Heathland Restoration in Surrey: CRT & ARC Join Forces We’ve been working with the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) Trust to restore and reconnect vital heathland habitats in Surrey, boosting biodiversity and protecting threatened species. Restoring Heathland at Green Farm Thanks to teamwork and our dedicated volunteers, we’ve been able to remove gorse and birch from the heathland at Gravel Hanger, part of Green Farm in Surrey. This essential habitat management work helps promote healthy heather stands and improve structural diversity. This is all part of our visionary conservation plan to restore nearly 30 hectares of rare lowland heathland habitat. Volunteers clearing gorse and birch at Green Farm, Surrey, to restore heathland habitat Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust and CRT teams working together on heathland restoration at Green Farm CRT and ARC volunteers enjoying a well deserved tea break at Green Farm Collaborating at The Flashes Our volunteers have also joined ARC at The Flashes, part of the Thursley, Hankley & Frensham Commons SSSI, a site owned by Waverley Borough Council between Green Farm and the CRT’s Pierrepont Farm. Together, we’ve been removing invasive pine from the slopes, an area of lowland heathland habitat which supports a wide range of unique species, including rare reptiles such as sand lizard and smooth snake. “The collaboration has offered a wealth of knowledge,” said Leslie Hackett, the CRT’s Head of Volunteering. “Our volunteers have really enjoyed working with ARC and their team. It is great to be able to share resources.” Smooth snake habitat restoration area at The Flashes. CRT and ARC volunteers learning heathland management techniques Working at The Flashes removing invasive pine Helena Darragh, the CRT’s Head of Conservation, said: “The area we were working on to remove pine at the Flashes is important for smooth snakes as the habitat comprises of significant areas of dense mature heather with a mossy understorey layer and the sloping aspect provides these secretive animals with basking opportunities. “ARC are experts in heathland management so working with them at Green Farm is hugely beneficial to us to tackle some of the gorse on Gravel Hanger. It has been great for skills sharing for our volunteers and lovely to work in partnership with them. We will do more in the New Year with ARC too, such as some reptile surveys for adders.” Helena added that The Flashes is located between the CRT’s Green Farm and Pierrepont Farm, so work to manage the habitat here helps to link up wildlife corridors and improve the overall heathland landscape. Adele Dodgson, the Weald Field Officer and Volunteer Co-ordinator from ARC, worked in partnership with Helena and Leslie to bring together the volunteer groups to support the habitat management tasks at Green Farm and The Flashes. She said: “ARC is very keen to work in partnership with all the organisations in the Heathland Connections project and knowledge share and connect habitats together. Habitat protection and connectivity is really important for species population growth and expansion. It’s lovely to meet new volunteers and work collaboratively with a wide range of groups to achieve common goals for nature conservation." Read more about our earlier work at Gravel Hanger: www.thecrt.co.uk/news/heathland-restoration-work-starting How to support us If you’d like to support our work to protect wildlife and restore habitats: Join as a CRT Friend Volunteer on one of our farms Attend events and workshops Sign up for our monthly newsletter, CRT News, for the latest stories straight from our farms. Join Events Volunteer News Published: October 2025 Manage Cookie Preferences