On 22 May, 2022, our charity acquired Madeira Walk and Woodlands. It is around 15 acres in extent and Madeira Walk is an important remnant of the chalk grassland that was once a dominant habitat along the North Downs. The purchase was funded by a generous gift from a local resident who felt that our charity would be able to care for and protect this land for future generations to enjoy. This gift will ensure that this important, historic and very special land will remain a public space and enable people from all walks of life to engage with a key piece of Surrey's natural heritage, to enjoy recreation and respite as well as being able to see some very rare flora and fauna. There is a public footpath and bridlepath which runs through the land enabling easy access and it is within a 10 minute walk from Woldingham train station.

Why is the land so special?

Chalk grassland is one of the richest habitats of Western Europe, containing a great diversity of plants and animals. It is now very rare and fragmented, and is of international conservation importance. The UK holds 50% of the world’s surviving old chalk grassland resource, most of that in southern counties, across the South and North Downs and the Downs of Wiltshire and Dorset.

Chalk grassland supports several rare plants and animals, many of which have unique associations with this habitat and cannot thrive, or survive, elsewhere. The fragmentation of many areas of grassland has resulted in populations of several species being isolated and prone to local extinctions. Animals such as dormice, adders, badgers, butterflies and bees call this land home, as well as rare plants such as the Blue Harebell.

Our charity works closely with with the Downlands Trust and Partnership, another charity managed by volunteers, who help support us in maintaining the land using natural and traditional grazing methods (sheep grazing), with the aim of preserving and reclaiming as much of the chalk grassland as possible, helping the rare flora and fauna thrive.

The Craigmyle Glebe is seeking funding for two key items:

1) Educational and marketing resources that will help highlight, engage and enlighten visitors about this special piece of natural heritage (e.g. information boards, signs, leaflets, activity sheets and other materials that can be used by visitors such as schools, for example).

2) Land and tree management works to help keep the area safe for human users of the footpath and bridle path, as well as the special creatures that call this area home such a dormice, adders, badgers, butterflies and bees.

We feel that this special piece of Surrey heritage needs to have more engagement with the community, regardless of background or financial capacity, and that by taking the steps above we can significantly improve engagement, access and preservation of this special site.

Thank you for your support.