“Growing Together” was a Surrey Hills Society project that worked to introduce the Surrey Hills National Landscape to a wider group of people by delivering an exciting programme of nature-based activities. These were aimed at building confidence, developing heritage skills, and improving health and wellbeing.
The scheme was made possible thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund which supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.
Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the Surrey Hills Society was able to work with a wide range of organisations, including three key partners, Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum, Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and Surrey Choices (who support people with a range of disabilities), to deliver 93 events.
Events ranged from hikes and kayaking to flower pressing and willow-weaving, with further skills work like coppicing and tree-planting. The project had an impressive combined events attendance of 756 participants.
The project was highly successful with around 9 in 10 participants saying they felt happier, more confident and had developed new skills through the scheme.
Growing Together concluded in December 2025, but we are working with partners to build from the successes of the scheme to deliver an enhanced offering for diverse communities in the Surrey Hills. Please contact sam.jones@surreyhillssociety.org if you are interested in finding out more.
Scheme reach
Growing Together events operated across the Surrey Hills National Landscape. The scheme reached a wide range of participants – with 10% identifying as disabled, more than a quarter with mental health concerns, nearly thirty percent had a learning disability and more than a third were from a minority ethnic background.
Legacy
While the project has now ended, its impact is still being felt across the Surrey Hills, with increased confidence and appetite to get out into nature from participants.
The project delivered for nature as well, with nature restoration activities set to deliver benefits for wildlife and Surrey Hills visitors for decades to come. The results show the mutual benefit for place and people through a well-planned and thoughtful programme of events.
Project beneficiaries who engaged with the conservation events, such as Coppice and Connect are joining in the Society’s new Surrey Hills Ranger service.
The Ranger service delivers practical nature and improved access outcomes across the national landscape, thanks to the support of volunteers from all backgrounds. In doing so our ranger service is demonstrating the role heritage skills have in delivering modern bio-diversity goals.
If you or your company, would like to support the long term future of the Surrey Hills by assisting the Ranger service, contact us for opportunities at: volunteering@surreyhillssociety.org
Further reading about Growing Together
• Growing Together Evaluation Report
• University of Surrey analysis of Growing Together for March – September 2025
• NatureWorks (Growing Together) Evaluation Report
• Analysis of Coppice & Connect by AirTime CIC
