We are happy to share this article, written by Katie Daw, our Farm for Health Coordinator, about the success of a Farm for Health.participant.

A young person from Surrey is celebrating a significant personal achievement after winning a photography competition through Surrey Young Farmers, a success that began with her involvement in the Farm for Health project, run by the Surrey Hills Society.

L first joined Farm for Health at a time when her mental health, confidence, and trust in others were at a very low point.

Following a difficult period that included severe school-related trauma, everyday situations felt overwhelming and social engagement was extremely challenging. Her self-belief had been knocked, and she found it hard to feel safe in new environments or with unfamiliar adults.

One constant, however, was her love of animals.

After coming across an article about farm-based wellbeing support, L’s mum reached out to the Farm for Health team to explore whether the project could offer a safe and supportive space. After taking time to understand L’s background and needs, she was carefully matched with a local farm where she could engage at her own pace.

Farm for Health provides structured visits on working farms, offering a calm, non-clinical environment away from everyday pressures. Participants are never forced to join in or speak, and activities are adapted to suit individual needs, allowing trust and confidence to develop naturally.

From her early visits, L began to feel comfortable on the farm. She later described the experience in her own words:
“They are nice and friendly and don’t force you to join in or talk.”
“They treat me with respect and don’t shout or make me feel uncomfortable.”
“I really look forward to going.”

One particular visit became a defining moment. After spending the afternoon herding cows, watching the milking process, and riding across the fields on the back of a quad bike, L told her mum she had had “one of the best afternoons ever.” Importantly, she felt safe enough to remain on the farm without her mum present — something that had not been possible for several years.

During that visit, L asked one of the farmers, Nellie, whether tractors were easy to drive, explaining that she would love to get her tractor licence when she turns 16. Nellie responded by offering an impromptu tractor-driving lesson. This moment of trust and encouragement had a huge impact, leaving L “on cloud nine” for days afterwards and taking the first tangible steps towards a long-held dream.

Building on her growing confidence, L decided to join Surrey Young Farmers, which Nellie helps to run. For someone who finds social situations extremely challenging, this was a brave and significant step. Although attending has not been easy and she has not yet stayed for full meetings, L has shown real determination — continuing to go, pushing herself, and refusing to give up despite anxiety.

This is the first social group L has attended independently, marking an important milestone in her journey.
Through Young Farmers, L entered a photography competition focused on farming and agriculture. With support, she visited several working farms to photograph different milking parlours, capturing the contrast between traditional hand milking, abreast systems, and modern robotic milking.

Her entry, titled “Three Generations of Milking,” went on to win first prize in her class at the Surrey Young Farmers indoor rally.

The win represents far more than a competition success. It reflects L’s resilience, commitment, and the confidence she continues to build. Where once she struggled to step into new environments, she is now pursuing her interests, entering competitions, and being recognised for her creativity and effort.

Inspired by her time on the farm, L is now hoping to study agriculture at college next year — something that previously felt out of reach. Her mum describes the Farm for Health project as invaluable, saying it has helped give L back her enjoyment, her sense of purpose, and the belief that she can move forward.

Stories like L’s highlight the importance of calm, nature-based mental health support. By offering safe, respectful experiences on working farms, the Farm for Health project is helping young people reconnect with themselves, their interests, and their future.

Katie Daw

 Farm for Health Coordinator,

Surrey Hills Society

On Wednesday 19 November, our Surrey Hills Symposium returned to the University of Surrey, bringing together over 250 guests to connect, inspire, and debate themes around shaping the future of our National Landscape. Thank you to so many of you who attended.

This year’s Symposium was made possible thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), as the culmination of the Surrey Hills Society’s Growing Together project. The programme has created diverse opportunities for people to find adventure and purpose within the Surrey Hills, and the event explored how we can build on this success for our next NLHF bid to their multi-million pound Landscape Connections programme.

You can read the full story and view event highlights here: Surrey Hills Symposium 2025: Growing Together for Adventure, Purpose, and a 75-Year Vision – Surrey Hills National Landscape 

 

Emma Cole

Communications Lead

Surrey Hills National Landscape

On Thursday 14th August, 27 members made a visit to Brightleigh Farm, in Outwood, for a walking guided tour of the farm and an introduction to their animals.

Nigel Franklin and his family run Brightleigh Farm and are passionate about farming with nature, using regenerative farming methods, producing tasty and nutritious food. Their animals thrive in this environment, and rarely need any form of treatment to keep them healthy.

Their beef comes from their Pasture for Life certified cattle, which guarantees that they are fed a natural diet. Their chickens forage outdoors, supplemented with a soya and GM free diet.  The eggs they produce are high in vitamins A , E and D , as well as Omega 3.

The afternoon started with a 15 minute introduction followed by the guided walk, with questions and answers as we walked. Brightleigh Farm has Cows, Pigs and Chickens (with dogs that have the specific responsibility of looking after the Chickens !! ).

We also had the opportunity to visit the Batts Hill Gin Distillery, which is within the farm, and sample a little of their products. Gin & Tonic anyone ?? Some of us took the opportunity to make some purchases.

Also, within the farm Julie Fitch Davey transformed the old cow shed into a comfortable working environment where she now creates her products in the Ceramic Fitch Pottery.  Julie demonstrated throwing a pot on the wheel and she told us about their glazing process.

Although a small establishment, Julie has a lot of items on show, and as hand crafted items, every item is unique. All items are stoneware clay of which 50% is recycled.

On return to the barn, we were treated to a BBQ featuring their produce (Burgers, Chicken Wings and Smoked Topside Baguettes, all with salad). A thoroughly enjoyable and informative afternoon, I’m sure that everyone there enjoyed it too.

Their shop at the farm is open on Friday 1pm to 5pm. Saturday 9am to 3pm. They can also be found at the following Farmers Markets : Farnham , Ripley and Wallington.  Before travelling, check their website.

Ray and Joyce Jessop

Our day started with coffee and biscuits at Sondes Place Farm is a 320 acre mixed farm located between Dorking and Westcott. It’s currently managed by Hugh Broom who is part of the 4th generation to farm the land, which was first acquired in 1897.

Hugh was rightly very proud to tell us that they had introduced over 2500 metres of new hedgerows, created 3 wildlife ponds, maintained over 5Km of 6 metre wide field margins, which act as wildlife corridors.  He went on to explain that he had pollarded over 100 waterside trees, in order to open up the area around the PippBrook stream. This has created a much lighter environment, allowing a greater variety of plant and animal species to thrive.

Then we set off for Denbies, where we enjoyed a glass of their delicious Surrey Gold wine whiilst watching “The Vineyard Through the Seasons,” shown in their cinema which gave us an overview of the vineyard’s workings.

Lunch was served in the Gallery Restaurant and afterwards we went to see the community garden and sculptural bench called Radius, part of the Inspiring Views project.  Ali Clark, Programme Manager of Surrey Hills Arts told us about the artist and how the bench is engraved with poems written by local poets and inscriptions from members of the public who helped fund the bench. The views from the bench right across to Leith Hill and Box Hill nearer by are truly inspiring.

At the Community Garden we heard from Society employees, India and Katie, who gave a fascinating explanation of the work that they are doing in relation Growing Together and our Care Farm project which you can read more about here.

A snippet of some of the feedback we have received include:

“Please pass on my congratulations to everyone concerned with the day…”
“I had a great day – Thank you Surrey Hills Society.”
“Please pass on our thanks to Gordon. All in all a good day from start to finish.”

Julia Gregory
Reporter BBC Surrey – Article published on Wednesday 14 May 2025

Young people have a chance to meet farm animals

On a farm nestled in the Surrey Hills, young people are helping herd cows and build pens so they can be wormed.

They are spending time on Pondtail Farm in Brockham, near Box Hill, to help boost their mental health as part of the Care Farm project.

Katie Daw, the Surrey Hills Society Care Farm co-ordinator, said the scheme was boosting young people’s confidence and wellbeing, and reducing anxiety.

To read the full article, please click here

If you would like more information regarding our Care Farm Project, please visit the Projects Page on the our website and click here.

SPRING FAIR AT TILFORD

On 5th and 6th April, our Surrey Hills Society volunteers were busy at the Surrey Hills Spring Fair at the Rural Life Centre, Tilford.

The volunteers were kept busy all weekend handing out our walks leaflets, promoting our projects and encouraging people to join our charity.

The show was blessed with wonderful weather and is a great place for all the family.

It was a great start to the Surrey Hills summer of events, volunteering projects, walks, talks and interesting visit to farms, attractions and hidden gems in the Surrey Hills.

Thank you all very much.

If anyone is interesting in volunteering, please take a look at our website, there are all sorts of opportunities – please click here.

We are delighted to have announced the winners of our ‘Thousand Year Tree Endpapers Design Competition’ which was launched during the summer through Surrey’s Library Network.

On Saturday 19th October the 24 shortlisted winners were invited to an awards ceremony, where the winners of each age category were announced by multi-award-winning children’s author Kes Gray. The shortlisted children were then invited to stay for Guildford Book Festival’s event with Kes Gray featuring his Oi Dinosaur! series.

Over 600 children entered the competition across Surrey and a huge thank you to Surrey’s Libraries and Surrey County Council’s Environment Team for helping to promote the competition and collate the entries.

The book will be on general sale shortly* and as soon as we have the details, these will be shown on our website at www.surreyhillssociety.org.
This may take 2/3 weeks, but we will do it as soon as we possibly can.  Keep your eyes peeled for the opportunity to purchase the book – a perfect Christmas gift!

* Now available click here to get straight through to Waterstones to purchase your copy for £8.99.

The Thousand Year Tree is a stunning new picture book, created by the children of Weyfield Primary Academy Guildford to celebrate the ancient yew trees at Newlands Corner, Surrey!

An incredible journey through time, from seed to fragile giant – step inside the fascinating world of ancient trees to discover the wonders these age-old giants have witnessed, and how we can protect them for millennia to come.

The Thousand Year Tree has been created through an exciting collaboration led by the Surrey Hills Society, together with the Guildford Book Festival; Weyfield Primary Academy; author, Lucy Reynolds; illustrator, Katie Hickey; Old Dungate Press; Surrey County Council; Surrey Libraries; and Surrey National Landscapes. The project has been funded by the DEFRA Access For All Fund, administered by the Surrey National Landscapes Board.

Last Saturday, 22 June 34 members enjoyed a serene glide along the Wey & Arun Canal whilst enjoying a chat, cuppa and cake.  A volunteer provided information about the canal and also about the flora and fauna to be found riverside.  The weather was glorious and, as you can see, everyone had a jolly good time.

One of the guests asked why there were no ducks or other birdlife on the canal, the answer is sadly – Minks!  Since their release they have bred uncontrollably and being aggressive carnivores will and do eat everything.

The safety instructions from the crew were that in the unlikely event you were to fall in they would shout  ”STAND UP” – the water is only a few feet deep.

Thanks go to Heather Aitken for organising this event and to Gordon Jackson for the photographs.