Natural England has opened a public consultation on proposals to extend the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to include parts of East Hampshire. The land in question covers Ludshott and Bramshott Commons, the southern slopes of Whitmoor Vale, and parts of the Slea and Wey valleys.

If approved, the extension would grant these areas special environmental protection under AONB status. The consultation is open now and will run for 12 weeks until December 10, allowing residents to provide feedback on the plans.

MP Jeremy Hunt said: “I’ve been pushing for the expansion of our stunning Surrey Hills AONB for years and we are moving closer and closer to making this goal a reality. As MP for Godalming and Ash I am delighted to see additional proposed extension areas; I would encourage everyone to take a really good look at these areas and comment on this next phase.”

Ludshott Common and Waggoners Wells, a National Trust reserve, lie just off the A3 between Grayshott, Bramshott, and Headley Down. As one of Hampshire's largest remaining heathlands, spanning approximately 700 acres, it is home to diverse wildlife which would be better protected if it were designated as an AONB.

Natural England has arranged a number of webinar and face to-face drop in events for anyone who would like to discuss these proposals directly with an officer from Natural England. For details head to https://tinyurl.com/dropinconsult and fill in your response at https://tinyurl.com/consultatnaturalengland