultural inspiration,” she continued.
Located 45 minutes outside of London, the area sees thousands of visitors each year, and contains “Britain’s Favourite Path” – the Thursley Common Boardwalk.
The reserve’s declaration as a National Reserve hopes to secure its continued enjoyment by future generations and to enhance the area’s biodiversity.
Heathlands in England have declined by around 80 per cent in the last two hundred years, with this area already forming part of the Heathland Connections Nature Recovery Project.
The project, funded by the Department for Food, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Natural England works with landowners and wildlife charities to enhance, restore, and connect Surrey’s heathland areas.
Chief Executive of Natural England, Marian Spain, said: “There is a wealth of species here, many of which are very rare, and efforts to maintain the vital habitats in this area will help these plants and animals to thrive again.”
Both sand lizards and natterjack toads were categorised as Priority Species under the UK post-2010 Biodiversity Framework and are listed as European Protected Species.
Dr Tony Gent, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust CEO, said: “By aligning conservation goals and underpinning them with robust monitoring, we can develop a shared agenda for conserving these species – while also identifying and addressing areas where biodiversity is in decline.”
The heathland is also a source of cultural importance, inspiring literary figures such as Alfred Lord Tennyson and Arthur Conan Doyle, and being home to the “Devil’s Punchbowl”. This natural amphitheatre is heralded in folklore to have been formed when the Devil “scooped up earth to throw at Thor”.
Work to create National Nature Reserves in England began during the Second World War, with 221 being declared during Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign. The Lincolnshire Coronation Coast National Nature Reserve was the first to be announced as part of the new “King’s Series”.
Featured image via Sterling Images / Shutterstocks.
