Saturday gave us a beautifully warm afternoon, and the chance for a walk in the Surrey Hills in England.

These hills are classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), earning that protection and status in 1949 when the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act was passed. Today there are 46 such areas in the UK, and they cover almost one fifth of the land. They are not national parks but they enjoy a similar status, with the aim being to safeguard them for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone.

I think the Surrey Hills are beautiful. They are not dramatic hills but they undulate gently, covered in trees and the quiet that comes with such cover. And the trees are big trees. We were beneath pine for a lot of our walk, with sweet chestnut, oak and beech scattered through them, and occasional walkers with their dogs glimpsed along the network of paths. It was a lovely peaceful hour or so in a late summer woodland.

I hope you had a good Saturday.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023