Our talk was given by Kenneth Bare, the deputy director, who gave us an insight into their raison d’etre. They are not land-owning charity but exist to promote and protect the hills by education and influence with those that do.
Surrey, apparently, is the most wooded county in the country. The Surrey Hills stretch from the Hampshire border in the west, well in to Kent and are an area of outstanding natural beauty, (ANOB) They change in the passing from sandy loam through to chalky downland.
They provide fine views, sunken lanes and thousands of miles of footpaths and bridleways, far more than many other counties, which might have sweeping moorland or huge agricultural fields but very little access or rights of way.
Although not an agricultural county any longer, there are plenty of small businesses producing fine foods and drinks.
The county has provided inspiration to the likes of Gertrude Jekell – Lewis Carol – Conan Doyle – Jane Austin – Beatrix Potter – Vaughan Williams – & Eric Clapton to name but a few.
The Surrey Hills Society was set up about 8 years ago to “promote, enhance, and conserve the physical and natural environment for the public and advance their knowledge and understanding.
Report by Roger Ranson
There were a number of questions and discussion about the mess left by dogs especially where it is placed in a plastic bag and left by the path instead of in the bins provided. However on a recent Member’s holiday in Sonoma, California, the following sign was at the entrance to the Sonoma Valley Regional Park!
Ewell Probus 
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