Surrey's 'Old' Grasslands Inventory

A vibrant grassland filled with wildflowers, including delicate purple Common Orchids and yellow blossoms, swaying in the sunlight. The lush greenery and diverse plant life create a rich meadow habitat.

A Big Chalk Project

Surrey's 'Old' Grasslands Inventory

Lead organisation

Surrey Wildlife Trust

Partner organisations

Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre

Natural England

Surrey Botanical Society

Surrey County Council

Butterfly Conservation

Surrey Fungus Study Group (British Mycological Society)

Surrey Nature Partnership

Project description

Thanks to funding from The Banister Charitable Trust, Natural England and the Hamamelis Trust, Surrey Wildlife Trust is working with partners to create an inventory of old and irreplaceable grasslands within Surrey.

As some of Surrey's most biodiverse habitats, ancient grasslands are havens for wildflowers and wildlife. Creating an inventory of these little-known and at-risk sites will help ensure they are better protected and understood, including in local planning decisions. The sites will be identified by surveyors, who will search for assemblages of ancient grassland indicator species such as Pyramidal Orchids, Kidney Vetch, Lady's Bedstraw and Fairy Flax, recording their findings in a new app.

The inventory will inform Surrey's Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which promotes a landscape scale approach to identifying and protecting at least 30% of Surrey's area for nature's recovery by 2030.

Project location

The project area is the administrative County of Surrey.

Contribution to Big Chalk

The project will achieve greater protection and recognition of old and irreplaceable grasslands within Surrey and therefore fits well with Big Chalk's vision of encouraging a wildlife rich landscape. The project aims to influence management undertaken by landowners, ensuring these old grasslands are well managed for wildlife and support connectivity across the landscape.

Three people kneeling in a grassy field, using botanical field guides to identify wildflowers. Their hands point to illustrations in the books, surrounded by open pages and a notebook resting on the ground.
A close-up view of a summer chalk grassland, showcasing a variety of wildflowers and grasses. The perspective is low to the ground, emphasizing the intricate details of the flowers, with a blurred tree line in the distance.
A vast expanse of chalk grassland in summer, filled with a diverse mix of wildflowers, including purple knapweeds and white umbellifers. The meadow stretches into the distance with a soft-focus tree line in the background.
A summer chalk grassland in full bloom, featuring vibrant purple and yellow wildflowers among lush green grasses. Delicate seed heads sway in the foreground, creating a rich tapestry of biodiversity.

Do you have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?

The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.

If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice—alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.

Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.