Home of ‘Devil’s Punch Bowl’ to become new National Nature Reserve
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-27)

•              Sand lizards, nightjars and natterjack toads are among the litany of species that people can enjoy at new Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve in Surrey

Nature reserve declared at the landscape that inspired the likes of Tennyson and Conan Doyle, as well as its folkloric origins as the home of Thor.

This marks the 9th National Nature Reserve to launch as part of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, which will see 25 reserves created or extended by 2027

A landscape in Surrey beloved by lizards and literary greats and home to an area known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl, is to become the latest National Nature Reserve.

The Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve, in the heart of the Surrey countryside and on the doorstep of more than a quarter of a million people, has today (Friday 27th June) been declared by Natural England the 9th National Nature Reserve in the King’s Series.

This new reserve is a collaboration between nine partners; Natural England, RSPB, National Trust, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Hampton Estate (private farming estate), Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, Waverley Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Forestry England, with further support from the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

The reserve has secured its status as a haven for wildlife, ensuring that it can provide a home for rare species such as Nightjars, Sand Lizards, Adders and Natterjack Toads into the future and an area of 2,765ha of greenspace accessible by hundreds of thousands of people.

Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve stretches across an area around three times that of Richmond Park, boasting a rich mix of open dry and wet heath, acidic grassland, regenerating woodland, and scrubby heath.

Heathland habitats are incredibly important for a range of species, and popular with walkers, cyclists and riders. However, heathlands in England have declined by around 80% in the last two centuries, making this declaration vitally important for the survival of these precious places.

The exceptional nature on display in this area, alongside its easy connections with London mean it already sees thousands of visitors each year, and its declaration as a National Nature Reserve means that future generations will continue to be able to connect with nature in the idyllic surroundings of the reserve. The reserve also includes a nature friendly farmed estate, adding to its potential to boost the local economy along with visitor spend.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:

“Britain is a nation of nature lovers - proud of our iconic landscapes and charismatic wildlife.

“This new reserve offers wonderful opportunities for people to experience the outdoors and spot rare wildlife in a place which has been a source of cultural inspiration for centuries.

“This Government is committed to turning the tide on nature’s decline after years of neglect. New National Nature Reserves deliver on our promise to improve access to nature and protect nature-rich habitats, as well as boosting the local economy in line with our Plan for Change.”

Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England said:

“The beautiful atmospheric landscape has had a huge influence in culture over the centuries, from folklore to poetry. Its new status as a National Nature Reserve will ensure future generations continue to be inspired.

“There is a wealth of species here, many of which are very rare, and efforts to maintain the vital habitats in this area will help these plants and animals to thrive again. Its network of tracks – including “Britain’s Favourite Path” - means it is already incredibly popular with local people and visitors from nearby London, offering a much needed vast open space for everybody to enjoy the connection with nature we all need.”

This landscape is also widely known as the home of The Devil’s Punchbowl, a dramatic natural amphitheatre in the heathlands near Hindhead which is steeped in legend. It is said to have been formed when the Devil scooped up earth to throw at Thor, which some say is how the nearby area of Thursley got its name.

The area has provided inspiration to a range of literary greats through the years, from Alfred Lord Tennyson to Arthur Conan Doyle. The reserve is home to Waggoners Well, where Tennyson wrote ‘Flower in the Crannied Wall’, which reflects on the connection between nature, humans, and the divine.

The area has retained its popularity and is still a destination for nature lovers, boasting the Thursley Common Boardwalk, which has been named ‘Britain’s Favourite Path’ by the Ramblers Association. This declaration will mean that this bustling area of nature just 45 minutes away from London will be managed and accessible for years to come.

This area has already benefitted from the Heathland Connections Nature Recovery Project, which provided funding from Defra and Natural England. It is an ambitious project working with partners, including wildlife charities and private landowners to enhance, restore and connect the special habitats found in the westernmost section of the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

The launch of the new National Nature Reserve directly supports the government’s commitment to restore and protect our natural world by expanding nature-rich habitats where people can explore and wildlife can thrive.

This is the 9th reserve to be launched as part of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, which will leave a lasting public legacy for people and nature by creating or extending 25 National Nature Reserves by 2027.

NOTES TO EDITORS

· This new 2,766 hectare Wealden Heaths NNR combines the existing Thursley NNR (325ha) with 2,440ha of partner-managed land, of which 1,784ha is designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest.

· Wealden Heaths also includes over 900ha (921) of non-SSSI land, the largest area of any NNR with previously undesignated land being formally brought into conservation management

· The declaration of Wealden Heaths brings the total area of NNRs in England to over 115,000ha across 223 NNRs.

· Images of the NNR can be found here: Wealden Heaths NNR images - Google Drive (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.google.com%2Fdrive%2Ffolders%2F1PtoQ8izNtssNgtsWcH7bDqjhdwcOKrpJ&data=05%7C02%7CAlex.Walsh%40defra.gov.uk%7C9ea7b4756d7745e7d64808ddb4aac52c%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638865367719425130%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rkiZKJnOrrPjp6jhIeVSs4j2mbs4fhy8l%2BqdzZUPqbg%3D&reserved=0)

QUOTES PACK

#### Molly Biddell of Hampton Estate, said

“We are so proud and excited to be a part of Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve, this recognition reflects how precious our Surrey heathlands are, and how important it is that as land managers we all work together to protect these unique habitats. At Hampton Estate, we feel privileged to be managing Puttenham Common as part of our farming business, using conservation grazing, woodland management and shared stewardship to increase biodiversity and create a nature-loving community. We look forward to working alongside our partners to ensure the Wealden Heaths continue to thrive as a living, working landscape that inspires.”

Councillor Steve Williams, Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said:

“The Wealden National Nature Reserve (NNR) is a great community asset, offering a unique space for residents to connect with nature, learn about biodiversity, and enjoy outdoor activities. Waverley Borough Council is passionate about preserving our natural heritage and providing an opportunity for our residents to enjoy the natural resources in our borough. The NNR enhances the quality of life for local residents and attracts visitors, contributing to the local economy and promoting knowledge of our natural world. We are committed to maintaining and improving this invaluable resource for current and future generations.”

Rob Fairbanks, Director of the Surrey Hills National Landscape said:

“I am thrilled to see the launch of the Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve. This is a transformative designation to create a bigger, better, and more joined up approach to heathland restoration within the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

“This milestone is a testament to the robust partnership driving it, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Natural England for empowering us to address the biodiversity crisis and a flourishing future for our rare and rich heathland habitats.”

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) CEO, Dr Tony Gent said:

“At ARC, we believe that collaboration is key to effective landscape-scale conservation. By working together rather than in isolated pockets, we can share resources, knowledge, and communicate more consistently - delivering greater impact for wildlife and habitats.”

“The creation of the new Partnership National Nature Reserve in Surrey offers a powerful opportunity to strengthen partnerships with fellow land managers. Together, we can better support native amphibian and reptile populations across the region. By aligning conservation goals and underpinning them with robust monitoring, we can develop a shared agenda for conserving these species — while also identifying and addressing areas where biodiversity is in decline.”

Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Director of Reserves Management, James Herd said:

“With nature under unprecedented pressure, its essential that habitats are connected and protected not just on a local, but on a landscape level. The creation of this reserve represents an encouraging step towards this goal, and also illustrates the power of partnership working between national and local policymakers, communities and conservationists.”

Stephanie Fudge, National Trust General Manager for the Surrey Hills said:

“The Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve brings together a patchwork of heathlands owned by different landowners, and by joining up these habitats we aim to benefit species such as nightjar, woodlark and sand lizards by giving them space to move and to find food or shelter in times of extreme weather such as flooding or drought.

“We can do much more for nature as a collective, rather than on our own. As part of this new NNR, 1660 hectares is National Trust land including heathland at Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl. Working together we want to ensure that wildlife in these special habitats can flourish, and improve access so that people living in the South East can enjoy the vast array of wildlife on their doorstep for many generations to come.”

Surrey County Councillor Marisa Heath, Cabinet Member for Environment:

“The creation of the Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve (NNR) is a beacon of hope for both nature and people. Not only is it an important step in securing the future for the rare species that call this landscape home, but it also provides a sanctuary for people, offering vital green spaces that contribute to our health and wellbeing. “

I would like to thank Natural England and the eight other landowners and stakeholders that have worked in partnership to deliver this National Nature Reserve, and I look forward to a more resilient and thriving Surrey landscape that will benefit generations to come.”

South Forest Management Director, Craig Harrison from Forestry England, said:

“We are delighted to be part of this super NNR and for Crooksbury Common to be included. This is great recognition of the importance of heathlands and working at a landscape-scale this partnership will allow us to share our expertise to build a better, more joined-up landscape for nature.”